How Do I Draw Tektronix Vector Patterns on an Oscilloscope?

Open OSC-1, switch to CREATOR, and open IMPORT SHAPES → TEKTRONIX 4051. Under QUICK PRESETS, pick Rose Curve 5. The scope draws a five-petal figure. Move TRACE SPEED toward CRAWL to follow the beam, then bring it back to FAST to see the shape fill in.

What does trace speed change?

TRACE SPEED controls how quickly the beam goes through the points in the drawing. Keep Rose Curve 5 selected and move the slider left until the readout says CRAWL. Watch where each petal starts and ends. The curve is the same one you saw at FAST, but the time between passes gives you a chance to follow it.

If old strokes linger so long that the next pass is hard to see, lower Persistence under VECTOR DISPLAY. Bring it back up if you want more of the finished shape to stay visible between passes. Change one slider at a time so you can see which one did what.

What should I try after the rose?

Choose Diamond Grid in QUICK PRESETS and keep the trace slow. Look for the nested outlines and the cross that passes through the center. A single curve gives your eye one continuous route. The grid has separate strokes, so watch where the next line starts as well as where the last one ends.

The Tektronix 4051 section of Shape Tools explains the preset and demo menus. To see how the signal positions the beam, read How Oscilloscope Music Works.