Well like with any time of learning, you should always start with the basics. Since you've all been introduced to our wonderful group, now it's time to recite our Fractal ABCs! Ready everyone?


A is for Apophysis
Apophysis is a freeware fractal flame program.
There is both a 2D and 3D version.
*It can be found at the Apophysis website.



B is for Background
A background is very much a part of any fractal piece. UltraFractal and other programs allow you
to place a background into the fractal layers. Or in the case of the Incendia program, you can make
the background INTO the fractal.



C is for Chaos and Composition
The term “chaos theory” was first coined in 1927. The theory tries to explain how small non-complex
geometric shapes can be used together to make the appearance of something complex and chaotic.
This is one of the theories used in fractal art. A good example of how the theory is applied can be
found here .

Composition plays a major role in how your fractal appears, regardless of what program you use.
Some artists like their fractals to be lopsided, some like them to be orderly. Each depends on your
personal preference, as does color choice, placement, and many other things that make up your
fractal composition. You can read about the RULE OF THIRDS here.



D is for Depth
From depth of field, to fractals that keep going on forever, to the fractals that provoke a deeper
meaning when you look at them, the concept of depth is very prominent in the fractal gallery.



E is for Editor and Emboss
In Apophysis, the window you use for swirling, twirling, and moving the different parts of your
fractal is called the Editor. It’s amazing what you can do with a bunch of triangles on a grid huh?
In UltraFractal there is no specific Editor, but there is a neat E- Emboss! This is where you can
use a gradient specifically for 3D colorings.



F is for Fractals!!!
Yep , you guessed it! Fractal art is a wonderfully complex art-form that takes shapes and transforms
them into anything your mind can possibly imagine. The really fun part about a fractal is that, the
further you go into them, the further you go into never-ending details!



G is for Gradient
Gradients are used in all fractal programs. These, are how you color your fractal to give it those snazzy
effects. Learning to combine complementary colors is an integral part of fractaling. So play with it!



H is for Have Fun!
Yep, you can have fun making these little masterpieces, and they can be fun-themed too.
Much of fractal art is trial and error in the learning stages, so when you're starting to feel
frustrated with your unsuccessful attempts... take a step back and remind yourself to have FUN!



I is for Iterations
Iterations are shapes that repeat. Fractals use them in various forms. For example, the 'Koch Snowflake'
is made up of triangles that get smaller _{and smaller and smaller}



J is for Julia and Janet Parke
The Julia set is related to the Mandelbrot set in the fact that it’s basically the same mathematical equation.
However, the Julia set has an added variable that makes it changeable, where the Mandelbrot set doesn’t.
(But, you don’t need to know the math to be able to work with a great Julian fractal.)
Janet Parke is a well known Ultra Fractal artist, whose work has been featured in Memphis, Tennessee
art galleries, as well as on websites and in other galleries across the world. You can find more of her
amazing work at her website.



K is for Koch
Niels Fabian Helge von Koch was a mathematician from Sweden that first described what is now known
as the 'Koch Snowflake'.



L is for Layers
Ultra-Fractal uses Layers to achieve many fractal effects. From shape, to color, to texture...
everything is done with layers in that program. You can also use layers to assemble a collage
of fractals as well.



M is for Mandelbrot
Benoit Mandelbrot is known as the father of fractal geometry. He is the first person
to call the phenomenon a “fractal.” There is also a defined set named after him.



N is for Nature
There are many fractals found in nature. Ferns and broccoli are just some of the varieties
of plant life that you’ll find with fractal iterations in them.



O is for Orbit Traps
Orbit traps are just what they sound like. They are points in the fractal that act like gravity
and trap the spinning parts of the fractal into a set orbit, drawing it further into the center
of the trap. Orbit traps are also used to color some fractal images.



P is for Parameters
Parameters are the text form of fractal artwork. Parameters literally tell the program
what boundaries to set for the fractal mathematics... to show you the image you’ve
created. It’s an easier and less bulky way to store and share your fractals.



Q is for Quaternion
Quaternions are a series of mathematical functions that are used in some fractal generating
programs, to describe how other elements rotate. This system uses 4 dimensional complex
numbers instead of regular 2D numbers. This gives these styles of fractals a very distinctive look.



R is for Render
Rendering a fractal can be time consuming and can wear on your patience. It is the process of
computing that wonderful picture on your monitor into an actual picture on your hard drive.



S is for Sierpinski, Self-similarity & Spiral
Sierpinski is a fractal set that uses triangles in a repeating iteration that never ends.
You can zoom in forever and never reach the end of the set. That is also a good example
of Self-similarity, which is the basic concept of fractals. Spirals are a particular style of
fractal. They can be both complex and simple at the same time, but generally they have
a concept of self-similarity as well.



T is for Tutorials
Tutorials are learning tools that teach how to do a specific style of fractal art, or even how
to use basic concepts of a program. Live tutorial sessions can happen in fractal chatrooms.
This is where an experienced or skilled fractalist walks you through a technique or concept.
(To search for fractal tutorials, go to the resources section > tutorials > digital art> fractal art.)

U is for Ultra Fractal
Ultra Fractal is another fractal generating program. This program does cost money, but is very
powerful and fairly easy to use. To find a free trial of the program go to the Ultra Fractal website
and click “free trial.”



V is for Variations
Some variation in life is always good, but in programs like Apophysis it’s really, really
good. That program uses variations to change the appearance of the fractal flames.



W is for Weights
Another Apophysis term, the weights for each variation determine how that variation
affects the overall fractal. The higher the weight, the more that variation reacts in the fractal.



X is for Xenodream
Xenodream is a 3D fractal rendering program with a flexible environment structure. It can be found at the
Xenodream website, but be warned that like Ultra Fractal, this program does cost.



Y is for You’re Never Alone
With a new *dAFractalCentral that will be hosting tutorials, and will be the center for fractal activity
here on dA, you’ll never be alone in the fractal community. We also have quite a few artists willing
to help mentor other artists, and a lot of people that just like to help out. So if you have a question,
feel free to stop by the fractal chat rooms or this new account, and someone will be sure to help you.

Z is for Zoom
Did you know that zooming in on a fractal can help draw out some of the finer detail that looking at it
with a regular view, can leave out? There are different ways to do this, depending on which program
you are using at the time.



These ABCs of Fractal Art are brought to you by =pantherwitch4982.

Many thanks go to ^Sophquest *Keeps =YarNor *Discarn8 and *milleniumsentry for help with some of the entries. and thanks!