Liptikl (pronounced "lip – tickle") is a powerful creative writing app that can help you come up with new and exciting word arrangements for lyrics and poems or indeed any other area of creative writing. Liptikl 2 is currently available for Desktop (DT - macOS) or Mobile (MO - iOS). See the Liptikl 1 User Guide for the Windows 10 version.
Liptikl utilises the powerful "cut-up technique". It takes various seed words and phrases that you provide it as input ("Sources") and from these it generates random word associations ("Cut-up"). You can lock down ("Lock") any words you want and keep iterating until you find the interesting, inspiring or serendipitous combinations of words you are looking for. Save the the best ("Cut-Ups") and then use in real-world lyrics, poems, haikus, tweets etc!
Don't forget to check out the 30 second videos!
Liptikl came by its name as the process of creation is often "eliptical" and non-linear, and we felt “tickling lips” provided the perfect mental picture of conjuring words and new prose into existence.
This User Guide will help you quickly get to grips with Liptikl and its range of powerful features.
We respect copyright and strongly encourage you to do the same. That means if you use Liptikl to come up with a lyric you like, make sure that it does not infringe the copyright of any of your source material. Liptikl is pretty good at creating random "cut-ups", but it is just a tool for you to use to generate ideas. It is ultimately your responsibility to make sure you are not infringing anyone elses copyright.
Liptikl 2 for iOS and Liptikl 2 for Mac macOS are installed via the App Store / Mac App Store as part of the download process.
If you want to make Liptikl for Mac OS as easy to find as possible, you can drag it direct to your Dock for future easy access.
Hard Disk/Applications
Liptikl
to the TrashLiptikl quickly generates a cut-up from a pool of words. This pool can include words from up to 5 user entered text fields, a user word library and the customisable Liptikl Word Library.
For your cut-up you get to choose how many lines and how many words per line you want in it and whether you want Liptikl to attempt End of Line (EOL) rhyming.
Once an initial cut-up has been created you can continue to iterate cut-ups until you are happy. You can word-by-word lock down what you really like or, for just a selected word, choose one of the alternative cut-up words presented.
Liptikl's fast, effective, iterative approach is a great way to come up with fresh and exciting word associations to explore. It could be just what you are looking for to spark something original and different!
Liptikl 2 is for both iOS and macOS (versions available separately), and both support iCloud Drive so you can work on a file on one device and then carry on on another and vice versa. Both versions operate in similar ways and have the same key features.
To get started, from the Liptikl menu, select File -> New. This presents you with a window split intor three main areas: Sources, Create and Cut-Ups.
The pool of words Liptikl uses to create its cut-ups comes from from the five text fields in the Sources area. Select the Source field you want to enter text into from the top drop list.
Each source field is plain text only and you can type the data in directly, or paste-in some text from the clipboard. There are also various other options you can use, which are on a pop-up menu that you can get at either by either right clicking (Windows) or control clicking (Mac).
In response to pressing the Create button Liptikl selects words from the available word pool to come up with its Cut-ups (words in the optional User Library and Liptikl Word Bank can also be blended it, but more on those later).
Tip: The more interesting the source material you use, the more interesting the cut-up suggestions generated. You can think of your favourite source materials like spices or ingredients, and then build up a collection of your favourites to add when you want. You can then add as little or as much as you like!
Bottom Toolbar: This is situated below the cut up area and we start with it as it contains the Cut-Up button, Library button and Blend slider.
Cut-Up button: This button looks like a dice and is located on the right of the tools panel. Provided you have first added some words to at least one of the Sources text boxes above (or you have some words in your User Library or the Liptikl Word Bank toggle is on AND the Library slider is not hard over to the right) when you click this you'll see a Cut-up appear in the text area above it. Each time you click this button all non-locked words will be replaced by words selected at random from your word pool and/or Library/Word Bank.
Library button: Located to the left of the Blend slider, click this to view the User Word Library. In the Library click the Show button to view the Word Bank. Both are editable/customisable and operate as standard text fields.
Blend slider: The position of the blend slider determines what proportion of words are selected from your Sources or from the User Library and/or Liptikl Word Bank.
Moving the slider to the left allows a greater proportion of words to be selected from the User Library and/or Liptikl Word Bank; positioning it hard left means words will ONLY be chosen from them.
Moving the slider to the right allows a greater proportion of words to be selected from your Sources; positioning it hard left means words will ONLY be chosen from them.
Rule button: This top left button shows you the rule being used to create your Cut-ups. Each Rule consists of a series of numbers. Each number stands for the number of words to put in a particular line of the Cut-up. For example, the numbers "3 4 5 6" would represent four lines of cut-up as there are four numbers. The first line would have three words, the second would have four words, the third would have five words, and the fourth would have six words.
