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azlen/initialis

Browser-based generator that draws endless ornamental drop caps and illuminated initials, which you can explore, bookmark, and download.

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What is it?

INITIĀLIS is a static web app for exploring decorative initial letters, the large ornamented capitals used at the start of text blocks in illuminated manuscripts and printed books. Each initial is generated live in the browser from a letter, a frame and ground, an ornament, a texture, and two or three ink colours printed onto a paper background, so no image is stored in advance.

You drag across an endless field to browse, click an initial to generate variations of it, and bookmark favourites to collect them. Single initials or whole collections can be downloaded as PNGs at several sizes, animated WebP or MP4 growth clips, and JSON settings, or shared as links. A library script lets other pages embed the same initials from a share link or settings object, and the renderer is modular so new patterns and frames can be added as separate files.

The site needs WebGL2 in web workers, and the aged-page preview uses WebGPU with a flat fallback. It has no build step, so the folder can be served by any static file server.

Key features

  • 01Generates each initial live in the browser from letter, frame, ornament, texture and ink settings.
  • 02Explore an endless canvas and generate variations of a chosen initial.
  • 03Bookmark favourites and download or share them as a collection.
  • 04Export PNGs at several sizes, animated WebP or MP4 growth clips, and JSON settings.
  • 05Embed initials in other pages with a small library script or from settings objects.
  • 06Add new patterns and frames as separate modules.

Use cases

  • Finding a decorative drop cap for a printed or web page design.
  • Creating illuminated-style letters for invitations, posters or book chapter openings.
  • Embedding generated initials in a website from a share link or settings file.
  • Exploring historical and modern ornamental lettering styles for design inspiration.

Quick start

  1. 1

    Install Python 3 if you do not already have it

  2. 2

    Serve the project folder with a static web server

    python3 -m http.server 8000
  3. 3

    Open the local address in a WebGL2-capable browser

Things to know

  • The site needs WebGL2 in web workers, so older browsers will not work.
  • The In context feature needs WebGPU and falls back to a flat page without it.

Topics

#typography#generative-art#drop-caps#webgl#canvas#design#javascript

FAQ

What is initialis?
Browser-based generator that draws endless ornamental drop caps and illuminated initials, which you can explore, bookmark, and download. INITIĀLIS is a static web app for exploring decorative initial letters, the large ornamented capitals used at the start of text blocks in illuminated manuscripts and printed books. Each initial is generated live in the browser from a letter, a frame and ground, an ornament, a texture, and two or three ink colours printed onto a paper background, so no image is stored in advance.
Is initialis free to use? What license does it have?
initialis is open source under the MIT license. Check the license terms before using it in commercial products.
Is initialis still maintained?
Actively maintained. The last commit to initialis was on Oct 31, 2026.
What can I use initialis for?
Finding a decorative drop cap for a printed or web page design. Creating illuminated-style letters for invitations, posters or book chapter openings. Embedding generated initials in a website from a share link or settings file. Exploring historical and modern ornamental lettering styles for design inspiration.
How do I install initialis?
Install Python 3 if you do not already have it Serve the project folder with a static web server: python3 -m http.server 8000 Open the local address in a WebGL2-capable browser
Where can I get initialis?
The source code and installation instructions are on GitHub: https://github.com/azlen/initialis

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