Fourier Sketch

Fourier Sketch draws every letter with a chain of spinning circles. Each circle rides on the edge of the one before, and the tip of the last one traces the letter, the famous epicycle drawing that shows how any shape can be built from rotations.

How it works

Each letter outline is broken down into a series of circles of different sizes and speeds, largest first. Spinning them all together traces the exact outline. Few circles give a soft, wobbly approximation; more circles sharpen it into the real letter. Once the letters are done, small glints keep circling the finished contours, and dim bridge lines join the inner holes of letters to their outer edge.

Settings

• Detail (6 to 128) sets how many circles each letter uses: low is loose and dreamy, high is crisp.
• Circles sets how visible the spinning circles are while drawing.
• Glints sets the light that keeps travelling round the finished letters.
• Line colour, Hot colour and Trail set the line, the colour of fresh strokes, and how long they stay hot.
• Line width and Bridges set the stroke thickness and how visible the joining lines are.
• Draw defaults to Epicycles; other methods such as Trace and Wipe also work.

Use it for

• Maths, science and education titles
• Generative and data-art intros
• Tech brands that want to show their working