Pigments of Imagination: An A-Frame WebVR Project

Abstract

Pigments of Imagination is a WebVR-based audiovisual project that explores spatial audio, accessibility, and creative collaboration through open-source technologies. Built using A-Frame, the work presents a 3D ambisonic mix of a popular music track, combining Higher Order Ambisonics (HOA), First Order Ambisonics (FOA), and binaural audio to accommodate a wide range of devices. The project integrates spatial sound with visual elements, including custom video, particle systems, and 360-degree imagery, creating an immersive and dynamic user experience without requiring specialized hardware. Emphasizing socio-economic accessibility, the authors challenge the prioritization of technical complexity over artistic expression in spatial audio practices. The work also demonstrates techniques for encoding, compressing, and delivering ambisonic audio on the web. As part of a broader collaborative initiative, the project highlights community-driven multimedia production and serves as a low-cost alternative to traditional installation environments, while exploring imagination, synesthesia, and narrative through sound and visual design.