The Superformula Oscilliscope

Klingon

16th April 2004 15:09 UTC

The Superformula Oscilliscope
The Superformula Oscilliscope
Based on the superformula developed by the Belgian biologist Johan Gielis http://www.geniaal.be/.

The Superformula describes a huge amount of organic shapes with only a small set of parameters.

Greetings.

Jan

TomyLobo

16th April 2004 15:59 UTC

small set of parameters, huh?


m=getspec(0.1,1,0);
m=abs(m*10);
a=getosc(0.1,0.1,1);
b=getosc(0.1,0.1,2);
n1=getspec(0.1,0.1,0);
n2=getspec(0.1,0.1,1);
n3=getspec(0.1,0.1,2);

I never heard of that superformula before. And I don't really see why a biologist should invent such a formula :)
But then again, there are other formulae which don't seem to be connected to their normal use, too :)
About the shapes... I suggest you use line mode instead of dot mode in that superscope :) this makes the structures of that formula more clearly visible.
btw: I think your interest in that formula is somehow connected to your forum screen name, not? :)

Klingon

16th April 2004 18:26 UTC

good idea

Originally posted by TomyLobo
small set of parameters, huh?

Yes, I thinking these are really only few parameters.

I never heard of that superformula before. And I don't really see why a biologist should invent such a formula :)

Johan Gielis tried to describe a huge amount of natural (organic) shapes with one formula. Why? I don't know.

But then again, there are other formulae which don't seem to be connected to their normal use, too :)

Yes, the superformula is:

r=pow(pow(abs(cos(s*m/4)/a),n2)+pow(abs(sin(s*m/4)/b),n3),-1/n1);

Where s is the angle and r the radius (polar coordinates).

About the shapes... I suggest you use line mode instead of dot mode in that superscope :) this makes the structures of that formula more clearly visible.

Good idea. Preset is updated.

btw: I think your interest in that formula is somehow connected to your forum screen name, not? :)

Yes.
Greetings.
Jan

UnConeD

16th April 2004 19:44 UTC

The formula is nice but you should really change the expressions for the parameters so they produce more interesting shapes all the time.

UnConeD

16th April 2004 20:44 UTC

Sort of like this.

Klingon

16th April 2004 23:08 UTC

Update

Originally posted by UnConeD
Sort of like this.

Nice thing.

But I like "Wormhole"-effects.

I've updated my preset. It is now possible to change the complexness and amplitude with the mouse (clicking left button into the avs-screen).

Greetings.

Jan

UnConeD

16th April 2004 23:25 UTC

The superformula is a polar function r(theta). Why do you draw for s = 0...100*PI when 0..2*PI would suffice?

Klingon

17th April 2004 12:07 UTC

minor update

Originally posted by UnConeD
The superformula is a polar function r(theta). Why do you draw for s = 0...100*PI when 0..2*PI would suffice?

Yes, the superformula is a polar function. But it is not always symmetrically for n*(0..2*PI).
Another reason for the enhanced range is that the angle is divided into steps of 0.1 (s=s+0.1). 0.1 never fits PI, and if you set s back to zero at s>2*PI, you will have always the same angles (0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, ..., 3.0, 3.1). If you do not set it back, then will you fill the gaps (3.2=0.058, 3.3=0.158, 7=0.717).

I've made some minor fixes in the new version.

Greetings.

Jan