What is bomomo.com?

Updated

bomomo.com is a free browser-based abstract drawing tool. You open the page, move your cursor across the canvas, and the site generates flowing, organic shapes without any drawing skill required. It suits anyone who wants to make a quick abstract image, experiment with generative art, or just play with a mouse or trackpad for a few minutes. The tool was created by Philipp Lenssen in 2008 and runs entirely in the browser.

What you can do with it

The core interaction is simple: the canvas responds to cursor movement, and a set of tool buttons along the bottom changes how the marks behave. Each tool produces a different kind of stroke — some scatter dots, some draw smooth curves, some create orbiting orbs or soft gradients. You switch tools, drag around the canvas, and build up an image layer by layer.

There is no account, no project file, and no undo history described on the page. The output is a single image you save when you are happy with it.

Saving your image

The page offers two save options:

Option What it does
Save normal Downloads the image at standard quality
Save high quality Downloads a higher-quality version; the page notes you should rename the file to *.png

The high-quality save is the one to use if you plan to keep or share the result, since the standard save is lower resolution. The rename step matters because the downloaded file may not carry a .png extension automatically.

Ownership and usage

The page states plainly that you can do anything with the image you create — "it's yours." There is no license restriction mentioned on the artwork itself, so you can use your saved images however you like.

Technical notes

  • Platform: Browser-based, no install required for the web version.
  • Mobile: An iPhone and iPad app is linked from the page for touch use.
  • Creator: Philipp Lenssen, 2008. An Internet Explorer version was contributed by Nikolai Kordulla.
  • Analytics and ads: The site uses Google Analytics for traffic stats, AdSense for ads, and a Facebook Like widget.

When bomomo is a good fit

Use bomomo if you want a zero-setup way to produce abstract art, need a quick decorative image, or want to explore generative drawing without learning software. It is not a precision illustration tool — there are no layers, vector paths, or fine control over individual strokes. If you need exact shapes, text, or editable files, a full drawing application will serve you better.

If you want to see what others have made before trying it, the page links to a bomomo Gallery.