November 2004 - Fractint - mailman.xmission.com

Seeking beta testers for fractal program
by Edwin 30 Nov '04

30 Nov '04

Hi, Over the past five years I've been slowly developing a fractal program for Unix- and Linux-based systems called Gnofract 4D. I'm now almost ready to release version 2.0, which is a major improvement over the previous releases. The main new feature is that it can load Fractint .FRM files (but not yet .PAR files), which is why it may be of interest to some folks on this list. Brief feature list: - GTK-based GUI (screenshots at: http://gnofract4d.sourceforge.net/screenshots.html) - 24bit color and antialiasing - named parameters + separate colorfuncs as in UltraFractal Obviously there are many Fractint features which are NOT supported, including logmap, stereo, 3D, L-systems, DOS or Windows support, periodicity-checking, IFS, etc, etc. Anyway, if you're familiar enough with Linux to compile from source, willing to put up with flaky, beta-quality software, and interested in trying out a new fractal package, please download the beta from: http://www.bathysphere.org/gnofract4d-2.0.tar.gz And do let me know any bugs, suggestions or feature requests! Since this is only marginally related to Fractint I shan't announce future releases here - if you want to hear about them please subscribe at http://freshmeat.net/projects/gnofract4d/ Thanks, -- Edwin

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FOTD 29-11-04 (Funny Face [3])
by Jim Muth 30 Nov '04

30 Nov '04

FOTD -- November 29, 2004 (Rating 3) Fractal visionaries and enthusiasts: Today's image takes us to the 'quat' formula, which draws slices of the supposedly 4-dimensional Mandelbrot set created by 4-part quaternion numbers. I have several problems with this formula. To start, the parameter screen of the formula is puzzling. While spaces exist to enter four variable parameters, only two are used, as though the formula were still being developed. And a little bit of investigation will show that only one parameter is needed to draw all the images that the formula can create. There must be a reason why the two unused parameters exist, or more importantly, why there are not six parameters, as there are in the Julia version of the same formula, which is far richer than this Mandelbrot version. With two 4-part numbers included in its calculation, the quaternion Julibrot figure must be 8-dimensional, so there must be six directions perpendicular to any image on the screen, and, as is the case in the Julia version, it should be possible to move the illustrated slice in any of these six directions. I can't escape the feeling that, as it is written, the formula short-changes the user. (The hypercomplex Mandelbrot formula has the same parameter limitation, though in that case I have written my own formula that includes some of the missing