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fractint-digest      Saturday, February 19 2000      Volume 01 : Number 448




----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Tue, 15 Feb 2000 22:34:26 -0500 (EST)
From: Jim Muth <[e-mail]>
Subject: (fractint) FOTD, 16-02-00 (Highest Mandelbrot [7]) (c)

FOTD -- February 16, 2000  (Rating 7)

Fractal enthusiasts and visionaries:

Today's gorgeous midget with its sinuous neon-blue curves must
certainly be calculated with the M-Mix4 formula.  Right?  But
it's not.  Today's FOTD is a scene in the classic Mandelbrot
set, which lies not even at arbitrary precision depth.

It is an unusual image however.  The logmap value of 91500 and
maxiter of one-million are not mistakes.  In fact, most of the
image has an iteration count well in excess of 100,000, which
makes it the highest iterated image in FOTD history and inspires
the name "Highest Mandelbrot".

The location of the never-before-seen midget is deep in Seahorse
Valley, down where the features have periods measured in the
hundreds and thousands.  In this area the 'stars' at the ends of
the radical tails are twisted into triple spirals.  Today's
midget lies deep in one of these star-spiral arms.

Unfortunately, I lacked the time to give this scene the coloring
it deserves, but the palette I settled on is not too bad.  Being
so deep in Seahorse Valley, where the iteration count is so
high, the scene takes near 1-1/2 hours to render from the
parameter file.  Therefore the image download is the way to go.
The parameter file is attached as a reference for those few who
might wish to further explore this area.  The image file has
been posted to the binary newsgroup:

          <alt.binaries.pictures.fractals>

and to the web at:

          <http://home.att.net/~Paul.N.Lee/FotD/FotD.html>

The fractal weather was an average uneventful midwinter day,
with bright sunshine, chilly breezes, and a temperature of 44F
(6.5C) that was just a bit too cold for the fractal cats.

The fractosophy is not quite ready as of post time this evening,
but I have a lot of it accumulated, some of which is certain to
be controversial.  So until next time, take care, and how would
one prove scientifically to a person who never remembers their
dreams that it is possible to fly in dreams?


Jim Muth
[e-mail]


START PARAMETER FILE=======================================

Highest_Mandelbrot { ; time=1:21:40.38 SF5 on a P200
                     ;  Version 2000 Patchlevel 6
  reset=2000 type=mandel passes=1
  center-mag=-0.74999775055745050/+0.00301634025810139\
  /3.69247e+013/1.0001/-37.648/0.148 params=0/0 float=y
  maxiter=1000000 bailout=4 inside=0 logmap=91500
  symmetry=xaxis periodicity=0 mathtolerance=/1
  colors=000pQp<9>pjVplSpnQ<2>ptKpvIntJ<13>TVTRTUQRU<3\
  >KKXIJYEI_HIY<2>NPYPSYRVYTYYV_Y<3>cjYemYgpYirYkuYmwY\
  nwYowY<3>mwZlvZlvZ<47>SReSQeSQe<2>QOeQNeOMd<15>dWteW\
  ufXvgYwhYxiZyjZyk_ynay<2>hXyfWxdVv<10>JGfHEeFDcDCbBA\
  `99_77_<16>LGMMGLNHK<2>PIHQJHPEGF0FSKE<6>YO8ZO8ZP7<3\
  >aQ4<10>eVGeVHeWI<3>gWMgWNhWO<9>rWYsWZtW_uW`vWa<8>wW\
  jwWkwWl<3>wWppWqpWr
  }

END PARAMETER FILE=========================================


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------------------------------

Date: Wed, 16 Feb 2000 21:26:33 -0600
From: Tim Wegner <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: (fractint) Version 20.0.8 available

Tony, I thought your question would be of general interest, so I am postin=
g
the question and answer to the list.

Tony Hanmer asked:

> What is the difference between a developer=B4s version and the actual re=
leased
> update?  Should I download this fradev.zip, if I=B4m just a user, or wai=
t for
> the formal release?

The file

ftp://ftp.fractint.org/fradev.zip

contains just the fractint executable with changes from 20.0 made by the
developers in the first 8 post-version-20.0 patches. This replaces the
fractint.exe in the version 20.0 distribution. You should rename or otherw=
ise
save the old fractint.exe in case there is a problem with the developer ve=
rsion.