Click the Rule button to access the Rules List where you can select the rule you want to have applied. You can easily create and use any rule you want in one of 2 ways. Either:
A A A A A A A A A Awould be a "5 2 3" rule.
EOL Rhyme (ON / OFF) checkbox: Setting determines whether Liptikl attempts to rhyme the ends of lines with other lines. For true, random, cut-up, then you would leave this set to OFF.
Edit Text (ON / OFF) checkbox: If OFF, then tapping a word will lock/unlock it (a locked word is shown in red and will not be changed when you press the Create Cut-up button). If ON, then normal text editing behaviour is available i.e. click in a word to place the cursor and press the Esc key to see a drop list of words; double click a word to select it (once selected if you wait a second and click/hold the word again you can drag it).
Central Cut-Up area: When the Edit Text checkbox setting is OFF, select a word to lock or unlock it. When you select a word (locked or unlocked) it also underlines it to show that it is the selected word (e.g. "calm" in the screenshot above). To select a word without changing its lock state clink on it then, whilst keeping your mouse depressed, drag away from it and release your mouse. Even though the word does not display an underline, it is now selected.
Word Alternatives Bar: This is displayed just above the toolbar. If you click on one of the four alternative words (e.g. "poetry" in the screenshot above) then that word will replace the selected word (e.g. "calm" in the screenshot above). To refresh the alternative words shown, either click a blank part of the cut-up area or click the Create Cut-up button.
The Cut-Ups area contains the sections of the song or other document that you're building-up with Liptikl and that you have decided to keep.
Add button: Assuming you come-up with a Cut-Up you like, press the Add button to have it appear in your Cut-Ups list. Add as many Cut-Ups as you want to this list.
Replace button: Alternatively, you can press the Replace button if you want to copy the Cut-Up from the Create section to replace the currently selected Cut-Up in the Cut-Ups list.
Up and Down buttons: You can press the Up and Down arrow buttons to move your Cut-up up and down in the Cut-ups list.
Edit button: Press the Edit button to copy your currently selected list item up to the Create area where you can do some more work on it!
Delete button: You can also delete a Cut-up in the Cut-ups list with the Delete button.
Share (Action) button: Click to display a pop-up share option and then copy all Cut-Ups to the clipboard. If you want to copy just one Cut-Up to the clipboard, right click on it and select the pop-up menu item "Share".
The Sources text boxes are all editable, which means you can move words around by cutting and pasting, or even edit or manually add in new words.
You can access a pop-up context sensitive menu by right clicking/control clicking on one of the text fields in the Sources area, or a word in this area.
Tip: Why not try using text from some current news item as a Source - that way you can make sure you use words that are current, and some interesting themes can seemingly come out of nothing!
Tip: Liptikl has a better chance at shuffling the more words are in your Sources. Obviously, if your Source content is only one word, then Liptikl can only choose one word! So make sure you give Liptikl lots of different words to choose from.
You can click on a word, or, specifically in respect of the search option, select (highlight) single or multiple words.
Searches for the selected word via an online thesaurus engine.
Searches for the selected word via an online dictionary engine.
Searches for the selected word via an online search engine.
Loads the integral macOS dictionary your selected word.
Displays the list of standard macOS options that are available for sharing.
Searches for words (via Rhymebox.com) that rhyme with the selected word. The menu options are:
Displays the list of standard macOS options for copy/paste etc.
Displays the list of standard macOS options for copy/paste etc.
Presents a slightly different pop-up menu, similar to that from "Edit..." above.
The Create text area is editable, which means you can move words around by cutting and pasting, or even edit or manually add in new words.
You can access a pop-up context sensitive menu by right clicking/control clicking on a word in this area.
The default operation when you left mouse tap on a word is to lock or unlock it. This can be changed the pop-up menu below.
This menu item toggles between the two values and the selected value is also releccted in the Edit Text checkbox at the top of the Create section. If you want Liptikl to lock or unlock a word when you left mouse tap on it, then this will show as Click to Lock. Conversely, if you prefer to edit words when you tap/double tap on them and reserve word locking to be a right mouse option, then this will show as Edit Text.
Four words are presented, chosen in the same way words are chosen for your cut-up. Select a word to have it replace the currently selected word. Note: Sometimes a blank will be displayed; if you select this it removes the selected word!
Searches for the selected word via an online thesaurus engine.
Searches for the selected word via an online dictionary engine.
Searches for the selected word via an online search engine.
Loads the integral macOS dictionary your selected word.
Displays the list of standard macOS options that are available for sharing.
