Export Comparison
| Feature | Generator | Stencil | Masked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Save PNG | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Record WebM | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Export GIF | Yes | No | No |
| Fullscreen 1080p | Yes | No | No |
| Batch Record | Yes | No | No |
| Share URL | No | Yes | No |
PNG Snapshot
Available in all three simulators via the Save PNG button.- File:
shumi-physarum-{seed}.png - Resolution: Matches current canvas size
- Best for: Static backgrounds, social posts, print-ready assets
Stencil & Masked Compositing
In the Stencil and Masked, PNG capture composites all visible layers (background swarm, ghost afterimage, mascot physarum) into a single image. What you see is what you get.WebM Video
Available in all three simulators via the ● Record button.- Codec: VP9 at 60 FPS (falls back to VP8 if unsupported)
- Bitrate: 8 Mbps for high-quality output
- File:
shumi-physarum-{seed}.webm - Best for: Hero backgrounds, looping videos, social content
Converting WebM to MP4
Animated GIF (Generator Only)
The GIF exporter captures the live swarm, center-crops to a square, and encodes a looping animation.Settings
| Setting | Range | Default | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 128 – 720 px | 256px | Square output, suitable for avatars |
| Duration | 2 – 15 seconds | 4s | Shorter = smaller file size |
| FPS | 8 – 30 | 16 | Sweet spot 12–20 |
Size Guide
| Size | Use Case |
|---|---|
| 128 × 128 | Favicon, tiny embed, chat avatar |
| 256 × 256 | Standard avatar, profile picture |
| 480 × 480 | High-res profile, thumbnail |
| 720 × 720 | Social media post, full-size asset |
How to Export
- Let the swarm grow to a frame you like
- Set size, duration, and FPS
- Click Export GIF
- Wait for capture + encoding (progress shown)
- File downloads automatically
Fullscreen 1080p Recording (Generator Only)
Click Fullscreen Record (1080p) for 1080p output.- Hides the sidebar, resizes canvas to 1080 × 1080
- Hub stays at 35% from top (designed for hero backgrounds)
- Uses the clip length from the Recording Studio section
- UI restores automatically when done
- Best for: Website hero sections, presentations, brand assets
Recording Studio (Generator Only)
Seed Preview (Audition)
The fastest way to find your perfect swarm:- Click Preview Seeds. Random seeds cycle every 4 seconds.
- Press Space to bookmark the current seed (max 10)
- Canvas border flashes green on bookmark
- Click Stop Preview when done
- Bookmarked seeds appear as clickable links
Batch Recording
After bookmarking seeds:- Set Clip Length (5–60 seconds per seed)
- Click Batch Record Bookmarks
- Each seed records sequentially in fullscreen 1080p
- Files download one by one as each clip finishes
Share URL (Stencil Only)
The Stencil’s Share button copies a URL to clipboard that encodes the current seed, formation mode, and key stencil settings. See The Stencil for details on which parameters are encoded.Browser Compatibility
| Feature | Chrome | Firefox | Safari | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Live swarm | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| WebM recording | Yes | Yes | No* | Yes |
| GIF export | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| OffscreenCanvas (Stencil Worker) | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |