FFExplorer

TUTORIAL

This tutorial provides an overview of FFExplorer v12.7, hereafter FFE. With this information you will learn
how to use the application, but for better results a basic idea of fractal geometry would be needed.

« Being a language, mathematics may be used not only to inform but also, among
other things, to seduce... »
Benoît Mandelbrot, creator of the Theory of Fractals

fractalfun.es/en.
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CONTENT
EXPLORE A FRACTAL ................................................................................................................................................ 3

CHANGE THE TYPE OF FRACTAL ............................................................................................................................... 7

MODIFY PARAMETERS OF A FUNCTION ................................................................................................................... 9

CREATE CUSTOM FORMULAS ..................................................................................................................................11

CHANGE THE COLOURING METHOD ........................................................................................................................14

APPLY AND MANAGE PALETTES ..............................................................................................................................17

CREATING CUSTOMIZED PALETTES .........................................................................................................................21

APPLY AND MANAGE ORBIT TRAPS AND PATTERNS ...............................................................................................22

ROTATE A FRACTAL .................................................................................................................................................26

CREATE CUSTOMIZED SHAPES ................................................................................................................................27

USING THE ELEMENTS SELECTOR ............................................................................................................................30

SETTING OPTIONS ...................................................................................................................................................31

WORKING WITH PARAMETERS ...............................................................................................................................34

EXPORT AND IMPORT PARAMETERS .......................................................................................................................36

VIEW THE JULIA SETS OF A FRACTAL .......................................................................................................................37

APPLY JULITER TRANSFORMATIONS .......................................................................................................................38

CREATING MAPS OF JULIA ......................................................................................................................................39

CREATING LINEAR FRACTALS ..................................................................................................................................40

CREATING CELLULAR NOISE ....................................................................................................................................42

CREATIG STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTIONS ................................................................................................................43

CREATING KALEIDOSCOPIC IMAGES ........................................................................................................................45

CREATING DIFFUSION-LIMITED AGGREGATIONS .....................................................................................................46

CREATING SIERPINSKI DESIGNS ...............................................................................................................................48

CREATING PYTHAGORAS TREE ................................................................................................................................49

CREATING MULTIPLICATION DIAGRAMS .................................................................................................................50

CREATING CELLULAR AUTOMATON ........................................................................................................................51

CREATE SNOWFLAKES .............................................................................................................................................54

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CREATE BOIDS NETWORKS......................................................................................................................................55

AUTOMATE PROCESSES WITH TASKS ......................................................................................................................58

VIEW INFORMATION ABOUT THE FRACTAL.............................................................................................................60

HIBERNATION OF PROCESSES .................................................................................................................................62

ADVICES ..................................................................................................................................................................62

EXPLORE A FRACTAL

Open a new canvas from “File” menu or press “Control + N”. If you want to load a specific type of fractal,
hold the pointer on “New canvas of type” and choose the type of fractal in the secondary menu displayed.

To explore a fractal, you can do the following actions:

• ZOOM IN
With the left mouse button, click on a point over the image and, still holding, slide the mouse in
order to create a selection area. Release the button so you zoom in the selected area. See more
zoom options in the “Exploring guide”, which is available in the menu “Help” of FFE.

• ZOOM OUT
With the right mouse button, click on a point over the image and, still holding, slide the mouse in
order to create a selection area. Release the button so you zoom out the selected area. If you do
the previous action pressing “Alt” key it will zoom centered in the canvas.

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• CENTERING
There are three options:

1. Double-click on a point of the image to centre it.

2. Click on a point of the image while the “F” key is pressed.

3. With the middle mouse button, click on a point over the image and, still holding, slide the
mouse in order to create a selection area. Release the button so you centre the central
point of the selected area on the canvas.

• SCROLLING
There are two options:

1. Press and hold the “Shift” key while you click with the left mouse button on a point over
the image in order to fix an origin point. Without releasing both buttons, slide the pointer
to the destination point. Release the mouse button to confirm the scroll from the origin
point to the destination point.

2. Press and hold the “Control” key while you click with the left mouse button on a point
over the image to “catch it”. Without releasing both buttons, slide the pointer to drag the
image to a new position. Release the mouse button to confirm the image scroll to the
new position.

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• ROTATION

* Rotation is not available for the special fractals Bifurcation and IFS.

There are two options:

1. Press and hold the “Shift” key while you click with the right mouse button on a point over
the image in order to fix the rotation centre. Without releasing both buttons, slide the
pointer horizontally to rotate the image. Release the mouse button to confirm the image
rotation.

2. Press and hold the “Control” key while you click with the right mouse button on any point
over the image. Without releasing both buttons, slide the pointer horizontally to rotate
the image around its central point. Release the mouse button to confirm the image
rotation.

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This rotation type can be performed more accurately in the form “Edit” that will be seen
later.

• RESIZING
Resize the window so the canvas adapts itself to the window. While you are performing this
operation, the canvas size is shown in the window frame.

You can also resize a canvas with the size and aspect-ratio adjustment options, available in the
“Window” menu.

• GET A SATELLITE VIEW

Click on “satellite view” in “Edit” menu or press “Control + Up” in order to zoom out and watch
the full fractal. With this operation the central point of the origin image will remain centred on
the canvas.

• GET A MAIN VIEW

Click on “Main view” in “Edit” menu or press “Control + Space” in order to fit a full view of the
fractal in the canvas. With this operation the reference of the central point of the origin image will
be lost.

