This program is a Freeware Fractal Generator for Win95/NT

Welcome.....

Release notes:

9-17-98, version 2.7
  Fixed a problem with filter 44.  A debug statement would appear if the max iterations was greater than the watermark.

8-16-98, version 2.6
  Removed the distracting warning message after a window is closed.

4-06-98, version 2.5

• Added an N-Set option to the unique formula editor.
• Added *real* and *imag* functions to the unique formula editor.

• Thanks to seth bollinger <sethb@visi.com>, filter # 50 has been corrected.

• Replaced the color methods back to their original form.
• Added a "Load DLL" option to load previous versions of the rsx_file.dll.
• Changed filter 50 to the way that I had originally intended it to be.
• Hopefully this will be the last revision for awhile.

• Replaced filters 21 thru 25 back to their original form as they were in version 2.1

• With this version, I changed a few of the filters.  I tried to replace orbit trap methods with orbit counting methods.  This affected most of the stalks and bubbles methods.  Filter 50 is a new method.  It is based upon an algorithm by Jette Randlov and Earl Hinrichs.  Also some of the stalks methods such as filter 1, 2, 7, and 9 are also now using this new method.
• Filter 29 and 30 are new (they have replaced the old 29 and 30).  They are called "Square Bubbles".
• The "Dimension Variate" option now has a new meaning in life.  Its new intended purpose is to buffer the fractal dimension calculations instead buffering the last x and y values.  These variables are used with the color methods, so if you select "Dimension Variate", you should see a change in appearance when used with a color option.
• The color options have also changed quite a bit.  I've decreased a factor that is used in the color methods.  This same factor is available under the "Bay Factor 2" option in the fractal parameters dialog.  To get more variations in color, when using the color methods, increase bay factor 2.
• The menus have been re-arrange.  I tried to group common filter types together.
• One note about the upper and lower watermark variables.  They affect filters 21 thru 25.  If you set lower watermark to about 20 and the upper to about 40, you may notice a change in appearance of the image.  These numbers are the upper and lower ranges of the iteration count on which the image is affected.

 

 

• Added 10 more fractal dimensions options.
• Changed the existing fractal dimensions slightly in an effort to improve them
• Added two new filter methods, FD bubble and FD bubble II.
• Added an Undo option under the "Draw" menu.
• Added a warning message when images are being destroyed without saving them.

• The fractal dimension options are back to their original form as they were in Tierazon version 1.0 (thats 10 versions back).  I feel so much better.  I also removed the upper and lower watermark option which I mentioned in version 1.9, so most all previous parameter files may be compatible.
• I've also changed the interface slightly in this version.
• Fixed a couple of formulae that were drawing blank screens.

• Fractal Dimension options 1 thru 5 have been changed in v1.9, so any previous images created in earlier version of Tierazon with these options may look different.
• The Unique formula parser editor has been changed to implement an Mset type rather than the Nset type.
• About 15 new formula have been added.

Also new on v15 is an Auto-Aliasing option.  Choose this mode and the images will automatically be anti-aliased.

Unique Formula Dialog:

The Unique Formula Editor gives the user the option to enter his/her own formulae.

The formula can be entered into the dialog edit field and then the image drawn by selecting OK. The formula can be saved as a Tierazon parameter file (*.zar). The filters, color methods, Julia set, M-Set method, inverse operations, zooming, zero-init flag, etc. all work with the unique formula just as if it were another formula in the Flarium24 program. The unique formula number for formulae created with the formula editor is 101.

The formula parser was written by Gerry Myers. He can possibly be reached at myersge@hiwaay.net. if you have any comments or questions.

Currently, the Formula Parser has a problem with �Precedence�. The problem is that if a plus sign comes before a multiplication sign in an operation sequence, then the plus will be operated on first. Normally, multiplication and division have highest precedence, then addition and subtraction. The exponent operand ^ should have lowest precedence. Currently to work around the problem, just make sure that you use the parenthesis brackets (()) wherever possible. The parser currently operates from left to right on an operation within the parentheses, and does not take into account the precedence.

The formula parser is currently limited to 1024 characters. There are three complex variables that can be used in a formula as constants. They are u, v, and w. The parser automatically looks for the value of �z� to be the complex number to be iterated and the value of �c� is used to represent the current pixel coordinate, similar to most all of the other formulae in the Tierazon program.

The operators that the formula parser are capable of are as follows:

· + Plus

· - Minus

· * Multiplication

· / Division

· ^ Exponent (To the power of)

The complex trigonometric functions that the parser supports are sin, sinh, asin, cos, cosh, acos, and tan, atan, and log.

Also the real and imaginary numbers can be entered in the formula. These functions are called real and imag.

An example using the real and imag functions:

· z*z*real(z)+imag(z)*c+c

Some valid expressions are as follows:

· z*z+c

· This expression has a problem with the precedence.

· c+z*z

· sin(z*c)+c

· This formula creates a Kaleidoscope of 5 Mandeloids. Set the Zero-Init flag.

· (z*z)+(log(c^5)/5)

· Also set the Zero-Init flag for this one.

· (z*z)+(log(c^2)/sin(c))-c

· This is a third order Newton formula. Make sure color steps are set to at least 8,8,8.

· Also make sure the Zero-init flag is NOT set.

· z-((z*z*z-1)/(3*z*z))

Creating a Fractal Video:

The Tierazon program can create fractal videos of zooming and / or panning sequences. These videos are saved in Audio Video Interleave (AVI) file format and can be compressed and played back with the two utility programs that are included with the Tierazonsoftware. To create a fractal video, the program requires a set of starting coordinates, a set of finish coordinates, and the number of frames to be generated between the starting and finish positions. All of this is done with the Movie Dialog Box which can be brought up by selecting the View | Movie Dialog command option.

Once the movie dialog has been brought up, use the Tierazon menus to select an equation number, a filter, or any of the options available in the Tierazon menu and display a fractal image which you would like to use in the fractal video. Once the image has been generated and displayed, then select the lock start check box in the movie dialog box. This locks in the coordinates for the starting frame of the fractal video. Then, using the same equation, zoom in or zoom out to another area of the fractal by using the mouse and drawing a rectangle within an area and using the Zoom into Rectangle toolbar button. This is done as you would normally do when zooming in or out of a fractal. Once your image has been redrawn and is displayed on the screen, then select the Lock Finish check box. This locks in the coordinates for the last frame of the fractal video. You can then verify that your other movie parameters are set up the way would like them to be set up. The default parameters are 256 by 256 for the width and height, the default number of frames to be generated is 100, the default Playback Frames/Sec is 8, and the default output filename is Jungle1.avi. Any of these parameters may be changed to your convenience.

Once all the parameters are set up, you can start the fractal video movie creation by selecting the start button in the movie dialog box. Each frame is generated starting with the starting coordinates and is automatically incremented to the next frame position until it reaches the finish frame. Once this process is complete, then an uncompressed AVI file was created and is ready for playback or compression. You can start the playback and compression utility programs by selecting View | Batch Compress or View | Video Player commands. See the help menus in the utility programs for further instructions on compressing and playback.

New in version 15 is the capability to generate Julia animations.  For this mode of operation, select the "Julia Video Option" under the "View menu.  Once in Julia Video Mode, then the Movie Dialog box starting and stopping coordinates are now the Julia Starting and stopping coordinates instead of the panning and zooming coordinates.