After I "punched send", I realized that I forgot to add that often people when ask "why I do it" (as opposed to how)...I usually respond with something along the lines of, "...why wouldn't I want to do it?...just look at all the beautiful and wonderous never-before-seen scenes, motifs, colors, textures, light, and shapes I (get to) discover and play with!" ...with "play" being the operative word/idea here... Ciao Bryan

What we (as fractalists) are doing is something that is referred to by some as "exploring" (or "noodling about" as I like to call it) in parametric hyperspace (a term I think was coined or first used by Ken Musgrave).

"Navigation" can be tricky, as one conscious or errant click of a mouse can transport you into a completely different quadrant.

While the math "under the hood" of our "fractal vehicles" is produced/compiled by earnest, keen, and laboring minds working and wrestling with an almost endless set "rules of predictability, probability and chaos", churning out a vast array of "precision parts" which when combined together create "creativity vehicle" unlike any other.

I have no knowledge of "the math", and consider myself to be like the race car driver, airplane pilot or even the driver of an automobile or any other "vehicle"--or even as a user of the very computer you are now using to read this--and do not concern myself with "how it was made", only with how (and how well) it operates.

And while my "fractal vehicle" is very "rule oriented", out here in parametric hyperspace, where chaos reigns supreme, often "the rule(s)" is/are...that there is/are "no rule(s)"...one must be ready and able to adapt and adjust with the ever changing landscape and often incomprehensible challenges.

As with other "vehicles" (creative ones or otherwise) skill, knowledge, experience AND "vision" are equally important to a successful or satisfactory experience (or outcome).

Some say, "it's all an accident"--to which I reply, "Then why is it that I seem to have so many?" "Is it because I am so 'accident prone'?" There are "accidents"...and there are "happy accidents"--or what is referred to as serendipity. And, "accident" or not...much like life, it's what you do with them or how you react/perceive them that counts. I choose to interpret them as "sources of inspiration".

Make of it what you will.

...literally...

...as for me, it literally represents the essence and reflection of the (human) creative process...

Regards

Bryan

Attached Link: Simon The Bullet Freak

I have many "suggestive" fractals and have only posted one to Renderosity...and think it was before there was a "fractal forum"...lot of my "earlier stuff" was posted to the "other app" or "bryce" galleries.

I didn't tag it as "nudity", and didn't think I needed to...dunno...afterall it was "just a fractal"...albeit, a bit "suggestive" (to some minds I suppose)...but I didn't intend it to be that way...in fact I was messing around with a XD "mushroom shape" which was in fact a "modified spiral" and this motif just popped out.

While the image got a goodly number of "hits", not many folks left any comments (giggle).

And, since I heard that some folks shot whatever drink they happened to be drinking at the time thru their noses, when I posted this to other fractal forums, I thought it was best not to post some of my other "suggestive stuff".

Anyway....maybe I ought to try out "some violent fractals" for a change of pace!? ;-)

Neat question...and I thought I was the only one who "suffered" from this malady ;-) I see them everywhere and even use the term "very fractal like" when describing everything from cloud formations, to flowers, trees, rocks...and just about everything in nature....not in people (yet) tho--maybe my "disease" isn't as advanced as other (grin)...or "structures"--and tend to use the word "organic" alot when it comes to some stuff...ya know, as in "not quite fractal". (giggle)

Welcome...and ya know...you can use almost all of what you know about Bryce/Poser and combine it with whatever you learn/know about fractals...meaning, you can create fractals and either use them as texture bitmaps and/or even (in some cases) import and use the fractal in Bryce/Poser.

I attached an image I've been playing with over the past few days (trying to get the lighting "right") where I created a single fractal in XD and imported it into Bryce to make "rocks". As the Bryce DTE is really a fractal generator (almost all your procedural textures and terrains, etc are "fractal based") I used the DTE to create a "fractal sky".
You also can use "volumetrics" straight out of the DTE...as these are fractals as well.

I know Audre (and others) have combined and/or used their fractals as texture maps with their Poser work.

Jonathan Allen has a tutorial entitled "disrupted fractals" in which he uses the DTE and the ability to "composite images" in the Mat Lab.

The URL is:

http://www.j.b.allen.btinternet.co.uk/fracttut/disfractut.html

The point is, is that "doing fractals" can be an accumulative knowledge thing--using your knowledge of other application to enhance your fractal experience and "joy factor".