We have put all kinds of dire warnings about being on the "bleeding edge" =
in
the developer version. We just want to make sure everyone understands that=

the developer version changes very rapidly (sometimes daily) and that new
problems can be introduced. On the other hand, the developer version also
has bug fixes, so in most respects at this point is probably more stable a=
nd
reliable than version 20.0.

It is a new policy for us to make every incrementable developer version
public. There is no reason to keep up with each version unless a particula=
r
bug fix or new feature is of interest. Tony, since you want to make IFS an=
d
Lsystems fractals larger than 2048 wide or high, you need 20.0.8. Don't wa=
it
for a "release" which could be a long way off.

The bottom of this message contains the "What's New" since version 20.0.
You will see that the total amount of change is not too great yet, but som=
e of
you may see changes that are important to you. If you want to try Sylvie
Gallet's mandel Lake PAR, for example,  you will need a version that at le=
ast
includes patch 6.

Tim

Patch 8
Fixed a bug causing a lock up with lsystem and ifs fractal types when usin=
g
a disk video mode with an X or Y resolution greater than 2048.

Patch 7
Updated Xfractint, copyright notice.

Patch 6
Fixed fractint.cfg problems with extra commas or long lines. This allows t=
he
output of makefcfg from certain video boards to be used without editing.

Added center, magxmag, and rotskew constants to parser. See
Center-Mag Predefined Variables

Patch 5
Added new command truemode=3Diter, which is used to switch the ouput to
the truecolor Targa file to the number of iterates for each pixel.

Made selecting the evolver feature turn off truecolor=3Dyes.  Each subimag=
e
was being generated as a separate blank Targa file.

Patch 4
Fixed the type=3Dtest bug.

Removed Tim's compuserve email address.

Patch 3
Fixed a bug in the pentium mandelbrot code that affected periodicity
checking. Fixed a problem with skewed zoom boxes leaving dots on the
screen.  This also fixed browser boxes with the same problem.  Fixed the
zoom box so it is visible in 2-color modes.

Patch 2
Fixed a bug in the formula parser.  Updated Tim Wegner's email address.

Patch 1
Fixed the 2 and 16 color disk-video modes.  Using truecolor=3Dyes now resu=
lts
in writing a fractxxx.tga file instead of iterates.tga.  This is not the s=
ame
thing, so if somebody wants the output of the iterates.tga file, let us kn=
ow.
Fixed the 3D targa modes.








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------------------------------

Date: Thu, 17 Feb 2000 00:40:19 -0500 (EST)
From: Jim Muth <[e-mail]>
Subject: (fractint) FOTD, 17-02-00 (Fractal Journey [4]) (c)

FOTD -- February 17, 2000  (Rating 4)

Fractal enthusiasts and visionaries:

After staring at today's fractal for a few minutes, trying to
find a name, I got the feeling that I was being drawn into it,
about to begin an endless journey.  I immediately named the
picture "Fractal Journey".

The formula is once again the warhorse MandelbrotMix4, this time
calculating 1.6*(0.3Z^(-3)+3Z^(0.3))+C.  The fractal that
results from this unlikely combination is hardly more than a
broken outline of dots, which in a few places form the vague
shape of a Mandeloid section.  I have learned that when this
outline effect appears, the complete figure often lies like an
invisible phantom in the blank area of inside points, and can be
revealed by setting the inside coloring option to a non-flat
palette, such as the bof60 used in today's image.

The parameter file takes 12 minutes on a Pentium -- slow enough
to make a download of the image worth the small effort.  That
image is available on Usenet at:

          <alt.binaries.pictures.fractals>

The image is also to be found on the Web at Paul Lee's web site:

          <http://home.att.net/~Paul.N.Lee/FotD/FotD.html>

The fractal weather today made the cats very happy.  The bright
sunshine and temperature of 68F (20C) were perfect for romping
in the yard, though there was a moment's distraction when a
stray tomcat on an important mission passed by.

And now I have some good news and some bad news.  The good news
is that I'll return in 24 hours with much to say; the bad news
is that we've come to the end of today's FOTD.  Until tomorrow,
take care, and brace yourselves for what is coming.