parameters and draws some very curious and interesting images.) Actually, I wonder whether the quaternion Mandelbrot set is 4-dimensional at all. It appears to me that we are examining a figure with only three dimensions, which is the 3-dimensional figure that would be traced out if the 2-dimensional Mandelbrot set were to be rotated around its x-axis. All in all, I find the quat formula one of the more disappointing in the program. (Though maybe I am missing the formula's main features.) So what do we do with such a disappointing formula? Why we draw funny faces. Today's image resembles a funny face, and that is what I named it. Try as I might, I could find nothing in it worth a rating higher than a 3. The render time is mercifully short, and this results in an inflated overall worth of 121. The funny face can be found leering from the FOTD web site at: <http://home.att.net/~Paul.N.Lee/FotD/FotD.html> The rain cleared out quickly here at Fractal Central on Sunday, leading to a sunny and mild afternoon with a temperature of 59F 15C. These conditions must have pleased the cats, for they spent almost three hours in the holly thicket at the bottom of the yard, keeping watch on the neighborhood goings-on. When the day ended, no tuna was needed to put them in a good mood. Today is starting sunny but chilly. We'll wait to see how it goes with the dynamic duo. With me it will go good enough once I finish the three hours or so of work that waits to be done. Then it will be on to Fractal Land and the goodies therein. The next glorious fractal will appear in 24 hours. Until then, take care, and do you believe in the great fractal? Jim Muth jamth(a)mindspring.com jimmuth(a)aol.com START PARAMETER FILE======================================= Funny-Face { ; time=0:02:28.19--SF5 on a P200 reset=2004 type=quat center-mag=-0.085743250969516\ 82/0/701.1023/0.03524/-90/7.67164110015983169e-014 params=0/0/0.65/0 float=y maxiter=2500 bailout=9 inside=255 logmap=45 periodicity=0 colors=000OSjPTiQUhRVgSWfTXeUYdVZcW_bX`aYa`Zb__cZ`\ dZaeXafVbgTbgSchQciOdiNdjLdkJekIelGfmEfmDgnBgo9go8\ cjA_fBXbCTZDQVEMRFINHFJIBFJ8BK47L13M47N7AOADPCGQFJ\ QINRKOSNRTQUUSWUTWTTVSTTRURQUQPUOOUMNVKNVIMVHLVFKW\ DJWBIW9HW8HZBJ`EKcHMeKNgNOjQQlTRoWTqZUs`Vmcjgfz_cs\ T`mMYfEV`7SU0QO3SO5TO8VOAWOCXOFZOH_OJ`OMbOOcOReOTf\ OVgOYiO_jOakOYZNUNNRBNSDRTEUUFXVG_WIcXJfYKiZLl_Mo_\ Nn_Nn_Om_Om_Om_Pl_Pl_Pl_Qk_Qk_Qk`Oh`Ne`Lc`K``IZ`HW\ `FT`ER`CO`BM`9J`8G`6E`5B`39`26`14_47Z69Y8BYADXCFWE\ HWGJVJMULOTNQTPSSRURTWRVYQY`P_bOadOcfNehMgjMilMilN\ imNimNinNinNinSheWhYUi_Si`QiaOibMjdKjeIjfGjgEjhCkj\ Akk8kl6km5knKpkYtikxghvfftedrdbqd_kaXf_UaXRXVORSLM\ QIHNGCLIDKJEJKFIMFINGHOHGPHGRIFSJETKDVKDWLCXMBYMBc\ QIiTOoXUt__k`Zc`YCxGApM9hR7aX6Ua4MU3FUAJUHMUKKUKKU\ KKUKKUKKUG19J8HMEOPKVSKbVKiYKpWKjUKeSK`RKWPKRNKLMK\ GKKBIK6HK1GK6GKBGKGGKLGKQ } END PARAMETER FILE=========================================

