Moiré Squares: nested teal squares crossing into an X
Moiré Squares overlaps two sets of deep teal concentric squares on chalk, the second shifted slightly off center and turned by a hair. Where their edges fall in and out of step, crisp diagonal crosses appear from corner to corner, a figure drawn by the interference rather than by either set of squares. On Counterflow the two centers circle each other every 7.5 seconds, so the crosses slide and bend across the frame.
Make it yours
Refine the contours
Pattern density sets how tightly the squares nest. Raise it to 80 and the contours grow finer while extra fringes appear beside the main cross; lower it to 20 for chunky bands and a single bold X.
Let the centers breathe
Motion behavior is Counterflow, which makes the centers orbit. Choose Breathe and they hold their angle but drift apart and back together instead, so the crosses split into more fringes and merge again.
FAQ
Why do the crosses in Moiré Squares form along the diagonals?
Both sets of squares turn their corners along the diagonals, where each contour switches from a horizontal side to a vertical one. Along those lines the spacing of the two sets changes abruptly, so the interference fringes break there and gather into a crisp cross.
How it works
Choose a starting point
Start from one of 16 looks such as Riley Current, Cobalt Tunnel or Moiré Twins, or pick one of 8 pattern geometries, from Halftone and Checkerboard to Moiré and Weave.
Bend the pattern
Pick a Mark shape and a Distortion field such as Lens, Pinch, Fold or Twist, set Pattern density, Mark weight, Spatial depth, Wave distortion and Color separation, then drag the artwork to position it.
Loop it and use it
Press Play to run a seamless Flow, Breathe or Counterflow loop, set the two inks, Light color and Backlight, then sign in with a free UX Pilot account to use it on the canvas or export it.