# Pixel Bender, what is its "language"

**URL:** https://forum.kirupa.com/t/pixel-bender-what-is-its-language/297264
**Category:** Uncategorized
**Created:** [September 28, 2009, 10:17pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/pixel-bender-what-is-its-language/297264 "2009-09-28T22:17:46Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![grandpaw\_broon](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/forum.kirupa.com/grandpaw_broon/32/3985_2.png) [@grandpaw\_broon](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/grandpaw_broon)
#### Post date: [September 28, 2009, 10:17pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/pixel-bender-what-is-its-language/297264/1 "2009-09-28T22:17:46Z")

</div>

Hi all,

I have been looking at google for Pixel Bender tutorials but i have yet to hit a fundamental understanding.

Most of the filters i see, or tutorials i read seem to create some effect with very few lines of code. More importantly i seem to constantly see a bunch of maths like squre root, sin, cos, and so on. Here is a random section of code:

```auto

[COLOR=#FF0000]pixel1 temp = sample(src,outCoord()); [/COLOR]
[COLOR=#FF0000]pixel1 divided = temp/2.0;[/COLOR]
[COLOR=#FF0000]pixel1 squared = sqrt(temp);[/COLOR]
[COLOR=#FF0000]dst = pixel3(temp,divided,squared);[/COLOR]

```

This means almost nothing to me, but there has to be a method behind the madness. What is pixel benders syntax? Is it a custom language or is it some kind of generic (limited-in-flash-runtime) shading language?

The first thing i did was go onto Amazon and check out “Image Processing Algothirms” but wasnt sure what i was looking for. That seemed a bit hardcore anyway and seemed to be aimed at C. However am i on the right track?

Also as a side note, when i first opened PB, i was reminded of Processing. Both seem to exist for visual purposes or fast number crunching so if i read a book on processing, am i likely to take much from it in terms of “understanding the pixel”.

Cheers.