XenoDream TutorialsFlamesFlames were first made popular through the work of Scott Draves and his 2D images. They are an extension of the Iterated Function System (IFS) class of fractals, so what you see is essentially a histogram of a complex system. The algorithm is amenable to creating both still images and animation, but not to zooming in. But XenoDream is a three-dimensional rendering program, creating 3D IFS fractal objects, combined with 3D lighting and filters. Most other programs that produce IFS images are 2D fractal generators, such as the following (where XenoDream mostly resembles the functionality of Brazil):
The smooth result that is produced by FraxFlame is due to the super-sampling within the render, which is simply calculating points in a larger area and resampling the data before plotting (basically anti-aliasing). This process can be somewhat time consuming, and usually heavily memory dependent. But XenoDream is capable of producing similar images using different techniques, one of which is through the use of certain transformation "flame" styles (or metamorphs), as in the program comparison table below:
The selection of metamorph transformation styles is made from the "Shape" tab within XenoDream. Whether any of the more 'flame' related ones are chosen does not matter, since the "(None)" specification is equivalent to the Linear type.  fig.1 Now some will say the comparison of render times is much shorter in XenoDream, especially when an "Unlit" picture is being generated, taking only seconds or a few minutes. But I tend to believe it has more to do with the particular settings used than with the program at large. For example, if someone were rendering a high resolution, highly complex, "Chaos" render method (down to a very low value of the Rendering Progress Indicator, such as two digits or lower), then that may take quite awhile. And like any situation or generalization, everything depends on all the factors involved. And you may ask, "Why can specific designs be created when using another IFS generator but not with XenoDream?", or "Why can XenoDream produce certain shapes but not with other IFS generators?" And these would be very good questions. The simple answer is the differences between 2D and 3D imagery. Most other programs use 2D IFS with a selection of 2D transformations (triangular, sinusoidal, polar, etc.), and a color method based largely on the density at each pixel, to appear as a 3D object. XenoDream uses 3D IFS with a selection of 3D transformations (metamorphs), and a more powerful but different coloring method. If XenoDream were to implement all the same transformations, one could possibly get all the same shapes as the other programs, but during initial tests, the most boring ones were left out. Supposedly, some of them will be reviewed again, now that Garth has more experience with using them, and also in the light of what has been learned about using metamorphs for subtle changes when the basic shape is right (eg vases). However one has to work strictly in 2D to get the "same" shapes as the other programs. Making sure that XenoDream stays within the 2D Flame process means keeping some of the settings on the 'Shape' tab to a value of only zeroes (0):
 fig.2 One can easily make almost all of the images from XenoDream appear to be like true "flame" fractals by adjusting the Holon Opacity to a very low value (usually somewhere in the 10 to 15 range). This is accomplished by means of the "Rendering" tab, but make sure that the companion controls are set as well. The Mode should be set to "Uniform", and the Sync should be "checked" (or turned on), otherwise it may only affect a single holon and not the whole picture.  fig.3 And to make the searching of possible images (to be used as flame type fractals) much more easy, set the Transparent View button on the "Main" form by making sure it is depressed in the 'On' position.  fig.4 This page is still being refined off site. Please return later as updates are made available to this XenoDream Tutorial. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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