Espresso Ritual

An espresso machine pours while the cup steams.

Astra Kinetic · every moving shape in it is evaluated by the rule, not drawn · 256×192 grid · 48-step seamless loop

The rule that makes it move

This is the whole thing. Phluxel runs it on every cell, every step — the animation is what happens when you repeat it. BASE is the painted scene, so the rule reads the artwork instead of its own output and never smears.

// Astra scene. _sx/_sy rescale the 256x192 coordinates to any grid size.
PARAM _motion=1
LET _sx = 256/GW
LET _sy = 192/GH
LET _p={FRAC,TICK*_motion/48}
LET _t=_p*6.283185307179586
LET _r=BASE.R
LET _g=BASE.G
LET _b=BASE.B
LET _m1=(X*_sx>96 & X*_sx<102 & Y*_sy>87 & Y*_sy<116) ? 1 : 0
LET _r1=_m1 ? 165 : _r
LET _g1=_m1 ? 121 : _g
LET _b1=_m1 ? 73 : _b
LET _m2=(X*_sx>98 & X*_sx<101 & Y*_sy>88 & Y*_sy<115 & {FRAC,Y*_sy/9-_p*4}<.35) ? 1 : 0
LET _r2=_m2 ? 215 : _r1
LET _g2=_m2 ? 175 : _g1
LET _b2=_m2 ? 113 : _b1
LET _v0={FRAC,_p+0.0}
LET _sy0=121-55*_v0
LET _sx0=202+5*{SIN,_t+0.0}
LET _m3=({ABS,Y*_sy-_sy0}<6 & {ABS,X*_sx-_sx0-2*{SIN,Y*_sy*.3+_t}}<1.2 & Y*_sy<121) ? 1 : 0
LET _r3=_m3 ? 233 : _r2
LET _g3=_m3 ? 221 : _g2
LET _b3=_m3 ? 197 : _b2
LET _v1={FRAC,_p+0.3333333333333333}
LET _sy1=121-55*_v1
LET _sx1=202+5*{SIN,_t+2.1}
LET _m4=({ABS,Y*_sy-_sy1}<6 & {ABS,X*_sx-_sx1-2*{SIN,Y*_sy*.3+_t}}<1.2 & Y*_sy<121) ? 1 : 0
LET _r4=_m4 ? 233 : _r3
LET _g4=_m4 ? 221 : _g3
LET _b4=_m4 ? 197 : _b3
LET _v2={FRAC,_p+0.6666666666666666}
LET _sy2=121-55*_v2
LET _sx2=202+5*{SIN,_t+4.2}
LET _m5=({ABS,Y*_sy-_sy2}<6 & {ABS,X*_sx-_sx2-2*{SIN,Y*_sy*.3+_t}}<1.2 & Y*_sy<121) ? 1 : 0
LET _r5=_m5 ? 233 : _r4
LET _g5=_m5 ? 221 : _g4
LET _b5=_m5 ? 197 : _b4
A=255
R=_r5
G=_g5
B=_b5

The coordinates are written for the 256×192 canvas this was painted on; _sx/_sy rescale them, so the same rule works on a smaller grid too. Download the script ↓

Make it yourself

1. Open Phluxel, select Browse Starters and pick Espresso Ritual — that loads the painted scene and this rule together.
2. Press play, then drag the _motion knob while it runs. You never have to stop and restart.
3. Paint over the scene, or drop the rule on your own artwork — it reads whatever is underneath.
4. Export GIF or an image sequence on Free; Pro also unlocks APNG, MP4 and sprite sheets. Use ping-pong or crossfade when the simulation does not return to its first frame.