Jim Muth
[e-mail]


START 20.0 PAR-FORMULA FILE================================

Fractal_Journey    { ; time=0:12:14.84 SF5 on a P200
                     ;  Version 2000 Patchlevel 8
  reset=2000 type=formula formulafile=critical.frm
  formulaname=MandelbrotMix4 function=ident passes=1
  center-mag=-4.09884819113599400/+0.14845922050404510\
  /7869628/1/-92.499 params=0.3/-3/3/0.3/0.6/0
  float=y maxiter=300 bailout=25 inside=bof60
  symmetry=none periodicity=10
  colors=000UlqNppGE6<3>HkgqXW<3>WjgRmjMpmK2RxMx<3>Pmq\
  hgzZkvQosSBGALM<4>AVWAXYAZ_<3>DfgEhiFjkGlm91KjzB`wPR\
  ubqu2<3>OsfpRcZejce1_g9miGzkOQmVNobKqiQ0rLSq6oU<3>Cq\
  eDrhFrkGsnKkV<3>IoeIphHqkHrniTg<2>OmnmTN<3>SjfMok3dW\
  <3>AlfCniEpkGrnF_5GfLHm`tby<3>UnsNqq7_eBfiEmmJGG95B<\
  3>QMWVR`ZVebZjfbo<3>aku<3>Cut<3>O39<2>We1<3>WhPWiVWj\
  `WkfWkl<3>crMCi`Ssal_jaflRmnaSxRetOz6<2>ItenTw<2>Pmq\
  k08<3>UWYPcdLkjGBdHQhHdlUIa<3>LgkJmn9VvDgsH89<3>HcbH\
  kiOFd<3>K_jJdlIimHnoFrn<3>GsoHspHspHspNtFKsY74d<3>Eb\
  lGknp5PdMZTbghEWVZfq`u<3>ZjrUlqQoqLqpPAu<3>Ijqt2`<3>\
  Pimsy3<3>XuWStbMsi4IO<3>Flkrkz_ouYGX<3>P_fNdiLikJnn4\
  jntXu<2>`hr
  }

frm:MandelbrotMix4 {; Jim Muth
a=real(p1), b=imag(p1), d=real(p2), f=imag(p2),
g=1/f, h=1/d, j=1/(f-b), z=(-a*b*g*h)^j,
k=real(p3)+1, l=imag(p3)+100, c=fn1(pixel):
z=k*((a*(z^b))+(d*(z^f)))+c,
|z| < l
}

END 20.0 PAR-FORMULA FILE==================================


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------------------------------

Date: Thu, 17 Feb 2000 14:11:31 -0300
From: "Fernando Henrique Bresslau" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: (fractint) Version 20.0.8 available

If I use the still-bleeding-from-surgery executable version, I can act like
a beta-tester or something like that, and help discover new bugs. That┤s
interesting for the developers, isn┤t it? If so, I┤m glad to take the risk
and be always up to date.
Regards,
 Fernando               _____    _             ___    |)  |.   | |(_`|)
 [e-mail]     /  '   ' )  /         /  )   | ()|| ~ |_|,_)|
 __________           ,-/-,      /--/         /--<
 \ \ \ \ \ \         (_/ernando /  (_enrique /____)resslau         \¿-._
==**********============================================================`>
 / / / / / /             [e-mail]               /_.*¿┤
 ¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿                 http://www.ozdobe.org
http://www.jugend.com.br                      http://polijr.mcca.ep.usp.br



__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger.
http://im.yahoo.com

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------------------------------

Date: Thu, 17 Feb 2000 13:06:00 -0800
From: "Marie Drozdis" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: (fractint) Version 20.0.8 available

It's interesting for all of us. Fractint is an ongoing, ever-improving
volunteer project.  No one gets paid for developing it.

If you don't want to discover 'new bugs', stay with the tried-and-true
versions. You'll be just as happy.<S>

Marie :)
- ----- Original Message -----
From: "Fernando Henrique Bresslau" <[e-mail]>
To: <[e-mail]>
Sent: Thursday, February 17, 2000 9:11 AM
Subject: Re: (fractint) Version 20.0.8 available


: If I use the still-bleeding-from-surgery executable version, I can act
like
: a beta-tester or something like that, and help discover new bugs. That┤s
: interesting for the developers, isn┤t it? If so, I┤m glad to take the risk
: and be always up to date.
: Regards,
:



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------------------------------

Date: Fri, 18 Feb 2000 11:08:56 +1300
From: Steve Wray <[e-mail]>
Subject: (fractint) Hi there, and a small question to get me started!

Hi,
I am using the X11 version of fractint that I just picked up today.

The display that I'm on is at 16 bits per pixel and the fractals (mandelbrot set so far)
I get out of fractint are all in just one color (red)

How do I get to generate fractals in more colors?

