Great software for Tilings, Patterns, Symmetry

Xah Lee, 1997, 2010-05-01

This page lists some wonderful, interactive, visual, easy-to-use software that generates decorative planar patterns or its study. In particular, software that draws periodic tilings, penrose tilings, Arabic weavings, or drawing programs that draw based on mathematical analysis of symmetry.

Kali (wallpaper symmetry)

Kali ( Mac Classic screenshot) is a freeware by Jeff Weeks. It is a interactive program for drawing figures of plane symmetry. The program is so appealing that it is suitable for grade-level kids too. A user selected symmetry pattern automatically appears based on whatever you draw on the screen. Mac and Windows versions at: http://www.geometrygames.org/Kali/index.html.MacWin

Escher Web Sketch (wallpaper symmetry)

Escher Web Sketch. This is a Java program that lets user interactively draw symmetrical patterns. By Wes Hardaker and Gervais Chapuis, at Source Java

Taprats (Islamic Patterns Generator)

Taprats (2002-10) is a Java applet that generates Islamic patterns. Excellent. By Craig S Kaplan, at Source. Java

Also check out his thesis work. 〈Computer Graphics and Geometric Ornamental Design〉 (2002), By Craig S Kaplan. PhD thesis, at http://www.cgl.uwaterloo.ca/~csk/phd/.

Tyler (tiling)

Tyler is a Java applet that draw tilings. It is written by Melinda Green and Don Hatch, at superliminal.com Java

Bob (Penrose tiling)

Bob is a Windows program that does Penrose tilings, by Stephen Collins at stephencollins.net Win