Gyrographer
03 - 21 - 2009
Gyrographer is a tool that draws 2D mathematical and geometric curves using the rotation and orbits of circles. Hypotrochoids, hypocycloids, epitrochoids, epicycloids, and rose curves are just some of the interesting types of figures that can be created. Images can be exported as SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics), which can then be viewed in applications such as Firefox (free) and Opera (free), and edited in any vector graphics application, such as Adobe Illustrator and Inkscape (free). Raw data points can also be exported to text files, allowing a wide spread of uses.
The circles that are the building blocks of Gyrographer images are called "elements". The small balls/particles/dots that lie at the rim of elements are called "dots". A Gryographer project has one "base element", which can not be removed. The base element is essentially the origin of the system, and indirectly determines the positions of all other elements. Elements can be "spawned" off of other elements, allowing the position of a child element to be depedent on its parent element.
Each element has three sets of properties: rotation, orbit, and appearance. Rotation properties describe how the element spins and thus how the dot revolves around the element. Orbit properties describe how the element orbits around its parent element. Appearance properties describe the appearance of the element.
Elements move over a set period of "time" called the "scrub length", whose range is 0 to 100. Gyrographer creates/renders its images by graphing the trails of element dots over the scrub length. The renderer "scrubs" from 0 to 100, incrementing the time by a set amount (see "Project Settings"), forming polylines that connect the successive points of element dots.
03 - 21 - 2009
Gyrographer is a tool that draws 2D mathematical and geometric curves using the rotation and orbits of circles. Hypotrochoids, hypocycloids, epitrochoids, epicycloids, and rose curves are just some of the interesting types of figures that can be created. Images can be exported as SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics), which can then be viewed in applications such as Firefox (free) and Opera (free), and edited in any vector graphics application, such as Adobe Illustrator and Inkscape (free). Raw data points can also be exported to text files, allowing a wide spread of uses.
The circles that are the building blocks of Gyrographer images are called "elements". The small balls/particles/dots that lie at the rim of elements are called "dots". A Gryographer project has one "base element", which can not be removed. The base element is essentially the origin of the system, and indirectly determines the positions of all other elements. Elements can be "spawned" off of other elements, allowing the position of a child element to be depedent on its parent element.
Each element has three sets of properties: rotation, orbit, and appearance. Rotation properties describe how the element spins and thus how the dot revolves around the element. Orbit properties describe how the element orbits around its parent element. Appearance properties describe the appearance of the element.
Elements move over a set period of "time" called the "scrub length", whose range is 0 to 100. Gyrographer creates/renders its images by graphing the trails of element dots over the scrub length. The renderer "scrubs" from 0 to 100, incrementing the time by a set amount (see "Project Settings"), forming polylines that connect the successive points of element dots.
Download
Windows
Gyrographer.rar (1.9mb)
Gyrographer.7z (1.8mb)
In the future, we will develop a new version of Gyrographer in Java if there is enough demand for Linux and Mac ports.
After Effects scripts
AE_import_position_keyframes.jsx
AE_import_property_keyframes.jsx
AE_import_mask.jsx
AE_evenly_space_keyframes.jsx
Instructions/tutorials for scripts
Gyrographer_AE_scripts.txt
Windows
Gyrographer.rar (1.9mb) Gyrographer.7z (1.8mb)In the future, we will develop a new version of Gyrographer in Java if there is enough demand for Linux and Mac ports.
After Effects scripts
AE_import_position_keyframes.jsx AE_import_property_keyframes.jsx AE_import_mask.jsx AE_evenly_space_keyframes.jsxInstructions/tutorials for scripts
Gyrographer_AE_scripts.txtScreenshots
click to enlarge
click to enlarge
Videos
Promo
Tutorial - Part 1
Tutorial - Part 2
Gyrographer used in After Effects with scripts
Promo
Tutorial - Part 1
Tutorial - Part 2
Gyrographer used in After Effects with scripts