Hey this one is a question for you fractal fans.

I'd love to learn about this and how to go about doing my own, so that I can understand what goes on and have a play.

What programs are there? What is considered 'easiest' or 'best'?
Can it be done in Ps?

Any tips welcome :)

I use a programe called Apophysis and you should check out The Apophysis Challenge where there is the links to get it and Les will give you some Params to play with. The challenge is to get people interested in the program so I hope you give it a go.

Ian :)

Care to become a card carrying member of the Caedesian Apophysis Society?

Just PM me Bonnie and I would be more than happy to provide you with some parameters, or sample 'flames' to experiment with. :o)

p.s. ^5's Ian

There's lots of programs out there Bonnie, it just depends on what you might be interested in.

Apophysis, of course.... TieraZon, Ultra Fractal, though UF isn't free ... MBF Lite ( Mind Boggling Fractal Lite ) Fractal Explorer ....

UF produces fractals of amazing depth & beauty but it's hard, I never got into it & there's a new fractal program out called Ferryman Fractals that looks something like a poor man's UF but with the same level of difficulty.

But I'm sure whichever program you decide on if you have any questions people will be happy to help if they can. The fractal community is pretty giving I've found. :o)

All you have to do is ask hon.

Thanks guys :)

I downloaded Apophysis today, and sat around playing and getting a little confused..but I'm still raring to try it..with a little help hehe

make sure you have the Mutation and editor windows open.. move those triangles around, grab a corner and move it, put in different values in the variation tab, try out different scripts, try out different variations.. UNDO is your best friend.. lol.. if you create a flame you like SAVE IT, then you can keep messing around with it.. experiement with different colours.. and most of all HAVE FUN!! I'm looking forward to seeing your very first fractal.. =D

Thanks again..I'll toodle off and see if I can at least not get too confused ;)

Well, I managed to produce one little thing.
I hope you guyscan help me move on..I'm still lost but I'm understanding a few of the options now.
Spiritual

Jackie is 100% right .... always always always save all your flames ! I didn't save my favorite flame & I deeply regret it to this day. I save everything now !

Yeah, this one time...at band camp, I forgot to save a wicked flame and now I cry!!

I date stamp mine for a save!!

I use Apophysis. It's pretty easy to learn. I also use Paint Shop Pro and sometimes Photo Shop for post-processing.

Tip: Pad the walls of the room that your pc is in.

I find it helps tremendously when I can't get Apophysis to do what I want it to do. :oP

LOL I think that might be a good idea...also perhaps to seal the windows... ;)

Wow Randy ... I never thought of that ! Now there's an idea ! Though I generally use my posting date as a general guide.

I'm having a bit of trouble actually getting what I want out of a fractal, rather than playing.
Can anyone tell me the best way to go about creating a sphere?

Well, there is a spherical mutation. You can also try swirl, and blur. But you have to keep manipulating it til you get one you like. The key to using Apop is much patience.

Or you could be like me and surf the web for scripts and play with them til you get something you like. :)

I just want to have a word with you lot!!!!!


It's YOUR fault..this fractal business has taken over my life ><
I keep churning them out..messing with them...filing away...arg. Too many, not enough upload spaces available :p

*grumbles*

Wanna know how to make a sphere huh? Wanna know the secrets of Apophysis already? Right here you are, Here`s how I do it

1) Go to the options tab and click options on the dropdown.

2)Click the random tab

3)Where it says type click that and then click Dehedral

4)Close that then click file then random batch

5)Once generated (most of these should be able to proved a sphere) find one you like and it`s playtime.

Then there`s loads of options to use.

I got a few spheres in my gallery if you wanna take a look.

Ian :)

Thanks Ian I will take a look.
And thank you Emily :)

Hello again ^^

I'm having some real issues with a fractal I am working on.
I just can't seem to find the variables to change one asepct of it.
Also I am having quality issues..it looks low quality this time.

I was wondering if anyone would be kind enough to take a look sometime and give me a few tips?

Sure! PM me.

Ok, so recently my Apop won't run and tells me it's expired and to go DL the new one.
The only one I see is 2.02 but that can't be right..it sucks lol

Several things I could complain about..the main one being the colour selector.

Can anyone link me to the latest decent Apop version please?

Apophysis 3D Hack you can download the newest 2.07 beta and the 3D Hack

tutorial for 3D, scripts etc

Will I be able to make my old frac's..non 3D?

Also..what was the name of the program you use to remove the noise? I've found I could really use it atm :)

you can still make your old frac.. if you download the newest 2.07 beta that does the same as the old one its just updated.

