Hello,

I would like to influence the shape of a circle based on the vicinity to it of an object, for now the mouse pointer. Depending on the direction from which the pointer is approaching the circle, I would like the circle to bend inwards at that location, unto a maximum.
Ultimately, then also bounce back like an elastic shape. Then after the mouse pointer has arrived inside the circle, I would like the circle to change shape in a similar manner, this time not letting the mouse pointer escape, unless the pointer stretches the circle too far.
I am wondering: does anyone have advice how to go about and work towards this goal? So far, I have arrived at the sketch displayed below, which is a first step, but not quite yet what I have in mind...

Any help welcome! Ciao, Menno.

ps. I used this website to determine how to draw a shape that is almost a circle, using bezier curves. However, maybe there are much better methods to approach this idea?

1. float kappa = (4.0 * (sqrt(2.0) - 1.0) / 3.0);
2. void setup()
3. {
4.   size(500,500);
5. }
6. void draw()
7. {
8.   background(255);
9.   noFill();
10.   int cradi = 100;
11.   float ccont;
12.   ccont = kappa * cradi;
13.   int cx;
14.   int cy;
15.   cx = cy = 250;
16.   int cx1;
17.   int cx3;
18.   int cy1;
19.   int cy2;
20.   int cy4;
21.   cy1 = cy;
22.   cx1 = cx - cradi;
23.   cy2 = cy - cradi;
24.   cy4 = cy + cradi;
25.   cx3 = cx + cradi;
26.   int buffer = 10;
27.   float mouse_dist;
28.   mouse_dist = sqrt(sq(cx - mouseX) + sq(cy - mouseY));
29.   if (mouseX > (cx - cradi - buffer) && mouseX < (cx + cradi*2)/2 + cradi/2)
30.   {
31.     cx1 = mouseX + buffer;
32.   } 
33.   if (mouseX < (cx + cradi + buffer) && mouseX > (cx + cradi*2)/2 + cradi/2)
34.   {
35.     cx3 = mouseX - buffer;
36.   } 
37.   if (mouseY > (cy - cradi - buffer) && mouseY < (cy + cradi*2)/2 + cradi/2)
38.   {
39.     cy2 = mouseY + buffer;
40.   } 
41.  
42.   if (mouseY < (cy + cradi + buffer) && mouseY > (cy + cradi*2)/2 + cradi/2)
43.   {
44.     cy4 = mouseY - buffer;
45.   }
    
46.   bezier(cx1, cy1, cx1, cy - ccont, cx - ccont, cy2, cx, cy2);
47.   bezier(cx, cy2, cx + ccont, cy2, cx3, cy - ccont, cx3, cy);
48.   bezier(cx3, cy, cx3, cy + ccont, cx + ccont, cy4, cx, cy4);
49.   bezier(cx, cy4, cx - ccont, cy4, cx1, cy1 + ccont, cx1, cy1);
50. // endShape();
51. }