COMPUTE! ISSUE 37 / JUNE 1983 / PAGE 235
VIC
Power Spirals
Bruce Jordan
Computer art in the form of
"spiro-graphic" designs. Spiro is an excellent demonstration of the
high resolution color graphics capability of the VIC 20 Superexpander
module. You'll see almost anything -from geodesic domes to impossible
bottles.
"Spiro" works by choosing a screen location based on a value of a
circular function; then, it uses the CIRCLE command of the
Superexpander to draw a circle (I call them spiros) around the screen
location. Next, the program loops back to the function, takes a new
value, and the process is repeated until the design is complete.
When the program is run, it asks for information
that gives you control over the final design.
Creating Your Design
The first thing that Spiro asks you is "How many spiros?" This
determines how many times the spiro will be repeated across the screen.
The higher the number, the more complex the design will be. Try 30 to
start with.
Second, it asks "Alternate?" This allows you to
create a design consisting of two different spiros. If you type Y,
Spiro will ask you for the height and width of each of the two spiros
to be used in your design. But if you type N, you will be asked for the
height and width of a single spiro. Try N, and then 200 for the height
and 150 for the width.
The last thing you are asked is which graphics mode
you want your design to be drawn in. If you type 1, the design will be
drawn in the multi color mode. If you choose 2, the design will be
drawn in the high-resolution mode, and in black and white.
After the design is finished, you can return to the
beginning of the program by typing R. This lets you alter your design
by changing the parameters. If you type F after your design is
complete, the program will automatically list the plotting function to
allow for quick and easy editing.
Changing the plotting function will radically alter
how your design will look. Depending on what function you use, you can
wind up with anything from a geodesic sphere to a sort of improbable
bottle that has its insides opening outwards to become its outsides!
The best thing about Spiro is that it's unpredictable. Below is a list
of some of the possible plotting functions. Try these, or make up your
own and see what you get.
Plotting
Functions For Spiro
1. X=511+200*COS(A),
Y=511+250*SIN(A)
2. X=511+200*COS(A),
Y=511+250*SIN(A)T↑3
3. X=511+200*COS(A)↑3,
Y=511+250*SIN(A)↑3*COS(A)
4. X=511+150*SIN(A)+200*COS(A),
Y=511+325*SIN(A)
5. X=511+200*SIN(A)*COS(A),
Y=511+250*SIN(A)
One of the designs possible with a
VIC-20 and "Power Spirals"
10 PRINT"{CLEAR}"
20 INPUT"HOW MANY SPIROS";Z
30 INPUT"ALTERNATE";A$
40 IFA$="N"THEN90
50 INPUT"#1 HEIGHT";H1
60 INPUT"#1 WIDTH";W1
70 INPUT"#2 HEIGHT";H2
80 INPUT"#2 WIDTH";W2:GOTO110
90 INPUT"HEIGHT OF SPIRO";H1
100 INPUT"WIDTH OF SPIRO";W1
110 INPUT"GRAPHICS MODE";G
120 IFG=ITHENP=3:K=0
130 IFG=2THENP=0:K=1
140 GRAPHIC G:COLOR K,4,P,7
150 A=0:DA=2*Π/Z
160 I=1:DI=1
170 GOSUB 280
180 CIRCLE I,X,Y,W1,H1
190 IF A$="Y" THEN GOSUB 350
200 A=A+DA:IF A=2*Π THEN 230
210 I=I+DI:IFI=>4THEN160
220 GOT0170
230 GETB$:IFB$=""THEN230
240 IFB$="R"THEN260
250 IFB$="F"THEN270
260 GRAPHIC 0:COLOR 1,2,0,4:GOTO
20
270 GRAPHIC 0:COLOR 1,2,0,4:LIST
280-290
280 X=511+200*COS(A)
290 Y=511+250*SIN(A)
300 IFX<=0THENX=0
310 IFX=>1023THENX=1023
320 IFY<=0THENY=0
330 IFY=>1023THENY=1023
340 RETURN
350
L=I:IFL<=2THENL=L+1:GOT0370
360 IFL=>3THENL=1
370 CIRCLE L,X,Y,W2,H2
380 RETURN