TexRD is a specialized graphics software, designed to simulate reaction–diffusion processes and to produce animated random textures through the underlying mathematical models.

Principles

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chemical reactions between several fluids are

simulated A simulation is the imitation of the operation of a real-world process or system over time. Simulations require the use of models; the model represents the key characteristics or behaviors of the selected system or process, whereas the s ...

by computer and produce various patterns through a

self-organization Self-organization, also called spontaneous order in the social sciences, is a process where some form of overall order arises from local interactions between parts of an initially disordered system. The process can be spontaneous when suffi ...

process. Similar

morphogenesis Morphogenesis (from the Greek ''morphê'' shape and ''genesis'' creation, literally "the generation of form") is the biological process that causes a cell, tissue or organism to develop its shape. It is one of three fundamental aspects of devel ...

phenomena (spontaneous build-up of shapes) are observed in the real life and can account -at least on a qualitative point of view-for the

patterns A pattern is a regularity in the world, in human-made design, or in abstract ideas. As such, the elements of a pattern repeat in a predictable manner. A geometric pattern is a kind of pattern formed of geometric shapes and typically repeated l ...

observed on animal skins such as tigers or zebra, tropical fishes,

sea shells A seashell or sea shell, also known simply as a shell, is a hard, protective outer layer usually created by an animal or organism that lives in the sea. The shell is part of the body of the animal. Empty seashells are often found washe ...

, minerals such as

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... The software always creates seamless textures. Beyond the classical and well studied reaction–diffusion models such as the

Brusselator The Brusselator is a theoretical model for a type of autocatalytic reaction. The Brusselator model was proposed by Ilya Prigogine and his collaborators at the Université Libre de Bruxelles. It is a portmanteau of Brussels and oscillator. ...

, the software also contains new reaction–diffusion equations invented by the author, who worked 4 years as a researcher in this field.

Applications

TexRD was designed at first for graphic designers and cyber artists. Seen also as mathematical game, it allows science lovers to create new and original textures because the number of parameter combinations is nearly infinite. The interest of playing with a texture generator (discovering new patterns) also comes from the fact that many reaction–diffusion patterns cannot be predicted by the theory - except for the simplest models. They require multiple trials associating chance, observations and attempts to find the rules governing the effects of the various parameters. Such textures produced from computer simulations can be used to create abstract images for postal cards, front pages, bindings, paper bookmarks, wallpapers, as well as new ideas for decoration patterns. Computer graphics experts also use the textures to cover virtual objects and make them look more realistic (see ray tracing software such as

POV-Ray The Persistence of Vision Ray Tracer, most commonly acronymed as POV-Ray, is a cross-platform ray-tracing program that generates images from a text-based scene description. It was originally based on DKBTrace, written by David Kirk Buck and Aaro ...

and the example below). Image:Stones covered by texrd textures 1.jpg, Using reactiondiffusion textures produced with TexRD to cover virtual objects (an example provided with installation files). This simple scene was rendered by POV-Ray software.

History

Luc Decker created the first version of TexRD in October 2002, following some ideas initially developed during his PhD entitled " Random structure models based on Reaction–Diffusion" (1999, "Ecole des Mines de Paris", France). The current version of the software (0.4 beta) was released in July 2003.

Operating systems

English and French versions are available for Windows (all versions).

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emulator allows Linux users to run the software without known problem.

Licence

TexRD is free for non-commercial use.

External links

TexRD homepagePOV-Ray homepage

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Texrd Graphics software