Freak Out! - Encylogram

Encyclogram

Encyclogram draws harmonograms, spirographs, and Lissajous figures. The decaying motion of the plot fills in the shapes with their spiralling-in echo. Encyclogram can also draw the curves in varying colors against a black background.

At the left of the applet are two sets of x-pendulum controls; at the right of the applet are two sets of y-pendulum controls. x is the horizontal direction in the drawing area, and y is the vertical direction. Each pendulum (2 per axis) has an amplitude, frequency, and phase.

Frequency generally has the greatest effect, controlling the number of lobes. Amplitude controls the lobe sizes. Phase controls lobe orientations. Spiro gangs the x and y amplitude and frequency controls, and sets the phases for symmetric spirographs. Decay makes the curve spiral inwards. Color sets a black background, and draws the picture in color. WARNING: selecting the color option slows down the picture drawing. Thick draws a thick line. This also slows the drawing speed.

Harmonograms: select the decay option.

Spirographs: select the spiro option. Leave the phases alone for true spirographs. You can change them for interesting effects, but the pictures won't then generally be spirographs.

Lissajous: unselect spiro and decay. Set one amplitude on each side to zero; adjust the sliders in the non-zero groups (e.g. if you set the top sliders each side to zero, adjust the bottom three sliders).