Lava Lamp

Warm blobs self-organize over a deep blue glow.

Pixel Scenes · a single painted seed plus one Phlux rule, simulated live · 96×96 grid

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.

PARAM _contrast = 35; LET _a = {AVG,(-1:1,-1:1).R}; LET _r = {SAT, _a + (_a - 127) * _contrast * 0.01}; [255, _r, {SAT, _r * 0.55 - 45}, {SAT, (70 - _r * 0.28)}]

Paste it into the Rule Editor, or pick Lava Lamp from the template list and skip the typing.

Make it yourself

1. Open Phluxel and start a new field, or click Lava Lamp in the starter gallery to get this exact setup.
2. Turn Wrap edges on — this one is toroidal, so motion that leaves one side comes back on the other.
3. Press play. Change colours or numbers while it runs; you never have to stop and restart.
4. Export a seamless loop as GIF, APNG, MP4, a PNG sequence, or a sprite sheet.