Splatters

Splatters are irregular droplets or spreading stains produced when a liquid or semi-liquid substance is dispersed and impacts a surface. The resulting patterns can include droplets, splashes, and subtle rings, and their appearance depends on factors such as the liquid’s viscosity, surface texture, the force and direction of impact, and the porosity of the substrate.

Common contexts for splatters include art, science, forensics, and everyday life. In painting, splatter techniques involve flinging or dripping paint onto a surface to create a random, dynamic texture. Food and kitchen activities can produce splatters on cookware and surroundings, while fluid dynamics studies examine how liquids spread and break apart on different materials. In forensics, bloodstain pattern analysis interprets splatter to infer events, such as the position of a source and the sequence of actions, by considering velocity, angle of impact, and substrate.

In culture, splatter is associated with a subgenre of horror known as splatter films, which emphasize graphic gore and special effects. The broader literary and film movements also reference the aesthetic of blunt, visceral impact, sometimes described as splatterpunk in writing.

Cleaning and safety considerations accompany splatters, especially with stubborn or hazardous substances. Prompt containment and appropriate protective equipment help minimize mess and potential exposure, and cleaning methods vary with the material and surface.

See also: splatter.