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Re: Thanx
by JackOfTradeZ 29 Nov '04

29 Nov '04

Thanx Paul. Yes. Same me. (If I get the WOW-thing to work I gonna try to animate it to. Already done a couple with the passes=0 formulas and they're cool.) JoTz

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FOTD 28-11-04 (Follow=up)
by Jim Muth 29 Nov '04

29 Nov '04

>At 12:09 PM 11/28/04 -0700, Lee Skinner wrote: > >>What's weird about this one is that the >>bottom part of the planet's "rings" disappears >>when drawn at the higher resolution of >>1600x1200, instead of being drawn sharper! I replied: >You are probably using passes=g. What's >happening is that the first coarse pass is >probably missing the thin line and assuming >that nothing is there on the subsequent passes. >Try rendering the image with passes=t, or if >that fails, passes=1. Lee, you are right. I spoke too quickly. I checked further and found that the bottom part of the edge-on rings is there only when the video mode is set to SF5 and the passes is set to something other than 'g'. This is regardless of the passes setting at the other resolutions. It's a curious glitch. I'll have to study it further to try to find out what's happening. I also noticed that the upper part of the rings changes color at the other resolutions. This may or may not have something to do with the failure of the lower part of the rings to show up. Jim M.

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FOTD 28-11-04 (The Great Mystery [7])
by Jim Muth 28 Nov '04

28 Nov '04

At 12:09 PM 11/28/04 -0700, Lee Skinner wrote: >What's weird about this one is that the >bottom part of the planet's "rings" disappears >when drawn at the higher resolution of >1600x1200, instead of being drawn sharper! You are probably using passes=g. What's happening is that the first coarse pass is probably missing the thin line and assuming that nothing is there on the subsequent passes. Try rendering the image with passes=t, or if that fails, passes=1. Jim M.

