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Fractal of the Day
by Jim Muth
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Fractal visionaries and enthusiasts: Sometimes I have a difficult time finding a fractal worthy of being declared FOTD. At other times I have a great fractal but can't find a name for it. Today's fractal falls in the second category. The image is not the best of all time, but it's good enough to rate a 7, which makes it above average. The problem was that I just couldn't think of a name for the image. Finally, in desperation, I named it "What Is It". The parent fractal, a Z^(2.07)+C Mandeloid, appears as a large bay with two main buds on the western shore. The scene of today's image lies somewhat back in the northern valley of the northern bud. Rather than consisting of one wedge, as proper valleys do, this valley consists of a multitude of wedges in bits and pieces, converging and combining into one main wedge. The whole thing is better seen than described. And the image is fast for a change! Instead of rendering in a ridiculous 3 hours, the parameter file of this one renders in 3 minutes, making the best way of viewing the scene a toss-up. For those who choose to go to the internet to see the image, the GIF file will soon be posted at the following URL's: I occasionally receive letters asking why I have not switched to the Ultrafractal program. I rarely find time to send the reply, which is simply that I like Fractint better; but while browsing the Fractal-Art list a day or so ago, I was reminded of these letters. I noticed that the next Ultrafractal contest is opening for entries. Of course, not being an Ultrafractal user, and not liking contests, I have no intention of entering the contest, even though it has a sub-category for users of 'other' fractal programs. But I wonder why we never hear of a Fractint contest. As I recall, the first in this series of fractal-art contests *was* a Fractint contest, mainly because UF had not yet been released. Someone submitted a formula, and the contest was to see who could create the best fractal from this formula. I enjoyed that contest, and even entered several images. But even then it was apparent that many fractalists wanted multiple layers, which I fail to appreciate, and also more colors. Fractint formulas hundreds of lines long were common, as the users tried for better coloring. Some formulas even drew rudimentary, two-layer checkerboard images. When UF appeared, with its faster rendering, true color, unlimited layers and many transforms, the Fractint users who had seen fractals as a means of artistic expression embraced the new program, leaving Fractint largely to those who saw fractals as a manifestation of the abstract realm of numbers. I have UF in my computer. I even load it now and then. But I just can't get into it like I have been into Fractint for over 10 years. I feel no resentment toward UF for drawing away Fractint's users. UF is a great program that deserves the popularity it has found. I simply miss the early days of sending disks filled with images through the snail mail, along with messages that read "look what I found at these coordinates". Well, I see that I'm starting to ramble, so it's time to shift the fractal thoughts to other topics. But I can't end without reporting the all-unimportant weather. It was cloudy and 68F (20C) here today (Friday, the 18th). The cats approved of the conditions. I'll return in not too many hours with more fractal goodies. Until that golden moment arrives, take care, and what do you do with a drunken fractal? Jim Muth jamth@mindspring.com |
START 20.0 PAR-FORMULA FILE================================
What_Is_It { ; time=0:02:57.62--SF5 on a p200
reset=2001 type=formula formulafile=allinone.frm
formulaname=MandelbrotBC1 function=floor passes=1
center-mag=-0.61011930652051370/+0.654816245367828\
30/15366.65/1/-42.5 params=2.07/0/0/0 float=y
maxiter=1500 inside=0 logmap=53 periodicity=10
colors=00080NB2RF4XK6_O9dTBgXCl`GqeHtiJzmKzpPzrTzv\
Wzx`zzdxzfxtcsn`ngZiaVdVR_QOVJKQDGL6CG0BB0B68CJJEV\
XGggEstEzzEzzKzxRzsWzpbzkgzgnzbtz_yzVzzRzzVzzYzzbz\
zfzzizzlzzpzztzxxzfztOzl6ze09nzElzJlxOlqRjlXjfajad\
iViiQniLqgEwg9zg2ze0ze0ze0ze0z`0zW4zTEzOQzKazGkzCw\
w7zt4zxCzzKzzTzz`zzizzpzzjztgzndzi`zdYzYVzTRzOOzIK\
zDHz6Ez1Bz07z04z01z00z04q09i2Ea9KTIQLOVDX`4be0ij0g\
l0fl0dl2bl6alB_lGYlJXlOVlTTlXlsXzxXzzVzzTzzRzzQzzO\
zzNzzLzzJzzIzzIzzQzzXwzbszknzqkzxfzzbzz_zzazzbzzdz\
zfzzgzzgzzgzzizzizziyzixzktzkqzkpxlltljslgqlepg`gd\
WlaRqYOwDdz0sz0pz0lz0iz2ez4dz8`z9YzDVzERzIQzJMzNJz\
OGzRCzTBzVTzXizYyz_zzazzXzzTzzOzzLzzIzzDvz9pz4jz1d\
z0Yz0Tz0Mz0Hz0Kz0Oz0Rz4Vz8YzD`zGdzLgzOjzTnzXqz_Wza\
CzYHzXKzTOzRRzQVzNYzLbzIezGizElzBpz9sz8vz6tz4tz2sz\
1sz0sz0qz0qz0pz0pz0pz0nz0nz0lz0lz0lz0jz0jz0jz2jz8j\
zBizGizJizNizRizVgz_gzTHz
}
frm:MandelbrotBC1 { ; by several Fractint users
e=p1, a=imag(p2)+100
p=real(p2)+PI
q=2*PI*fn1(p/(2*PI))
r=real(p2)-q
Z=C=Pixel:
Z=log(Z)
IF(imag(Z) > r)
Z=Z+flip(2*PI)
ENDIF
Z=exp(e*(Z+flip(q)))+C
|Z| < a }
END 20.0 PAR-FORMULA FILE==================================
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