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Geometry effect

Mirror 2

Mirror 2 is a kaleidoscope and geometry effect in FRCTL, the browser VJ studio. Fills the whole frame from the center ~90% of the source (5% margin per side). 1:1 mirror tiles (no 2:1 squish): each column/row is a full-size slice of the crop, odd segments reversed. 0–5 steps; soft mix on main center seams.

Runs live on video, images, a camera or generated art. Stack it with any other effect, and route LFOs, envelopes or any of ten audio bands to its controls so it moves with the music.

Try Mirror 2 free All effects

The untouched demo art: an eye inside a triangle over wavy teal, blue and peach lines — Source

The eye art mirrored into panels: two triangles meet point to point on the left, a diamond sits in the right half — Mirror 2, default settings

What Mirror 2 does

Mirrors the picture at full size instead of squeezing it. The frame is cut into strips and every other strip is flipped back onto its neighbour, so different parts of the image meet at each fold and proportions never change. The Mix slider sets how many folds, Margin the trim, and Seam and Steps together soften the two centre fold lines.

Using Mirror 2

Where it works: Symmetrical portraits, Rorschach-style covers and set backdrops where the subject must keep its real proportions. The centre joins stay soft, so the fold reads as a reflection rather than a cut.
With the music: Nothing moves by itself. A bar-synced LFO on Margin breathes the reflection closer and back out, and B4 on Seam lets the low mids blur the centre joins.
Starting point: Mix slider just past centre, Margin at centre, Seam at three-quarters and Steps at centre for a soft centre join.

Controls

Margin: Trim margin scale on the mirrored crop.
Seam: Center seam blend weight.
Steps: Extra seam blend multiplier for multi-step mirrors.

Pairs well with Mirror 2