FRACTALS... Order in the Chaos... Glimpses of Infinity...

**Cyclic13** · 02-02-2008 01:00 PM

Cosmic Inner Pyramid

What are fractals?

Well, fractals are geometric forms and colors drawn by a mathematic equation. By altering 1 or 2 numbers of the equation you can make subtle changes in both the form and palette of colors. These forms are found in nature, in the repetitive unfolding of the petals of a lotus flower, the spiral in a snails shell, or the shape of a tree.

The basic concept of fractals is that they contain a large degree of self similarity. This means that they usually contain little copies of themselves buried deep within the original. And they also have infinite detail. Like the costal problem, the more you zoom in on a fractal, the more detail (coastline) you get. And this keeps going on forever and ever, so you could make a pretty movie of a fractal zooming in ad infinitum. A quick example HERE

Fractals are essentially glimpses into how our reality works. Chaotic, yet structured. Structured, yet chaotic. A paradox realized.

Some more amazing Fractal videos...
HERE, HERE, and HERE

**Replicon** · 02-02-2008 07:29 PM

Did you blend 4 mandelbrot sets? That's really cool!

**Oneironaut Zero** · 02-02-2008 09:10 PM

Not sure if you've ever used it, SolSkye, but there is a program called Apophysis that you can use to make fractals like these.

I've made some pretty cool pics with it, but Exobyte is freakin' amazing with it.

It's a free program, if you ever want to try it out.

**nina** · 02-02-2008 09:35 PM

Very interesting. Love the spiraling. Round shapes make nina happy.

**Seeker** · 02-02-2008 10:53 PM

I remember writing computer programs back in the early 80's to generate the mandelbrot and other members of the Julia set. Had lot's of fun doing it and it was amazing how much things deteriorated with very very slight tweaks.

**Replicon** · 02-02-2008 11:18 PM

Originally Posted by Seeker

I remember writing computer programs back in the early 80's to generate the mandelbrot and other members of the Julia set. Had lot's of fun doing it and it was amazing how much things deteriorated with very very slight tweaks.

Haha I did the same thing!

**Cyclic13** · 02-03-2008 09:29 AM

Thanks for those programs. Is there any chance that there are any fractal programs for mac?

**wendylove** · 02-03-2008 02:03 PM

The basic concept of fractals is that they contain a large degree of self similarity.

Fractals themselfs are just self similating systems. for example,
F(x)=Z+c
F(X)= (Z+c)Z+C
e.t.c.

And they also have infinite detail

Everything has infinte detail. For example the number 2 can be written in a infinte form i.e. 1.999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 99999999999
99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 99999999999
999999999999999999999999 e.t.c.

Chaotic, yet structured. Structured, yet chaotic.

Fractals are not chaotic. DNA is a perfect example of something that produces a fractal, now you can't really call DNA chaotic.

A paradox realized.

Being structured and chaotic is not a paradox.

Anyway, the game of life by the brillent mathematician John Conway.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=FdMzngWchDk

Its a shame that through evolution we have lost most of our fractal apperence. As only primitive plants and animals have something fractal about them, like the brochilli in the OP.

**Stevehattan** · 02-03-2008 10:25 PM

Originally Posted by Oneironaut

Not sure if you've ever used it, SolSkye, but there is a program called Apophysis that you can use to make fractals like these.

I've made some pretty cool pics with it, but Exobyte is freakin' amazing with it.

It's a free program, if you ever want to try it out.

I'm going to have a lot of fun with this.

**Cyclic13** · 02-20-2008 02:06 PM

Fibonacci, Fractals and Financial Markets - Socionomics.net

**Cyclic13** · 03-07-2008 02:50 PM

Video Feedback

Fractal Sex - Video Feedback at its Best!

**Tornado Joe** · 03-07-2008 02:59 PM

Ah yes, a long time ago there was a program called KPT (Kai's Power Tools) that was really just a plug-in for Photoshop - it was a fractal designer. Later they expanded it into a terrain maker and I think 3D program. Not sure it's around anymore. I have a copy of it for mac if anyone's interested..... oh Mac classic OS 8, that is!

**Bearsy** · 03-08-2008 12:50 AM

Can anyone link to some extremely user friendly Apophysis tutorials? I've had it for 3 months now but I'm absolute shite at it.

**Bearsy** · 03-08-2008 12:52 AM

Also, This site, is called Electric Sheep(From Philip K. Dick's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep). It's a Fractal Screensaver open source program and it uses your computer when it's asleep to "dream" these images. It's awesome.