A modification of the original Grappa applets by Paul Schmidinger for high-resolution screens. Each applet is optimized for resolutions of 1280×1024 and above, fitting in a browser at a snug 1265×860 pixels. So, what is Grappa? Grappa is a very fun Java applet which runs in your browser window. While in Grappa, you can make digital art, distract yourself, or simply mess around, but don’t go in unless you’re prepared to be distracted for at least half an hour! Grappa comes in six unique flavors…

Grappa: Delayed Trace

Many fire-red lines follow the mouse and create 3D-like forms. As the mouse slows down, the lines come closer to each other and turn bright yellow. As the mouse moves faster, the lines seperate and become dull orange. Playing with this is a bit like pushing lava around. Click to clear the screen.

Grappa: Galaxy Creator

Using the same color scheme and ideas as Delayed Trace, this seeks to allow the user to create awesome spirals. A single line follows the mouse and is always making a spiral shape. Move the mouse fast to make a large spiral galaxy shape, or fling the line softly to make small spiral galaxies. You can also make neat tornado effects. Click to clear the screen.

Grappa: White

Extremely similar to Delayed Trace, however the background is white and the lines are blue. The physics are also slightly different – the lines move a little faster and a little less fluid than Delayed Trace, making this more comparable to shoving a viscous liquid around. Click and hold to draw, and right click to clear the screen.

Grappa: BlueRandom

BlueRandom is Grappa’s Jackson Pollock. Everything is displayed in bright blue colors, and if you move the mouse too fast the lines, which now have paint-like physics, become so thin that you can hardly see them. However, when the mouse slows down, wonderful effects come into place that looks something like neon water flowing down a drain. Click to clear the screen.

Grappa: Rainbow

Similar once again to Delayed Trace, however everything is now colored rainbow. On top of that, the lines are always twisting around, making it hard to create smooth 3D tube shapes as it was in Delayed Trace. Also, like BlueRandom, if you move the mouse too fast the lines will be less visible. Ripple effects look nice here. Click to clear the screen.

Grappa: Sepia

I’m not even sure how to describe how this works. It’s much more like an artist’s tool than any of the others. It acts as an airbrush, and as you pile the “paint” on top of itself its contrast rises, eventually turning to white. Sometimes you can make the brush wider by flinging the mouse. If you move the mouse fast and stop it, the particles of “paint” will conglomerate around the mouse into a big white and brown mass. Click and hold to start drawing, and right click to clear the screen.

Find tons more of Paul’s work at his site, http://eigelb.at/. All credit for the original Grappa goes to him; I take none.