GIMP Version: 2.6.11
Operating System: Linux
OS Version: Linux Mint 9
GIMP Experience: Intermediate Level

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Lissajous. Hm

Hey guys, I have come across this in several places -- the most significant to me being in gimp -- and was wondering just what exactly is it used for. Is it just a something or does anyone actually use it to create things? I do not like not knowing what to do with it. Can someone enlighten me on this mysterious script?

Thanks,
Nixnine

It would be helpful to let us know where you are encountering it.

Here's wiki's take on Lissajous curve.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lissajous_curve

Lssajous is very generical, as to say Mandelbrot (that was a mathematician but the word is mostly used to indicate a serie of formula often used to create fractal )

For gimp there is some scripts to play with Lissajous curves , also in gmic theree is a filter doing something with Lissajous curves that has the additional advantage of a preview

About what to do with it is again a bit as for fractals you may be interested to their math ,or you may simply want play with them because the graphic result may be very nice
... and something in the middle, since they could result in very decorative imagines you may be tempted to learn something more of their math to better control the "artistic " use

But as for fractal the math is far to be trivial.

Anyway Lissajous (as Mandelbrot ) are very marginal to gimp:
you may be a master in the use of gimp without know nothing about both

Yes, if you want to get a real-time preview, you should try the Lissajou filter from the G'MIC plug-in. This is really easy to use, and you see what you'll get.

Lissajous curves have significance and are used as a diagnostic tool in electronics (phase relationships and I don't remember what all else).

Artistically, they are smooth mathematical curves. The only uses I have seen as an element in a science fiction scene or as the basis for an abstract painting.