---
title: "Cellular Automata Video — Webcam CA Tool | TekDetek"
description: "Cellular automata video and cellular automata webcam tool in the browser. Free to try on phone. Pro for clean unlimited export and desktop CA node. TekDetek."
url: "https://vikmil.com/tekdetek-cellular-automata.html"
---

# Cellular automata video on webcam

**TekDetek** turns your feed into a **cellular automata webcam**: discrete cells, rule evolution, layer color, beat inject — a full **cellular automata video** tool in one tab.
TekDetek is not completely free. Swipe CA looks on phone and edit for free. Adding the CA node on the desktop graph, or a clean unlimited export, is [Pro](https://tekdetek.gumroad.com/l/xkljia). Free record is watermarked and 20 seconds.

## Free vs Pro

Free: open the app, swipe and edit looks (phone reaction-diffusion and cellular automata included), luma detection, Hand, watermarked MP4 or PNG up to 20 seconds, watermarked OBS up to 5 minutes (restart anytime).

Pro: clean export with no watermark, unlimited record and OBS, full preset library, Shuffle, Depth and Alt ASCII, add RD / CA / PreText / GEO 3D / Sonify on the desktop graph, higher detection caps. TekDetek is not completely free.

[Open TekDetek](https://vikmil.com/tekdetek/) · [Buy Pro](https://tekdetek.gumroad.com/l/xkljia)

![phone-ca-crystal — cellular automata crystal on flower](https://vikmil.com/assets/seo-presets/ca-crystal.gif)

_Look: **phone-ca-crystal** — clearest CA field. Swipe the CA family, then EDIT._

![phone-ca-snowflake — cellular automata snowflake on video](https://vikmil.com/assets/seo-presets/ca-snowflake.gif)

_Look: **phone-ca-snowflake** — CA snowflake sibling for club tests._

## Layers, waves, beat inject

Stack layers with a hue each. Waves move the field. Beat inject drops new geometry instead of wiping the grid — useful as a **CA beat visual** on four-on-the-floor tests.
Parameters live on the [CA node](https://vikmil.com/tekdetek-nodes.html#ca). Phone: swipe the CA family, then EDIT.

## Cellular automata vs reaction-diffusion

CA is stepped and grid-native. [Reaction-diffusion](https://vikmil.com/tekdetek-reaction-diffusion.html) is a continuous field. Same INPUT, different middle node. See also [all nodes](https://vikmil.com/tekdetek-nodes.html).

## FAQ

### What is free?

Open the app in a browser, swipe and edit looks (phone reaction-diffusion and cellular automata included), luma detection, Hand, watermarked MP4 or PNG up to 20 seconds, and watermarked OBS up to 5 minutes (restart anytime).

### What requires Pro?

Clean export with no watermark, unlimited record and OBS, the full preset library, Shuffle, Depth and Alt ASCII, adding RD / CA / PreText / GEO 3D / Sonify on the desktop graph, and higher detection caps. TekDetek is not completely free.

### Does it work on uploaded video?

Yes — INPUT accepts MP4 as well as camera.

### Where are the CA looks?

Phone carousel (phone-ca-snowflake and siblings) and the desktop CA node after Pro unlock.

## More tools

- [ASCII video tool](https://vikmil.com/tekdetek-ascii-vj.html)
- [ASCII webcam filter](https://vikmil.com/tekdetek-ascii-webcam-filter.html)
- [ASCII filter for OBS](https://vikmil.com/tekdetek-obs-ascii-filter.html)
- [Browser VJ tool](https://vikmil.com/tekdetek-vj-tool.html)
- [Reaction-diffusion](https://vikmil.com/tekdetek-reaction-diffusion.html)
- [Cellular automata](https://vikmil.com/tekdetek-cellular-automata.html)
- [Nodes](https://vikmil.com/tekdetek-nodes.html)
- [Guide](https://vikmil.com/tekdetek-guide.html)