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All actions that require to perform a selection with your mouse, when they are finished, will set the centre
point of the selected area on the canvas centre. These actions can be cancelled pressing “Escape” before
releasing the left mouse button.

Learn more…
In order to show the images faster, it is recommendable to use a small canvas when you are exploring
and, once you get the wished aspect, resize it to generate the final image.

To avoid unwanted image frame changes caused by resizing, you must keep in mind the aspect ratio
wanted for the final image from the beginning. For example: if you want to generate an 1,600 x 1,000 px
image it is recommendable to work with a small canvas with proportional dimensions. The aspect ratio
you want is 1,600/1,000 = 1.6, thus any canvas with that aspect ratio will allow to avoid the problem, i.e.
320 x 200 px.

When you open a new canvas without specifying the type of fractal, it loads the last selected type.

CHANGE THE TYPE OF FRACTAL

Open the tool “Parameters” from the “View” menu or press “Control + Alt + P”. This tool has one tab page
per type of fractal (zone 1 in the image) with their parameters (zone 2 in the image) and an area of
common parameters to all the fractals (zone 3 in the image). Select the different tab pages in order to
change the type of fractal.

FFE 12.7 version includes these fractals: Mandelbrot, Phoenix, Burning Ship, Lambda, Magnet, Spider,
Manowar, Nova, IRF (Newton, Halley, Secant, Householder, Schröder, Steffensen, Laguerre, Muller,
Parhalley, Whittaker and Chebyshev), Fatou, Collatz, Mandelbox 2D, Lyapunov, Bifurcation, IFS,
Buddhabrot and Linear. These main functions allow to create up to 220 different types of fractal.

There is also the possibility of creating custom formulas, as it will be seen later.

Mandelbox 2D, Lyapunov, Bifurcation, IFS, Buddhabrot and Linear are special fractals and some functions
that are described in this tutorial do not apply to these fractals.

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If there are several canvases opened, this tool shows the parameters of the “Active canvas”, which is the
last canvas that has been activated. This also applies to other tools forms that will be seen later. The
“Active canvas” is identified with an arrow-shaped icon.

Learn more…
Every canvas has an independent history of changes for each type of fractal, so that when switching to
another type, it does not lose the history of changes of any of them. You can access this history of

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changes in “Edit” menu by clicking on “Undo” and “Redo”, or press “Control + Z” and “Control + Y”
respectively.

When exploring the fractal, a change of colour may happen in the icon of “Active canvas”, turning into
orange. This means that you have exceeded the computer's processing capabilities.

MODIFY PARAMETERS OF A FUNCTION

Every fractal is generated from an algorithm. This algorithm has certain parameters that can be modified.
Open the tool “Parameters” from the “View” menu or press “Control + Alt + P” and change the values in
order to create variations in the original fractal. Press “Enter” key in the parameter field to apply the
changes.

The common parameters to all fractals are (zone 1 of the image):

• NUMBER OF ITERATIONS (positive integer)

Indicates how many times the function will be recalculated. A high value gives the fractal more
“depth” to do a zoom in, but it will slow the calculation. The iterations should be increased
gradually only when necessary.

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• CENTRAL COORDINATES (complex number)

This parameter allows to centre a determinate point of the fractal within the canvas by indicating
its coordinates. When exploring the fractal, this value changes with the coordinates of the point
of the fractal that corresponds with the centre of the canvas.

• ZOOM (positive decimal number)

This parameter allows positive or negative zooming on the central coordinates. When exploring
the fractal, this value changes with the zoom level.

To locate an area of the fractal in FFE, the "Central coordinates" and "Zoom" parameters must be
used together. Also, it may be necessary to adjust the "Number of iterations". The zoom level can
be provided in scientific notation, and in that case, to enter it in the “parameters” form, it is
necessary to transform it as follows:

Scientific notation E notation Value

123.456789 x 104 123.456789E4 1234567.89

123.456789 x 10-4 123.456789E-4 0.0123456789

For example, the following parameters correspond to the location of an elephant, from the Valley
of the Elephants, from the Mandelbrot set:

Central coordinates: 0.276507227815727, -0.00652125825352444 i

Zoom: x 12836.3610205248

The specific parameters of the fractal type are:

• EXPONENT OF Z (decimal number)

* This parameter cannot be modified for the special fractals.
It is the exponent of the variable “Z” and it allows to create mutations in the original fractal.

• JULIA'S CONSTANT (complex number)

When you activate this parameter, the variable “C” is changed to be constant with the set value
and the fractal is drawn through “Julia’s method”.

When this is deactivated, the value is not used, and the fractal recovers the previous status in the
activation through “Mandelbrot’s method”. In this case, when exploring the fractal, the default
value for the “C” constant changes corresponding to the coordinates of image’s central point.

• DISTORTION CONSTANT (complex number)

This constant distorts the fractal aspect. If the value is zero, it has no effect on it.

• RELAXATION CONSTANT (complex number)

This constant adjusts the fractal complexity. If the value is one, it has no effect on it.

• INITIAL VALUE OF Z (complex number)

It is the value of the variable “Z” used to start iterating the function and it allows to create
mutations in the original fractal.

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• INITIAL VALUE OF X (decimal number)

It is the value of the variable “X” used to start iterating the function and it allows to create
mutations in the original fractal.

• BAILOUT / TOLERANCE (positive decimal)

Its value sets a critical-escape condition that, if met, interrupts the iteration process.

• SCALE / RADIUS * / LAYER Z (decimal number)

These parameters change the size and appearance of the multifractals.

• LYAPUNOV’S SEQUENCE (binary sequence)

It is a sequence of values 0 and 1 that determines the value used to iterate the function.

• PLANE
This option applies transformations that affect the variable that traverse the plane and allows you
to create variants of the fractal.

Learn more…
Complex numbers have a real part and an imaginary part, and they are represented as “Z = (a + b i)”,
where “a” is a real number and “b” is an imaginary number, multiple of the imaginary unit “i”. The
numbers “a” and “b” can be positive or negative decimals and the imaginary unit “i” is a constant that
equals to square root of -1.

To optimize the calculation process it is recommendable to increase the number of iterations only when
necessary. For example, you may increase it gradually when you zoom in, or decrease it when zooming
out.

When modifying the parameters of the fractal, a change of colour may happen in the icon of “Active
canvas”, turning into blue. This means that there are parameters still pending to apply.

CREATE CUSTOM FORMULAS

To add new formulas, the syntax of the Visual Basic programming language must be used, of which the
application recognizes the Math class and the Complex data structure.

FFE allows you to create formulas that will take advantage of all the features of the fractal and colouring
algorithms available in the application. To do this, open the formula editor from the “View” menu or by
pressing “Alt + O”.

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This tool allows you to customize the formula by following these steps:

1. DEFINITION OF VARIABLES

In this step, all the variables that will be used in the formula must be defined, which can be of the
following types:

• Iteration: variable to iterate. This is the variable whose value will be used to colour the
analysed pixel after its iteration process. In the parameters form, its initial value can be
modified. (Maximum: 1 variable)

• Pixel: variable to traverse the plane. This is the variable that the algorithm will use to
store the coordinates of the complex plane that it is going to analyse at all times, and that
correspond to the pixel to be coloured. (Maximum: 1 variable)

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• Value: auxiliary variable. This is a variable that can be used for different purposes. For
example, as a constant value or to store the result of an operation whose value you want
to use multiple times later. (Maximum: not established)

2. PREVIOUS OPERATIONS (optional)

In this step you can define operations before to the iteration process. For example:

• Calculation of mirror plane “C + = 1 / C”, where “C” is the variable of type “pixel”.

• Inverse plane calculation “C = 1 / C”, where “C” is the “pixel” type variable.
Although you can force the inverse plane in this way, it is a good idea not to do it and let
the application try to do it itself when the “Invert” option is activated in the parameters
form.

• Julia mode “Z = P”, where “Z” is the variable of type “iteration” and “P” is the variable of
type “pixel”. Although “Julia mode” can be forced in this way, it is a good idea not to do it
and let the application try to do it itself when the “Julia’s constant” is activated in the
parameters form.

At this point it is also possible to initialize variables of type “Value” with the values of other
variables whose type can only be used once. For example: “V = C”, where “V” is a variable of type
“Value” and “C” is the variable of type “pixel”.

3. BAILOUT CONDITIONS

In this step, the conditions that, if produced, will make the iteration process end before the
iterations entered in the parameter form have been consumed, will be defined. Conditions can be
of the following types:

• Bailout: it will be given when the absolute value of the chosen variable exceeds the value
of the bailout entered.

• Tolerance: will be given when the absolute value of the chosen variable is less than or
equal to the tolerance value entered.

In the parameters form, the values of “Bailout” and “Tolerance” can be modified.

4. ITERATION LOOP OPERATIONS

In this step, the operations of the iteration loop will be defined, that is, the operations that
correspond to the iterative function of the fractal.

5. FOLLOWING OPERATIONS (optional)

In this step you can define operations after to the iteration process.

6. COMMENTS (optional)

In this section you can add any useful information related to the formula or its author.

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To finish, enter the name with which you want to save the formula, a class name for its grouping
(optional) and then press one of the following buttons (depending on the desired action):

• Apply, to save and change the active canvas formula to the new one.
• Open, to save and open a new canvas that uses the formula.
• Save, to save the formula.

If the formula is compiled correctly, it will become available along with the rest of the algorithms built
into the application. In the event of compilation errors, an informational message will appear and the
errors will need to be fixed before the formula can be used.

When the active canvas displays a fractal calculated with a formula of the editor, the editor will offer the
possibility to add a representative image of the fractal to the formula. To do this, explore the fractal,
check the “Current formula” box and press the “Include example” or “Update example” button. Then
press the “Save” button to overwrite the formula.

To open a canvas with the example formula, click on its preview.

Important: for performance reasons it is not recommended to declare variables of type "Complex" if only
its real component is going to be used. Similarly, it is not recommended to calculate known values:

Not recommended Recommended

V = New Complex(2, 0) V=2

PI = 2 * Math.Asin(1) PI = Math.PI
PHI = (Math.Sqrt(5) + 1) / 2 PHI = 1.6180339887498949

Sample formulas can be loaded into the formula editor from the file menu, by positioning the mouse
cursor on "Open example formula" and choosing the desired formula example.

CHANGE THE COLOURING METHOD

* The special fractals use specific colouring methods that cannot be changed.

In order to draw a fractal, it is necessary to define a colouring method. FFE uses the “Escape time”
algorithm by default. To use another method, click on “Settings” menu and hold the pointer on “Colouring
method by default”. Click on the method you wish to use by default in the displayed submenu.

FFE has the following colouring methods:

• ESCAPE TIME: it colours the image according to the number of iterations reached during the
calculation process.

