...or do you use a variety of programs to create your fractals? I'm not talking postprocessing (as in PSP or PS...), just main fractal generators (Fractal Explorer, Apophysis, Ultra Fractal, XenoDream,...) Thanks very much! ~Tim ^_-

I think this varies all over the place. I have about 25 fractal programs on my HD, but mostly I use UltraFractal, with Apophysis coming in second. I occasionally play with one of the others, but it happens very seldom. I see other artists with a different program every day! I guess it depends on what kind of person you are, lol. :)

Mainly I use UF, MBF, FE and APO But like tresamie, I have every program I could find on my HD and like to skip around because each program has something unique to offer. For example if I feel like "sketching" I use FE but for more finished pieces it's UF all the way...it really does depend on the day.

I use UF almost exclusively. I've tried many of the others, but I always come back to UF. Linda

"Almost" exclusively, Linda? ~Tim ^_-

I most often use UF or Apophysis, but also like FE. I have several other programs also, but sometimes forget about using them. FE is wonderful and sometimes I get in the mood to do something with it. Just depends on my mood. It really is nice to change around from one program to another once in a while. Sometimes in one program you seem to get into a 'dry spell' when nothing comes together like you wish. That is when it is nice to jump to another program for a change. Marion

I use Ultrafractal 90% of the time and Apophysis the other 10% though I usually use multiple flames and compose them along with straight fractal layers in UF. Or, I'll use certain Apophysis flames as texture layers in UF. I used to use Winfract and Flarium24 "back in the day". I love the shapes in Xenodream and the vibrant colors in FE but, though I have those programs, I've not tried FE yet and XD just baffles one of my drastically limited cerebral capabilities. In other, more direct words: I'm dumb as a rock and stuck in a comfort zone! lol I keep telling myself I'm going to learn those "proggies" (as the Brits say - lol) but I'm always getting caught up in some project in UF that occupies me obsessively for days at a stretch till the wee hours. The time spent is of course closely related to the above mentioned lack of quality brain cells - lol Rick

Great question, I use several different programs. My favorites are: Vchira, Apophysis, Dust Fractals, Xaos, Flight From Fractal and so many more. I have about 80 on my harddrive and lots of oddball fractal programs on disks. My personal favorite is Vchira, I just wish it had the graphics capability of UF. William

I am stuck in UF mode right now. I must agree with some above in it depends on my mood as to what program I use. My current favorites are Fractal explorer, ChaosPro, Xenodream and Ultra Fractal. XD is a complicated one for me as well and I truly want to learn more but as of now I am finding some comfort in Uf and am determined to learn the ins and outs of masking. LOL! Treena

I mostly work with UF because of its capabilities for layering and because the compiler allows really decent formula and coloring coding and I've written a bunch of stuff to run on it.

I still have a soft spot in my heart for FE, and like others here I like to "sketch" on it sometimes, although I find that I haven't the patience anymore to explore it like I once did (pre-UF).

I used to have a lot of fun with MBF, but I find it quite limited these days, especially with most of the Carlson stuff transcribed to UF with far more capability by Ken Childress.

Apophysis is my nemesis. I like some fo the flames I see in the galleries, but I find using it mostly numbing button-pushing. I don't have the knack of it at all and have never come up with anything approaching what others seem to be able to do with it.

I have never found Xeno Dream images particularly attractive, so even though I have the program I have never used it. Maybe someday I will try my hand at it again, as some of the work lately that has been posted has been quite impressive.

Toby

UF 99% :-) I have made one image with Apophysis, and two more with two other programs. But I like the fact that I can program UCLs. And my greatest experience for this is for UF...

Hi Tim, I use 99,8% Ultra Fractal 3.05 and 0,2% Apophysis 2.02. And I purchased Xenodream too, but in this moment I don't have the time to explore it. There are so many possibilities in using UF and Apo.....our life on earth is too short to explore them all. The only limit in using them is our creativity! All the best, Jos Boogen.

I am joining Toby (Kymarto) and Marion (Kansas) here, FE is my first love,I learned the trade with it... and I keep a soft "spot" for it....And sometimes I am really in the mood for FE, it is very intuitive compared to UF. But at this very momnet 90% of my "fractalling hours" go to UF. Eveline

I must have 50 or so fractal programs on my pc and do play with them all occasionally, Apophysis is my program of choice because I love flame fractals. There is an ethereal, flowing quality to flame fractals that I don't find present in standard fractals from the other programs. ;o)

Apart from a recent UF series, i've used Apophysis exclusively for about 18 months now (maybe longer). I've cut back on posting now because flames are over-used and 90% are identical and uninteresting. The last thing this gallery needs is someone else posting a flame a day. Matt.

