The Visual Parameter Space: Nine Dimensions of Your Painting

Every DevPaint artwork is defined by nine base parameters — numerical values derived from your code's metrics that control every aspect of the visual result. These parameters are the bridge between code analysis and visual output. They're grouped into four families: Composition (how the space is used), Color (what you see), Texture (how it feels), and Mood (the emotional register). Together, they create a unique coordinate in a nine-dimensional visual space. No two codebases occupy the same point.

Density determines how much of the canvas is filled with visual elements. Low density creates airy, spacious compositions with breathing room. High density packs the canvas with detail — every corner alive with visual information. Focal points determine the number of visual centers that draw the eye — from a single dominant subject (1) to a complex scene with multiple areas of interest (up to 7). A simple function might produce a single, strong focal point. A complex system might create a constellation of visual centers.

Saturation controls color intensity — from muted, nearly grayscale tones to vivid, eye-catching color. Brightness sets the overall lightness or darkness of the palette. Contrast determines the difference between the lightest and darkest elements — high contrast creates drama, low contrast creates harmony. These three parameters together define the color personality of your artwork. Complex code with deep nesting might produce high saturation and contrast. Clean, simple code might produce gentle brightness with moderate saturation.

Stroke intensity controls the visibility and energy of brushwork. Low stroke intensity creates smooth, blended surfaces. High stroke intensity makes individual brushstrokes visible and expressive — think Van Gogh's swirling skies. Layering determines the visual depth — how many overlapping elements create the sense of a painting built up over time. Single-layer compositions feel direct and immediate. Multi-layered compositions feel rich and complex, like looking through stained glass.

Energy captures the sense of movement and dynamism in the composition. Low energy creates still, contemplative scenes. High energy produces swirling, active compositions with a sense of motion. Warmth controls the color temperature — warm tones (reds, oranges, yellows) versus cool tones (blues, greens, purples). These two parameters together set the emotional register of the piece. An energetic, warm artwork feels passionate and alive. A calm, cool artwork feels serene and thoughtful.

Each parameter value maps to human-readable descriptions that help you understand what you're seeing. A density above 0.7 is described as "densely packed." A warmth below 0.3 is "cool-toned." These descriptions appear on your artwork's detail page, giving you insight into how your code was interpreted. The nine parameters also interact — high energy combined with high contrast creates visual excitement, while low energy with low saturation creates meditative calm. The combinations are what make each piece unique.