Attached Link: http://www.renderosity.com/gallery.ez?ByArtist=Y&Artist=BlueRose

This is purely out of curiosity :-) Not at all intended to deteriorate into a 'this' is better than 'that' fight. Im merely curious as to why different people use different software. Its possibly fair to say that the majority of users use UF, and Ive seen some fantastic work come out of it but I personally could not get my head around it. It was a mental barrier I could not cross :( I started out with Sterling and QS Flame, mostly cos they were free, but they gave me an intro into 2 entirely different ways to fractal, something I didnt realise there was. And when I saw my first Xenodream image it was like someone dropped a brick on my head, it was so right! I have no idea what it is about XD but it *does* it for me. I love the interface as its so organic, you can just twiddle knobs and voila, but for those technically minded you can get really into it as well. I love the colouring function, it produces fantastic results esp in v1.1 and the lighting is just bloody amazing. Everytime I use it I get something different. I seem to have a fairly distinctive style, my fractals are big and chunky and very textured, and solid looking and I like that, thats what does it for me. But the biggest bonus for XD is the variety of creations you get, i have yet to see another fractal program rival the breadth of different effects you get from it. *phew* anyway! What does your program do for you? Stacey

I would like my software better if I had,had the time to setup my new voice commands,by using voice commands to enter my main file for my voice commands that enables voice commands. I would also like my software better if it had a touchscreen surrounded by a dash board with flip swiches and knobs.Like in the video games? I'm working on all of that NOW!!! and as you can see I am very excited when I give out a foreshadow of my future when I am actualy talking in tha past/present parta.Did I mention tha word"NOW"??

Attached Link: http://www.renderosity.com/viewed.ez?galleryid=190217

When I started with fractals I downloaded a lot of programs, esp. those from Steven Ferguson. But I never got to see *what* I was doing in them. But when I started with UF and learned how to work with layers (in the same time I started with PSP) - then I got more comfortable with these fractal thingeys. But the top is - UF allows me to look into every "filter", i.e. colouring formula, transform, formula, ... I can create my own, using a programming language that is not too bad. My code is often several thousand lines long. This cannot be done with any other fractal software I know so far.

Abmlober just gave me a thought...I see it..I can see it... Give me a sec..I'm going to make some post's tonight.. Check out my post's in C4D My topic is WIP..

I started with the old Fractint Dos program when I first got a computer, and stayed with that for many years. It still does some things I haven't seen elsewhere, (which reminds me to pull it up again and play--if I get the time LOL). But also at about the same time I picked up Photoshop (for my other art) and had to learn layers and how to manipulate them, which is why I now (almost) exclusively use UltraFractal--it provides almost the same functions of Photoshop without having to jump into another program. I like being able to blend layers into a new vision. (I have tried many other fractal programs--all of which do sometihing unique to themselves, but for overall functionality--UF is it for me.)

Well here is a cool one...I just ran it off..A wow did it bring back those old memories.....

Remember the key to tha universe is this emoticon Yes that's right folks..forgot to add that in there...

I use a variety of what I'm assuming are the simpler (ie point and click) fractal programs. To me they are all like having wonderful kaleidescopes in my hands that give me a wee bit of control on the image selection. So far the programs included are inkblot, flarium, sterling fractal, fractal explorer and tierazon. I do know that I will eventually have to try Ultra Fractal :)

I found UF to be a complex input device... UF does support manual comptex differential/drivitive's input script's.however I also found that there was several Information Technology pools that could be established as drive beds for the knowledge values;= Some people may not be up to par on the ITbase contained there in? So. you could down load these script's and visually browse the rendered product..Umm..So in conclusion; I some times find myself becoming stuck on the topic of UF or any other widely used applications? A skill level rating would be a though for more pie... Don't you hate it when your topic doesn't fit-in??

Like Rosemaryr I started years ago with the dos version of Fractint. I bought the books written by the Stone Group and delved deep into the fractal universe. For me and Im sure for many others all fractal programs are compared to Fractint. Now I primarily use Tierazon and UF but I still go back to fractals Ive saved out of Fractint and use them as textures in my 3d work. Im a fractal explorer from way back and the program I used the most to explore the fractal universe was Fractint.

Yea HAW!!!! Jump'n Jimmany Cricket's???Hey?? Can we have desert now???Any one seen tha Queen Bee's???Hmm.Hmm...

Sorry I havent replied earlier, i have been away on a business trip with no time or access to the net other than a very quick check on email headers. Thanks for the replies :) Im not sure in the ended I worded it as well as I could have, but hey, its interesting to find out why people use the software you do. Stacey

To the Powers That Be.......Audre or Micheleh.... Why is there a message missing from this thread? It was posted on the 28th. When a search is done on the person's name, that posted it, it directs to this thread, but the message is missing. Usually a deleted message is shown as deleted by the author.

