drawing the average N-letter word using processing.py

draw_average_word.py

import array

wordlen = 8
charwidth = 32
charheight = 64

def fillbuf(pg, font, word, buffer):
  pg.beginDraw()
  pg.background(0)
  pg.fill(255)
  pg.textAlign(LEFT, TOP)
  pg.textFont(font)
  pg.textSize(charwidth)
  pg.text(word, 0, 0)
  pg.endDraw()
  for y in range(charheight):
    for x in range(charwidth*wordlen):
      buffer[x + y*(charwidth*wordlen)] += red(pg.get(x, y))

class Sketch(object):
  def setup(self):
    size(640, 480)

  def draw(self):
    font = createFont("Menlo", charwidth)
    words = [word.strip() for word in open('wordlist.txt') if len(word.strip()) == wordlen]
    buffer = array.array('d', [0.0] * (wordlen*charwidth * charheight))
    pg = createGraphics(wordlen*charwidth, charheight, JAVA2D)
    for i, word in enumerate(words):
      if i % 50 == 0:
        print word
      fillbuf(pg, font, word, buffer)
    background(0)
    noStroke()
    for y in range(charheight):
      for x in range(charwidth*wordlen):
        val = buffer[x + y*(charwidth*wordlen)]
        fillval = (val / len(words))
        fill(fillval)
        rect(x, y, 1, 1)
    noLoop()
    save('output-%d.png' % wordlen)

sketch = Sketch()
def setup():
  sketch.setup()
def draw():
  sketch.draw()