Okay I'm new so please excuse this dumb question. I love Apophysis but one hang up, the background problem. I would like to use these fractals in other images and have read the tuts on some ways to get rid of the background. They really don't give the results I want. Tried Gimp but it's just not as good a software as Apophysis. Is there a solution or other flame software that supports layers and saves in psd files or possible imports images as backgound?

Use the "Export Flame" option under the file menu. Render your image in the .png format and you will get a transperant background. Make sure that you set the path for the Export Renderer in the option menu to the HQI renderer. It can be found in the same directory as the Apophysis exe.

Thank you sooooooooooo much I racked my brain over this one. It works great. Just a thought but how about putting this in the tut section for others new like myself.

Attached Link: http://www.jackcasement.btinternet.co.uk

One other tip. When you open your .png image in Photoshop or PSP you will probably find that the colour is a bit weak. My method is to open the Layers Palette and make a duplicate layer. Then, again in the Layers Palette, click on Merge Down NOT Flatten Layer. You will see that your colours are stronger. You can do this as many times as you like until you get the effect you want. Hope this helps.

OK--I'm another newbie & I'm still not sure I understand exactly. I really want to understand how to get the transparent backgrounds!! Sorry if I'm being dense! :) 1. I looked in the options menu--under the last tab "paths", it was already listed to hqi (so it seems): C:Program FilesApophysis 2.0hqi.exe 2. Go to file, choose export flame...then what? do I have to change the file type from .jpg to .png right there before I hit ok?? or what? what's the next step? HELP! :) Donna

Yes, you will need to change the name of the image to a .png extention. When you press ok another window will pop up (a dos window). It won't tell you the progress of the render but as soon as the render is done the window will go away on its own so don't close it. Zbootsboy, You are very welcome :) I really suck at creating tutorials but maybe one of the very talented people here would be willing to make one.

OH, thank you, thank you! I wondered what the heck that window was for! LOL It seems to make sense now, so I will try it tonight... Thanks again! :) Donna

Attached Link: http://home.comcast.net/~fractalsbykeith/pgs/frac148.htm

Buy Ultrafractal.

It has layering and you have complete control over background color and transparency. You also have control over every single gradient control point. This allows you to create your gradient on the fly instead searching for around for the right one. UF also allows you to rotate and zoom with ease. This means the you can create multiple layered images in complete context, including color, location, size, orientation, transparency and merge mode.

The biggest drawback to UF is that does not manage memory as well as Apophysis does when disk rendering flames. It might take out your system when rendering large flames. That's only a problem with flames.

The image in the link was created with Apophysis flames that were assembled in UF. It was exported, not rendered.

Keith

Message edited on: 09/11/2004 11:00

Wow!!! Keith I took a look and that's one real cool looking image.