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Re: [Fractint] FOTD 26-11-04 (Hourglass [7])
by Fr. Jim Lacasse 28 Nov '04

28 Nov '04

Jim, this is a very eye pleasing fractal. I'd make it higher than a 7. Fr. Jim >>> jamth(a)mindspring.com 11/26/04 06:41AM >>> FOTD -- November 26, 2004 (Rating 7) Fractal visionaries and enthusiasts: With today's image we return to the 'phoenix' formula, this time to the Julia version. I will not try to describe in words how this complex formula works, but the full details can be seen by striking the 'Z' key when the image is on the screen. Today's image pictures the whole parent fractal, the only change being that I rotated it -90 degrees. I gave the image its name "Hourglass" when it was perpendicular to its present orientation and actually resembled an upright hourglass. As it now stands, the hourglass has tipped onto its side. To add a bit of interest to the image I departed from my usual outside=iter inside=0 routine and set the outside to 'real' and the inside to 'bof61'. The areas of chaotic detail are 'outside'; the hourglass shape itself is 'inside. I must have done something right, for this resulting fractal rates a 7. The rating of a 7 is perhaps slightly flattering, but I did put a bit of extra work into the coloring, and I feel the rating is earned. Despite the complexity of the formula, the image is a very fast one, rendering in only 1-1/4 minutes. Combined with the rating of 7, this speed gives an overall worth of 529. This entire confusion of render time, rating, and overall worth can be avoided by downloading the pre-rendered image from the FOTD web site at: <http://home.att.net/~Paul.N.Lee/FotD/FotD.html> With a temperature of 57F 14C, Thursday was mild enough here at Fractal Central, and the showers ended before noon, but the wind blew a gale all afternoon, making the fractal cats too skittish to stay out longer than 15 minutes. They spent most of the afternoon on the shelf by the window, watching the dried leaves blowing around, turning away from the window only occasionally to wash each other behind the ears. Surprisingly, they asked for only a small treat of tuna before bedtime. Today is start- ing sunny, but it is freezing cold. I guess the cats will have very clean ears by the time the day ends. I don't know what I'm going to do for the rest of the day -- I am simply not accustomed to days with totally free time. But I might need a lot of that free time; the next formula in line is a killer. To see what kind of fractal results, check back in 24 hours. Until then, take care, and get in the big time with the big-time fractalists. Jim Muth jamth(a)mindspring.com jimmuth(a)aol.com START PARAMETER FILE======================================= Hourglass { ; time=0:01:19.42--SF5 on a P200 reset=2004 type=phoenix passes=1 float=y center-mag=0/0/0.7961192/1/-90/-1.233735336115e-014 params=0.2109862666707358/0.9854165166173284/-3 maxiter=250000 bailout=4 inside=bof61 outside=real logmap=yes symmetry=xyaxis periodicity=10 colors=000uhAodAj`AfXAaUAYRAUOARLANJAKGAGBAD9AC5AA\ 1A90A1AAdZAcjAcwA3sCcnCciCUdCK_CAWCCSCDOCFKCGGCICC\ J8CL4CM0CP2JS4PV6VY7a`9gcBnfDthEzbBkY8_T6RR8CQAAOC\ 8NE6MG4LJ8KMBJPEISIHVLGYOF`SEbVDeYChaBkdAng9qk8tn8\ vq5qS2l28h4Ee5Kb6Q_7WW9aTAgQBlNCkOFjOHiOJhOLgOOfOQ\ fPSePUdPXcPZbP`aPbaPd_T`YXXW`UUdQShNQlJPoGNkSLgbUL\ RPSMLZHHdCDk79q2Am8AiEBfKBbQCZWCW`TXfiXlyXrz`jzdbz\ hVzlNzqFzv7zz0zzcqf2jZ3bR4TJ5MB6G46IelrNUdHOSBIF5D\ b4Kz4RuCUpJXkQ_fXbaceXjhSqkUgdWYYYORZFLSEOLDRECTFA\ QG9OG7LH6JH5HL4EO4CS49V47UKFT_NSoUQm`OlfMkmKjsIiyH\ goGefFcXFbOVSJjHEy69vCBsHDpNFnSGkYIhbKfgLifOleQodT\ rcVubYwa_gbeTbkEbqBgm8li6pfFneNldVjdbhcjfcrdbzbbxa\ avaataar``p``n``l``jWdhRhfMleHocCsa7w`3z_CmZL`YUPX\ bCXj0_1DQKUHajLVcPPXSJRWDKZ7EV7LS7SP7ZM7eJ7lQ9dXBY\ cCQjEJqGBwH4kE1fI9aMGYQOTUVOYbKaiFeqBhxGfvKetPdsTc\ qYaoa`nf_ljZkkVddcDgbCjaC } END PARAMETER FILE========================================= _______________________________________________ Fractint mailing list Fractint(a)mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fractint

