Do it yourself

Quick Fits

This is rough-and-ready. The Bud Workshop Program is much more sophisticated!

Adjust the geometric bud-form by dragging white points.

The “trick” for all these instances (except the vortex) is to place point C on the profile at the height of the maximum width of the bud-form,
but to do this after the “poles” have been placed on the tip and base of the bud-form.
It is generally rather more difficult to place the lower pole than to place the top pole.

A Beech in Outline, from Aberdeen, Scotland.

The Beech is slightly “bent”, but the geometry applied here is not, so there is a small but unavoidable mismatch of geometry and bud.

The Bud Workshop Program can deal with bent buds.

Please enable Java for an interactive construction (with Cinderella).

An Oak from Sydney, Australia

It is possible to secure a good match of geometry to bud for the top half of this Oak,
or for the bottom half, but not for top and bottom halves at the same time.

This is most usually an “advance warning” that a bud has begun the process of opening,
for this top/bottom disparity is generally not found when a bud is “young”,
and manifests only as the budding season approaches its conclusion.

Please enable Java for an interactive construction (with Cinderella).

A Tulip in Outline

A good match may be obtained to the profiles individually,
but not such a good match to both at the same time.

This is usual, and simply confirms the obvious—that a tulip, like all buds, is a composite thing.

Please enable Java for an interactive construction (with Cinderella).

Path Curve Geometry also works for real Vortices,

though this picture of a pond-vortex is not the best example, because the the vortex is seen obliquely and in perspective from somewhere nearby, while the geometry is restricted to the architect's beloved "side elevation", namely, a view from infinity through infinitely powerful binoculars!

Thus, these views can't be expected to match very well without appropriate adaptation—but one can form the notion that such adaptation is possible (as, indeed, it is). The exercise also serves to highlight some of the technical difficulties attendant on this work..

Please enable Java for an interactive construction (with Cinderella).

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Quick Fits This is rough-and-ready. The Bud Workshop Program is much more sophisticated!
Adjust the geometric bud-form by dragging white points. The “trick” for all these instances (except the vortex) is to place point C on the profile at the height of the maximum width of the bud-form, but to do this after the “poles” have been placed on the tip and base of the bud-form. It is generally rather more difficult to place the lower pole than to place the top pole.
A Beech in Outline, from Aberdeen, Scotland. The Beech is slightly “bent”, but the geometry applied here is not, so there is a small but unavoidable mismatch of geometry and bud. The Bud Workshop Program can deal with bent buds. Please enable Java for an interactive construction (with Cinderella).	An Oak from Sydney, Australia It is possible to secure a good match of geometry to bud for the top half of this Oak, or for the bottom half, but not for top and bottom halves at the same time. This is most usually an “advance warning” that a bud has begun the process of opening, for this top/bottom disparity is generally not found when a bud is “young”, and manifests only as the budding season approaches its conclusion. Please enable Java for an interactive construction (with Cinderella).
A Tulip in Outline A good match may be obtained to the profiles individually, but not such a good match to both at the same time. This is usual, and simply confirms the obvious—that a tulip, like all buds, is a composite thing. Please enable Java for an interactive construction (with Cinderella).	Path Curve Geometry also works for real Vortices, though this picture of a pond-vortex is not the best example, because the the vortex is seen obliquely and in perspective from somewhere nearby, while the geometry is restricted to the architect's beloved "side elevation", namely, a view from infinity through infinitely powerful binoculars! Thus, these views can't be expected to match very well without appropriate adaptation—but one can form the notion that such adaptation is possible (as, indeed, it is). The exercise also serves to highlight some of the technical difficulties attendant on this work.. Please enable Java for an interactive construction (with Cinderella).
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