class Particle{
PVector velocity, location; //PVector variables for each particle.
Particle(){ //Constructor - random location and speed for each particle.
velocity = new PVector(random(-0.5,0.5), random(-0.5,0.5));
location = new PVector(random(0,width),random(0,width));
}
void update() { location.add(velocity); } //Motion method.
void edge() { //Wraparound case for particles.
if (location.x > width) {location.x = 0;}
else if (location.x < 0) {location.x = width;}
if (location.y > height) {location.y = 0;}
else if (location.y < 0) {location.y = height;}
}
void display(ArrayList<Particle> p){ //Display method to show lines and ellipses between particles.
for(Particle other: p){ //For every particle in the ArrayList.
float d = PVector.dist(location,other.location); //Get distance between any two particle.
float a = 255 - d*2.5; //Map variable 'a' as alpha based on distance. E.g. if distance is high, d = 100, alpha is low, a = 255 - 225 = 30.
println("Lowest distance of any two particle =" + d); //Debug output.
if(d<112){ //If the distance of any two particle falls bellow 112.
noStroke(); //No outline.
fill(0,a); //Particle are coloured black, 'a' to vary alpha.
ellipse(location.x, location.y, 8, 8); //Draw ellipse based on location of particle.
stroke(0,a); //Lines are coloured black, 'a' to vary alpha.
strokeWeight(0.7);
line(location.x,location.y,other.location.x,other.location.y); //Draw line between four coordinates, between two particle.
}
}
}
}
ArrayList<Particle> particles = new ArrayList<Particle>(); //Create a new arraylist of type Particle.
void setup(){
size(640,640,P2D); //Setup frame of sketch.
particles.add(new Particle()); //Add five Particle elements into arraylist.
particles.add(new Particle());
particles.add(new Particle());
particles.add(new Particle());
particles.add(new Particle());
}
void draw(){
background(255); //Set white background.
for(Particle p: particles){ //For every 'p' of type Particle in arraylist particles.
p.update(); //Update location based on velocity.
p.display(particles); //Display each particle in relation to other particles.
p.edge(); //Wraparound if particle reaches edge of screen.
}
}
In the above code, there are to shape objects, lines and ellipses. The transparency of which are affected by variable a.
Variable 'a', or alpha, is extrapolated from 'd' which is distance. Hence, when the objects are further, the alpha value of the objects falls.
In this scenario, the alpha values of the line do not change over time e.g. fade with distance. However the ellipses seem to be stuck on alpha '255' despite having very similar code.
If the value of 'a' is hardcoded, e.g.
if(d<112){ //If the distance of any two particle falls bellow 112.
noStroke(); //No outline.
fill(0,100); //Particle are coloured black, set alpha 'a' to be 100, grey tint.
ellipse(location.x, location.y, 8, 8); //Draw ellipse based on location of particle.
the ellipses changes colour as expected to a grey tint.
Edit: I believe I have found the root of the issue. The variable 'a' does not discriminate between the particles that are being iterated. As such, the alpha might be stuck/adding up to 255.