solemnchaos.net

This tutorial offers one approach to creating a fractal with fractal explorer. It shoud be fairly easy to follow even for beginners (let me know if it isn’t). This is NOT a step by step process for creating perfect fractals, it’s a set of general guidelines for finding interesting fractals.

Feel free to wander off on your own path at any point in the tutorial. Your fractal may look different from the one shown in the tutorial; this is absolutely fine. You’ll need to have fractal explorer (it’s free!) before getting started.

I’ve tried to put a number next to what I’m talking about to help you locate it in the screenshots. Open fractal explorer, click the new 2d fractal button (_1_) and change the size (optional) (_2_) to something larger, maybe width 300 and height 500. Click the select fractal button (_3_) to open the select fractal window (_3_).

In the implemented tab (_4_), scroll down and expand Super Newton fractals, then select SuperNewton I (_4_). You can choose any formula you like. I try to start with formulas that have 2 functions (_9_) in the parameters box.

As you begin experimenting, keep in mind that it’s a good idea to save any interesting fractals you find. From the file menu (top left of the main fractal explorer window) select Save Project As. Using the date followed by a name you choose may help keep them organized.

This is all about experimentation. Forget about what you think a fractal should look like. The goal is to find something interesting… something which holds your attention.

In the select fractal window, watch the preview box(_6_) as you change things to see how they affect the fractal. Don’t worry too much about color at this point. Start by clicking the inverted box (_7_), then click Select (_8_). The select fractal window will disappear, and your new fractal will be drawn in the main window.

Now open the select fractal window (_3_) again and change the first function (_9_) to CAbs2, and the second function (_9_) to CSqrRecip and click Select (_8_) to return to the main window. I usually like to go back and forth through both function lists until I find something interesting. You can always come back and change these later.

As you experiment you may notice the fractal detail or noise level is too high or too low. Try playing with the Max Iterations (_10_) and Bailout values (_10_) to optimize the detail while reducing the noise. Sorry, I don’t have any magic numbers, it’s different for each fractal.

Now let’s open the select fractal window (_3_) again and try some filter properties (_11_). This is another list I like to go through several times until I find one I like. This is also where fractal explorer is most likely to crash, so remember to save often.

Let’s choose Max (Abs (X*Y)). Now go down to the Transform box (_12_) and pick a transform… I chose Ln Stalks. Click Select (_8_) to return to the main window. Hmmm… not that interesting. What next?

Changing the functions will have the strongest influence on the appearance of the fractal. Open the select fractal window (_3_) again and let’s change the functions (_9_).

Try CCos for the first function and CCos(Z*Z) for the second function (_9_), and let’s change the filter properties (_11_) to Sin (|Z|). Then click select (_8_) to see how it looks. Much better.

This step is optional. I like to zoom out (_13_) on the fractal and select an area (_14_). Click and drag in the fractal window to get a selection box, which can be dragged around and resized. Double click the selected area when you find an area you like (_14_). Don’t forget the undo button(_15_) if you change your mind.

From the main fractal window, click the edit palette button (_16_). In the edit palette window, select the Gradient (UF colors) tab (_17_). Drag the slider (_18_) and watch how the colors change in your fractal.

Spend some time experimenting with the color order and transformation options (_19_), I changed mine to BGR (color option) and kept the transformation at Linear (ident). Adjusting the contrast and brightness (_20_) can help your fractal stand out. The density (_21_) affects how many times your color gradient is repeated in the image.

Right click on a point in one of the color panels (_22_) and select choose color for selected vertex. This will open the windows color chooser, which allows you to pick a specific color for that part of the gradient.

You can also click and drag any point in a color panel to alter the gradient. Need more colors in your gradient? Just right click in an open area of a color panel and choose insert vertex, then left click to place the point. Close the edit palette window (_23_) when you are satisfied.

Click the custom image size button (_24_), make sure keep aspect ratio (_25_) is checked and choose a size about twice as large as you want the final image. Just change the height value, then click in the width box… the correct width will be automatically chosen (as long as you have the keep aspect ratio checked).

Select ok (_26_), then open the fractal menu (_27_) and choose an anti-aliasing option (_28_)… I like anti-aliasing on nine points. You may also want to enable smoothing (_29_). Anti-aliasing can significantly slow down the render.

When it’s done, click the save image button (_30_). In the save image window pick a name for the image and choose a file type (I prefer PNG). For additional options (_31_), select auto spot saving and antialiasing 1:2 (the default 4 to 1 is usually ok).

That’s it! You have completed the search for a new and interesting fractal.