NeatImage is the programe your looking for neatimage download

all of the versions from zueuk + utak3r are time-limited ...

part of that neo-geek elitist arrogance .. gained from being stuffed in a locker, repeatedly, during your formative years

when they said the "meek shall inherit the earth" ... that was a transcription error

Thank you :)

And LOL..yes...

There is a new regular Apophysis download that is not 3D. It is 2.07. Still works with the scripts from the previous version. I have noticed that plastic does not work in 3D, but that's OK since 3D makes the plastic script obsolete anyway.

Les mentioned PLASTIC and 3D in the same breath the other day .. ask him

I just noticed that "Apophysis205beta2zplus_cplus_r5" still works despite the ill-fated 205 in its name

cyberxaos.deviantart.com

for those of us that refuse to move forward, versionettically

Hmm ... not sure what is happening on your end Emily, but as Keith said ... both the textured and non-textured scripts are working for me in the 3D hack version of Apop.

Wasn't using the 3D version to necessarily bring out, or map a 3D flame ... just hadn't gotten around to downloading the 2.07 version.

The plugins folder (containing the older variations) for the 3D version can cause some anomalies with the program(s). Maybe check on that as a suggestion.

Ignore this..I answered something not needed to be answered lol
Off day.

Well, when I try the plastic script in 3D, the whole thing disappears because I think it gets too distant. The other ones I had work.

Just curious Emily ... have you tried deleting, then adding back another set of the plastic scripts into the scripts folder since?

I am assuming that when you run the script, that it does not go 'greyed' out ... no error message is received ... and you do in fact get a flame, just not one visible to your eye. And by your words above, maybe something like a deep 'pull back' as opposed to a deep zoom?

Have I got that right?

And since I am here (lucky you :oP) ... are you running the script on native random flames of the 3D version?

Or ... are these saved files from/created in another prior version of Apop? Is it possible that these flames may have an outdated and unrecognizable variation in them?

One of the 2.05 beta versions, or could be Joel Faber's 2.04 I believe ... had a problem with the colour file transfers between a couple of versions.

However ... I will stop here till you can fill in some more information. I have a feeling it may be resulting from what is mentioned above ... an incompatible colour file or variation introduced.

... ... ... ...

*hands Bonnie a cup of tea and a couple of cookies*

Works for me on my 'off' days. :oD

Mmm...*munches cookies*
Might give me some more inspiration too...

Oh, Gods help me ><
I just hit the wrong button and stopped a long render.

*Goes into the corner to cry*

*hands Bonnie some industrial strength Empire cookies*

The situation dictated their use, I felt. :o|


Ahhh, ok then ... Emily?

I understand what you mean now ... I think. Was just mucking about in the 3D hack version with the plastic scripts. In particular, the textured one.

If you go into the "Variations" tab and set the linear 3D value to 0 for each of the three transforms ... voila ... our beloved(?) plastic scripts produce that which we are familiar with in previous versions.

What I had been playing around with was removing even more of the linear component of the second transform.

*ponders whether or not this mystery has been solved*

Methinks so.

*awards self ... a cookie ... or two*

:o)

The plastic script doesn't go gray. It just makes the picture go almost blank except for a tiny dot way on the horizon. I was just running it on one of the random batch files in Apop 3D.

Nice, I'll have to try setting linear to 0. I noticed you have to do that in the Julian tutorials, so it would make sense.

I am running it on a single flame as well from a random batch in Apop 3D ... and typically what results is two whorls ... readily visible.

Until I start removing the linear 3D variation or linear variation value. Then ... regular plastic flame, so to speak.

Seems to work both ways, just as long as both variations are not present in the transform. With some qualifiers. But you can experiment and see for yourself.

That 'off in the distance pin light appearing' leads me to still think ... and excuse me here, not trying to be combative or argumentative ... that there is a program error of sorts occurring.

Have you tried opening a previous plastic flame that you know was ... er, 'good' for lack of better term in the 3D hack version to see if what is happening with random files, is replicated with an existing or saved file?

Who doesn't love a good Apop mystery, eh? lol

You might want to have a look at Chaoscope and ChaosPro, too.

Update: I tried removing the linear variations but no luck so far. I have had luck with other 3d scripts, though.

Hey Emily ... check ur PMs. Sent you some parameters from a textured plastic flame created in the 3D version.

Random flame ... applied the textured plastic script.

And then removed the linear 3D variation from each of the transforms.

The third transform (green) seems to have the most impact ... at least from what I am experiencing. If the linear 3D variation is present there ... I end up with the whorls I was referring to above.

Suggestion ... remove the script from your scripts folder ... then re-introduce it.

Let me know if you can see anything with the parameters I sent you. Might be a starting point to see if there is a program error occurring.

After a long period of trial and error, I finally got a plastic script working in Apophysis 3d. Being somewhat of a computer geek, I used the 3d bubble one as a base and plugged in the variables from the old plastic script and got rid of the 3rd transform. The 3d linear transform was set to 0 on each transform in the script. Left the ending stuff from the bubble script in. Result? One happy geek. :D

I'm trying to use a script from the net for the first time and I've run into some issues.
I now know I have to download it and put it into the Scripts folder.
Ok, so 'downloading' only means I get a new page in my browser with the script on it so I copied and pasted into notepad to make the .asc file. Fair enough.

A problem then arose...I cannot find a folder anywhere for the Apop 3D hack or the latest version that I have.
The only folder I have with a Scripts folder in it is the old Apop.
(Incidentally I even tried putting it in there..nothing..though in an experiemnt I made the file into a .flame and put it into paramaters and it showed up in my list..though obviously wouldn't work).

Hi Bonnie...assuming you have installed the Apop 2.0 version (located on your local drive), this is where your gradients, scripts, flames, parameters, etc. reside, and provides access to all of your other versions of Apop.

An alternative to the manner in which you saved the script is to click script > edit in the main window, to open the script editor window. Then clicking the top icon (new), on the right. Paste the script there, then click the icon (save), and your script folder will open. Just name the script and save.

Hope that helps :) I have not used the 3D hack yet, so let me know if this does not work.

/\ She is one smart cookie. :o) /\

Don't know if matters or not Bonnie ... I would have skipped the copy and pasting to notepad ... and went directly to the Scripts editor and pasted it into a new scripts file there. Typically what I do is open a previous script ... click Edit ... highlight the entire 'old' script ... paste the new one over it ... rename and save. I'm lazy, lol.

And to round out the information for us trying to assist you ... what script?

If you look at the script itself ... and it contains older variations from previous Apophysis versions ... hmmm, don't think you are going to have much luck trying to run it in the 3D hack version.

Additionally ... the 3D hack version does not install itself on your hard drive as a separate program. It will however, as you partly experienced, reference those files/folders contained in the 2.02 program directory.

And jumping ahead a bit here ... here is my setup for the 3D hack version ... separate folder created on my desktop ... and then the 3D Hack .exe file placed inside.

Why did I do this? There is a plugin available that contains some of the older variations. Downloaded that file (bunch of .dlls') and placed those in the same folder ... everything works fine.

If you try and place that plugin in the 2.02 program directory/files ... won't work.

Ok..to clarify.

I know where all my files and folders are on my PC..no issues at all there.

I do not have a folder for Apop 3D hack or the latest Apop version. They are not there.
I got a zip file when I downlaoded from Apop's site and all it does when unzipped is give a launcher and a readme.
I found this odd..the only folder I have is the old version of Apop.

The script is the 3D tubes and wires that Emily has used, originating on DA.

Yep, you can place scripts in your older version of Apop (2.02), in the script folder. Then open your Apop 3D hack version, and you will have access to scripts via the script menu > open.

However, as Les pointed out, if the script contains some older variations, the script may not run as it was meant to, since the 3D hack version does not contain some variations. In order to remedy this, you can download a pack of the older variations (.DLLs) and place them in a folder that you create, called "plugins", in the same folder where the 3D hack is housed. Hope this makes sense.

Older variations as plugins, link .

Since you are using a script created for the 3D hack version, you should be fine after placing the script in your 2.02 version script folder. You can also create a new folder inside the script folder, titled scripts for 3D.

I'm using the beta btw 2.07 i think it is.

Well, as I said putting it into the scripts folder does not work.

Try using the script in the 3D hack version. I believe that script was created solely for that version. There are a number of tube scripts that can be used for 2.07.

RE: "all it does when unzipped is give a launcher"

All versions from Zueuk + Utak3r have been standalone executable files .. no installation, folder tree, ... nada .. Just the .exe .. (the only way to have any folder structure is to install the original 2.02)

generally, I just create a folder with the version #, inside of my old-original apop folder, and pop it in there ... all of my apop's access the same scripts folder .. the "manage favorites" doesn't seem to remember what I list there, so I stopped trying (prolly has to do with my apop.exe not being in the root of that tree-structure)

also .. I try and save all favorites to a .flame file with that version in the name to prevent any WTF? moments

Keifer

I'll try putting the 3D version inside the other then..although as I say..there is only the launcher.