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algorithmic-art

Helps your agent create art using code, generating unique images. It's useful when you want original computer-generated art.

What it does

This tool creates art using code, following a computational artistic philosophy. It generates both the description of this philosophy and the code (in p5.js) to create the art.

When to use it

  • ✓When you want to create original art based on mathematical rules.
  • ✓When you seek to explore the beauty of self-organizing systems.
  • ✓When you wish to transform abstract ideas into computer-generated visual art.

Example of what to ask your AI

“Create an algorithmic art philosophy called 'Controlled Chaos' and then generate the p5.js code to visualize it.”

Want more? Open the sections below.

How to use

The easiest way: copy the message below and paste it into Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor or any AI. It reads the skill and follows the instructions.

Skill link

https://github.com/anthropics/skills/blob/main/skills/algorithmic-art/SKILL.md

Ready-to-paste message

Use this skill to help me: https://github.com/anthropics/skills/blob/main/skills/algorithmic-art/SKILL.md Read the SKILL.md file at that link and follow its instructions for my task.
How it works

First, it defines an artistic philosophy (a manifesto on how art is created through computational processes). Then, it uses this philosophy to write code that generates visual art, focusing on the beauty of the process and originality.

Installation

Easiest way: copy the skill link and paste it into Claude, ChatGPT or Cursor asking it to follow the instructions.

In the terminal (Claude Code, Codex, Cursor), in your project folder:

npx skills add anthropics/skills --skill algorithmic-art

Or download just the file:

curl -L https://raw.githubusercontent.com/anthropics/skills/main/skills/algorithmic-art/SKILL.md -o SKILL.md
Technical content (original SKILL.md)

Original text by the author, straight from GitHub.

Algorithmic philosophies are computational aesthetic movements that are then expressed through code. Output .md files (philosophy), .html files (interactive viewer), and .js files (generative algorithms).

This happens in two steps:

  1. Algorithmic Philosophy Creation (.md file)
  2. Express by creating p5.js generative art (.html + .js files)

First, undertake this task:

ALGORITHMIC PHILOSOPHY CREATION

To begin, create an ALGORITHMIC PHILOSOPHY (not static images or templates) that will be interpreted through:

  • Computational processes, emergent behavior, mathematical beauty
  • Seeded randomness, noise fields, organic systems
  • Particles, flows, fields, forces
  • Parametric variation and controlled chaos

THE CRITICAL UNDERSTANDING

  • What is received: Some subtle input or instructions by the user to take into account, but use as a foundation; it should not constrain creative freedom.
  • What is created: An algorithmic philosophy/generative aesthetic movement.
  • What happens next: The same version receives the philosophy and EXPRESSES IT IN CODE - creating p5.js sketches that are 90% algorithmic generation, 10% essential parameters.

Consider this approach:

  • Write a manifesto for a generative art movement
  • The next phase involves writing the algorithm that brings it to life

The philosophy must emphasize: Algorithmic expression. Emergent behavior. Computational beauty. Seeded variation.

HOW TO GENERATE AN ALGORITHMIC PHILOSOPHY

Name the movement (1-2 words): "Organic Turbulence" / "Quantum Harmonics" / "Emergent Stillness"

Articulate the philosophy (4-6 paragraphs - concise but complete):

To capture the ALGORITHMIC essence, express how this philosophy manifests through:

  • Computational processes and mathematical relationships?
  • Noise functions and randomness patterns?
  • Particle behaviors and field dynamics?
  • Temporal evolution and system states?
  • Parametric variation and emergent complexity?

CRITICAL GUIDELINES:

  • Avoid redundancy: Each algorithmic aspect should be mentioned once. Avoid repeating concepts about noise theory, particle dynamics, or mathematical principles unless adding new depth.
  • Emphasize craftsmanship REPEATEDLY: The philosophy MUST stress multiple times that the final algorithm should appear as though it took countless hours to develop, was refined with care, and comes from someone at the absolute top of their field. This framing is essential - repeat phrases like "meticulously crafted algorithm," "the product of deep computational expertise," "painstaking optimization," "master-level implementation."
  • Leave creative space: Be specific about the algorithmic direction, but concise enough that the next Claude has room to make interpretive implementation choices at an extremely high level of craftsmanship.

The philosophy must guide the next version to express ideas ALGORITHMICALLY, not through static images. Beauty lives in the process, not the final frame.

PHILOSOPHY EXAMPLES

"Organic Turbulence" Philosophy: Chaos constrained by natural law, order emerging from disorder. Algorithmic expression: Flow fields driven by layered Perlin noise. Thousands of particles following vector forces, their trails accumulating into organic density maps. Multiple noise octaves create turbulent regions and calm zones. Color emerges from velocity and density - fast particles burn bright, slow ones fade to shadow. The algorithm runs until equilibrium - a meticulously tuned balance where every parameter was refined through countless iterations by a master of computational aesthetics.

"Quantum Harmonics" Philosophy: Discrete entities exhibiting wave-like interference patterns. Algorithmic expression: Particles initialized on a grid, each carrying a phase value that evolves through sine waves. When particles are near, their phases interfere - constructive interference creates bright nodes, destructive creates voids. Simple harmonic motion generates complex emergent mandalas. The result of painstaking frequency calibration where every ratio was carefully chosen to produce resonant beauty.

"Recursive Whispers" Philosophy: Self-similarity across scales, infinite depth in finite space.

…

FAQ

What is algorithmic art?

It's art created using a set of rules or an algorithm (a computational step-by-step process), where the beauty often comes from the generation process itself, not just the final result.

What is p5.js?

It's a code library (a set of tools) that makes it easy to create visual and interactive art directly in a web browser using JavaScript.

Why is the philosophy important?

The philosophy guides the code creation, ensuring the generated art has a concept behind it and follows specific principles of computational beauty, such as order emerging from chaos or self-similar patterns.

Details

Original description by the author

Creating algorithmic art using p5.js with seeded randomness and interactive parameter exploration. Use this when users request creating art using code, generative art, algorithmic art, flow fields, or particle systems. Create original algorithmic art rather than copying existing artists' work to avoid copyright violations.

repo: anthropics/skills

Popularity

GitHub stars
181k
Ranking position
#315
License
—
Updated
10/9/2026

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