Searches for words (via Rhymebox.com) that rhyme with the selected word. The menu options are:
Allows all words in the Cut-Up to be changed when you next click on the Create Cut-Up button.
Prevents all words in the Cut-Up from being changed when you next click on the Create Cut-Up button.
Displays the list of standard macOS options for copy/paste etc.
Displays the list of standard macOS options for copy/paste etc.
Presents a slightly different pop-up menu, similar to that from "Edit..." above.
You can save your Liptikl session to a file with a .liptikl file extension, through the File menu Save or Save As options. You can open a saved Liptikl file with File > Open.
Into the Create section cut-up area and via the clipboard you can import a pre-existing lyric into Liptikl. This is also a way to generate a rule that matches the word and line count for that lyric. If you try to import a large file, Liptikl might take a very long time to respond as it analyses the file; please be patient!
Once you've come up with a lyrical idea that you're happy with, you can export the cut-ups you have saved to the Clipboard, through the Cut-Ups "Share" options. You can then edit the file with your favourite word processor application.
Liptikl 2 for iOS has all the power of Liptikl 2 for macOS except for macOS related system options generally accessed via right mouse click.
This Liptikl Mobile section goes though the main areas of the mobile interface so that you can become familiar with what does what and we will go on from there. The capabilities are all as detailed in the preceding Liptikl Desktop sections, so we recommend you familiarising yourself with those.
The Files screen is where you can create a new file, open one you have previously saved, email a file or delete/duplicate files.
New: Select New to create a new Liptikl file.
Action:
Info: Select for Info on Liptikl.
Edit:
New: Select New to create a new file.
Saved File: Tap on one of the Saved File document icons to open a previously created file. A file's thumbnail will briefly jiggle when you close the file and return to the Files screen, making it easy to see what file you have just played or edited.
File Name: Tap on the File Name for a pop up dialog to rename the file.
The Create screen is where you is where you create your cut-ups. The created cut-up, locks and associated Rules are saved in the Liptikl file.
Files: Select to go back to the Files screen.
Action:
Save:
Edit:
Select to be able to edit the words in the cut-up, perhaps to change a word or even add new words (in which case a suitable new matching Rule will be generated).
Lines are alternatedly coloured with black and dark grey so that if your text wraps you can easily see which line the words are in.
Lock Words: Tap a word to lock it (red) or tap again to unlock it (black/dark grey). Locked words will not change when you do a cut-up. An underlined word (locked or unlocked) is the "selected" word meaning it can be replace by tapping on any of the four alternative words (or blanks).
Word Alternatives Bar: This is displayed just above the toolbar. If you click on one of the four alternative words (e.g. "theme" in the screenshot above) then that word will replace the selected word (e.g. "flickers" in the screenshot above). To refresh the alternative words shown, either click a blank part of the cut-up area or click the Create Cut-up button.
Tap to select the screen you want.
The Library screen is where you enter your own favourite "spice" words and toggle on/off use of the integral (but still editable/customisable) Library Word Bank containing over 650 selected words.
File name: Select to go back to the Create screen.
This is an editable field. Type or paste in the words you want. These are stored on device and not in a liptikl file.
Toggle on or off; if on then the blend slider also allows these words to be used for cut-up, in addition to those in the User Library.
Tap to display the editable Liptikl Word Bank field.
The Rules screen is where you select the rule you want to be applied to a cut-up. This screen shows all the rules in the liptikl file available for use. To add more rules either add text via Cut-up Edit or by importing Rules from the clipboard.
Back: Select to go back to the Cut-up screen.
Action:
Edit:
Tap to select the screen you want.
The Sources screen is where input and store all the text you want to be used as a source for your cut-up. The sources are saved in the liptikl file.
Files: Select to go back to the Files screen.
Action:
Clear:
Clear out this particular Source.
This displays your source, and the text areas supports standard iOS text copy/paste etc controls.
Either tap a dot or swipe the screen left or right to move between sources.
Tap to select the screen you want.
The Cut-ups screen is where see all the cut-ups you have chosen to save. These cut-ups are saved in the liptikl file.
Files: Select to go back to the Files screen.
Action:
Edit:
The Info screen shows the version number of the software and has, amongst other things, links to this online User Guide.
Liptikl: Select to go back to the Files screen.
Version number etc. Tap for the Liptikl web page.
Tap for various useful links.
Tap for links to some of our other Apps.
The Liptikl iCloud Settings screen can be reached from Device > Settings > Liptikl and is listed along with all your other Device App settings.
Settings: Select to go back to your Device Settings screen.
Lets you choose if Liptikl can use Mobile Data when synching with iCloud.