As with Toby, Marion and Evie, FE was/is my first fractal love, and I would swear that the program is almost alive at times.. but, I enjoy UF for the soft, rounded shapes and the layering.... and one day, I might even learn how to use the other 95% of the program....but i doubt it, unless someone wants to come visit and explain it all to me... I also agree with Toby re: APO.... As for XD, it seems like a Gargantuan APO proggie.. I have it, have attempted it on several occasions, but nowhere near to understanding it..... :-)

I've been stuck on UF since I discovered it almost 2 years ago. Love it so much I actually paid for it twice! ;p
The greatest thing about UF for me is the programmable Transforms, Fractals, and Coloring Algorithms, not to mention custom-design gradients. I'm a math-head and I love exploring different types of fractal images via equations. I'm convinced that if you know what you're doing you can create virtually anything in UF!
Also have Apophysis 2.02, but the interface is a little intimidating in spots.

I use three programs in rotation; UF, Apophysis and KPT Fraxplorer. I used to use KPT Fraxflame but that was before I discovered Apophysis. I like being able to trade off programs, especially when I get into a rut. Lately I've been having programs making anything I like in UF, so it's nice to have something else to work with. Also, different programs give you different results and a different process. I find that UF is very complex and takes a lot of effort, whereas KPT Fraxplorer is more akin to doodling. Both are fun though.

My favorites are Chaoscope, XD, Apophysis and nowadays UF. Whish i could write my own formulas for it but i just can't get into it sigh. So I start from a given formula and zoom into and tweak the coloring parameters until some totally different creation comes out. What i like very much here is the ability of layering. With Chaoscope i can create images without the overloads of functions of other programs, just simple. I love the wonderful strong colors that come out sometimes and the endless variety of interesting attractor designs. And most of all...it's free! XD fascinates me because of the 3D ability. Whish there will be mesh export to Cinema 4D or other rendering programs with the next update. Well and about Apo i don't think i have to explain much ;-) To me the best flame creator!

Just like so many here, I started out with FE, but rarely use it any more. 90% of my time is spent with XD; I love being able to make 3D fractals. For that same reason, I seem to have most of the programs that will do quaternions, including the entire suite from Mystic Fractals. Not that I really know how to use them, of course. When I want to do bright fun colorful images, I use MBF. I tried UF but didn't like the UI, and I've never been that big a fan of flames; whenever I get the urge, I can do them in XD.

Tim,

I started with Fractint but I never looked back once I found UF.

I remember back in the olden days, when UF3 first came out, Apophysis was made as a front end tool to get flames into UF. I still use Apophysis that way so all of my flames are assembled in UF. UF allows the assembly of flames in context with each other, including size, location and rotation, and it gives total control over the gradient. The only advantage that I can see of using Apo as a stand alone is that it can do disk renders better than UF can. That's a serious UF flaw as far as I am concerned. I hope UF4 does a better job with that.

I guess we shouldn't overlook the fact that you have to pay for UF. In your other thread you asked about backgrounds. If you are going to do backgrounds without UF then you are going to have to pony up 80 bucks for a decent layering program like Paintshop Pro. Pay the 50 for UF too (it looks like you already have:)). It's worth it.

Don't tell anyone but I post process every image that comes out of UF. Usually with some kind of sharpen and a brightness and contrast adjustment. You've got to have some sort of photo editing program for that.

Later,
Keith

Message edited on: 12/21/2004 19:43

Message edited on: 12/21/2004 19:47

Sterlingware and Xaos, 50/50. It's been that way for 2 years. I try out every one I can, but with these two I find I am the most productive.

I think though it takes some time and effort to learn how to use a fractal program and it's easy to stick with a familiar one. I've heard alot about UF and I've seen some really amazing images from it, as well as from Apophysis, but I just couldn't get "handy" with them.

Sterlingware and Xaos are simple to use and I personally prefer simpler fractal programs. I see UF as part graphics program. That's why so much can be done with it but also why the learning curve is steeper.

My main motive for checking out other programs is when I find I can't do anything new with my old familiar ones. But I'm always curious about a new fractal program because it could be better than what I'm using.

Message edited on: 12/25/2004 15:59