Thanks!


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------------------------------

Date: Fri, 18 Feb 2000 14:12:09 +1300
From: Steve Wray <[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: (fractint) Hi there, and a small question to get me started!

Hi there,
Some time ago I downloaded GIF files created by fractint,
and loaded them into fractint and explored a bit from there.

Now, of course, most fractint pics are in PNG format...

Fractint won't let me load them, and converting them to a gif doesn't help
either.

I note that the fractint page says that all their files will be in PNG
format in future, but the program still only saves and loads GIF
(as far as I can tell... PNG does not seem to appear in the docco)

Is there any way to get fractint to load PNG? Or to convert a PNG
to a fractint-compatible gif? Or to extract the parameters from the PNG?

Thanks!

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------------------------------

Date: Thu, 17 Feb 2000 23:03:54 -0600
From: Tim Wegner <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: (fractint) Version 20.0.8 available

Fernando wrote:

> If I use the still-bleeding-from-surgery executable version,  ...

As far as the "still bleeding" part, I have to confess that I'm
responsible for that metaphor, but it is really a pretty big
exaggeration <g!> As far as 20.0.8 is concerned, it has a number
of bugs fixed, so it "bleeds" less than version 20.0. When we add
major new features the situation will be a bit different.

>I can act like a beta-tester or something like that, and help
>discover new bugs. That=B4s interesting for the developers, isn=B4t it? I=
f
>so, I=B4m glad to take the risk and be always up to date.

That is exactly the idea. We changed our policy precisely because
we think more rapid interaction between users and developers as
changes are made and users give feedback will be helpful for
everyone concerned.

Tim


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------------------------------

Date: Fri, 18 Feb 2000 00:44:08 -0500 (EST)
From: Jim Muth <[e-mail]>
Subject: (fractint) FOTD, 18-02-00 (Fractal Cat [6]) (c)

FOTD -- February 18, 2000 (Rating 6)

Fractal enthusiasts and visionaries:

Though I'm always telling of the activities, or rather the lack
of activities of the fractal cats, I never expected to see one
of them appear in a fractal.  But as all fractalisis know,
fractals always do the unexpected.  Today's fractal is only a
single example of the unexpected.

Directly in the center of the pop-art stlye image, near the top,
appears the outline of the head of Tippy, the lean mean fractal
tabby.  There are also other cat-like features all through the
image, from the staring eyes to the cheshire grin.  I named the
picture "Fractal Cat" when I noticed the cat's head in the image.

The formula that drew Tippy is one I rarely use, named Mystic2.
With the inside set to a flat color, this formula draws
virtually nothing but empty circles, but with one of the fancy
inside= options, the variety of fractal patterns within the
circle is unlimited.

Today's image consists solely of bof61 inside fil.  This can be
demonstrated by setting the inside to 0 and observing the black
screen that results.  Curiously enough, bof61 appears to be the
only inside fill that works with this particular image.

The parameter file runs in 3-1/2 minutes on a modest Pentium,
faster on a faster machine.  The JPEG-format image file is
posted to:

          <alt.binaries.pictures.fractals>

and to:

          <http://home.att.net/~Paul.N.Lee/FotD/FotD.html>

for convenient retrieval.

Though the day was sunny, the temperature of 36F (2C) was too
cold for the fractal cats' ears.  They decided to spend the day
chasing sunbeams and seeking the warmest radiator when the
sunbeams failed.

That's it for this evening.  Until tomorrow, take care, and be
an optimist who sees the doughnut, not a pessimist who sees the
hole.


Jim Muth
[e-mail]


START 20.0 PAR-FORMULA FILE================================

Fractal_Cat        { ; time=0:03:28.38 SF5 on a P200
                     ;  Version 2000 Patchlevel 8
  reset=2000 type=formula formulafile=jim.frm
  formulaname=Mystic2 function=cos passes=t
  center-mag=-0.154483/1.22125e-015/3.538071/1.1211/90
  params=0.96/-2.3/0.1/0.85/2.33/-2.5 float=y
  maxiter=95 bailout=25 inside=bof61 logmap=yes
  symmetry=xaxis periodicity=10
  colors=000644054UKc777989cmcDAE<9>WI_YJb_Kd<3>gOmmMs\
  <3>VUeQWbMYZH_W6eK<2>QRhXHn<3>WasWftWkuWpvhottnr<3>b\
  lcYl_UlWSoU<3>MeQKZPJ`OHZNGWMEULCUM<8>EHGEFGFEF<3>F8\
  DC0C<3>NQFQXFSbGmdGmoHmpH<3>mfFmdEmaEm_DmYDW_C<3>URA\
  UOATM9<2>SF8RC7SD8<13>WGFWGFWGG<2>XHHXHIWFG<10>cUYcW\
  _dX`<2>f`efafecfdfedie_sn<2>_xnUuC<3>X`7YV6ZQ5_L4_G3\
  <12>eiWekYfm_<3>gvg<5>jjdjhckfc<2>l`al_akY`<14>iDSiC\
  RiAR<2>i6Pi5PgBR<3>cZWbdXajY<5>OggMfiKfj<2>DdoBdpAan\
  <11>4DT4BR39P<2>23J21I46K6BL8GN
  }

frm:Mystic2 {; Jim Muth
a=real(p1), b=imag(p1), c=real(p2),
d=imag(p2), k=real(p3), f=imag(p3),
g=pixel, z=(pixel)^a+(b*(pixel))^c:
z=(fn1(z)+(d*(g)))^k+(f*(cos(g)))
g=sqr(g),
LastSqr <= 100
}

END 20.0 PAR-FORMULA FILE==================================


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------------------------------

Date: Fri, 18 Feb 2000 00:06:55 -0600
From: Tim Wegner <[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: (fractint) Hi there, and a small question to get me started!

Steve asked:

> Is there any way to get fractint to load PNG? Or to convert a PNG
> to a fractint-compatible gif? Or to extract the parameters from the PNG?

No, no, and no. Wish I had a better answer <g!> Once a fractint
GIF is converted to PNG the parameters are gone. The best you
can do is save them to a PAR file before converting to PNG.

Yours truly is one other original authors (albeit a minor one) of the
PNG spec. I have even reserved a PNG chunk name for fractal
parameters (fRAc). I am commited to ditching GIF in favor of PNG.
I don't necessarily speak for all of The Stone Soup team, but I
haven't heard any opposition to the goal of replacing GIF with PNG
either.

The problem is that Fractint uses an obsolete development
platform, and is tied to the DOS medium memory model, in which
data segments can be no larger than 64K, and there is still a 640K
limit of conventional memory. I was able to get fractint to link with
the the Libpng, but it would run because of PNG memory
requirements. I can see ways to make PNG work with Fractint but
they are ugly, and the time is better spent moving Fractint into a
future development platform than shoe-horning a feature that
doesn't fit onto the old legacy platform version.

PNG support is a complete non-issue under Window 9X or Linux,
or even under DOS with the djgpp compiler. The reason it has
taken this long and PNG is still not integrated is mostly that your
humble team is mostly made up of older folks with older skills, and
the code too is "old" and has gotten very complex. It's a catch 22
because we don't attract new programmers with fractint on an old
development environment. There was a time when fractint's SVGA
graphics and integer math were state of the art, and young
programmers were interested in contributing.

This may sound like I'm discouraged, but I'm not. I am personally
on a binge of learning new things. I am even a card carrying
student right now (taking a graduate level course on Kalman filters).
We are rehosting our team from CompuServe to fractint.org, and
working on ramping up our Linux skills. I am personally researching
platforms and techniques for a new platform.

Fractint's transformation will take some time because the main
work will probably have to be done initially by members of the
current team. However, I expect that once we have workable
versions out from under the medium memory model, there will be
an acceleration of growth and a new team. I don't expect Fractint to
ever again dominate the fractal scene the way it has for most of the
last decade (nor do I mind that it won't) but I do expect it to have a
new life and to continue to change and grow.

The new Fractint will run the same (or nearly the same) under
Linux, Windows, the Mac, BEOS, and maybe even under DOS.
Fractint will be officially open source using one of the current open
source licenses. (Believe it or not despite being a pioneer of a
program with published source, Fractint is technically not "open
source" under the current definitions because our license doesn't
allow you to take our source and use it for your own commercial
fractal program.) There will be no more integer math. PNG will be
the main graphics format. Parameters will be stored inside the
PNG in a largely application-independent way. Fractint will support
truecolor via both super palettes and a formula-like procedures
based on something like the parser. The built-in types will be gone;
everything will use formulas. 2D, 3D and 4D fractal types will be
supported with some compatibility to POV-Ray for 3D and 4D.

