Kaleider manipulates images (and videos) to emulate various Kaleidoscope, Mirroring, 3D Mirroring and Funneling effects. It is a capable graphics tool for people who are interested in symmetry, tiling, tessellation and mosaic patterns, with controls for manipulating images and tiles. Effects can be shifted interactively with the mouse, essentially re-rendering the same effect based on different relative positions within the source image, allowing you to experiment with the results and decide when a picture suits your taste. Multiple patterns can be combined to create composite Pattern Combo images. High resolution images can be displayed and saved with flexible options.

Aside from any usefulness though, Kaleider is really just entertaining and fascinating to watch while in Automatic Effects mode, with an endless variety of randomly selected effects wandering across the screen according to randomly selected patterns. The Rooms feature exhibits Kaleider patterns in 3D perspectives, optionally with automated Roaming motion. In Mask/Mandala mode rendered patterns are merged with a background color or image, based on a shape or stencil. This visual experience can be accompanied by music from the built-in Audio Player. Kaleider display sequences can be captured to Video, and actions can be Scripted to create choreographed performances of dynamic art, optionally controlled via a MIDI device.

In addition to standard images, Video Files, Video Devices (webcams, camcorders, TV tuners, etc.) and Image Sequence animations can be used to provide moving input for Kaleider effects. A Video File, Video Device or Image Sequence can be opened much like a normal image file, and will be displayed and played in the main Kaleider window. A small Movie Controls panel is available at the upper right corner of the screen to control how the Movie is played. Kaleider effects can then be selected and rendered as usual. Rendered effects will be continuously updated with each Movie frame.

The Kaleid Tools panel can reside along the right edge of the screen. It contains convenient buttons for the most common functions and Kaleider effects. The main Kaleider Menu and Windows Taskbar can thus be hidden to make the full screen available for displaying images and rendering effects. A Popup Menu, accessed by right-clicking the mouse, provides another alternative for selecting Kaleider Menu options. An optional Edit Tools bar along the bottom of the screen provides handy controls for manipulating images and tiles.

Kaleider effects can be mapped onto various non-flat, curved Surfaces. The button on the Kaleid Tools panel can be clicked to access a popup menu from which a Surface can be chosen. Other than the standard Flat Surface, effects will tend to appear distorted when tiled over a Surface, sometimes rather drastically.

Platform: Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows 2003, Windows Vista

System Requirements: There is no specific requirements