- What is this
thing?
- How does it
work?
- How will this formula I create
work?
- The Formula Window
Section
- The Formula Set Up
Options
- The Variable & Function
Tables
- The Formula Equation
Tables
- Step by Step
Instructions
- Credits &
Thanks
This is a FAQs. Frequently asked.... oh, the other thing
(the one you came from). It is a Javascript I have created that helps people
create a specialized kind of formula for Ultra Fractal. The idea for this type
of fractal formula came from Dolf De Rivera, who created a series of fractal
formulae starting with "Dolf's Dabbler". It allowed the user to experiment with
several different fractal equations, mixing and matching them, even adding extra
"tweakers" to further play with the fractal. This takes his formula concept, and
runs with it a little further. With the equations that you supply it, this
Javascript creates a "Dabbler-style" fractal formula for you, so all you have to
do once it's done is copy it to the clipboard, and paste it into an Ultra
Fractal's formula editor window, save the file, and load the formula in Ultra
Fractal.
In Short, this Javascript creates a "dabbling" fractal
formula for Ultra Fractal for you. It's somewhat simple to use (I hope), and is
designed for use either with my random fractal equation generator, or with any other
fractal equations you may wish to copy/paste or hand-type.
I designed it to do 99% of the typing of the formula for
you, as it is a rather long-winded formula (and because I'm a lazy bastard :P) .
All you do is name your formula, tell it how much stuff you want to cram into
the formula, and supply it with the necessary fractal equations. Then all you do
is tell it to go, and wait for it to write the formula for you! Simple so far,
yes? OK, Let's hope you stay with me, because here I go...
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Ok. when you load the formula in Ultra
Fractal, here's the stuff you'll see in in the parameters section:
Z Maximum: Sets the
maximum value z will ever have. Set it to a lower value
for slower computers, or those that have trouble calculating certain
fractals
Z Tweakers. if
the box next to the Z Tweaker is checked, they will change the value
of z by the tweak modifier noted underneath it (unused, add, subtract,
multiply, divide, etc.). Depending on the "Tweak once or many"
checkbox, the tweaks will be applied before the iteration of the
fractal, or applied every iteration. If the "Tweak once or many"
checkbox at the top of the tweak selections is checked, the tweak
will only be applied one time after z is initialized. If it is not
checked, the tweak will be applied every iteration
Bailout: Sets
the Bailout Condition for the fractal. Select the Custom Bailout
Conditions you want for the left and right sides of the bailout
equation. Then select the modifier for the bailout (how the left
side value is checked against the right side value to bail out the
fractal). The Left side of the equation is what value will be
tested. The right side is what value the left side will be tested
against to see if the fractal should stop iterating for the pixel
value
Z Initializer: Sets
the initial value of Z per pixel. Select the Custom Z Initializer
from the drop list
Main Z Function
Flavor: Sets the main fractal equation Z will use. Select
the custom Z Equation from the drop list
Za, Zb, Zc, etc. Function
Flavor: Sets the Fractal equation for each of the interim Z
functions. These are applied to Z after main function flavor by the
operations, described next.
Za, Zb, Zc, etc.
operation: Sets how each of the interim Z functions (Za, Zb, Zc, etc.,
depending on how many functions the formula has) is integrated with Z
(Added to , Subtracted to/from, Multiplied to, Divided to/from, Power
of/from, or unused)
VARIABLES/FUNCTIONS:
Correspond to the Variables and functions that you set up in the Variable
& Function Tables
SWITCH MODE
OPTIONS:
Switch Mode: Sets the Z initializer used
when the fractal is switched using the switch function. You can use
the same Z initializer you have currently if you wish by selecting
"original"
Switched From Mode: Shows you what mode you just
came from in the last switch. Serves no other purpose.
Use Switch Initializers?: Check this if you
want the Switch Mode to use the pixel the mouse is currently on to change
_any_ of the parameters.
