Processing: Creative Coding and Computational Art

PROCESSING: CREATIVE CODING AND COMPUTATIONAL ART
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The vertex() function takes either two or three arguments (of type int or float), for
coordinates in 2D or 3D, respectively:
vertex(x, y)
vertex(x, y, z)
This chapter will only look at vertices in two dimensions; in later chapters, you’ll plot forms
in 3D. Here’s a really simple example of the vertex() function in action, using the POINTS
mode (see Figure 6-31):
size(300, 300);
background(0);
stroke(255);
strokeWeight(5);
beginShape(POINTS);
vertex(50, 50);
vertex(width-50, 50);
vertex(width-50, height-50);
vertex(50, height-50);
vertex(width/2, height/2);
endShape();
Figure 6-31. POINTS mode sketch example
This is not a very impressive example, and I believe it shows that using the vertex() function
to generate points doesn’t offer much advantage over using the good old point()
function covered earlier. You’ll notice that the vertex() calls occur between the
beginShape() and endShape() function calls. In a sense, the beginShape() function begins
recording drawing instructions, and the endShape() function stops recording and then
renders the drawing data to the screen. As usual, Processing makes this stuff look incredibly