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Bill Cipher Vaporwave
3D Programmer / Technical Artist · Spring 2026
Project5 / 13
Overview
At a glance
Browser-based graphics study translating vaporwave aesthetics into a real-time Bill Cipher scene. Focused on post-processing chains, line rendering, and motion illusions grounded in a modular import-map setup.
Three.jsGLSLWebGLPost FX✚
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Features
- Stylized vaporwave environment around the Bill Cipher subject.
- Multi-pass post stack for the signature look.
- Fat outlines and emissive treatment for contrast.
- Dual-floor scroll illusion and glyph-ring accents.
Implementation
- Structured ES module/import-map architecture for browser runtime.
- Built scene hierarchy with grouped entities and reusable material/geometry patterns.
- Implemented modulo-based floor motion (`camera.position.z = time % 2.0`) for looping movement illusion.
- Added custom texture workflows for floor displacement/metalness and glyph UV slicing.
- Tuned animation timing and stabilized previously frame-dependent behavior in later passes.
Challenges
- Initial implementation leaned heavily on tutorial inspiration before branching into more independent work.
- Performance remained a challenge on weaker laptop hardware.
- Some geometry organization (e.g., eyelash lines as many tiny objects) was less efficient than batched alternatives.
Reflection
- Major inspiration came from Maxime Heckel’s vaporwave Three.js article, and it was super fun to build from.
- I do think I leaned too hard on tutorial guidance early, though I expanded heavily afterward with custom additions.
- This project made me appreciate how fast code-based 3D iteration can feel versus Blender for simple stylized objects.
- Performance still wasn’t ideal on my laptop, but it taught me a lot about practical optimization opportunities.
Video
Bill Cipher vaporwave scene