Show HN: Inkwash, a watercolor sketching app and explanation (johnowhitaker.github.io)

A developer has launched Inkwash, a watercolor sketching app that leverages Anthropic's Claude Fable 5 model to create an interactive watercolor experience within a web browser. This unique tool enables users to simulate painting with watercolors, adding artistic effects such as smudging and pigment bleeding, akin to traditional watercolor techniques. The app’s development began as an exploration but evolved into a user-friendly platform showcasing the integration of AI with creative digital tools. Inkwash's significance lies in its technical innovations and the capabilities it offers artists and hobbyists. Utilizing a stack of floating-point textures managed through WebGL2 fragment shaders, the app simulates watercolor dynamics, including the behavior of wetness, pigment mobility, and pressure sensitivity. Techniques like Jos Stam's Stable Fluids for fluid motion and specific blending methods are used to mimic the natural behaviors of paint on different surfaces. This reflects a growing trend in the AI/ML community where machine learning aids in creative applications, opening new avenues for artistic expression and user engagement in digital environments.