My crystal ball may not be 100% accurate, but that's the way it
looks to me. There are probably a whole lot of new things I haven't
mentioned, like built in support for distributed processing across
the internet. I mostly listed ideas I've had for a while - we're not
limited to those ideas.

Don't ask me how soon all this will be done. :-)  It won't be in the
next few months, but neither will it be years away. There is more
movement toward this future now than there has been for the last
few years.

Tim


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------------------------------

Date: Fri, 18 Feb 2000 19:19:51 +1300
From: Steve Wray <[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: (fractint) Hi there, and a small question to get me started!

On Friday, 18 February 2000 19:07, Tim Wegner [SMTP:[e-mail]] wrote:
[snip]
> The problem is that Fractint uses an obsolete development
> platform, and is tied to the DOS medium memory model, in which
> data segments can be no larger than 64K, and there is still a 640K
> limit of conventional memory. I was able to get fractint to link with
> the the Libpng, but it would run because of PNG memory
> requirements. I can see ways to make PNG work with Fractint but
> they are ugly, and the time is better spent moving Fractint into a
> future development platform than shoe-horning a feature that
> doesn't fit onto the old legacy platform version.
[big snip]

Hmmmm... What language is it written in?

I'd have thought that maybe going over to gcc (which is available for both
windows/dos and unix...) might be a good plan?

It would certainly remove the memory model constraints... I guess...
nnot being much of a programmer!

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Date: Fri, 18 Feb 2000 19:21:01 +1300
From: "Morgan L. Owens" <[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: (fractint) Hi there, and a small question to get me started!

At 11:08 18/02/2000 +1300, Steve Wray wrote:
>
>The display that I'm on is at 16 bits per pixel and the fractals
(mandelbrot set so far)
>I get out of fractint are all in just one color (red)
>

And, at 14:12 18/02/2000 +1300, wrote:
>
>Is there any way to get fractint to load PNG? Or to convert a PNG
>to a fractint-compatible gif? Or to extract the parameters from the PNG?
>

Both of these questions are related. Yes, PNG and truecolour support is
expected (nay, demanded) in a future release of Fractint; it's not here
yet, though. The 16bpp video mode is really there for the developers'
benefit, and doesn't serve much of a function yet.

Fractint is still a 256-colour GIF generator with no idea what to do with
PNG, sorry. But stay tuned...

Morgan
"In the pastel cream room with blue curtains."



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Date: Fri, 18 Feb 2000 19:27:31 +1300
From: Steve Wray <[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: (fractint) Hi there, and a small question to get me started!

On Friday, 18 February 2000 19:21, Morgan L. Owens [SMTP:[e-mail]] wrote:
> At 11:08 18/02/2000 +1300, Steve Wray wrote:
> >
> >The display that I'm on is at 16 bits per pixel and the fractals
> (mandelbrot set so far)
> >I get out of fractint are all in just one color (red)
[snip]
> Both of these questions are related. Yes, PNG and truecolour support is
> expected (nay, demanded) in a future release of Fractint; it's not here
> yet, though. The 16bpp video mode is really there for the developers'
> benefit, and doesn't serve much of a function yet.

Sooo... apart from starting my X server in 8 bpp and apart from using 'disk video'
there is no way I can use xfractint in X windows to generate fractals in 256 colors?


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Date: Fri, 18 Feb 2000 19:26:58 +1300
From: "Morgan L. Owens" <[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: (fractint) Hi there, and a small question to get me started!

At 00:06 18/02/2000 -0600, Tim Wegner wrote:
>
>
>Fractint's transformation will take some time because the main
>work will probably have to be done initially by members of the
>current team. However, I expect that once we have workable
>versions out from under the medium memory model, there will be
>an acceleration of growth and a new team. I don't expect Fractint to
>ever again dominate the fractal scene the way it has for most of the
>last decade (nor do I mind that it won't) but I do expect it to have a
>new life and to continue to change and grow.
>
Has there been any discussion on what sort of architecture a future
Fractint might have? I've been kicking a few ideas around myself and would
like to know what others are thinking, in case they've thought similar
ideas through in less ignorant detail.

Morgan
"I don't _care_ what OS it is; I wanna run Fractint!"



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Date: Fri, 18 Feb 2000 08:31:09 -0500
From: Mike Traynor <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: (fractint) Hi there, and a small question to get me started!