Regards

Bryan

Hey Andreas: Well, again and as usual you are very kind...not only to acknowledge the existence of Thinkpieces but to also ask for some "reposts". While the entire experience was a gigantic financial and professional flop, personally I wouldn't trade it for anything else...as the people I met and interacted with and the experiences (mostly related to people) changed me forever. I do have many of those images, and interestingly enough I haven't really felt "creative" lately...and is why I've been writing tutorials for XD...which is my way of continuing to contribute. On any account, again I appreciate your kindness Andreas. Warmest Regards Bryan

Giggle...geez, it's been so long since anyone even recognized my old website, I had to read the title of this post three times (grin)... ...and you wouldn't believe it, but just last week I deleted a TON of KPT 5 FraxFlame presets...just figured that since I wasn't doing FF1 anymore and that it didn't seem like too many folks were doing FF2, that they weren't going to be of any use. I think lots of my presets are still hanging around in various places where such things are posted--even think the files are still at ZD (?) On any account, if you send me a personal/private email to my Yahoo account, I would be more than happy to package up what I have left on my HD and send them to you. P.S. Had to close my website in June of 2000. A great "blast from the past"...thanks Bryan

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

"Yes, Renderosity has my permission to use my artwork from my art gallery for promotional use only".

I agree...nice stuff...and, have seen similar motifs done before in the software used (wavefront/alais, etc)...and, as Maya (I think) just received an Academy Award for their software, I suspect that it'll continue to be a bit cost prohibitive for the average graphics weenie (like me) to possess and use...not to mention the learning curve involved ;-) ...still is nice to dream and oggle tho ;-) ...and in the meantime I'll just have to be content with using the software I can afford and have ;-) Thanks for sharing Stan. Regards Bryan

Well, the more folks that "pitch a bitch", the more likely it will be attended to. Thanks Bryan

...aside from handcrafting such cosmic clouds in a 2D program...dunno...and for ideas as to what 3D or fractal generating program that might create these motifs/shapes, I suggest you cruise on over to either pandromedia.com...or over to the MojoWorld discussion forum here at Renderosity...or at 3D Commune, and address your question directly to "Doc" Ken Musgrave...as he might be able to point you in the right direction...

...depending upon what effect you wish to achieve--meaning, I can't tell whether you are describing a process to actually create the mandalas or a method to "replicate" the number of instances--"reflections" will work--and up until B4 I think the number was limited to "seven" (reflections per object)...and with the number of "instances" that you mention, I wouldn't doubt it if the person who created this image also used the multi-replication feature together with "snap to/XYZ align" (which I think was available even in B2 but it's been too long for me to remember, and I no longer have B2 on my HD) ;-) ...you might wanna check with the Bryce folks at 3D Commune and/or the Yahoo Bryce Community as well... ...apologies for the OT...

How do you (universal you) know it's NOT "a fractal"?; i.e., that the "form" isn't being "driven/directed" mathematically? ;-)

Hmmm, reminds me of the graphics I used to see on the Monty Python show... LOL!!!!!!!!!! Hi Elenyte ;-) Bryan

Here's some gasoline for the bonfire... Before I knew of any fractal generator program (circa 1995) that could do what I wanted to it to do I used Photoshop/Painter tools, filters, KPT plugins and anything other what is now termed: post-processing tool I could get my hands on. I did come to find that many of these tools either employed fractal algorithms directly or other mathematical formulae, so this accounts for many of the shapes I was able to come up with. I always started with a blank canvas and using gradient shapes created by the gradient tool and/or other paint tool and used the "post-processing" tool and other (editing) tools to "massage" it all about to get what I wanted. So, if I'm using a post-processing tool to actually create a fractal, and not applying it AFTER I create the fractal; and the end result looks/feels/acts like a fractal (whatever that might mean)...then am I creating a fractal a "post-processed" fractal...and/or a "pre-post-processed" fractal... If none of these were "fractals" I sure had a LOT of fractal types write me and demand/state that if I didn't publicly post my parameters and disclose what application I was using that I'd never "be recognized"... Giggle.... I went thru the hundreds of images that I created using these techniques and tried to pick just one that represented what I'm talking about. My goal then as it is now is to create and present scenes and motifs that no one has ever seen before. When someone looks at my work, I don't want to give them any reason to think about anything other than the theme/motif/shape, etc., that I've created. So, I do my best to "hide/mask" any "tool signatures". The best way I have found to do this is to only use those tools which I believe "enhances" my presentation, and not yet "label" it. I will use whatever tools are available to me to do this. If I have the/a tool "inside" the application--fine, I'll use it. If the tool doesn't exist inside, then I'll go outside. Cheers, ya'll Bryan