What is Cryptographics.app?
A few weeks ago I got notice of a newly released app on the Ethereum Blockchain: Cryptographics.app. It is aimed at artists, who are able to create their own unique ERC-721 tokens. Identifying as a crypto curious and artist I decided to check the app out. I got pulled in by an attractive looking website and the playful exploration of what this app had to offer - after a few minutes of clicking through the site I was hooked. Both the artist and the crypto curious part of me wanted to find out more about this!
The idea in short is: artists can create and then upload Asset Packs, which can be a set of backgrounds, or smaller design elements, or a combination of both. Then, the artist or an interested party can use those Asset Packs to create a random artwork based on that Asset Pack. The end result is called a Cryptographic: if you like this Cryptographic (or don't like it, but just want to own this unique item) you can claim it as en ERC-721 token on the Ethereum Blockchain. From this moment on you own a unique digital artwork / ERC-721 token and can then hodl or sell it.
Briljant.
What can you do with Cryptographics?
The possibilities are endless: you can use multiple Asset Packs, either uploaded by yourself, or uploaded by others, and combine them every way you want. You can simply go to Cryptographics.app to generate a few Cryptographics yourself (click the 'recompose button'), and then sell or hodl them, speculating on future price. I managed to create a few Asset Packs and sell those, and have created a few Cryptographics, which didn't sell so far.
A Cryptographics market
You can set your own price for bot Asset Packs and Cryptographics, thus creating an interesting market: how do you as an artist price your Asset Packs? How much is each ERC-721 token worth? Do you price them according to what *you* think it's worth or do you adjust your prices according to what other users think Cryptographics are worth? Will there be value in the **prettiest** Cryptographics or is the fact that each is unique valuable in itself, and will prices turn out to be quite similar for each? Is a Cryptographic that consists of multiple Asset Packs more 'worth' than one that only uses a single Asset Pack?
Especially the last question is interesting to me: from an economic perspective multiple Asset Packs means more resources and more unique combinations, ie a 'rarer' Cryptographic, but from a visual standpoint I find the Cryptographics created from one Asset Pack more pleasing... **So which of these two will define the value in the end?**
I personally played with several prices for my Asset Packs and Cryptographics, and was able to sell some Asset packs between 0.05-0.3 ETH, but the one of 0.5 ETH hasn't sold yet. As for Cryptographics: I've priced those pretty high, between 1-10 ETH, and haven't sold any of them. For me this is all part of the game and I'm happy to experiment further with this.
This sounds cool! How do I get started?
Using the app starts by going to cryptographics.app. On the frontpage you can see the current status: there are 39 creators, 5,99 ETH was earned through their websites, and 249 Cryptographics and 107 Asset Packs were created as of today, 27th of March 2019.
The frontpage itself explains the process quite well: first you select select Asset packs, then you Generate a cryptographic, after which you Claim ownership.
Directed at the artists it explains the value of Asset Packs: Design Assets, Create Asset Packs, and then Sell to Creators.
Also on the frontpage: the inspiration! Some of the final Cryptographics that have been published, some for sale, and some not.
Once you are interested, you will probably find the 'this is a Cryptographic' example on top of the page, and start playing with the Continue in Composer part - after which you can endlessly play with different variations of Cryptographics based on one or multiple Asset Packs. If you're a visual person like me, you'll love this part!
The (un)practicalities of working on Ethereum
Once you've fooled around a bit and want to get one step deeper you will have to sign up in order to upload Packs or claim that perfect Cryptographic you made. Picking either of these options you will be confronted with a pop-up that explains the need for a MetaMask wallet, which will be used to upload Asset Packs or claim Cryptographics. Since this is the Ethereum Blockchain every transaction needs a *GAS* payment: so having some ETH in your MetaMask wallet is necessary to actively use the site.
Before logging in with MetaMask you'll be 'anon':
Then you will get the explainer on why and how to use MetaMask:
Using MetaMask as a Chrome or Brave extension you can use it to login:
Et voila! From that moment on if you do anything on the website you'll see a small nudge in your MetaMask wallet that a transaction needs to be paid in order to complete your chosen action. Plus you can actually find 'your Cryptographics' and 'your Asset Packs' while logged into MetaMask:
If you're a Crypto or ETH Newbie this might sound a bit daunting... But I actually found the walk-through quite well done. To be honest though I had used MetaMask before and I still remember how I felt when I used it the first time!
It's definitely not an intuitive process.
In any case: before you get serious there's a lot of opportunities to play around: you can select Asset Packs and recompose Cryptographics to your hearts desire and even download your created Cryptographics before every claiming any Cryptographic or uploading any Asset Pack. I believe this is a huge plus for any app: give people the opportunity to get hooked before letting them make financial transactions.
But that's just a side note.
Personal Yay's and Nay's regarding Cryptographics
It triggers creativity
As I've mentioned, I was hooked within minutes and played around with Cryptographics for quite some time. When I encountered some problems with uploading and having double Asset Packs in my profile, I contacted the development team on Discord which was very responsive and eager to create a solution for me. I loved both the simplicity and complexity of the app: you can start playing with Cryptographics from the start, and after that you can start to see the possibilities and your brain starts fantasizing about the Asset Packs you want to combine or create yourself.
I'd love to see art curators
I had many ideas from the start and was able to sell some Asset Packs. But after a while I noticed it was the same person buying from me and creating a lot of Asset Packs himself, uploading dozens a day. Moreover: I didn't think the quality of those packs were 'high' - and suddenly my work was presented amongst work I didn't find visually attractive. So I started thinking: if this app is focused on artists, would some sort of curation or selection by 'proven' artists be a nice addition? So there will be a serious digital crypto gallery everyone can browse through (like a crypto art museum), and a 'underdog' corner where maybe some overlooked art can be discovered?
The team is helpful!
Looking back on how the team behind the app was super helpful the first time I contacted them though I don't have any doubt they would take on this feedback after I gave it to them and maybe create something specifically aimed at 'proud artists'. I might just send them my review!
Ethereum is still Ethereum
A more general remark regarding the use of the app is *it is on Ethereum*. Being used to the speed, zero fees and reactivity while using apps on the Steem Blockchain I can't get used to the fact that literally *everything* you do (like setting a price for your already claimed Cryptographic) requires a MetaMask transaction and *payment* in GAS. This doesn't take anything from the app itself, but it *does* inhibit the overall joy of using the app a fair bit.
Conclusion
Cryptographics is a one of a kind app in my eyes. There's the (in)famous CryptoKitties, which lets you claim unique tokens on Ethereum through the 'visual' aspect of Kitties with unique traits - but it doesn't let you create visuals yourself that you can then use to improve on anything the app makers made. There are also lovely apps on multiple blockchains that are aimed at artists, like for example Dada, but those don't have the strong collaborative aspect and playfulness of Cryptographics.
So despite a few 'thoughts on improvement' Cryptographics is still one of my favourite Ethereum Apps I have discovered thus far, and for that this gem on the web gets a *4 out of 5* stars from me!
I'm definitely not done playing with it.
Website: cryptographics.app
Stateofthedapps: stateofthedapps.com/dapps/cryptographics
Overall score: 4 out of 5 stars