---
name: "rorschach"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "xscreensaver"
version: "3.34-3"
release: "Debian 3.0 (Woody)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/rorschach"
---

# rorschach(1)

simulate ink-blot patterns

## NAME

rorschach - simulate ink-blot patterns

## SYNOPSIS

**rorschach** \[-display *host:display.screen*\] \[-foreground *color*\] \[-background *color*\] \[-window\] \[-root\] \[-mono\] \[-install\] \[-visual *visual*\] \[-iterations *integer*\] \[-offset *integer*\] \[-xsymmetry\] \[-ysymmetry\] \[-erase-mode *integer*\] \[-erase-speed *usecs*\] \[-delay *secs*\]

## DESCRIPTION

The *rorschach* program draws random patterns reminiscent of the psychological test of same name.

## OPTIONS

*rorschach* accepts the following options:

- **-window**

  Draw on a newly-created window.  This is the default.

- **-root**

  Draw on the root window.

- **-mono**

  If on a color display, pretend we're on a monochrome display.

- **-install**

  Install a private colormap for the window.

- **-visual *visual***

  Specify which visual to use.  Legal values are the name of a visual class, or the id number (decimal or hex) of a specific visual.

- **-iterations *integer***

  How many dots should be drawn each time.  Default 4000.

- **-offset *integer***

  How far apart the dots should be.  Default 4 pixels.

- **-xsymmetry**

  Whether the images should be horizontally symmetrical.  Default true.

- **-ysymmetry**

  Whether the images should be vertically symmetrical.  Default false.

- **-erase-mode *integer***

  This sets the erase mode. Mode -1 chooses a random mode each time. There are currently 6 modes defined (0-5).

- **-erase-speed *usecs***

  This controls the speed at which the screen will be erased. (Delay between erasing of individual lines.)

- **-delay *seconds***

  This sets the number of seconds that the figure will be on the screen.

## ENVIRONMENT

- **DISPLAY**

  to get the default host and display number.

- **XENVIRONMENT**

  to get the name of a resource file that overrides the global resources stored in the RESOURCE\_MANAGER property.

## BUGS

May call your sanity into question.

## SEE ALSO

**X**(1), [**xscreensaver**(1)](/xscreensaver/1.md)

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright © 1992 by Jamie Zawinski.  Permission to use, copy, modify,  distribute, and sell this software and its documentation for any purpose is  hereby granted without fee, provided that the above copyright notice appear  in all copies and that both that copyright notice and this permission notice appear in supporting documentation.  No representations are made about the  suitability of this software for any purpose.  It is provided "as is" without express or implied warranty.

## AUTHOR

Jamie Zawinski \<jwz@jwz.org\>, 13-aug-92.