Dynatext uses stroke-based letterforms as the raw input to a spring and mass simulation. A guide object is pulled along the letterform. Attached to the guide is a mass attached by a spring. The path traced out by the spring is drawn to create the letterform. Inspiration comes from Paul Haeberli's Dynadraw, which uses this technique as the basis for calligraphic drawing.
Type letters in from the keyboard. Two parameters (vertical sliders) may be used to modify the simulation:
Changing the slider on the left makes the spring constant stronger or weaker.
A spring constant of zero (top of slider) makes the stroke follow the
normal form of the letter.
Changing the slider on the right controls the damping of the mass. At the bottom of the slider,
the value is maximal, allowing no motion.
Modify these parameters by pulling the small block within the slider. You can
actually pull the block outside of the normal range - try negative values to
add energy to the system.
One additional control is a button which allows you to make the strokes separate or
connected. A dashed line indicates the separate state.
When you begin to fill up the screen, old characters will scroll upwards and away.
