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!
aartika! fractal art by Tina Oloyede : http://www.aartika.co.uk
