Chromatophore Skin Lab simulates the color-changing skin of cephalopods (octopus, squid, cuttlefish) — one of nature's most sophisticated display systems. Each chromatophore is a pigment-filled sac surrounded by radial muscles that expand and contract to change the cell's visible area and color contribution.
The shader models a field of individual chromatophore cells, each with independent expansion state controlled by neural activation waves. Multiple pigment layers (yellow, orange, red, brown) stack with different depths, and iridophore layers beneath provide structural iridescent coloring. Traveling neural waves trigger cascading color changes across the skin surface, mimicking the rapid pattern displays used for camouflage and communication.
Interactive controls adjust chromatophore density, expansion speed, neural wave frequency, and background iridescence. Pattern modes simulate different cephalopod behaviors: passing cloud displays, bilateral flashing, and uniform camouflage matching.