Playing with Particle Flow Fields

I’ve been working on a new little side project: a Particle Flow Fields app. It’s a tool where you can watch particles drift around in invisible currents, like dust in the wind. The “wind” comes from simple maths formulas that describe how particles should move in the x and y directions.

Each preset in the app is just two equations, but the results can be surprisingly complex. Some look smooth and wavy, while others spiral or scatter into chaotic patterns. I’ve included a mix of classic attractors (like Lorenz, Clifford, De Jong, Henon, and Ikeda) along with more experimental flows. They’re not mathematically exact — more like artistic remixes of the originals — but they capture the same flavour of chaos.

The fun part is that you can also write your own formulas. By combining x, y, and t with functions like Math.sin(), Math.cos(), and Math.hypot(), you can invent new flow fields and instantly see how particles behave. A few tweaks can completely change the feel of the system, from gentle waves to violent storms.

You can try it out here: Particle Flow Fields

This project sits alongside my other experiments like beep8, a retro game engine, and of course Brush Ninja. They’re all part of me exploring the space between creativity, code, and play.