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This colouring method allows you to use shapes and supershapes to define the escape perimeter:

• ESCAPE ANGLE: it colours the image according to the angle between the variable used to iterate
and the horizontal axis during the calculation process. It allows to choose from different reference
angles. It also allows to represent the phase portrait of the fractal, which will not be affected by
the configured escape radius and will provide better results in fractals with few iterations.

• DISTANCE TO A POINT: it colours the image according to the closest distance to a point reached
by a variable used during the calculation process. It allows to choose from different geometric
shapes and customized shapes to represent the distance.

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All the colouring methods described above allow the possibility of smooth the sudden changes of colour,
except in the special case of colouration by escape time with shape or supershape. To activate this option
by default, click on the menu "Settings" and then on "Activate smoothed colouring by default".

Smooth Escape Time colouring.

Escape Time colouring.

All the colouring methods admit an illumination effect based on slope. To activate this option by default,
click on the menu "Settings" and then on "Activate illuminated colouring by default".

Illuminated Escape Time colouring.

Smooth Escape Time colouring.

* Fractals that use the bailout offer better results in smoothing and illumination with a high bailout.

You can change the colouring method for a specific canvas in the “Colouring” tag in the form “Edit”, which
opens from the “View” menu, or press “Ctrl + Alt + E”, where you will be able to use some advanced
settings:

• To obtain a preview of the coloring of the “Active Canvas” and to be able to modify its
parameters, check the “Current method” box.

• Use the lighting controls to change the color, angle and height of the spotlight. This last feature
will make the shadows sharper and longer or softer and shorter.

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“Juliter” colouring will only be available when the active canvas has the “Juliter Transformation” applied,
this colouring mode will make only the iterations consumed during the transformation calculation be used
to colouring, not the previous ones.

APPLY AND MANAGE PALETTES

* Each fractal type has its own predetermined palette associated, except for the special fractals Lyapunov,
Bifurcation, IFS, Buddhabrot and Mandelbox 2D in its X-Ray version. To change the colour of the two
former fractals use “Colour in” and for the third one, use the option “last iteration in...” (it will be seen in
“Special options”).

To use a different palette, click on “Edit” menu and hold the pointer on “Apply palette”. Click on the type
of palette you wish to apply in the displayed submenu, and finally on the palette. This option is also
available in the “Palettes” tag in the form “Edit”, which opens from the “View” menu, or press “Ctrl + Alt +
E”, where you will be able to use some advanced settings:

• Check the “Current palette” box to get a preview of the “Active canvas” palette or to view its
number of colours.

• To scroll the colours of the palette, you can click with the left mouse button on preview and slide
the pointer. You can see the scrolling value below the preview. Then click on “Apply”.

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Special options:

• LAST ITERATION IN... / COLOUR IN...

This option uses a determined colour to draw during the calculation of the last iteration. To active
it, check the corresponding box or select a colour in the selection area. If the type of palette is
“External”, and it has at least 256 colours, it will habilitate the possibility of using the first colour
for the last iteration, eliminating it form the palette.

This colour is to be employed in the special fractals Bifurcation, Lyapunov and Buddhabrot.

• LAST ITERATION OVER ORBIT TRAP

This option draws the area that corresponds to the last iteration of its formula over the orbit trap.

To manage palettes you have the following functions:

• IMPORT PALETTES
Predetermined palettes are built in the application, but there is a possibility to add new palettes.
To do this, click on “Import palettes” in “File” menu. In the dialog box that opens, select one or
more palette files with extension F2C (external palette), F2CC (customized palette) o F2ZC
(palettes package), and click on “Open”.

The new palettes are copied in the palettes folder of the application.

• DELETE A PALETTE
Click on “File” menu and hold the pointer on “Delete palette”. Click on the type of palette you
want to delete in the displayed submenu, and finally on the palette.

The built-in palettes are shown up with an asterisk and they cannot be deleted. These are:

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1. Random B&W: its grey hues change randomly every time it is applied.

2. Random RGB: its colours change randomly every time it is applied.

3. Random R: its red hues change randomly every time it is applied.

4. Random G: its green hues change randomly every time it is applied.

5. Random B: its blue hues change randomly every time it is applied.

6. Rainbow: decomposition of white colour in the rainbow colours.

7. Striped: predetermined palette in these fractal types: Magnet, Spider, Manowar, Newton,
Halley, Secant, Householder, Schröder, Steffensen, Laguerre, Whittaker, Fatou, Collatz,
random Julias and Mandelbox 2D.

8. Striped-Legacy: previous version of the palette Striped.

9. Continuous: predetermined palette in these fractal types: Mandelbrot, Phoenix, Burning

Ship, Lambda and Nova.

10. Continuous-Legacy: previous version of the palette Continuous.

11. Editor: temporary palette from the “Customized palettes editor”.

12. B.Default: predetermined palette associated with the type of fractal, really is “Striped” or
“Continuous”.

The options of palettes management are also available in the form “File”, which opens from “View” menu,
or pressing “Ctrl + Alt + F”.

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Learn more…
Palette files can also been imported by dragging and dropping them in the FFE working area.
In most of palettes the first colour is black. The reason behind this is that when calculating a fractal with a
number of iterations multiple of the number of colours of the palette, the points corresponding to the
latest iteration of the function will always be drawn in black.

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CREATING CUSTOMIZED PALETTES

Open the “Customized palettes editor” from the “View” menu or press “Alt + I”.

