Fractal flame

A fractal flame created by the Electric Sheep computing project.
Fractal flame created in Apophysis.

Fractal flames are a member of the iterated function system class[1] of fractals created by Scott Draves in 1992.[2] Draves' open-source code was later ported into Adobe After Effects graphics software[3] and translated into the Apophysis fractal flame editor.[2]

Fractal flames differ from ordinary iterated function systems in three ways:

  • Nonlinear functions are iterated in addition to affine transforms.
  • Log-density display instead of linear or binary (a form of tone mapping)
  • Color by structure (i.e. by the recursive path taken) instead of monochrome or by density.

The tone mapping and coloring are designed to display as much of the detail of the fractal as possible, which generally results in a more aesthetically pleasing image.

  1. ^ Mitchell Whitelaw (2004). Metacreation: Art and Artificial Life. MIT Press. pp 155.
  2. ^ a b "Information about Apophysis software". Archived from the original on 2008-09-13. Retrieved 2008-03-11.
  3. ^ Chris Gehman and Steve Reinke (2005). The Sharpest Point: Animation at the End of Cinema. YYZ Books. pp 269.