i've been wanting to do the same thing, i ended up using a triangle strip created around a curved point list, using atan to create width which i could decrease incrementally. i can post some code if you want.

this is a bit if a crude extraction from the program im working on, sorry its a bit messy, but hopefully you'll get the idea.
i use a particle system to create a flowing list of points, then iterate through the list using below loop to create a tri strip, which has a triwidth var to control width.



Particle p = physics.makeParticle( 1.0, xvel, yvel, 0 );
int num=physics.numberOfParticles()-1;

 
   ptest=p;
   previous=last;

     //first 2 tangents
     float p1x1=previous.position().x();
     float p1y1=previous.position().y();
     float p1x2=last.position().x();
     float p1y2=last.position().y();  

     //second 2 tangents
     float p2x1=last.position().x();
     float p2y1=last.position().y();
     float p2x2=ptest.position().x();
     float p2y2=ptest.position().y();


//start your loop here

   beginShape(TRIANGLE_STRIP);


     Particle ptest = physics.getParticle( i );


     //*****************
     float p1x1,p1y1,p1x2,p1y2,p1x3,p1y3,p1x4,p1y4,p2x1,p2y1,p2x2,p2y2,p2x3,p2y3,p2x4,p2y4;

     float triwidth;
     float ang;

     //*****************

     //first 2 tangents
     p1x1=previous.position().x();
     p1y1=previous.position().y();
     p1x2=last.position().x();
     p1y2=last.position().y();  

     //second 2 tangents
     p2x1=last.position().x();
     p2y1=last.position().y();
     p2x2=ptest.position().x();
     p2y2=ptest.position().y();

 
     //width of snake/curve
       triwidth=5;

       //set actual x,y pos
       ang=atan2(p1y2-p1y1,p1x2-p1x1)-HALF_PI;
       p1x3=triwidth*cos(ang);
       p1y3=triwidth*sin(ang);

       p1x4=triwidth*cos(ang);
       p1y4=triwidth*sin(ang);

       ang=atan2(p2y2-p2y1,p2x2-p2x1)-HALF_PI;
       p2x3=triwidth*cos(ang);
       p2y3=triwidth*sin(ang);

       p2x4=triwidth*cos(ang);
       p2y4=triwidth*sin(ang);  

       //draw trianglestrip
       vertex(p1x3+p2x1,p1y3+p2y1,0);
       vertex(p1x4+p2x1,p1y4+p2y1,0);
       vertex(p2x3+p2x1,p2y3+p2y1,0);
       vertex(p2x4+p2x1,p2y4+p2y1,0);
     

     previous=last;
     last=ptest;

   endShape();

// end of loop

I couldn't make your code work. But does the fact that you use Triangle_strip make the 'snake' look smoother?

I don't know about the second solution... I tried something like that but didn't look as smooth as using vertex or curveVertex. And I was not sure about drawing more then twice as more dots than lines.

I am stuck with the curveVertex() technic. We've got the weight working but then doing a gradient fill() is a bit tricky as texture only works in 3D.

The problem is that it gets all jerky when moving slowly. The render can definitely be improve.

Quote:

ok, thanks for the tip. I've put it in loop and all that but could'nt get the particules to works. Never mind I have another go at it later.

Thanks