Lets you move between Cloud and Local file storage. Plus, you’re prompted what to use, when you start the app.
Note: If you've purchased and installed Liptikl for iOS via the App Store or Liptikl for Mac via the Mac App Store, then you are all set to go.
Here is a quick example on how to go about using Liptikl to create lyrics or word arrangement ideas. It is a general case use applicable to Liptikl Desktop or Liptikl Mobile.
To create a lyric or word arrangement, simply into the Sources area:
Note: This is like taking some good basic ingredients, and throwing them in the mixing bowl.
Then press the Create Cut-up button a few times to generate some new cut-ups. You'll like some of the word combinations it throws together (remembering Liptikl tries to rhyme where it can); lock those words in place, and keep going a few more times; locking or unlocking as you see stuff you like. Alteratively, for the selected word replace that with one of the presented alternative words.
Then you could edit words in the cut-up or even add some more words to it (Liptikl updates the Rule used), run a few more times. Hopefully it will take only a few iterations to come-up with a useful cut-up.
The key thing with Liptikl is to involve yourself in the decision making, acting like a gardener, weeding-out the bits you don't like and tidying-up the bits you do.
So: start with good source words. Keep generating quickly until you see something pop-out you like. Lock-down the bits you like. Keep generating, and also remembering to save the ones you want to keep. Don't be afraid to direct edit what you see what you realise your own words can help - and remember to lock-down your direct edits. Keep generating. And don't forget you can unlock bits you're no longer happy with, to release Liptikl to create more cut-up idea for you.
Old and new: Try mixing a Shakespeare sonnet with some Tolstoy and then add in some show news story or headline. Come up with something unexpected and new!
New and New: Start from something, and work around it. Load up some of your own writing and favourite words, and then let Liptikl replace certain words with those from your source material.
Good examples (that work for me) are things like film titles, or phrases I like from a movie or book, and I also often just type in words that come to my head that presumably have just been floating under my sub-consciousness. If I'm listening to music (which I often am) I'll type-in some mis-remembered lyrics from the artist. Or just do a grab from google searching for a few words. I don't spend more than a few minutes pulling ideas together. I guess other people might start from some lyrics they've been working on as a starter point. I'm no good at that, so start from a clean slate.
Pressing Create Cut-up a few times gives me ideas. Here's an example of how to generate some ideas. I typed-in the above paragraph of instructions, pressed Create Cut-up, and got:
often floating my I'm, me! people or Good, examples good have than, grab lyrics which type.
I instantly saw a pattern in there, and changed the top two lines (left the second two as they are):
I'm often floating on my own good people pass me by examples good have than, grab lyrics which type.
I locked-down every word in the top two lines, pressed Create Cut-up a couple of times and realised I didn't have anything that rhymed with "by!". So, I edited "type" to try out a few words: try/deny/sky/fly cry. After a couple of presses I generated the following:
I'm often floating on my own, good people pass me by, sub-consciousness floating starter to, I that guess try.
I changed 3rd line by hand to this below (and locked the 3rd line, and the final word in the 4th line):
I'm often floating on my own, good people pass me by, Feel my sub-consciousness caving-in, I that guess cry.
I pressed Create Cut-up a couple of times, realised I wanted a final longer line, updated rule from 6 5 4 4 to 6 5 4 6 (in Liptikl Mobile, just add another word in Edit screen), pressed Create Cut-Up a couple more times,
I'm often floating on my own, good people pass me by, Feel my sub-consciousness caving-in, my that listening try I cry.
And thought... aha! And modified the final line by hand to get my lyric:
I'm often floating on my own, good people pass me by, Feel my sub-consciousness caving-in, Their listening makes me cry.
The User Library and any changed Liptikl Word Bank words are stored on your device. If you want all your devices to use the same User Library and any changed Liptikl Word Bank words you will need to copy those entries to clipboard and, for all devices you have Liptikl installed, you will need to replace the words with these ones.
You might want to do this if macOS updates to a new version and you do not or are unwilling to do that, you have removed Liptikl and the new version of Liptikl is no longer available for your version of macOS (we use Apple tools to build our apps, and Apple updates to these tools change which versions of macOS we can build for). So, how do you restore the last version of Liptikl available for your version of macOS?
See Apple's instructions on how to do this. Alternatively, you might try restoring from a device or even TimeMachine backup.
You might want to do this if iOS updates to a new version and you do not or are unwilling to do that, you have removed Liptikl and the new version of Liptikl is no longer available for your version of iOS (we use Apple tools to build our apps, and Apple updates to these tools change which versions of iOS we can build for). So, how do you restore the last version of Liptikl available for your version of iOS?
