Animation Speed

You can drastically alter the appearance of a pattern by changing the animation speed. This is done primarily with the ConstantSpeed option.

A higher number will animate the pattern faster, making it look “squished”.
A lower number will animate the pattern slower, making it look “stretched”.

If you want to make a calm, relaxing Pattern with smooth color gradients, use a lower ConstantSpeed.
If you want to display a detailed image, use a higher Constant Speed.

You can alter the animation speed on the fly using the Special button on the remote control. This feature uses the speed values from the SpeedToggle option.

Having trouble conceptualizing how Designer turns a bitmap file into what you see? Try this: Navigate to a Mode with intricate patterns. Notice how when the prop is at rest the pattern looks like random, strobing lights. It’s only once you pick it up and swing it around that you see the image emerge in the light trails. This is because the image is two dimensional (i.e. has a width and a height) but the prop is one dimensional (i.e. it only has a width: the LED count). The LEDs can only display one row of the image at a time, just a little slice. Animation happens when we continuously switch to the next row hundreds of times per second. The speed with which we advance to the next row is ConstantSpeed: rows-per-second.