# Studio background geometry

Background geometry is a semantic scaffolding layer between the lacquer ground and Field objects. It establishes gravity, belonging, passage, and depth without becoming wallpaper.

## Composition stack

```text
ground → geometry → connection → object → signal → fixed chrome
```

1. **Ground** — deep umber lacquer, no grid and no broad atmospheric wash.
2. **Geometry** — quiet orbits, horizon rings, and constellations establish spatial grammar.
3. **Connection** — semantic paths attach real objects and relationships.
4. **Object** — Ally, Realm, Element, or Talisman occupies the Field.
5. **Signal** — one active glint, phase node, or enamel pulse reveals change.
6. **Fixed chrome** — product navigation remains outside Field scale and motion.

## Primitive library

| Primitive | Meaning | Construction | Resting treatment |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Orbit arc | belonging, context, gravity | elliptical; object-centered; continuous, dashed, or doubled | warm-metal hairline at 5–12% |
| Journey path | movement, sequence, passage | open curved path with an origin and destination | camel or gold at 8–16% |
| Anchor stud | attachment, commitment, endpoint | radial warm-metal bead with dark collar | visible at every attached endpoint |
| Constellation | distributed affinity, peers | 3–6 nodes joined by selective hairlines | nodes clearer than lines |
| Crossing glint | exchange, encounter, transfer | four- or eight-point cream star at a meaningful crossing | hidden unless the crossing matters |
| Horizon ring | approach, threshold, nesting | expanding circular arc becoming viewport edge | 8–18%; cream only near entry |
| Phase node | position in a cycle | bead placed on an orbit | one active node maximum per orbit |
| Cardinal tick | stable orientation | short radial mark at N/E/S/W | engraved, not glowing |

## Density

- Default viewport: 2–5 major arcs, 3–9 visible nodes, 0–2 glints, and only the connectors required by the current context.
- Keep at least 55% of the ground visually quiet.
- Do not fill the Field with evenly distributed stars. Constellations cluster around meaning.
- Avoid more than three concurrent line weights or more than two active enamel colors.

## Recomposition

- Every path must begin or end at a stud, node, threshold, or edge continuation.
- Orbits may overlap, but no more than two equally bright lines cross without a knockout or meaningful glint.
- Use continuous lines for stable belonging, dashed lines for unresolved or historical context, and doubled lines for a shared or reciprocal frame.
- A bright crossing glint means exchange; it is never random sparkle.
- Geometry may rotate and scale with the Field. Line weight is optically clamped so it stays legible without becoming heavy.

## Motion

- Geometry is still at rest.
- Phase nodes may travel once to acknowledge a change.
- Horizon rings expand only during approach or entry.
- Constellation nodes may breathe locally, never all at once.
- Reduced-motion mode resolves every change without travel, rotation, drift, or pulse.

