SpirographX takes spirograph's to the next level. While normal spirograph's use merely two loops of varying size, SpirographX can use as few as two or as many as fifteen loops of proportionate size to generate more astonishing visuals.
---The Equation Tab---
The base value field and stepper will change the base of the equation. In essence, it is setting the proportion between each loop and the loop inside of it. Setting the base to whole numbers makes very solid looking patterns. Setting the base to fractions makes less solid patterns. The more complex the number is, the more chaotic the pattern is. Try typing -1.504 into the base value field. Numbers very close to solid numbers have a unique look to them like this.
The subloops field and buttons will allow you to change the number of loops in the image. More loops makes a more chaotic looking image, less loops makes the image more rounded. Two loops looks generates a regular spirograph. Notice that one loop simply makes a circle.
The cycles field will allow you to set how far SpirographX graphs your image. The default is usually good, but you can play with the setting for a more desirable effect. If you'd like a denser image, add more cycles. Less cycles makes for a more spacious image. More cycles also means the image will draw slower.
The detail field and stepper will allow you to set how many points per radian SpirographX should plot. More detail means a better but more slowly drawn image.
---The Animation Tab---
The animation tab sports various options for animation. The animate checkbox will toggle animation on and off. When the image is animated the base value will move back and forth sinusoidally with time. The range field and stepper will change how far the base value will fluctuate.
---The Appearance Tab---
Appearance options can be accessed under the appearance tab. Here you can set the line and blur color along with its alpha (transparency). You can also set the line and blur width with their respective slider bars.
---Saving---
There are two ways to save to a file in SpirographX. One is the standard save. This generates a file containing your spirograph's settings which can only be opened in SpirographX. The other way is to use "save as image". This saves the spirograph as a tiff file which can be opened in nearly any image editing application. Here you also have the option to stamp your information on the image.
---The Favorites Menu---
The favorites menu stores all your favorite settings. The "My Favorites" menu stores your own personal settings. These can be added by pressing "Add To Favorites". Preset favorites are settings done by me over the course of programming SpirographX. I thought it'd be cool to show off my work. The internet favorites are used to show the work of SpirographX users around the world. If you've got a spirograph that you think really rocks, send it to me at holmes@neatosoftware.com. It will be put in this menu for all the world to see.
On one final note. If you mess up all the settings beyond belief you can go select "default" in the preset favorites! This restores everything back to how it was when you opened SpirographX.
Thanks for reading, and enjoy the software!
-Holmes Futrell
holmes@neatosoftware.com
Version History:
1.0 first release
1.2 significant new features including favorites, save, and save as image.