This tool is divided into two parts:

• COLOUR EDITOR (zone 1 of the image)

It allows to design a gradient of 1024 colours from a sample of 16 main colours maximum, and 2
minimum. A predefined sample can be loaded from the menu “Theme”, or it can be customized
clicking on its colours in order to change them.

In order to add more colours to a sample click on the gradient over the positions that you want to
add them. Double click over the marks that indicate the positions of the colours when you want
to eliminate them (above the gradient). These marks can also change the position of colours- to
do so click with the left button on them, move them and release the button in order to update
the gradient.

• PALETTE GENERATOR
It allows to create a 1024 colour palette (maximum) from the gradient designed before. In order
to do this chose the number of colours you want for the palette, write a name and click on the
button “Save”.

The option “Try as…” is useful in order to preview a palette before saving it, but as a temporary
palette, it must be saved in order to make sure the image keeps its aspect.

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APPLY AND MANAGE ORBIT TRAPS AND PATTERNS

* Orbit traps are not available for the special fractals.

The “Orbit trap” is a special colouring method based on a pattern to be adapted to the fractal. FFE 12.7
version includes 78 built-in shapes, the option to create customized shapes and an image’s pattern
function. With all this the next types of orbit traps can be applied:

• NONE: it is the default type and it is used to suppress the orbit trap. The fractal is drawn with the
colouring method by default applied to the canvas.

• SHAPE: it uses a built-in shape to draw the fractal.

• SUPERFORMULA: uses a customized shape using a formula to draw the fractal.

• PATTERN: this trap uses an image file as a pattern and it is the only one that is not based on
palettes.

• MULTIPLE: it uses several built-in shapes, customized and/or patterns simultaneously to draw the
fractal.

To use a simple orbit trap, click on “Edit” menu and hold the pointer on “Apply orbit trap”. Click in the
type of pattern you wish to apply in the displayed submenu. This option is also available in the “Orbit
trap” tag in the form “Edit”, which opens from the “View” menu, or press “Ctrl + Alt + E”, where you
would also be able to choose other types of orbit trap and to modify its properties (zone 1 in the image):

• To get a preview of the “Active canvas” orbit trap, you can check the “Current trap” box.

• To scroll the orbit trap, you can click with the left mouse button on the preview and slide the
pointer. You can see the scrolling value below the preview. Then click on “Apply” (“Add” or
“Replace” if the orbit trap is “Multiple”).

• To change the rest of orbit trap properties, you can change their values with the adjusting
controls and then click on “Apply” (“Add” or “Replace” if the orbit trap is “Multiple”).

An FFE feature worth talking about is that FFE allows you to configure the adjusting controls in order to
make a more accurate adjust of the parameter. You can do this by using an extra control that allows you
to select the specific decimal position that you wish to modify (zone 2 of the image).

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If the selected orbit trap is “Multiple”, the patterns will be added or replaced in the “Multiple trap” editor,
where they can be organized and applied as a whole.

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There are differences between the “Simple” orbit trap (1) and the “Multiple” orbit trap formed by only
one pattern (2) if the opacity is not the maximum. The first melts the overlapping and the second lets it be
seen. Additionally, there is the possibility of splitting the palette’s colours for the multiple orbit trap (3).

_1_ _2_ _3_

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To design customized shapes, read the section “Create customized shapes”.

To manage patterns, you have the following functions:

• IMPORT PATTERNS
There are predetermined patterns built in the application, but there is a possibility to add new
patterns. To do this, click on “Import patterns” in “File” menu. In the dialog box that opens, select
one or more image files with extension PNG, BMP or JPG, and click on “Open”.

The new patterns are copied in the patterns folder of the application.

• DELETE PATTERNS
Click on “File” menu and hold the pointer on “Delete pattern”. Click on the pattern you want to
delete in the displayed submenu.

The built-in patterns are shown up with an asterisk and they cannot be deleted.

The options of patterns management are also available in the form “File”, which opens from “View”
menu, or pressing “Ctrl + Alt + F”.

Learn more…
To create customized orbit traps you can draw a PNG image with transparent areas and import it as a
pattern. When using this pattern, the fractal will be drawn with its image, and the transparent areas will
let see what is underneath.

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The drawing process adapts the pattern to the fractal’s shape folding and stretching it, what can make the
result to be distorted if the pattern has low quality. In order to avoid this you should use patterns with big
dimensions, that will allow you to zooming in even deeper without losing the quality all too soon.

Patten files can also been imported by dragging and dropping them in the FFE working area.

ROTATE A FRACTAL

* Rotation is not available for the special fractals Bifurcation and IFS.

To adjust the fractal rotation, click on “Edit” menu and hold the pointer on “Rotate”. Click the rotation
that you wish to apply in the displayed submenu.

This option is also available in the “Orbit trap” tag in the form “Edit”, which opens from the “View” menu,
or press “Ctrl + Alt + E”:

• To see the “Active canvas” rotation you can check the “Current rotation” box.

• To adjust the angle, you can click with the left mouse button on preview and slide the pointer.
You can see the scrolling value below the preview. Then click on “Apply”.

• To remove the canvas’ rotation, press the button “R” and then the button “Apply”.

• For a more accurate adjusting of the angle you can use the adjusting control and then click on
“Apply rotation”.

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CREATE CUSTOMIZED SHAPES

* Customized shapes are not available for special fractals.

FFE has a customized shapes editor based on “Super Formula” to create shapes that can be used in
distance colouring and as an orbital trap.

