Congratulations, Bruno! You're images are amazing, and I'm so glad you have been highlighted for your talent! Linda

Congrats! It's a beauty! Linda

No! Not here, anyway! The flame fractals are fairly new to many of us (last couple of years), and Mark's Apophysis program is a treasure trove of images. So it's getting a workout! But if the fractal artists stick to only one style of fractal, it will get stale eventually. Fractal art is still evolving, and I think there will always be a variety of fractals. I can also tell you that no matter what Tina and I do, we can't seem to interest Avalanche Publishing in flame fractals. They want the traditional spiral in bright colors. In fact, of all the images I've sold, only one has been a flame. Linda

Hi! Welcome! Glad you're here! :-)))) Linda

Bee, you said "I give more credit to the programs themselves than perhaps I should." With respect to the art world, one of the largest obstacles the fractal artists are faced with is that many people, and traditional artists in particular, seem to think that the computer creates the art. I've had art show directors tell me "we only accept art that is created by hand." The computer and the software are the tools the fractal artists use, and the fractal artist is the creator. Unless you are using the unaltered parameter set that the formula creates (and therefore the author of the formula created), please don't give the programs the credit for creating art. You are doing it! I create images that I like, for my own amusement and amazement. If others like them, too, that's great! Sometimes they like them well enough to buy them! But I have fun creating them, and I look for something I like, not something that will put me in the fractal-grand-master category. So happy fractaling! Have fun! Keep searching! I like your work and I hope you keep it coming! Linda

Hi, Paul! I use Ultrafractal, almost exclusively. Usually, the only post-processing is in PaintShopPro, and that is only to add the signature. If you want to give fractaling a try, you could start with one of the free programs. (UF costs $59 US, I think) There are some great free generators. You can follow the link to find them, starting at http://www.fractalarts.com/ASF/Tutor1.html There are also some tutorials at that site. Or, check out http://www.fractalus.com/gumbycat/ForTheBeginner.html for some more info. Happy fractaling! Linda

Yes! You should post it! It belongs here! Linda

Yes! You should post it! It belongs here! Linda

Congratulations everyone! The images are gorgeous! Yvonne posted her good-bye fractal here yesterday, so she may not see this message. I'm sending my congratulations to her email address. Gorgeous winning image! LindaA

Beautiful images, everyone! Here is my vote! #13 - 3 points # 3 - 2 points # 9 - 1 point Linda

I agree with the above, gunsan. I think this should be in the Fractal Gallery! It's a fun image - makes me smile! Linda

Kazzy and Newpy - Amen! Hallelujah! Right on! Atta boy (girl?) etc, etc. I know I'm not here to argue. I make fractals and I look at fractals - both mine and and others. It's fun and I can't see that there's anything wrong with just enjoying myself! Andreas and Newpy - I'm with you! Sometimes I keep checking back to see if I have any comments. I get excited! I like both the encouraging "nice image!" comments and the critiques. And I can't see anything wrong with that, or with rating an image "excellent" if it's one I really, really like, or sometimes just to let the artist know that in relation to his/her early images, I can see excellent improvement and growth in skill and creativity! I'm also becoming acquainted with other fractal artists through comments, and that's one of my goals! I want to meet you! Comments keep us connected. I like that. Keep fractaling, keep commenting, keep smiling! People who want to play games and try to fool the system, who don't want to see any comments unless they are critiques, and who object to the ratings given by others are missing out on the fun and fellowship the rest of us are enjoying! LindaA

Congratulations! Great image!

Oh, what a hard lesson! I've done the same thing - probably every fractal artist does that at some time or another! It is a lovely image! I bet you'll never forget to save an image again! (Everytime I save an image, I use a different name. I never just hit "save." Sometimes that means I have 100 different versions of the same image, but I can always go back and weed them out. It's a good habit to get into.) LindaA

Thanks, Nick! Linda