Aurora Background
A procedural background built from softly moving gradient bars.
- Category
- Visual effect
- Year
- 2026
- Status
- Experiment
What it is
A calm atmospheric layer made without video or canvas.
Aurora Background arranges a row of vertical gradient bars and continuously changes their heights. Together, the bars form a soft arch that moves like a distant field of light.
It is intended as a supporting visual rather than the main interaction. The restrained speed keeps it present without competing with content placed above it.
Design decisions
How separate bars become one continuous atmosphere.
Blended movement
Each bar combines an overall arch with two offset sine waves. The shared structure keeps the group coherent while the smaller differences prevent the movement from feeling mechanical.
Gradient depth
Multiple OKLCH color stops fade into transparency toward the top. This creates depth inside each bar and allows the separate shapes to read as one field.
Transform scaling
Every bar keeps a stable layout size and changes through vertical scale from its bottom edge. This avoids recalculating the surrounding layout on every frame.
Controlled variation
Bar count, color, speed, spacing, blur, and direction remain configurable. The same motion system can move from a quiet glow to a more graphic background without changing its structure.
Continue exploring
Another experiment that turns repeated elements into one composition.