Switch changes <Variable>?: Check the boxes
for each Variable you want the Switch Mode to use the pixel the mouse is
currently on to change the specific variable.
|
(The large box below "Formula
Window"): This is where your Formula will be displayed, when it is
complete. When it's done, you can scroll through it, highlight it,
etc.
Formula
Name: Name of formula. What the formula will be named. UF
does not allow spaces or tabs in formula names, so don't use them here
either...
The 2 buttons below "Formula
Name":
Write Formula:
Starts the
whole generator going. After you've entered in
all your equations below, click right here, Sit back, and relax. Depending on
how large you set the parameters, it may take a while. NOTE: Your computer
may show that your internet browser is "not responding". It's OK, it's
just the java script creating the formula. Sometimes it can take upwards
of a few minutes for the generator to write the whole formula (like I said, it's
a LOT of typing), especially with large numbers in the boxes below. When
it's done, the formula will appear in the large text box above.
Copy to
Clipboard: Highlights and copies the entire
contents of the formula window to your clipboard. You can then jump into
the Ultra Fractal Formula Editor (have a formula file open [or a new file
created] and ready to accept your new formula), and hit paste to dump it all
into the formula editor. Save the formula & N-JOY!
Initialize
all:
Sets up the equation tables for whatever value is in each
of the number inputs in the table below. Warning: Anything in the Equation Tables other than the
default values will be deleted if you click this, so be careful if you have
already completed your equation tables.
Clear
all:
Clears the equation tables of all text entered, including
the default values. Don't do this after you finished entering all your
equations in the equation tables below, or you'll be sorry!
Reset To
Default: Resets and initializes
the equation tables for the default, 3 of
everything. Once again, like the other buttons, if you click it, anything
other than the default values in the equation tables below will be gone, so take
precautions before clicking on it.
The Setup Boxes below the
buttons:
These boxes allow you to set up the formula to your
exacting specifications. Want more choices? Add more User
equations. Want more Custom Bailouts? Set it up here. Here is
a brief explanation of what each box changes. A more detailed description
of what each set of equations do is below .
Z Initializers: The
Number of Z Initializers your formula will contain.
Z Tweakers: The Number Z
Tweakers your formula will contain.
User Equations: The Number
of equations you can choose from for the Z functions.
Z Functions: The Number of
separate functions you can add to z. 1 is the default, meaning that there
is only the Z function, and no others to add, subtract, etc. to/from)
Custom Bailouts: The Number
of Custom Bailout equations you wish to enter into the formula.
Custom Mode Switches:
The Number of Custom Mode Equations you wish to enter into the formula.
There is a minimum of 1, and a maximum of 100 in any of
the setup boxes. Be aware, though, that the bigger you make your formula,
the longer it will take for the computer to create it. If you find it is
taking too long to make your formula (sorry, you can't save the equations you
typed in there, unless you saved them elsewhere first, like notepad), try
lowering the number of Z Functions, as that element of the formula takes up the
most time to accomplish (and takes up the most space in the formula as
well!). I would highly recommend that, before you enter anything into the
Formula Equation Tables, that you let it perform a "dry run" (set the Setup
Boxes to your liking and initialize Formula Equation Tables by clicking the
"Initialize all" button, but leave all the equations at the default values, then
have the generator write the formula by clicking on the "Write Formula" button
above) to see how long it will take your computer to write the formula.
This way, if you feel it takes too long (usually it's because you have too many
Z functions; especially if you also have a large number of user equations,
although the user equations take a much smaller part in taking too much time as
the Z functions do), you can lower the values in the setup boxes to make it to
run faster.
