As far as commercial software goes: For 2D Mandelbrot/Julia/Newton types: Ultrafractal www.ultrafractal.com For 3D Mandelbrot/Julia types: Quasz (etc.) www.hypercomplex.org (I think) For (3D) IFS: Xenodream www.xenodream.com I don't know if there's any "stand-out" commercial software for other fractal types eg. L-systems, flame fractals, strange attractors etc. but there's a commercial plug in for Photoshop -- ie. Kai's Power Tools 5 though I haven't got it. As for the freeware - you don't pay your money and take your choice ! but if you want a program that does a selection of different types you could start with Fractint (DOS but Windows version pending ?) If you want DOS freeware but with high/true colour then MMFrac though it's not tremendously compatible with systems - it's very sensitive to slight idiosynchrasies in video hardware/software.

The Meaning and Purpose of Life is to give Life Purpose and Meaning. http://website.lineone.net/~dave_makin/