I personally would like to see the "other" style images in the gallery again. Simply for the inspirational aspect. You know, "wow, great idea. Wonder how they did that?" And you go to work trying to figure it out. Along the way you learn so much. This problem will never be completely solved. Once new rules are made, new routes around them will be created. I'm just glad I'm not the ones having to make this decision! Old rules, same rules, or new rules, we'll go along with the majority on this issue. William

Isn't this going back to the same thing that has been discussed so many times? It's wrong for someone to use a 3D shape in an image. It's wrong to use photos or anything like that and post them into the "fractal" gallery. If you get down to it, probably 99% of the images in the "fractal" gallery are not all fractal. A little tonal changes in a paint program, a little sharpening or maybe even a blur or two. All of these are not "fractal", if you are looking for purity. This discussion seems to go back to the point of, " I used UF to make it ". Which is fine, but what if someone else preferred to use a paint program to do the same thing? According to that line of thinking, if you don't have UF you may only post "pure fractal" images, simply because the program you are using doesn't have the graphics capabilities of UF. So, if someone wrote a fractal program and incorporated a 3D generation engine; the resulting images would still be fractal? Personally I think it should be up to the artist. People go through different stages of learning, but usually they return to fractals or they post somewhere else. Mostly because that is where they feel most comfortable. William

I like to do the initial work with a density of 20, so that it draws a lot faster. Then as I get closer to a presentable image, I change the density to 100 and resample as Aeries suggested. There are some images that contain some grain and no matter what you do you cannot get rid of it. I have one like that and I've tried everything I can think of and it's still grainy. I guess some pics weren't meant to be after all! William

Nothing wrong with a little plugging! Especially when it's your own son. The more the merrier! We wish him a lot of luck! William

Hi Shemia, The colors in the solid render can only be changed by varying the opacity, which will give you variations from the normal solid render to a white render. No other color options are available as of yet. I was wondering if it was possible to recode the algorithm to change the colors, but that is beyond me right now. One cool thing I've found: set the "angle" gradient to "black" and just work the "speed" gradient. For some reason this seems to make the colors come alive; more than any other combination I've found so far! Check out the Chaoscope mail list at freelists.org, Nicolas and a few others are beta testing a newer version now. From what Nicolas has told us the new changes are agreat improvement! Have fun, William

Same problem here!

Real slow for us as well! Some of the gallery pages never even load! I keep getting weird messages in the IM's. There is only one person I receive email notification on my fav. artist list, and about half the time that one doesn't show up in my email! Oh well! William

Can I suggest one more addition? That the program used not be entered into the comments as well. Sometimes it gives a huge clue as to who's image it is.

How about a quick suggestion? Since we all agree that the Hot 20 is no real big deal, after all there is no prizes or cash awarded. Why not just do away with it, especially if it is going to continually cause these kind of problems? My 2 cents worth, William

I think, for what it's worth, we are losing sight of the problem. There are too many people here that are targets! If your work gets voted into the hot 20, then all of a sudden you get harassing IM's telling you how undeserving you were to receive that honor! This has continued and been allowed to go on for a long time now! If you never take a stand for what is right, then what's the use for the freedom of speech, which we all currently have? I for one agree that the person we are speaking of, has a definite problem! If he is allowed to continue to be a part of this community, then there should be rules and regulations for HIS actions if this kind of behavior continues! No one told him to react the way he did, he did this ALL ON HIS OWN! Another thing, I don't think the VICTIMS are acting like 3 year old kids, I think they are tired of this sort of thing being allowed to continue! They have every right to voice their feelings about any subject, whether it be critisizm that was constructive and helpful, or being told that their work wasn't good enough to be in the top 20! Has anyone asked Thelma, classyladytwo, or the others, just exactly what he said to them? I'm sure they have told a few people, maybe if they saved those IM"s they should post them, so we all can see HIS behavior! Sorry if someone has a problem with this post, but I'm tired of my friends being tortured! Yes I know someone said he has mental issues, but who doesn't I think at one point and time we all have problems, but again that doesn't give us the right to trash anybody else's work or their feelings! Vicky and William

Almathera also has a filter for PSP called puddle. It does some cool water effects (not your usual rippled water effect)!

Linda, you will be missed, your are very talented and everyone here will miss your beautiful images! You are also a very loving and caring woman, who's light shines very brightly! You have been such a wonderful inspiration to me and Wm, you know we love you and of course we support your decision! If you should see fit in the future please come back for a visit! I know how time consuming this all can be, as well as stressful. You will definitely be hearing from us from time to time with an e-mail! God bless you, John and your family, take care for now! Love, Vicky and Wm ps When the girls have their babies I will send pics too you!

Check Paul N. Lee's website or Stephen Ferguson's website. Lots of great free programs to download!

Message edited on: 08/15/2004 19:27

Nick, hope you and your family have a wonderful trip, be safe! Vicky

Hi Rose, "fractal landscapes" is a term. All the CG generated terrains and landscapes are fractal based; some just go about it differently. Some just plot the terrain to be used in another program. There are a huge number of freeware terrain programs, Terragen being the best(in my opinion). There are also programs thet generate nothing but trees. I have several programs that generate fractal plants and one that even makes grass! Most of these are exported as 3D models, which you could probably use in Bryce. Hope this helps at least a little bit. I'm no expert, by a long shot, but I do play around with a lot of different programs. (just ask my overloaded harddrive!) Williamparagon5