Open the superformula editor from the “View” menu or by pressing “Alt + F”.

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The “Display Area” checkbox shows a shadow under the shape which can be useful for displaying annular
shapes in the preview.

The “Display recommended scale” checkbox shows a frame in which it is recommended to fit the shape
before saving it.

Adjust the parameters of the superformula to create the customized shape, enter a name and finally
press the “Save” button. The customized shape will be available for use in distance-based colouring and
as an orbit trap.

To manage customized shapes you have the following functions:

• IMPORT SUPERFORMULAS
Application has a built-in superformula, but there is a possibility to add new superformulas. To do
this, click on “Import superformulas” in “File” menu. In the dialog box that opens, select one or
more superformula files, with extension F2S or F2SZ, and click on “Open”.

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The new superformulas are copied in the superformulas folder of the application.

• DELETE SUPERFORMULAS
Click on “File” menu and hold the pointer on “Delete superformula”. Click on the superformula
you want to delete in the displayed submenu.

The built-in superformulas are shown up with an asterisk and they cannot be deleted.

The options of superformulas management are also available in the form “File”, which opens from “View”
menu, or pressing “Ctrl + Alt + F”.

Learn more…
The superformula is a generalization in polar coordinates of the superelipse formula. Many examples can
be found on the Internet that show the values of the parameters required to obtain known shapes. You
can make “Superformula” work like “Superelipse” using the values A, B, M1 = M2 = 4 and N1 = N2 = N3.
More information here.

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USING THE ELEMENTS SELECTOR

Some of the tools seen above have access to the “Element picker” for ease of use. From the "Element
picker" you can choose palettes, themes, orbit traps, shapes, superformulas and formulas depending on
the type of tool and the action being performed on it. Once the element is chosen in the selector, it will
be set in the tool and could be used from it.

It should be noted that the "Element picker" will display different subsets of the element type, depending
on the tool's configuration at any given time.

For example, to choose an orbit trap, open the “Edit” form, select the “Orbit trap” tab, and choose a
subset of traps (shape, supershape, or pattern). Next, double-click on the orbit trap preview to bring up
the selector. In the selector, enter a filter to find specific elements more easily and double click on the
desired element. The element will be set in the tool and could be used from there.

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Next it is how to open the “Element picker” for different types of elements:

Element type Selector access

Palette for base colouring Edit form, “Palette” tab: double click on the main palette preview.

Orbit trap colouring palette Edit form, “Orbit trap” tab: double click the orbital trap palette
preview.

Shape for the perimeter of the Edit form, “Colouring” tab, “Escape” mode: double click on the
scape radius colouration preview.

Shape for base colouration Edit form, “Colouring” tab, “Distance” mode: double click on the
colouration preview.

Orbit trap Edit form, “Orbit trap” tab: double click on the orbit trap preview.

Superformula Superformula editor: double click on the superformula preview.

Colour theme Customized palettes editor: double click on the palette preview.

Formula Formula editor: double click the preview of the formula example.

SETTING OPTIONS

Open the form “Options” from the “View” menu or press “Control + Alt + O”. This form has an area of
options that can only be changed when the “Active canvas” is not in calculating process (zone 1 on the
image) and another with options that can be changed at any time (zone 2 on the image).

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The available options out of the calculation process are:

• ACTIVATE ANTI-ALIASING FILTER WITH GRILLE…

* Anti-aliasing filtering is not available for the special fractals Bifurcation, IFS and Buddhabrot.

“Anti-aliasing” is a method that allows obtaining higher quality images, closest to the fractal,
using additional colouring operations. This drawing method increases the process time, so it is
recommended to keep it disabled and use it just for final images that are going to be saved
afterwards. To active it, check the corresponding box or select the grille size in the combo box.

You can apply the “Anti-aliasing filter” punctually to an image without enabling the option. To do
this, open the form “Anti-aliasing filter” from the “View” menu or press “Control + Alt + A”. Select
the grille size and click on “Apply”.
The available options at all times are:
• ACTIVATE FAST SCROLLING
* Fast scrolling is not available for the special fractals.
When scrolling the fractal with the mouse, the previous image is used in order to not calculate the
new image fully. Before saving the image after a fast scrolling it is recommended to recalculate it
by pressing F5 or applying an “anti-aliasing filter". The canvas with this option activated is
identified with an arrow-shaped icon preceded by two white lines.

• ACTIVATE MOUSE FREE SCROLLING

This option makes that, when doing any movement with the mouse upon the image, the
operation is not compromised if the pointer gets the screen’s limits.

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• SHOW FRAMING GUIDES - HALVES

This option shows up some guidelines dividing the width and length of the canvas in halves in
order to improve de framing when making any operation with the mouse over the image.

• SHOW FRAMING GUIDES - THIRDS

This option shows up some guidelines dividing the width and length in thirds in order to improve
the framing when making any operation with the mouse over the image.

• SHOW FRAMING GUIDES - GOLDEN RATIO (L, R)

This option shows up some guidelines representing the golden ratio in order to improve the
framing when making any operation with the mouse over the image.

• SHOW FRAMING GUIDES - MAXIMUM CIRCLE

This option shows up a guideline representing the maximum circle in order to improve the
framing when making any operation with the mouse over the image.

• SHOW FRAMING GUIDES - THIRD CIRCLE

This option shows up a guideline representing the circle equal in size to one third in order to
improve the framing when making any operation with the mouse over the image.

