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Fractal of the Day
by Jim Muth
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Fractal visionaries and enthusiasts: I'm posting this at 7:15am because last evening both internet providers were inaccessible. This afternoon, (October 31), while browsing the fine selection of fractals posted to A.B.P.F., I wondered whether such images can honestly be called fractals. Then, realizing how the idea of what constitutes a fractal has changed in recent years, I wondered whether the old-fashioned style images I post in the FOTD can still be called fractals. Since the nature of the two styles of images is so different, I doubt that both can still be considered fractals. The images I create are done more in fun than with creative effort, usually involving little more than flat iteration bands and an adequate color palette. Sometimes the time from boot-up to completed image is less than 15 minutes. Except for the CPU speed increase, this is the same way I worked with fractals 10 years ago. But in that time, fractal programs have changed. They have evolved into virtual graphic programs. This is good, for it gives the fractalist much additional creative opportunity, albeit at the expense of that vague and debatable ideal, fractal purity. However, I feel that we have reached the point where fractal art has become so far removed from the original idea of fractals that the two can no longer be considered the same thing. This in no way reduces my opinion of the more artistic images, but I feel that some distinction must be made between the type of images I create and the type of images that appear on A.B.P.F. Since the more artistic fractalists remain satisfied calling the images they produce fractals, I will change the description of my images from fractals to classic fractals. The appearance of the images themselves, as well as the discussion will remain unchanged. As a simple example, today's image explores the fractal that results when the expression Z^(-14)+2.5Z^(-1.45)+(1/C) is iterated. I named it "The Lost Minibrot" because that title seemed poetic, and not because I lost it, which obviously is not the case. The picture rates a perfectly average 5. The parameter file renders in a dragging 14 minutes, making a download of the GIF image file from: The fractal weather today (Halloween) was perfect, and the cats took full advantage of the perfection. In the 61F (16C) degree air they romped and frolicked until they exhausted themselves, a time which is quite short for gloriously middle-aged classic fractal cats. I'll return tomorrow, (now later today), with another classic fractal and more words of wisdom. Until then, take care, and regardless of what you call them, keep those fractals coming. Jim Muth jamth@mindspring.com |
START 20.0 PAR-FORMULA FILE================================
The_Lost_Minibrot { ; time=0:17:02.17 -- SF5 on a P200
reset=2001 type=formula formulafile=critical.frm
formulaname=MandelbrotMix4 function=recip passes=1
center-mag=+1.85728145477441900/-0.23424119516995760\
/5531863/1/162.499 params=1/-14/2.5/-1.45/0/0 float=y
maxiter=1800 inside=0 logmap=204 periodicity=10
colors=000X4A_5A_7A_8A<3>dEAfGAgHAhJAjIAlK9lL8lM7<9>\
RF2OE2MD1<2>GB0EB0DC1<32>7eK7fL6gL<3>6jN<13>bqfdrhgr\
i<2>ntnptoqqprtprjmrjjq`gq_dqUaqQ_<19>cmAco9bp8<3>`t\
3<39>OGKOFKOEL<2>NBMNAMOBN<9>ODXODYODZOE_OE`<9>ONiOO\
jOPk<2>OSnNTpOUn<3>OYjPZiP_hP`gPaf<3>_ebbfaeg`hi_<3>\
ttWwwVzzU<18>zzBzzAzz9<2>zz7zz6zz6zz6<3>zz7
}
frm:MandelbrotMix4 {; Jim Muth
a=real(p1), b=imag(p1), d=real(p2), f=imag(p2),
g=1/f, h=1/d, j=1/(f-b), z=(-a*b*g*h)^j,
k=real(p3)+1, l=imag(p3)+100, c=fn1(pixel):
z=k*((a*(z^b))+(d*(z^f)))+c,
|z| < l
}
END 20.0 PAR-FORMULA FILE==================================
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