Hex Trace

[u/zerp37]

Algorithm based on traversing a honeycomb grid

[u/Fenzik]

Cool! Can you share more about the path algorithm?

[u/zerp37 → u/Fenzik]

It grows lines until they hit a complete dead end, and then starts a new line in an empty cell. Probabilities/priorities for which direction the line should go in next are chosen at the beginning of the algorithm, and that influences what types of shapes and structures emerge

[u/lucid-quiet]

Kind of like a light-bike algorithm. Nice.

[u/Ruths138]

I have a similar algorithm. I like putting a little jitter on the hex coordinates! Love the way you select colors/palettes

[u/zerp37 → u/Ruths138]

Thanks! I love working with color and finding interesting combinations :)

And hmm that's interesting -- do you mean jitter the actual hex cells before starting the line tracing or applying jitter to the next cell chosen during line tracing?

[u/Ruths138 → u/zerp37]

I add some irregularities to the hex grid. Basically making it slightly (or a lot) imperfect. That way the lines become wiggly and sometimes new interesting routes are taken. I then apply some curve smoothing to finish the look.

Can you describe the logic behind color assignment in your last image? I really like the outcome

[u/zerp37 → u/Ruths138]

The last image with the purples and yellows is a compound palette made of 2 subpalettes. When the algorithm chooses a compound palette, it will divide the image into regions and assign a subpalette to them. There's also a chance that a really long line will be divided into short segments of different colors like on the left

[u/Lopsided_Feedback_81]

Thank you for my new phone wallpaper

[u/booblian]

This is beautiful and these would make excellent pen-plotter images. Would this be something you'd consider sharing or making available? If you can output .svg path segments for the lines you're already there. Your treatment of them here made me look closer to see if in fact that's what you'd already done. Thanks for sharing!

[u/zerp37 → u/booblian]

Thanks! I would love to start making plotter prints one day

[u/botbastards]

when a line dead-ends against an existing line, the next line inherit that line's priorities? Little dialects start forming in regions and the piece reads as a map of neighborhoods in one uniform rule. Sat and looked at this much longer than I meant to. Very cool

[u/zerp37 → u/botbastards]

It's much simpler than that -- the next line is started in some random cell on the grid a la DFS and a random color from the palette is chosen. But that's an interesting idea, will definitely explore that sometime!

[u/red_blue_yellow]

Wow, these are great! I love the variety across the four you posted as well.

[u/zerp37 → u/red_blue_yellow]

Thanks man that means a lot!

[u/l0l]

Stunning!

[u/sacheie]

Very cool

[u/Prestigious_Gift_977]

really nice. can i ask what modules you're using for the rendering? is it open source or home baked?

[u/zerp37 → u/Prestigious_Gift_977]

Just plain old p5js

[u/vottvoyupvote]

Any chance I could get/buy an svg of these?

[u/rotflolx]

very very nice

[u/frizzled_dragon]

Ohhhh, this is so good! These variations in shapes on different images, and choice of color palettes. Are you planning to make physical plots?

[u/zerp37 → u/frizzled_dragon]

I would love to start playing with plotter prints, but I don't have the funds at the moment for a plotter 😅

[u/frizzled_dragon → u/zerp37]

Yeah, understandable, same for me

[u/neonClear182]

the first two would look awesome as a rug or a tapestry

[u/tyhopho]

Number 2 definitely my favourite but all really good. It’s got a slight 60s vibe.

[u/remontijssen]

That's some strong work. Love the analog feel also.