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Spiral of Random

October 21, 2013 | Algorithms
#grasshopper #pattern #random #spiral

Grasshopper still surprises me. This definition draws a spiral by using a random component. It is obvious that the seed value of the random component has a relationship with an archimedean or a similar spiral. My intention was to create a definition to put a number of random points inside a circular area, not a rectangular one. While I grow the radius of a circle and get a t parameter evaluation from a random component using the same seed value with the radius, the resulting points started to create this spiral. It was interesting to see the (pseudo)random behavior of the component. Below you see the animation with seeds changing from 0 to 128 and getting the first random output.

Spiral of Random animation

Within the same domain, below takes the second random value, and again another beautiful pattern emerges;

However, I solved my real problem by fixing the seed value. Again, the mistake became more significant than the problem.

Spiral of Random Grasshopper definition

If you want a more “random-like” result, you may use the good old random methods of getting seed values from a physical input such as time. The calculation of milliseconds might be a good choice. Below is a definition that gets the seed value of a random component from the actual milliseconds of any action. This would cause better randomness if you like.Don’t worry about the algorithm tickler, its output value is useless, all I want is a manual timer execution so that the random values are always fired by the actual millisecond value exactly when you tickle the Grasshopper.

Spiral of Random Grasshopper definition
Grasshopper definition (GHX)Download
Grasshopper definition (GHX)Download

Cite this post

Yazar, T. (2013, October 21). Spiral of Random. designcoding. Retrieved August 24, 2026, from https://www.designcoding.net/spiral-of-random/

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