So I got a few questions about that Javascript experiment, so I thought I’d add some explanation. In the process, I added some features to it.

So what’re all those variables, I was asked. And what do they mean?

To start with, this whole experiment was based on a traditional Islamic tiling pattern. I don’t know the actual origin, but I’m sure it goes way back.

So, step 1, you tile a plane with equilateral triangles. The number of triangles that fit across our page is what I called “Spacing.”

Next, you draw a circle at each intersection of lines. The size of the circle is “Radius” — in this model, a radius of 100% means that the neighboring circles touch.

Last, you divide each circle into twelve equal pieces. Then, according to some predetermined pattern, you connect the points on neighboring circles. Here’s a traditional pattern:

The only other variables of interest are “Column Radius Growth” and “Row Radius Growth” which is the percentage by which the radius of each circle changes depending on the number of the column or row (starting in the upper left-hand corner).

This time around, I’ve added a few different connection patterns.