The Painter is a fluid-capable machine that applies a color to the topmost layer of an incoming shape. In the simulation context it functions as a Simulated Machine: it accepts a shape signal and a color signal as inputs and outputs the resulting shaped signal with its top layer painted in the provided color. If either input is null the Painter produces a null output.
The shape signal is provided on the rear input and the color signal is provided on the side input. The Painter replaces the topmost layer’s colors with the specified color while leaving other layers unchanged. For example, a single-layer shape represented as CuCuCuCu combined with a red color signal (color-r) becomes CrCrCrCr. For a multilayer shape such as CuCuCuCu:RuRuRuRu painted with blue (color-b), the top layer remains CuCuCuCu and the painter updates the top layer’s color annotation for the second layer to produce CuCuCuCu:RbRbRbRb.
Painter fluid handling follows the normal fluid-machine conventions. If the color of the fluid in the Painter is changed, the existing fluid drains and is replaced with the new color. Painter pipe ports are bidirectional, allowing fluid to pass through the Painter to other fluid machines such as pipes, additional Painters, or any machine with a fluid input. This makes the Painter usable as a pass-through in fluid networks as well as a color source.
The Painter only changes the color of regular shape types: C, R, S, W, F, G, and H. Refined shapes (types X and Y), Pins, and Crystals pass through the Painter unchanged. The simulated Painter follows the same null-input rules as other simulated machines: if either the shape or color input is absent the output is null.
Inputs: shape on rear, color on side. If either is null, output is null.
Effect: replaces the color of the topmost layer of the shape with the provided color; other layers are left intact.
Fluid behavior: changing fluid color drains and replaces the fluid; pipe ports are bidirectional and allow fluid throughput.
Shape compatibility: only regular shape types (C, R, S, W, F, G, H) have their colors changed. Refined shapes (X, Y), Pins and Crystals are unaffected and pass through unchanged.
The Painter integrates within assembling networks both as a coloring station and as part of fluid routing thanks to its bidirectional ports. In scenarios where painters are chained or shared, be aware that swapping the fluid color will clear the previous fluid from the Painter and replace it with the new color.