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More "passes=o" orbit set formulae...
by Hiram Berry 28 Nov '04

28 Nov '04

To any of you who have not downloaded the latest Fractint developer version with the new "passes=o" option for plotting cumulative orbit sets, I heartily recommend you do so! Subsets of these orbit sets taken along closed curves of the domain space can generate curves that are different in visual character from the parent form, and many of them appear to limn curves that are truly fractal, ie. have noninteger Hausdorff dimension. Watching them form, almost all of them seem to be formed by a small number of "packets" of a large number of cogenerated points that move around the screen like pens. I have managed to render some of these with the domain points on the main cardioid only-- some of the Julia orbit sets so formed are particularly nice. [As an aside, in the following there is the option to do the iteration in the negative direction, which is controlled by the parameters in p2 and p3, ie. instead of z->z^2 + C to do z->+-sqrt(z-C). But since -sqrt(z-C) is just as valid an inverse as sqrt(z-C), there is the conundrum of which one to use at each iteration. For a sequence of n iterations there would be 2^n possible inverse sequences. Obviously there is no way to specify them all, so I just let the user choose a modulo arithmetic driven sequence of which branch to choose each iteration.] ---Hiram /* PARS OF A JULIA ACCUMULATED ORBIT SET FROM THE MAIN CARDIOID WITH C AT [1] INTERSECT [1,1/4] AND A PERTURBED MANDELBROT SET */ RingOfFour { ;HiramBerry; Julia orbit set with the iteration curve on the M-set ; main cardioid, with the C-value set at the tangent pt ; of the main cardioid [1] with the positive first order ; period four bud [1,1/4]. reset=2004 type=formula formulafile=orbit.frm formulaname=Jorbitcardioid1 passes=o center-mag=-0.0130781/0.491833/3.277684/1/90/3.88578058618804789e-016 params=0.25/0.5/0/0/0/0 float=y outside=summ periodicity=0 cyclerange=1/1 orbitdelay=100; colors=(a)grad0054.map colors=000X3r<40>v16w15x14x13y12z00<42>ze0zf0zg0zh0zi0<2>zj0yj1yj1xk1xk2\ <71>WyUWyUVzV<43>VxtVxuVxuVxvUww<23>syytyyuyy<3>zzz000000 } PerturbedCardioidO { ;HiramBerry; reset=2004 type=formula formulafile=orbit.frm formulaname=Morbitcardioid1 passes=o center-mag=5.78e-006/-7.005e-006/1.103748 params=0.65/0.1/0/0/0/0 float=y outside=summ periodicity=0 cyclerange=1/1 colors=000NrYX3q<39>v16w15x14x13y12z00<42>ze0zf0zg0zh0zi0<2>zj0yj1yj1xk1\ xk2<71>WyUWyUVzV<43>VxtVxuVxuVxvUww<23>syytyyuyy<3>zzz000000 } /* FRMS TO RENDER MANDELBROT AND JULIA ACCUMULATED ORBIT SETS ALONG THE MAIN CARDIOID*/ Morbitcardioid1{ ;HiramBerry; passes=o,orbitdelay=nonzero. Domain points drawn from the ; main cardioid for Mandelbrot iteration. No point density normalization. ; p1=z_perturb,p2=(iteration dir(0=z->z^2+C,nonzero=cycle period(posint)), ; zerofill(0<=int<=cycle)),p3=(start(posint),skip(posint)),where the iteration ; chooses from {z->sqrt(z-C),z->-sqrt(z-C)} , based on the cycling. Eg. to evenly ; alternate the iteration types use p2=(2,1),p3=(1,1). IF(initialized==0) initialized=1 cols=real(scrnmax),rows=imag(scrnmax),pts=cols*rows rctx2=pts*2 density=pi/pts cyc=real(p2),zfill=imag(p2),start=real(p3)-1,skip=imag(p3) bailout=4 ENDIF disti=imag(scrnpix)*cols+real(scrnpix) z=p1 theta=density*(2*disti+1) ct=cos(theta) r=(1-ct)/2 C=0.25+r*(ct+flip(sin(theta))) IF(cyc!=0) pos=start ENDIF : IF(cyc==0) z=sqr(z)+C ELSE pos=pos-floor(pos/cyc)*cyc ; modulo normalize IF(pos<zfill) ; choose iteration type z=sqrt(z-C) ELSE z=-sqrt(z-C) ENDIF pos=pos+skip ; iterate ENDIF |z|<=bailout } Jorbitcardioid1{ ;HiramBerry; passes=o,orbitdelay=nonzero. Domain points drawn from the ; main cardioid for Julia iteration. No point density normalization. ; p1=C,p2=(iteration dir(0=z->z^2+C,nonzero=cycle period(posint)), ; zerofill(0<=int<=cycle)),p3=(start(posint),skip(posint)),where the iteration ; chooses from {z->sqrt(z-C),z->-sqrt(z-C)} , based on the cycling. IF(initialized==0) initialized=1 cols=real(scrnmax),rows=imag(scrnmax),pts=cols*rows rctx2=pts*2 density=pi/pts cyc=real(p2),zfill=imag(p2),start=real(p3)-1,skip=imag(p3) C=p1 bailout=4 ENDIF disti=imag(scrnpix)*cols+real(scrnpix) theta=density*(2*disti+1) ct=cos(theta) r=(1-ct)/2 z=0.25+r*(ct+flip(sin(theta))) IF(cyc!=0) pos=start ENDIF : IF(cyc==0) z=sqr(z)+C ELSE pos=pos-floor(pos/cyc)*cyc ; modulo normalize IF(pos<zfill) ; choose iteration type z=sqrt(z-C) ELSE z=-sqrt(z-C) ENDIF pos=pos+skip ; iterate ENDIF |z|<=bailout }

