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This node mixes two non-integer frequencies to generate interference patterns. These interference patterns are similar to
Chladni figures or patterns
, which are based on the technique of placing sand on a vibrating steel plate to move the sand to the nodal lines of the vibration (the a and b waves). The Chladni Cymatic Patterns node applies this technique to create effects that represent different vibration modes. This node outputs the amplitude (the maximum range of the vibration) of the a and b waves as the pattern instead of the entire vibrating wave.
Note
The b wave is calculated as a scale of the a wave.
For example, use this node to create floor tiles with symmetrical patterns.
Note
This node is an example of Cymatics , which refers to the field of studying the visualization of acoustics.
Parameters ¶
Output Mode
The method used to output the amplitude as a pattern. This provides a view of the dynamic effect that’s not affected by time.
Nodal Lines
Output the values below the Threshold as a smooth transition from white to black into the values above the Threshold. This simulates the effect of dust gathering in the unmoving parts of the plate, which creates a line art effect.
Absolute Value
Output the absolute value of the wave’s amplitude. This is similar to the inverse of the Nodal Lines output, but provides unmodified data to support more refined processing.
Signed Value
Output the signed value of the wave’s amplitude. This outputs negative values for areas where the nominal phase is inverted. The pattern isn’t tiled because the sign switches between quadrants.
Note
The nominal phase is when the maximum values of the superimposed vibrating waves are extracted.
Threshold
When Output Mode is Nodal Lines, this is the maximum Amplitude amount to output as white.
Smoothing Width
When Output Mode is Nodal Lines, this is the amount of Amplitude that applies a blur effect to the transition from white to black. Higher values increase the thickness of the blurring effect between the a and b waves to smooth the transition. Lower values decrease the thickness of the blurring effect between the a and b waves to sharpen the transition.
This parameter can prevent harsh, aliased lines since it smooths transitions.
Note
The smoothing width is the difference in amplitude values to smooth, so the amount of smoothing isn’t consistent.
Amplitude
The amplitude of the primary (or a) wave. This value changes the range of the output, which scales the a and b waves.
Amplitude Ratio
The ratio of the a and b waves' amplitudes. Higher values apply more of the b wave to the overall pattern. Lower values apply more of the a wave to the overall pattern.
Frequency
The vertical frequency of the a wave and the horizontal frequency of the b wave. Higher values zoom outward to increase how often the a wave repeats vertically and the b wave repeats horizontally. Lower values zoom inward to decrease how often these waves repeat vertically and horizontally.
This is the primary frequency.
Frequency Anistropy
The horizontal frequency of the a wave and the vertical frequency of the b wave. Higher values increase how often the a wave repeats horizontally and the b wave repeats vertically. Lower values decrease how often these waves repeat horizontally and vertically.
This is the secondary frequency scale for the waves and a logarithmic adjustment. Each unit difference doubles or halves the actual frequency.
Tile Size
The size (in image space) of the waves to create. This controls the distance over which the Frequency is measured, which determines the wave size that repeats over the image space.
You can adjust this value to gain anistropy over the entire effect.
Inputs ¶
size_ref
A representative layer that determines the size of the output image and controls the metadata.
pos
An optional UV layer with a value that’s used instead of the pixel’s image coordinates for the noise.
a
An optional layer to scale the amplitude of the a wave (the Amplitude parameter value).
b
An optional layer to scale the amplitude of the b wave (determined by the Amplitude and Amplitude Ratio parameters).
m
An optional layer to scale the primary frequency (the Frequency parameter value).
n
An optional layer to scale the secondary frequency (controlled by the Frequency and Frequency Anistropy parameters).
Outputs ¶
chladni
The Chladni pattern layer.
| See also |
Fractal Noise
Worley Noise
Tile Pattern
