kScope

A kaleidoscope starts with small objects — glass beads, colored stones, translucent shards. Let's begin with just one.

Every pebble has a shape, a color, and some transparency. Try changing the controls to see how different shapes look when made of colored glass.

Real kaleidoscopes hold dozens of small pieces. Each one is unique — different shapes, sizes, and colors, scattered randomly inside a small chamber.

The seed controls which random arrangement you get. Same seed, same pattern — every time. Change it to discover new arrangements.

Now the magic begins. A kaleidoscope places mirrors at angles to reflect the objects. Let's start with a single mirror.

One side shows the original pebbles; the other shows their reflection. Notice how the reflected image creates an instant sense of symmetry and order from random pieces.

A real kaleidoscope uses two or three mirrors at precise angles. When mirrors meet at 60°, you get 6-fold symmetry — the classic hexagonal pattern. At 45°, 8-fold. At 30°, 12-fold.

The formula is simple: symmetry = 360° / mirror angle. Drag the slider to see how increasing the number of reflections transforms a few random pieces into intricate mandalas.

When you rotate a real kaleidoscope, gravity pulls the pieces to new positions. They slide, tumble, collide, and settle — creating a new pattern every time.

Drag anywhere on the canvas to rotate the kaleidoscope. Watch how the pieces fall and rearrange. The pattern is never quite the same twice.

Everything comes together. Shape generation, mirrors, physics — all at once. This is your kaleidoscope to play with.

Customize everything: the number of mirrors, the types of pieces, the colors, the physics. When you find a pattern you love, take a screenshot or copy the URL to share it.