Gosh Stacey I'm hurt? We are your family!!!!We thought,Well we.we.we thought that you....you...Uh had forgotten to ask us to house sit.. P.S. It has been so slow in here???I finaly found out how to use the white glove.{software not included}

Hello to all. About Fractal software i start with Fractint dos, and after Stephen software Sterling Ware, Tierra zon and Graz Z Vizion, 3 excellent software for beginner ad confirmed artists. After I use Frax flame of Kpt5 and Ultra Fractal , certainly the 2 software I prefer. I try Xenodream but I understand nothing to this software , so I don't use it :(( I use Quaternion Quasz, an excellent software for 3D fractal and with the possibilities to import in Bryce or Vue d'esprit. The advantage of Ultra Fractal is all people as Andreas who create a lot equation and system of colorisation, and all month there is new possibilities. When we can see the work here we have the proof this software have great diversity and possibilities. Have fun with your fractal software :) Laurent

I've used Sterling Ware and TerraZon - but am more comfortable with Fractal Explorer. I also tend to use KPT's FraxFlame 1 and 2 and FraxPlorer from time to time. Unlike Laurent, I love XenoDream and can't seem to make anything worth keeping when I use Ultra Fractal. Maybe we should trade tips? :) Amulet

I love UltraFractal and found it absolutley daunting for about a month, maybe two. But one thing made me keep at it. I could understand the interface!! Which I can't for most of the other programs out there. I have no idea what I'm doing in Sterlingware and TierraZone and never have had an idea, though it was quicker for me to make something that looked like a fractal in them. I think I was lucky. I got UF when the Ultra Fractal list was at it's height and fantastic people were sharing their uprs and creating new colorings and playing with them for the first time and it was easy to learn after it dawned on me that I could. Number freak me out. I will never write a formula. But I'll also never use all the formuals available so why should I? Especially when geniuses like Andreas can write them and let me play. I like the layers. I like to pile them on. I'll create a new layer just to see how much I can change the darn thing this time. [oh yeah, ruined some stuff that way, till I learned to throw some away] Second level favorite is FraxFlame-- if it'll will run faster than it did on my Mac. I wasted hours of rendering there-- not that it's wasted, I still have the presets. My only problem with FraxFlame is the struggle with gradients-- I don't find the gradient maker intuitive-- and the problem that once rendered the flame was always a bit disappointing, not as great as the preview hinted. I never did reach Laurent's heights with FraxFlame. Emily

Hi all fractalisers. QUERI about frax flame and gradient perhaps you don't use the section of control gradient with your mouse. I try to create a mini tut about it and I send you tonight. But it's sure I prefer the Gradient lab of Ultra Fractal :)) AMULET: About Xenodream i don't found a tutorial simple to explain the base of this software, with a lot sreen shot for explanation. When I see Translation of ULTRA FRACTAL in French version I said "yeh this software is for me" :)) And for Frax Flame I create a tutorial and presets in english and French versions for all users. Tutorial is very important to lunch some people in a futur creation and appreciate correctly a software. I'm patient and perhaps one day a tutorial for dummies for Xeno appears by miracle in the web ;)) Have a nice week all. Laurent

For Queri and other frax flame user :)

For starting open Frax flame (hum sometime I'm hyper logical ;))

1: click with the mouse on the right or left part of the TOP accolade and move the mouse in right or feft corner.

2:click inside the gradient you selection with the accolade and change the colors. (if you don't want change why you open frax flame? ;))

3:it's the result "WOW it's beautifull ;)"

4:move the accolade with the top of the accolade with the mouse in right or left corner to change again and again and again the gradients (don't forget to save your presets gradient.

Enjoy

Laurent

Thank you, Laurent! The manual-- which was almost non-existent, never told me half as much as this! I might be able to work it now. Emily

Attached Link: http://www.aartika.co.uk/ultrafractal.html

I think it's obvious from taking a look at my galleries that Ultra Fractal is my favourite fractal programme.

I like it mainly because it combines the fractal generation part with the ability to have multiple layers, edit gradients, create masks, apply tranforms etc, which goes way beyond what even programmes like Paint Shop pro could offer.

The other things that "turn me on" about it are:

• It's easy to use interface
• It's cost ($35 is very cheap for such a sophisticated programme)
• The fantastic, and enormous, database of formulas, coloring algorithms and transforms, which is constantly being updated by a huge number of very talented authors, all available for free :-)
• It's contollability in image creation - this one is very important to me, as it means it is possible to really develop an individual and recognisable artistic style - there is really nothing random about using UF.
• The ability to save complete multi-layer parameter sets as very small text files.
• The ability to render images with controllable anti-aliassing to more or less any size, to a lossless format. Again, this is very important to me as I always want to have the option of making large-format prints of any one of my images if I want to.
• At a more personal level - I enjoy seeing the enormous variety of images that can be created with UF, by so many different and very talented artists, and even have a few framed and hanging on my walls!
• Lastly, like Queri, I have found the communication among fellow-users of UF to have been invaluable, and I feel very privileged to have learned so much from so many of them.

I have used Tierazon and Sterlingware fairly extensively in the past, and while they were fun to use for exploring the nature of fractal imagery, the 150 or so images I kept from that time do not hold the same interest for me as anything I've done with UF. More recently I have used Xeno Dream, which I like, but haven't really had the time available to get to grips with it properly - yet, anyway!

Ok, Queri has me convinced to give UltraFractal another try. In looking through galleries, I'm impressed by what I've seen done with it. Laurent and Queri: If the two of you help me with UltraFractal, I'll help you with XenoDream. OK?

AMULET. Intersting deal :) I want to know what you know about Ultra Fractal. Have you make something or you understand nothing to this software? Have you see the Tutorial in the Janet Preslar web site? http://www.parkenet.org/jp/ufresources.html and http://www.parkenet.org/jp/uftranslations.html If after that you make nothing we can try to this forum to explain the base of Ultra Fractal, how create the first layer. Laurent

Thank you, Laurent. I had not seen this tutorial before. I will use it this weekend along with some ideas that Queri has sent. I have tried to make some images with UltraFractal, but I'm not very happy with them. If you want to see them, they are at http://community.webshots.com/album/35065492botmvi Amulet