Tim,

> Don't ask me how soon all this will be done. :-)  It won't be in the
> next few months, but neither will it be years away. There is more
> movement toward this future now than there has been for the last
> few years.

This is nice to hear.  And the occasion to thank you and the fractint
developers for hundreds (if not thousands) of hours of fun and amazement
I've had with fractint.

Mike

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Date: Fri, 18 Feb 2000 10:14:25 -0700
From: Phil McRevis <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: (fractint) Hi there, and a small question to get me started!

In article <[e-mail]>,
    "Morgan L. Owens" <[e-mail]>  writes:

> Has there been any discussion on what sort of architecture a future
> Fractint might have?

There has been tons of discussion and even some work from yours truly
before my free time evaporated ;-).

The best thing to do if you're thinking of contributing is to join the
fractint developer's mailing list: send mail to [e-mail]
with 'subscribe fractdev' in the message body.  You can also peruse
the archives of what's been said before on that list at
<ftp://ftp.xmission.com/pub/lists/fractdev/>.

I'd like to humbly suggest that all development threads continue on
the fractdev list and not the fractint list, so as to not bore users
with long threads full of programming details.

I can summarize what's transpired before:

1) fractint needs a 'driver model' in its source code to isolate the
main body of code from things that are platform specific.  'Platform'
here refers to a combination of compiler support, operating system
support, keyboard/mouse input support and of course screen output.

2) Designing this support for fractint's existing code base requires
someone who has a 'high level' view of the code so as to make sure
that nothing major is missing in the design.

3) fractint has a LARGE code base.  Printing out the source code in
a double-sided listing results in a stack that is literally 6 inches
thick.  Getting the 'high level' view is time consuming!

4) The 'driver model' should be introduced into the code in such a
fashion that it doesn't require an entire rewrite.

5) Modern platform environments are event-driven (X11, Win32, MacOS,
BeOS), and don't use a polling I/O model like DOS.  Fractint currently
uses a polling I/O mechanism but xfractint snuck in a way to treat
this through events.  It has some warts, but it does work.  The better
long term solution is to reorganize the code into an event-driven
paradigm, but that can wait until after item 4.

I've done 1-3 and part of 4.  Once I got the 'big picture', the job
wasn't as hard as I thought it would be at first.  I think my approach
will unify ports to X11, Win32 and MacOS.  DOS may still work, but it
is a low priority for me ;-).

However, while doing item 4 I ran out of spare cycles to work on
fractint.  I have a code base that is partially completed and still
compiles/limps along on X11, but it needs more work.
- --
<http://www.xmission.com/~legalize/>    Legalize Adulthood!
    ``Ain't it funny that they all fire the pistol,
      at the wrong end of the race?''--PDBT
[e-mail]    <http://www.xmission.com/~legalize/who/>

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Date: Sat, 19 Feb 2000 00:32:24 -0500 (EST)
From: Jim Muth <[e-mail]>
Subject: (fractint) FOTD, 19-02-00 (FMOD Test Number One [3]) (c)

FOTD -- February 19, 2000  (Rating 3)

Fractal enthusiasts and visionaries:

Today's FOTD features the little phantom midget that isn't
there.  It isn't there, that is, if the scene is calculated in
the standard manner, with the inside set to 0 and the outside
set to iter.  Nothing appears in today's image but trapped
inside points, yet even though they are trapped, these points do
different things in their confinement -- things that when
brought out by an inside=fmod fill, could almost be mistaken for
a real midget and its surrounding 2,4,8...pattern.  I could rate
it no higher than a three, because it is only a test.

I have named the picture "FMOD Test Number One" because today,
following a suggestion from Iain Stirling, I began experimenting
with the fmod inside fill and discovered that it has great
potential when applied to these phantom midgets.  I'll be
posting a lot of these non-existent midgets in the weeks ahead.
They're easy to find with the M-Mix4 formula, and will produce
some unique images with the various inside fill options
available.

The parameter file of today's image is a rather slow one, all
the more reason to download the image file from:

          <alt.binaries.pictures.fractals>

or from:

          <http://home.att.net/~Paul.N.Lee/FotD/FotD.html>

The fractal weather today was interesting.  The day started with
snow, which accumulated about 2 inches (5cm) before changing to
ice pellets, then to freezing rain, and finally to just plain
old rain.  The rain was followed by dense fog in the evening and
a threat of thunder-storms.  The fractal cats took one sniff of
the outside air this afternoon and turned back into the kitchen.
They got into a little spat a few minutes later, probably
because of their anger over being unable to go outdoors.  But
they soon made up and all is now well.

