I see some images posted that to me do not seem to be Fractals at all. In Lightwave 3D there are pattern generating algorithms that are called "Procedural Textures". Also I have used software that generates Serpentine curves and of course KPT's Texture Explorer. I would consider software generated Celtic Knots in this category as well. When do these techniques for generating computer images become fractals?

They don't become fractals... They aren't fractals. But they are created with a Fractal generator (UF in my case). But to call them just "texture"? There is an older thread where I asked where to post images when they are no fractals but made with a fractal generator... Opinion was that the galleries should represent the generator not the result :-) Greetings, Andreas

IMHO, I would draw the line between an abstract picture (as most fractal images would tend to be categorized) and a texture mostly by the ability to determine balance, composition, color control, and emotional response. But again, this would depend on your definition of art in general, and abstract art in particular, to make such a determination. You could always have a piece labeled "Texture Study" and have someone else say "Oh, what a lovely abstract!" -shrug-

im new "here", but hers my opinion........ a square is a rectangle, but a rectangle is not a square.... a texture, (and since i do alot of 3d, i feel i can speak on textures....) is ANY image that is repeated as a pattern over the surface of a 3d object. so in that sense, any fractal image is already considered a "texture"........ even tho im new, to my understanding, a fractal is a generated through the use of algorithims, to give visual feedback, so, in theory, kpt, and filters alike all do the same thing. they all use algorithims to give visual feedback...... (in short, id call them fractals myself...... but there is an obvious difference from "fractals" and "textures"...)

Attached Link: http://www.ararat-productions.com/3d/triamid.html

This will remain your own decision. I sometimes choose 2D for my images although I always start with UltraFractal (so far).

In Bryce (and other such apps like MojoWorld) just about all "procedural textures" are fractals...and the "program" that generates them is the DTE which is a fractal generator (or as has been described by other--a fractal synthesizer). The same goes for the Terrain Editor...in that all the terrains are "fractal based" and created via the same fractal generator... ..."fractals" (fractal algs) can be and are used for just about anything...communications, medicine, financial predictions, etc.... I've read where some say that simply put, fractals are just "patterns"..albeit, very special patterns. ...again, IMHO is just depends on how you choose to create/generate them; use and/or "display" them... ...that's my two cents... Ciao Bryan