The Variable &
Function Tables allow you to customize the names and number of Complex Variables
and Functions that will be created with the formula. To change the amount
of Variables or Functions your equation will have, write the number in the
appropriate box, and click "change" to update the table. Clicking "UF
Default" on the Variable side sets the number of complex variables
to 6, and names then p1-p6, and clicking
"UF Default" on the Function side sets the number of
functions to 4, and names then fn1-fn4. You may choose whatever names you
would like, but if you use names other than the default UF names for variables
and functions (p1-p6, and fn1-fn4), and you use them in your equations that you
add below, you must add "@" to the beginning of the variable/function when you
write the variable/function in the equation tables below (not here!) or Ultra
Fractal will complain about your formula, and give you a nice fat error.
For example:
You want to use the custom name "bailout" as one of your
custom variables, and "bail_func" as one of your custom functions. Let's
say you want to use them in a bailout equation (for bailout equations, remember
that you must enter the entire equation, including
the "z =" for the formula to work correctly). When you enter the equation
into the table, "bailout" and "bail_func" must be
written as "@bailout" and "@bail_func", like this:
z <= @bail_func( z ^ 2 + @bailout)
Please note that, although in the equation itself, they
are written as "@bailout" and "@bail_func", but in the Variable & Function Tables, they are written without
the @ (i.e. they are written as "bailout" and "bail_func" in the
Variable & Function Tables)
This is where you enter in the equations for each of the
sections mentioned above. The equations should be any regular fractal
equation of z (example: z = z * sin(z) + #pixel), including whatever variables,
functions, constants, etc. you desire. The equations you enter in the
boxes should not include the "z =", as this part
will be done for you when it makes the formula. You just need to give it
everything after the "z = " (in our example, you would input "z * sin(z) +
#pixel")
Also note that, as mentioned above, if you
use names for variables and functions other than the default UF names (p1-p6,
and fn1-fn4), and you use them in your equations that you add below, you
must add "@" to the beginning of the variable/function when you
write the variable/function in the equation.
Z Initializers: These
equations set the initial value of z before the iteration begins. You may
try to include a #pixel in these equations (and/or make one equation just
#pixel) to get things off to a good start if you would like. Make these
equations like the rest (i.e. without the "z = " part)
Z Tweakers: These
equations will change z per iteration if they are checked. I usually
make these equations relatively small (in my random fractal equation generator, I set the number of
passes to 2 or 3), to do small tweaks to z. You can use larger equations
for a more grandiose effect, if you desire. Make these equations like the
rest (i.e. without the "z = " part)
User Equations: This is the
meat of the fractal formula. It will be these equations that Z and the
other Z function will change by per iteration. My random fractal equation generator works great for this
section in particular (although it works fine for all the rest of the sections
as well). Make these equations like the rest (i.e. without the "z = "
part)
Custom Bailouts: This
set of equations determines the bailout equations for the formula. Both
the left and right side parameters of the bailout are derived from this set
of equations. Please note that you cannot have or designate different sets
of equations for the left and right sides for the bailout equation. All of
the equations you enter here will be usd for both the left and right side.
Make these equations like the rest (i.e. without the "z = " part)
Custom Mode Switches:
These equations change the way Z is initialized after using the switch
function. "original" is set up for you already. Make this equation
like the rest (i.e. without the "z = " part)
A Hint: You'll want to put a #pixel, and a "z" in
your equations somewhere. I usually add #pixel to the equations in the Z
Initializers, although you can also put #pixel in the user equations or Z
tweakers if you wish.
1. Name your formula.
2. Set the Set Up Boxes to the
values you like to use for your formula
3. Update the Formula Equation
Tables (use the "initialize all", or change each one separately)
4. Fill in the Equation
Tables. Copy/Paste, or hand-type it in.
5. Click "Write Formula!"
(and wait...)
6. Click "Copy to
Clipboard"
7. Paste from clipboard to an
open and waiting Ultra Fractal Editor Window.
8. Save the formula file &
enjoy!
Thanks go to the following people:
Dolf De Rivera: For his Dabbler formula, which inspired
me to make this Javascript
CopyWrong © 2004 Jayce
Cruel. Rights? What Rights? I don't need no Stiinkin'
Rights!
Revised:
10/27/04.