Kaleidoscope Drawing
This kaleidoscope drawing tool lets you paint with a mouse, pen or finger while every stroke is repeated, rotated and mirrored around the centre, like a mandala. Save the result as a PNG.
Source: Wikipedia – Mandala (Drehsymmetrie). Updated: .
How it is calculated
With 12 segments and mirroring, every stroke is repeated 24 times: rotated twelve times and mirrored each time. In seconds you get a pattern that looks like a kaleidoscope.
How it works
The canvas is divided around the centre into equal segments. Every point of your stroke is rotated by 360° / n and copied into all segments. With “Mirror” each segment also gets a mirror image (kaleidoscope, dihedral symmetry). Without mirroring you keep pure rotational symmetry, as classic mandalas have. If you change the number of segments, mirroring or the background, the whole picture is recalculated.
Tips
- Short curved strokes near the centre make flowers; long lines outwards make stars and rays.
- With the rainbow gradient the colour changes along each stroke; without it the chosen pen colour applies.
- “Undo” removes the last stroke and “Random pattern” adds several strokes at once.
- The picture exists only in your browser and is never stored or sent.
Frequently asked questions
How do you draw a mandala online?
Choose the number of segments, turn mirroring off for a classic rotation pattern, then draw with a mouse or finger. Every stroke is repeated around the centre automatically.
What is the difference between a mandala and a kaleidoscope?
A mandala usually has pure rotational symmetry. A kaleidoscope also mirrors the pattern at the segment edges, which creates the typical stars. You switch between them with “Mirror”.
How many segments make sense?
Six to twelve is a good start. More segments look finer and denser, fewer look clearer and more graphic.
Can I print the mandala or colour it in?
Save it as a PNG and print it. To colour it in, choose a white background and thin black strokes.
Sources and legal basis
- Wikipedia – Mandala (Drehsymmetrie)
- Wikipedia – Kaleidoscope (mirror symmetry, dihedral group)
- MDN – Pointer Events (drawing with mouse, pen and touch)
As of: · Editorial policy
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