• SAVE IMAGE CHANGES AUTOMATICALLY

This option saves automatically the image of the fractal every time it changes. The images are
saved in “PNG” format in the images folder of the application, inside a canvas subfolder on which
the option is enabled. You can open the images folder of the active canvas in “File” menu by
clicking on “Open images folder of the canvas” or press “Control + Shift + O” (this folder is created
when the first image is saved).

• ACTIVATE PARALLEL COMPUTATION

This option takes full advantage of the processor's capabilities to calculate images more quickly.

• ACTIVATE IMAGE REFRESHING (Legacy)

This option refreshes progressively the image while it is calculating. It’s recommended to have it
disabled because it slows the calculation process. This option is retained for its usefulness in some
cases, but prevents multiple threads and parallel computation from being used to compute
images more quickly.

Learn more…
The images that hold a high number of different colours in small areas improve their quality if you apply
the “anti-aliasing filter" with a big grille size. However, for images with big areas of the same colour,
applying a small grille size would be enough. It is recommended to experiment with this in order to learn
how to choose the optimal grille depending on the type of image, because in some cases a big grille size
slows the calculation process and it provides a little addition to what a lower grid would.
The option “save image changes automatically” can be used combined with a task in order to get images,
like movie frames, for building a video or animation using an external application.
The option “Activate fast scrolling” can be activated by default for all canvas from the “Settings” menu.
Before saving the image after a fast scrolling it is recommended to recalculate it by pressing F5 or
applying an anti-aliasing filter.

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WORKING WITH PARAMETERS

An important feature of FFE is that it allows taking a snapshot of all the parameters and configurations
needed to draw a fractal at any time. This information is registered in a file inside the application that
allows recovering the image anytime.
During its running, FFE keeps in memory a list of the thirty last parameters, corresponding to closed
canvases. This characteristic allows recovering previously discarded fractals if its parameters has not been
overwritten already.
To administrate parameters, you have these functions:
• REGISTER PARAMETERS
Click on “Register parameters” in “File” menu or press “Control + R”. In the form that opens write
a name for the parameters and a comment (optional). Then click on “Register”.

• LOAD PARAMETERS
Click on “File” menu and hold the pointer on “Load parameters”. In submenu displayed, click on
the parameters you want to load.

• RENAME PARAMETERS
Click on “File” menu and hold the pointer on “Rename parameters”. Click on the parameters you
want to rename in the displayed submenu. Write a new name and click on “Rename” in the form
that opens.

• DELETE PARAMETERS
Click on “File” menu and hold the pointer on “Delete parameters”. Click on the parameters you
want to delete in the displayed submenu.

• RECOVER PARAMETERS
Click on “File” menu and hold the pointer on “Recover parameters”. In submenu displayed, click
on the parameters you want to recover.

In the displayed submenus with the name of the registered parameters, if you hold the pointer over the
parameter, a label is displayed with the comment that was written when registered.
All described options can also be found in the form “File” that opens from the “View” menu or pressing
“Control + Alt + F”.

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Learn more…
Working with parameters is the most recommended option, because it avoids remembering all settings
required to generate an image and thus can be easily retrieved for further work with it in a future.

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EXPORT AND IMPORT PARAMETERS

FFE allows sharing fractals through a function which exports all its parameters and configurations. This
info can be employed by any FFE user in order to get the same fractal.

• EXPORT PARAMETERS
Click on “Export parameters” in “File” menu or press “Control + E”. Check that the image which
parameters you want to export shows up in the form that opens, and select one of the following
options:

1. Include palette and pattern: if the image uses a palette or a pattern not built in FFE, it is
recommended to apply this option. A dialog box will be opened when pressing the button
in order to select the path to export the file of parameters.

2. Only parameters: this option is designed to export the parameters of the images that use
a built-in palette and pattern. The parameters will be exported to Windows’ clipboard
when pressing the button.

The exported parameters can be attached to an email and be sent to another FFE user. For
instance, the parameters of the image above are the following:

/5uwK/mSYwymCJ0wgxb4D0j+Z+pLmRNYAnWeQAZ4N/C8nycOIltryuNy8g4MvZk+ZnfucvD4ujds
OBmCOQi3AU/aI2gOSbSCLo4hWBCnjoH9q2srYwuD0pHFBdlkeUP+ZFxWCeLbx4DHRklhvv4xT13
XkcGiFBbPNvocGteMkvuGzNlN3tWxDweEjdPDFsB1kRGkXKyxfC89sVxT9NxOF5aY0wNGuT06i0w
baFJXpcYCSRBdZztIgqQVeDZ/Ped3Tum4l2qtYdU4mo4VoeSr7+Oc+7JJrTXGZKLSoA1M6qudLbvUn
pn51zsOBb2rIaPLDOvAsabRpBiWJE4prBPd2+wXib/AZk4BI01Qtrd1pcaifPTlavT1+PSc/HCQyhiGV
DiyByPW/oXxDE2B+y8KL9hEvN6xjjRQBUHhfBZqGh0btJUSPVN3pbOg+6jU8uwQWCCLQraQ2DPo
XG9I/QddFeFBQIPpRTiETzH7KD1ubKS4KAMIdSXC0CK8Y5CFeIqf17hrekTQZpycETNMsYaaNdrQp
HRywGnpRcVw6bNcWIxFeDWEAkUFBnhOpbEJ5tMcgTppfeyc4XkdW9nW40FvdBn07sqPBCljNB1
seA35+d3xDZunovXQblGeyaGrpSgaKvhHbhYyuVDAAy60CKJuj7ooRE3JkaUOu1rjAXhtLto1Sct+EU
rbN9E6WkN/9TN8GBguI58=

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• IMPORT PARAMETERS
Click on “Import parameters” in “File” menu or press “Control + I”. With the form that opens you
can import the parameters using two ways:

1. Click on “Examine” so that a dialog box would be opened, and you can search the file of
the exported parameters.

2. Enter the line of the parameters in the text area and click on “Import”.

The corresponding image will be calculated in a new canvas.