See Apple's instructions on how to do this or an AppleInsider article. Alternatively, you might try restoring from a device or even TimeMachine backup.
Our 64-bit Windows software will only install on 64-bit Windows; it will not install on a 32-bit operating system. So it is most likely that you are not actually running 64-Windows.
To check which version of Windows 10 you are using, use the Windows search box to look for "About Windows". This suggests "System Settings". Select that entry to go to the Settings screen.
At the bottom of the left hand panel in the Settings screen select "About". In the screen that displays you will see something like "System Type: 64-bit Operating System, x64-based processor".
If you are running 32-bit Windows and want to run our software you will need to download in install the last-released version of the related 32-bit software. These builds (where available) can be found in the relevant Archive section of the app page: Liptikl 1.2.12 32-bit; Noatikl 2.8.8 32-bit, Mixtikl 6.3.8 32-bit. Not that they will run in 30 day trial mode until you apply your Product License key.
See: Where do I find Crash Logs? and send the text in them through via our Contact form, and don't forget to tell us what you were doing when you had the crash! Hopefully we will be able to fix the crash in the next update. Thank you!
Background
We try as hard as we can to make our apps stable. If this app does crash on you, then the chances are that for crashes in new apps (released after Jun 2014) we will (but not always) get reports from the HockeyApp integrated crash reporting system. Because of this, we have the best chance of fixing crashers and so our latest versions are likely to be the most stable. This is one reason we recommend that you always update your Intermorphic apps to the latest version, where your device/OS allows.
If you are using an earlier app then you can still send us a crash log so that we can investigate and try to fix the problem (for all users). The crash log files all start with the app name, and have an extension "crash". They are text files that we can read, and give us useful information in tracking-down a crash.
Even though we get the crash logs, it can also help us track things down if you send us any info about your particular crash, or indeed anything you think is not working right.
Intermorphic apps that directly support save to/load from Apple iCloud and Apple iCloud Drive folders:
The iCloud Drive folder on macOS is found here:
~/iCloud Drive/Wotja/
~/iCloud Drive/Noatikl/
~/iCloud Drive/Mixtikl/
~/iCloud Drive/Liptikl/
We strongly recommend using iCloud / iCloud Drive wherever you can.
There are five main reasons for that:
Our iOS apps support "flat" folders meaning they will display all files under the root folder, including files in any subfolders.
Tip: If you want to limit what files are displayed in the iOS app, you need to move the files you don't want to see out of the main app folder, perhaps into a "Archived" folder under iCloud Drive.
See: iCloud Drive FAQ
Tip: Even if you have Wotja for iOS installed on your device, to see the Wotja iCloud folder on Mac, we strongly suggest installing either Wotja for macOS.
If you have just installed one of our iCloud Drive supporting apps for the first time, then it seems it can take a while for the iCloud Drive synching to happen and for the folders/files to appear on your Mac. We know not why.... but a couple of suggestions to try are:
Yes they can (try emailing them to yourself).
Liptikl 1 Desktop note: Only the first 3 of the Sources are visible and can be used or saved; Liptikl 2 allows use of all 5 Sources.
Intermorphic apps that directly support save to/load from Apple iCloud and Apple iCloud Drive folders:
The iCloud Drive folder on macOS is found here:
~/iCloud Drive/Wotja/
~/iCloud Drive/Noatikl/
~/iCloud Drive/Mixtikl/
~/iCloud Drive/Liptikl/
We strongly recommend using iCloud / iCloud Drive wherever you can.
There are five main reasons for that:
Our iOS apps support "flat" folders meaning they will display all files under the root folder, including files in any subfolders.
Tip: If you want to limit what files are displayed in the iOS app, you need to move the files you don't want to see out of the main app folder, perhaps into a "Archived" folder under iCloud Drive.
See: iCloud Drive FAQ
Tip: Even if you have Wotja for iOS installed on your device, to see the Wotja iCloud folder on Mac, we strongly suggest installing either Wotja for macOS.
If you have just installed one of our iCloud Drive supporting apps for the first time, then it seems it can take a while for the iCloud Drive synching to happen and for the folders/files to appear on your Mac. We know not why.... but a couple of suggestions to try are:
Note: If you have purchased a licence for Liptikl 1 for Windows via our website you will receive an email containing your Customer ID, Order ID and Product Key (the version purchased via the Mac App Store does NOT require a product key). Check you have followed the Product Key section in the Liptikl User Guide.
Note: If you're running on Windows, and find Liptikl 1 doesn't save its license key when you close the application, use the Windows option to run "as Administrator". Enter and save your registration details. Restart the application normally: it should now be fine.
If the above does not get you going, then please try the following steps: