I think if I'm good enough my parents will get me some new software for Christmas.=) I really really want to try my hand at fractal art. Does anyone have any suggestions for good beginner fractal software? I have no idea if you need just one package or if you need two different programs or if you even need a software package lol. I'm pretty much clueless on this. Money isn't an issue...I just want to make sure that if they do spend money on something it doesn't go to waste! So...your advice would be appreciated. Thanks!
-Laurel

Apophysis. It's free.

How do you download it? And does anyone else have any suggestions?

Generally speaking, most Fractal Software is FREE ... but your parents don't need to know that .. (*evil laugh*) .. tell them to stuff cash in a bag because you have to meet some guy behind the gas-n-go

(*cough*) .. ahem .. but seriously

Apophysis 2.03b @ sourceforge .. latest and gre ... well, we'll see

Apophysis 2.02 by Mark Townsend .. most consider this to be the original (here for reference)

ChaosPro 3.2 .. never used it myself .. others here can help

Fractal-Explorer 2.02 .. Never used it myself .. others here can help

Tierazon 2.9 .... (Tierazon Tutorial) .... (toot, too)

vChira 0.05 ... Ktaza 0.1 ... and ... Quaternia 1.0 ... Poke Around

Fractal Snowflake Generator .. not really what you're looking for .. but cool at this time of year (FREE if you don't need Vector output .. and you don't)

Gloodle .. not really useful .. unless you dream of being a cake decorator .. younger kids might like it

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ŻŻŻŻŻ””/(”ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ””/(”ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Ż””/(”ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ

....These do cost money .. they might have demos if you want to check

UltraFractal 4 .. I have this and poke around with it occasionally ..

Visions Of Chaos .. not a clue

XenoDream .. this does a lot of 3D type doohickeys

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ŻŻŻŻŻ””/(”ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ””/(”ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Ż””/(”ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ

*personally, if I were in your shoes, I would NOT pay for software for a while .. since you are, as you say, a beginner .. try out some things, try to find YOUR groove before investing in a software package

I, on the other hand, have found my groove ... so if you could give your parents my name I can give them my list and we can get this ball rolling

(*keith smacks his hands together loudly and rubs them together*)

*(dances a little jig*)

(*singing can be heard*)

.. I'm a pepper, you're a pepper, don't cha wanna be a pepper too

~(*snip*)~

"OUCH"

Bookmark these in a folder called "Graphics Programs" .. because you WILL collect more .. since you're interested

Thanks so much! Lol...this is kindof nice...now I can beg them for a photoshop program because I do know I am interested in that and I am getting a wee bit sick of the Gimp...it's nice and free but hey if I can get Adobe for Christmas.......=)
I will go check out those fractal programs...thanks again!
-Laurel

*adds Photoshop to his Christmas list*

So I've downloaded apophysis and I made something that I kindof like....but I can't figure out how on earth you save the darn thing. Help! Did I forget to download something important for the program?? I downloaded everything it told me to but my computer would only let me open the Apophysis package, not the other part that came with it. Is that my problem? If so...how do I fix it? Agh!
-A confused Laurel

well .. (*scratches head*) ... the first apophysis listed up there is .. Apophysis203b.exe (1,247,744 bytes) ... and it appears to be a standalone entity .. just create a folder and drop it in .. create a "shortcut" .. to run it easily (or .. right-click and choose "pin to startmenu" and it will appear in the "short list" of schtuff in your menu)

_____..)/..________..)/.._____ ___..)/..________
ŻŻŻŻŻ””/(”ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ””/(”ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Ż””/(”ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ

when you have something you'd like to render .. click on the little "gear cog" dealie (third icon from left) and the render window will pop up

IMPORTANT .. every time you want to render something "re-click" the little gear cog .. even if the render window is open already .. this sends the new data to the render window .. I spent hours rendering the wrong thing once .. but I'll never admit to that in a public forum ... shhhhh!

dial in your dimensions in the size box .. I recomend 2000 for Quality ... filter radius = point 3 ... and oversample is good at 2

click on that little folder icon and navigate to where you want your renders saved .. maybe a folder inside the folder you created to place apop into (up to you) ..

so .. for example it would say .. C:\program files\apophysis\RENDERS\my-first-apo-picture.jpg ... or something equally lame

note: .. you need to create the folder in advance apo won't do anything if the folder doesn't exist and you will (*scratch your head*)
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ŻŻŻŻŻ””/(”ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ””/(”ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Ż””/(”ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ

I recomend that you render small test renders @ 640x480 and 200 Quality ..or so .. to get a better idea of whether you want to spend more time on it

test render = 1.5 minutes

final = 1 or more hours

apo tut by ::stuffnstuff

NEXT .. when you get a minute .. go into options\options "Random Tab" .. and in the "title prefix (lower right) ..shorten "Apophysis" .. to .. "A" (or nothing)

DRIVES ME NUTS .. i know it's apophysis .. i don't need to be reminded

When you're ready to learn to save your "parameter files" and "color gradients" .. just holler .. somebody here will help

Not me, though, I'm a curmudgeon

Thanks so much....it's currently rendering! =)

Tierazon is a pretty good one used to use it alot since ive moved tp to ps and cd4 i usually just hit someone up for a finished fractal thats been rendered if i need one
i send my files to them as payback