Seeded depth layers place a field of translucent bell forms. A contraction clock changes each bell's geometry while curved trailing filaments respond to the same current, so pulse, scale and drift remain connected rather than using a moving video background. Bell geometry, depth ordering and trailing curves are already connected to a deterministic clock. A plain prompt would still leave the animation rig, parameter validation and editable export to build.

Uses PopNow for
Music & voice · Images
Needs
Node.js · FFmpeg · Chrome

Generation is optional when you have suitable input material.

v1.0.0 · Updated Oct 26, 2026 · 132 KB · Use it for personal and client work; please don't resell or share the package.

What you get

  1. An editable 20-second 720p film and native portrait project, silent.

  2. Local HTML playback, H.264 export, a real-frame poster and contact sheet.

  3. Validated project inputs and protected export with a SHA receipt.

Good for

  • Jellyfish animation
  • Translucent motion graphics

Not for

  • An illustrative SVG organism study, not a biological simulation or a reconstructed 3D animal.
  • The supplied example is silent; this package does not generate an underwater recording.

How it works

Includes a local renderer

  1. Choose the story inputs

    Choose a population, current strength, pulse rate and seed in the project JSON. The supplied example is entirely procedural and needs no stock footage.

  2. Build and inspect the local preview

    Validate the project, then build the portable HTML player. Edit the source JSON and rebuild to change the actual geometry or motion.

  3. Export and review the film

    Inspect bell rims, filament intersections and text contrast at full size. Confirm the foreground form remains legible through its contraction.

How the workflow runs

How Translucent Drift works

Seeded depth layers place a field of translucent bell forms. A contraction clock changes each bell's geometry while curved trailing filaments respond to the same current, so pulse, scale and drift remain connected rather than using a moving video background.

What's inside the skill

What you can change

  • Population from 4 to 24 changes the number of actual forms.
  • Current strength changes lateral drift and filament curvature.
  • Pulse rate changes the contraction clock.
  • Seed changes the depth and position distribution.

What to review before delivery

  • The self-check verifies that a structural input changes frame geometry and rejects a documented invalid case.
  • Output protection rejects collisions with source files and existing sidecars; the exporter checks actual decoded frame count and format.
  • Inspect bell rims, filament intersections and text contrast at full size. Confirm the foreground form remains legible through its contraction. This visual review is manual.

See the package files

These are selected working files from this edition, with their actual role. The complete download also contains instructions and applicable license notices.

  • The specific mechanism, frame geometry and input validation.

    scripts/composition.mjs
  • Protected MP4 export, decoded-format checks and a hash receipt.

    scripts/render.mjs
  • The complete editable wide example; portrait has a separate project.

    examples/project.json
  • Normal, changed-structure and invalid-input checks.

    scripts/selftest.mjs
  • Input ranges, assumptions and manual art review.

    references/inputs.md

Why use this skill

Start with this package

Bell geometry, depth ordering and trailing curves are already connected to a deterministic clock. A plain prompt would still leave the animation rig, parameter validation and editable export to build.

What PopNow adds

Use PopNow for the missing Music & voice, Images in this workflow. Keep adequate material you already own, then bring new assets back into the editing and assembly steps described here.

Compare the options

A prompt, your own skill, or this workflow?

Start with a prompt

Your agent can create from a plain request. The brief, visual rules, asset choices, output format and review process still need to be established for that project.

Write your own skill

You choose and maintain the reusable instructions, defaults, file structure and checks. This is useful when your process needs different rules or integrations.

A workflow created for PopNow

This workflow was built for PopNow. Its source files, included dependencies and applicable notices are part of the package; the scope described below belongs to this edition.

Guide reviewed Oct 25, 2026

What will this cost?

A new ambient soundscape is optional. Quote it through PopNow and mix it below the finished picture; the bell forms require no generated images. Local rendering uses the user’s installed tools and computer.

Generation is optional when you have suitable input material. Free skill. New media is quoted before it runs.

The skill package

Free to install under your account's download allowance. The package license covers your own and client work; redistribution is excluded.

Existing assets and local work

Reusing suitable assets, editing files and running local assembly do not call a PopNow generation model. Your computer and any required runtime still do the work.

New AI images, clips or sound

Quoted for the actual model, inputs, count, duration and resolution. Extra alternatives, revisions or optional enhancement passes can add generation requests.

Your agent and hosting

Any subscription, hosted computer, deployment or other provider fee belongs to that service. Installing this skill does not include those services.

Check the cost of your version first

Your assistant can inspect the available models and quote the exact request first. You choose which optional passes to include and approve spending before generation.

Ask your assistant

  • Use the PopNow skill "Translucent Drift" for my project. List the inputs you can reuse, quote only the missing media, show the quoted total and flag any unpriced steps. Separate optional enhancements, and wait for my approval before starting anything paid.

How PopNow billing works

Connections using a PopNow API key, including API-key MCP connections, spend from the separate API balance in USD. A ChatGPT or Claude connection authorized through OAuth spends website credits. These balances are separate; the quote shown by your connection is the approval basis.

Download allowances and current account conditions apply. A free package does not mean unlimited free generation.

How to use it

You say

  • Use the PopNow skill "Translucent Drift" (translucent-drift) for this: Render the supplied example, then make a second film with population set to 8. Show the changed result and quote any optional media before generation.

Then try

  • Render a native portrait version and inspect the framing.

  • Keep the local artwork and quote an optional soundtrack through PopNow.

What to have ready

  • Choose a population, current strength, pulse rate and seed in the project JSON. The supplied example is entirely procedural and needs no stock footage.
  • Node.js 22.12+, Chrome or Chromium, FFmpeg and ffprobe.
  • The new film examples use ASCII text. Accents and other scripts need a suitable font plus input and layout adjustments.

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Questions

What actually makes this animation work?

Seeded depth layers place a field of translucent bell forms. A contraction clock changes each bell's geometry while curved trailing filaments respond to the same current, so pulse, scale and drift remain connected rather than using a moving video background.

What can I change without generating new media?

Population from 4 to 24 changes the number of actual forms. Current strength changes lateral drift and filament curvature. Pulse rate changes the contraction clock. Seed changes the depth and position distribution.

What costs extra?

A new ambient soundscape is optional. Quote it through PopNow and mix it below the finished picture; the bell forms require no generated images. Local rendering uses your own computer and installed dependencies.

What is already packaged in Translucent Drift?

The specific mechanism, frame geometry and input validation. Protected MP4 export, decoded-format checks and a hash receipt. The complete editable wide example; portrait has a separate project. Normal, changed-structure and invalid-input checks. Input ranges, assumptions and manual art review.

Which parts of Translucent Drift can add a charge?

A new ambient soundscape is optional. Quote it through PopNow and mix it below the finished picture; the bell forms require no generated images. Local rendering uses the user’s installed tools and computer. Connections using a PopNow API key, including API-key MCP connections, spend from the separate API balance in USD. A ChatGPT or Claude connection authorized through OAuth spends website credits. These balances are separate; the quote shown by your connection is the approval basis.

How does Translucent Drift differ from writing a prompt or my own skill?

Bell geometry, depth ordering and trailing curves are already connected to a deterministic clock. A plain prompt would still leave the animation rig, parameter validation and editable export to build.