All is also well here in Fractal Central, except for the problem
that it's time to shut the place down.  The philofractal version
of today's FOTD will appear in about 12 hours, when I have a
chance to compose the philosophy.  Until tomorrow, take care,
and make friends with a fractal.


Jim Muth
[e-mail]


START 20.0 PAR-FORMULA FILE================================

FMOD_Test_Number_1 { ; time=0:23:06:20 SF5 on a P200
                     ;  Version 2000 Patchlevel 8
  reset=2000 type=formula formulafile=critical.frm
  formulaname=MandelbrotMix4 function=ident passes=1
  center-mag=-421.878100629715/+0.15506294434948980/11\
  827.48/1/-34.999 params=1/0.09/1/-0.09/210/5000
  float=y maxiter=1200 bailout=25 inside=fmod
  proximity=0.65 logmap=yes periodicity=10
  colors=0000ns0ls0ls0kq0kq0kq0ip0ip0gp0gn0gn0fn0fl0dl\
  0dl0dk0bk0bk0ai0ai0ai0_g0_g0Yg0Yf0Yf0Xf0Xd0Vd0Vd0Vb0\
  Tb0Tb0Ra0Ra0Ra0Q_0Q_0O_0OY0OY0NY0NX0LX0LX0LV0JV0JV0I\
  T0IT0IT0GR0GR0ER0EQ0EQ0DQ0DO0BO0BO0BN09N09N08L08L08L\
  06J06J04J04I04I02I02G01G01G01E00E00E00D10E<3>82L92NB\
  4ND4OE6QG6RI6TJ8VL8XN9XO9YQB_RBaTDbVDdXDfYEf_EgaGibG\
  kdIlfIngJniJpkJqlLsnLtpNwqNxsOxtOzwQzxQzzQzzRzzRzzTz\
  zTzzVzzVzzXzzXzzXzzVz<3>zVzzVzzTz<3>zTzzTzxTzwRztRz<\
  8>fQzdQzbQzaQz_Oz<3>TOzROzQNzQNzONz<2>NNzNNzLLzLLzLL\
  zJLzJLzILzILzIJzGJzGJzGJzEJz<2>DIzDIzBIzBIxBIx9Ix9Gx\
  9Gx8Gx8Gw6Gw6Gw6Gw4Ew4Ew4Et2Et<3>1Dt0Ds0Ds<2>0Ds0Et0\
  Ds<5>0Ds0Ds0Ds<2>0Ds0Ds0Bs<5>0Bs0Bs0Bs<2>0Bs0Bs09s0D\
  t0Dt0Dt0Dw<2>0Dx0Dx0Dz<11>0Dz
  }

frm:MandelbrotMix4 {; Jim Muth
a=real(p1), b=imag(p1), d=real(p2), f=imag(p2),
g=1/f, h=1/d, j=1/(f-b), z=(-a*b*g*h)^j,
k=real(p3)+1, l=imag(p3)+100, c=fn1(pixel):
z=k*((a*(z^b))+(d*(z^f)))+c,
|z| < l
}

END 20.0 PAR-FORMULA FILE==================================


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Date: Sat, 19 Feb 2000 15:48:42 -0000
From: "Iain G. Stirling" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: (fractint) FOTD, 19-02-00 (FMOD Test Number One [3]) (c)

Jim Muth wrote:

> FOTD -- February 19, 2000  (Rating 3)
>
> Fractal enthusiasts and visionaries:
>
> Today's FOTD features the little phantom midget that isn't
> there.  It isn't there, that is, if the scene is calculated in
> the standard manner, with the inside set to 0 and the outside
> set to iter.  Nothing appears in today's image but trapped
> inside points, yet even though they are trapped, these points do
> different things in their confinement -- things that when
> brought out by an inside=fmod fill, could almost be mistaken for
> a real midget and its surrounding 2,4,8...pattern.  I could rate
> it no higher than a three, because it is only a test.

Jim,

I am very taken by this FOTD. The colouring is magic - I find that
getting good contrast on the bubbles without the colours looking garish
is very difficult, but your FOTD today shows that a balance can be
found.

I eagerly await further inside=fmod offerings...

Iain Stirling.


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End of fractint-digest V1 #448
******************************