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-
-
- My apologies for not providing a bibliography, but I don't have any of
- my literature available as I write this. Nevertheless, you shouldn't
- have any trouble locating literature on fractals and Mandelbrot sets.
-
- SMan(i.e. SManCP, SManLb, or SManLbCP) is a Mandelbrot generation
- program written with the typical Amiga interface. By that, I mean that
- it can be executed from CLI or Workbench, and that it is Menu Driven, with
- command key combinations provided.
-
- Upon execution of the program, a workbench window will be displayed with
- a variety of information, Included will be CPU (and coprocessor if
- present), screen resolution, and the coordinates in the complex plane.
- In addition, available memory will be displayed. Also, values for
- magnification and maximum count are displayed.
-
- As you can see, the magnification on startup is 160. Since no point
- within the Mandelbrot set is more than 2.... from the origin, a
- magnification of 160 means that the Mandelbrot set will not extend
- beyond the 320 horizontal pixels from the center of the screen.
-
- The Maximum count refers to the number of attempts at determining
- divergence of the sequence that are made before a given location is
- assumed to be within the Mandelbrot set.
-
-
- When you see this window and its information, SMan is already producing
- its image on a custom screen in the background. To look at the image,
- click on the close gadget at the upper-left corner of the 'Julian
- Explorer Window'. The window won't actually close, but the custom
- screen and its window will be brought forward, and you can see the
- image being produced.
-
- **********************************************************************
-
- If you press down the right mouse button, the menus become visible.
- Under the left-most menu (i.e. SMan) will be seen four menu items.
-
- The first one 'About' will bring you back to the Workbench screen and
- the Julian Explorer Window. You will probably want to use this to
- get updated information about screen and magnification.
-
- The second one 'Redraw(Same P) redraws the image with the same
- parameters. The only reason you might want to use this would be if
- you changed the maximum count after the drawing had already started
- and wished to redraw for a consistent image.
-
- 'Save' will save you image to an iff file of ILBM form. Normally,
- you would only want to select this item when the image is completed.
- Sorry, no compression has been provided, and the file is always called
- 'Mand.iff'. Rename it if you want a different name. If I want the
- file compressed and renamed, I just load it using DPaint(EA) or Digi-
- View, and save it with a new name. They do my compression. Also, no
- provision for adjustment of the palette has been made in SMan, since
- that could be done using Deluxe Paint (Electronic Arts), or some other
- paint program.
-
- 'Quit' is an obvious selection. This is actually the only way to
- terminate the program.
-
- **********************************************************************
-
- The second Menu is 'View Mode'. HIRES is always on. You are permitted
- to select either 'Lace On' or 'Lace Off'. The default is 'Lace Off'
- since it will provide faster completion of an image. Your other
- selections are 'Overscan' and 'Normal'. If you select overscan, your
- resolution will be 704 by 239 or 704 by 478. With 'Normal', resolution
- will by 640 by 200 or 640 by 400. Whenever, you select from the 'View
- Mode' menu, the custom screen will be closed and reopened with the
- new parameters, so the drawing is restarted.
-
- **********************************************************************
-
- The third Menu is 'Maximum Count'. The default is 31. As the count
- is increased, the drawing time increases. As the magnification is
- increased, you will have to increase the count to provide more detail.
- However, if you want to speed up the drawing until you decide upon
- what final parameters you want to have, use a smaller count.
-
- **********************************************************************
-
- The fourth Menu is 'Zoom'. This enables you to use the mouse to select
- a new region to display. Select the menu item 'Select', and move the
- mouse pointer to the upper-left corner of the region you wish to be
- drawn. Press and hold down the left-mouse button, and drag it to
- the lower-right corner of the region you want displayed and release the
- button. Sorry, but only the horizontal coordinates determine the new
- lower-right corner, but you can see what region you're going to get
- before you release the button, since it will be outlined.
-
- If you decide that you've selected the wrong region, you can get back
- to you previous parameters by selecting 'Restore' from the 'Zoom' menu.
- Sorry, but it only goes back one level, and redraws completely.
-
- **********************************************************************
-
- Have fun!
-
- Dave McKinstry.
-
-