Caustics Pool

Pool light dancing on the floor

The light net that dances on the bottom of a swimming pool. Not a noise field with a blue tint: a real caustic construction. A wave surface refracts light, and the bright filaments are exactly the folds where the light rays pile up - they are computed, not drawn. That is why they pinch, split and reconnect the way real ones do. Three evaluations at slightly different refraction give colour fringes along the filament edges, the way water splits light. Perspective tilts the pool away from you so it reads as a floor rather than wallpaper. Flow direction and current drive the drift, and the far side moves slower. Filament width goes from fine hairs to broad ribbons, and water contrast darkens the depth without touching the light. WebGL, one pass, nothing loaded from outside. Honours prefers-reduced-motion and freezes on the Framer canvas.

Pool light dancing on the floor