February 2012 Fabulous Fractals by Angelize Guest Tips and Trick Tutorial

[Gare]

Thanks, Frank!

As the years go by, I think a human foible becomes a lot more evident: one starts to believe they’ve learned everything there is to learn, they insist on teaching everyone what they’ve learned, and they stop learning. Then they join TalkGraphics.

Frances, I want to thank you for your article, because I thought I knew everything about fractals, but I did not. You’ve created quite a diverse collection of textures I’d never had considered, because Xara only comes with two types of fractal math, while there’s almost two dozen distinctly different patterns that programmers have used over the years.

I just wanted you to know that I’m learning, I’m learning…and thanks again!

And if anyone is curious about the definition of “fractal”, I did a little research a couple of years ago—

What Is a Fractal?

Fractal geometry is based on mathematical equations, whose core is beyond the scope of a few human-understandable paragraphs! However, fractal geometry usually appears to have the following visual characteristics:

• Self-similarity Fractal designs branch with variations set by the mathematician writing the fractal math, but typically a fractal design repeats a basic structure within itself at smaller scales, branching from a main body in the design. This is why many fractals look like organic forms such as ferns, broccoli, and seashells—these designs in nature also obey fractal math.

• A recursive structure with irregularities As with self-similarity, fractals repeat, with variations, as they branch. If you’re familiar with Euclidean geometry, fractal math is too unpredictable when plotted to 2D space to be described in Euclidian geometric functions.

• Exist within a domain of 2D or 3D space Fractal math is used in several 3D programs to generate organic sculptures. KPT Frax4D, in fact, is an Adobe Standard plug-in that can generate fractal designs in 3D space. Fractals were once described by a mathematician using this analogy: if a square represents the number 2 and a cube represents the number 3, fractals live somewhere between these two integers.

By the way, Xaraist who are also into 3D modeling might want to check out XenoDream; it's pricey at $119, but this is a cottage industry and upgrades are free for life. What XenoDream can do for you is help build 3D fractal sculptures that can be exported in OBJ file format to Blender or other 3D program. Like Xara's fractals, this stuff can be very intricate and very organic in appearance.



My Best,

—Gary