4 Computer Algorithms for Star Pattern Construction

Abstract

The primary purpose of this book is to demonstrate the historical development, range, sophistication, and structure of Islamic geometric patterns. Throughout the exposition, it has been taken for granted that these patterns could simply be conjured into existence as computer-based drawings, with no hint at the provenance of those drawings. As it happens, the figures in this book have been produced almost entirely “by hand”; that is, they were created via manual interaction with drawing software. And indeed, a sufficiently proficient computer user should have no difficulty reproducing most of the drawings in this book by hand using software such as Adobe® Illustrator®, the freely available Inkscape, or (in Jay Bonner’s case) Rhino3D® and AutoCAD®.