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FOTD 28-11-04 (The Great Mystery [7])
by Jim Muth 28 Nov '04

28 Nov '04

At 12:45 PM 11/28/04 -0600, Paul Lee wrote: >Jim Muth wrote: >> >> FOTD -- November 28, 2004 (Rating 7) >> >> I named the image "The Great Mystery". Paul replied: >Not to be confused with the FOTD earlier >this year of the same name: Yes, sometimes repeats do happen. I'll rename today's FOTD "The Great Mystery-2". Jim M.

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FOTD 28-11-04 (The Great Mystery [7])
by Jim Muth 28 Nov '04

28 Nov '04

FOTD -- November 28, 2004 (Rating 7) Fractal visionaries and enthusiasts: Advancing through the Fractint formulas, I checked the 'popcorn' formula and skipped over it because it appears to draw orbits. The present tour of the program is limited to the escape-time formulas. But then, for some reason, I decided to check the 'popcornjul' formula, and much to my surprise found that it does indeed draw what appears to be escape-time images -- and an over- whelming variety of them at that. With four functions and four variable parameters to adjust, and only an hour or so in which to do the adjusting, I was able to only scratch the surface of what this formula might do. I tried using the evolver on the formula, and found that it gave such a huge variety of images with so little relation to each other that it was of little help in finding the best that the formula has in it. In the end I settled on the parameters and functions used in today's image. I named the image "The Great Mystery". Studying the picture, I had the impression that it hints at monumental things, but what those things might be remains a mystery. It could be an edge-on view of the planet Saturn as seen from the upper atmosphere of its large moon Titan. But if so, the ringed planet is in the process of melting. It could be someone's idea of an atom of uranium floating in some multi-dimensional theoretical space. But atoms are not objects that can be pictured as we picture the things in the world around us. It could even be something not yet scientifically proven, which is presently considered para- normal. Whatever it is remains and always will remain a mystery, and this is why I gave the image its name. I rated the image at a 7, mostly because I enjoy mysteries. And one thing not very mysterious is the render time, which is a zippy 15 seconds. When combined, the rating and render time give the image an overall worth of a grossly exaggerated 2726. For those who would rather not render, the GIF image is avail- able on the WWW at the URL: <http://home.att.net/~Paul.N.Lee/FotD/FotD.html> With a mixture of sun and clouds, and a temperature of 52F 11C, Saturday was comfortable enough for the fractal cats to enjoy nearly 2 hours in the yard. When they came in, only a small treat of tuna was necessary. This morning is starting cold, and wet from overnight rain. The rain has ended however. I hope it dries out fast enough for the cats to enjoy a reasonable time in the yard. I have every intention of having the fourth day in a row with nothing to do but take it easy. If this keeps up, I might even start to enjoy it. The next fractal will appear on schedule in 24 hours. Until then, take care, and be a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day. Jim Muth jamth(a)mindspring.com jimmuth(a)aol.com START PARAMETER FILE======================================= The_Great_Mystery { ; time=0:00:15.41--SF5 on a P200 reset=2004 type=popcornjul function=cotanh/ident/\ atanh/acos passes=t center-mag=-5.71433/1.31077/0.\ 06972817/1/45/-5.05012698326368081e-014 inside=0 params=0.05/0.1/1/-0.01 float=y maxiter=300 bailout=25 outside=summ logmap=yes periodicity=10 colors=000AUmATlAQjANeAK`AHXAETABQA8NA5LB3KC2JD1IE\ 0HF0GG0FK0EP0DU0CZ5BcABcFAcKAcPEcUIcZLccPchTcmWcr_\ cuccvfcudctccsbcracq_cpZcoYcnXcmVclUckTckScjQciPch\ OcgNcfMceLcdKccJcbIcaHc`Gc_FcZEcYDcXCcWBcVAcU9cT8c\ S7cS6cW8cZ9cbBceCchDclFcoGcsIcvJcyKcyMcyNcyPcyQcyS\ cyTcyVcyWcyYcyZcy`cyacybcwacu`cs_cq_coZcmYckXciXcg\ WceVccUcaUc_TcYScWRdUReSQgQPhPPiTUiXZj`cjdhjhlteys\ dxravqZsqWpoUmnRjlOgkMeiJbhG_fEXdBUc8Ra6Pd9ReCSgET\ iHVkKWlMXnPZpR_rU`tXbuZcvadwdexfeyieykeulgqmimmkin\ lennaopYorUpsQpuMqwJqxFmyCjzEhxGfvIeuKcsMarO`pQZoS\ XmUWlJUhGViDWiAXj7Yk5Yk6Xi6Wg6We6Vc6Va6U_6TY6TW6SV\ 6ST6RR6QP6QN6PL6PJ6OH6OG7NJ8NL9MOAMQBLTCLVDKYEK_FJ\ bGJdHIgIIiJHlKHnKHpJMiJQcJVYJZSJbLJgFJk9Jo3In4Hm5H\ m6Gl7Fl8Fk9EkADjBDjCCiDBhEBhFAgG9gH9fI8fJ7eK7eL6dM\ 6dM8eLAeKCeJDfIFfHHfGJgFKgFMgEOhDQhCRhBTiAVi9Wi9Ug\ ATeBRcCQaCP`DNZEMXELVFJTG } END PARAMETER FILE=========================================

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Re: WOW
by JackOfTradeZ 28 Nov '04

28 Nov '04

Fractalnauts, I haven't been paying much attention to this list for a while - lotsa work ongoing. But everyone is talking about this WOW thing. Sounds interesting - like I wanna give it a try. Can someone re-post the PAR / files / info for me? Thanks. JoTz

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