Learn more…

Be aware that, when exporting with the option “Only parameters”, the previous content in Windows’
clipboard is lost, thus it is replaced with the parameters.
Parameters files can also be imported by dragging and dropping them in the FFE working area.

VIEW THE JULIA SETS OF A FRACTAL

Open the “Julia viewer” from the “View” menu or press “Control + Alt + J”. If the “Active canvas” is
compatible, this viewer shows the Julia sets that composes the fractal.

* The “Julia viewer” is only compatible with fractals based on “Mandelbrot’s method”, excluding the
special fractals.

To view the Julia sets, move your mouse over the canvas.

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In order to calculate the Julia set that is showed in the viewer press “J” key and click over the canvas
without moving the mouse.

Learn more…
Mandelbrot’s drawing method represents a map of all possible Julia sets. Corresponding Julia sets to
inner Mandelbrot are closed, while corresponding to outer Mandelbrot are opened.

APPLY JULITER TRANSFORMATIONS

Open the “Juliter viewer” from the “View” menu or press “Control + Alt + U”. If the “Active canvas” is
compatible, this viewer shows the possible transformations of the fractal.

* The “Juliter viewer” is only compatible with fractals based on “Mandelbrot’s method”, excluding the
special fractals.

To view the possible Juliter Transformations, adjust the iteration number in the bottom bar and move
your mouse over the canvas.

In order to apply the transformation that is showed in the viewer press “U” key and click over the canvas
without moving the mouse.

Learn more…
The “Juliter Transformation” arises during the development of new functionalities for FFE, and as a test of
the hypothesis that fractals can be represented with an adjustable mixture between the Mandelbrot and
Julia methods. More information here.

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CREATING MAPS OF JULIA

* Maps of Julia are not available for special fractals and are only compatibles with fractals based on
“Mandelbrot’s method”.

Open the “Julia maps” designer from the menu “View” or pressing “Alt + M”.

The box “Fit Julias” centres and fits in its cell every Julia set.

Adjust the number of cells and press “Start”. Save the resultant image once the process ends.

Learn more...
Julia maps are made of Julia sets ordered suitably so a map equivalent to a graphic obtained with
“Mandelbrot’s method” is shown.

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CREATING LINEAR FRACTALS

FFE allows to create linear fractals from a pattern formed by lines that connect a group of points defined
by the user. This is possible by replicating the whole pattern and adjusting its scale so it fits within each
segment from the original pattern, and so on with each iteration.

Open the “Linear Fractals” designer form the menu “View” or pressing “Alt + L”. It works in full screen, so
FFE will maximize and the menu “Linear” will show up in order to access all the designer’s functions.

Here you can find the different available functions:

• LOAD A BUILT-IN PATTERN

It allows to load the sample patterns included in the software under the different categories that
show in the submenu when click.

• ADD POINT “X” OF 8

It allows to add points till a maximum of 8. Each new point will show up in the middle of the
drawing area, and then you will be able to change its position by using the mouse. To do so, place
the pointer over a point and click with the left button upon it when the icon changes to a hand,
slide and release the button to confirm the movement. You can also add points by clicking upon
anyplace on the drawing area where another former point does not exist.

• DELETE ONE POINT OF “X”

It allows to eliminate the last point added. However, any existing point in the drawing area can be
erased by clicking upon it.

• SHOW GRID
It allows to show up and hide the grid. The background colour will be hidden behind it when the
grid is visible.

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• SNAP POINTS TO GRID

This option sets the points in the grid when changing their position with the mouse.

• DRAW ALL ITERATIONS

The lines corresponding to each iteration in the fractal will show up when checking this option,
and palettes could be used to colour it in.
When unchecked, the only line showing up will be the last one. This means that the fractal image
will be one line coloured with only one colour.

• INVERT
This option causes the fractal to generate inversely.

• COLOUR THE BACKGROUND IN…

It allows to choose a predefined or customized colour for the background. This background colour
will not be visible when the grid is.

• COLOUR THE LINES IN…

It allows to choose a predefined or customized colour for the lines of a fractal.

• COLOUR THE ITERATIONS WITH THE PALETTE…

This option will only be available when checking the box “Draw all then iterations”, and it allows
to use palettes to colour the different levels of iteration in the fractal.

• CALCULATE THE IMAGE

When the pattern has at least three points, this command will allow to force the calculus of a
fractal image. It can also be done by clicking the right button of the mouse upon any point in the
drawing area. Nonetheless, the image calculus will always be produced automatically after 5
seconds after any modification with the parameters.

• STOP THE CALCULATION

When the image is in calculating progress, this command allows to interrupt it. It also can be done
pressing “Esc”.

• CLEAR THE DRAWING AREA

This command allows to eliminate any pattern or fractal image in the drawing area. It can also be
done by clicking with the middle button of the mouse anywhere in the drawing area.

• CALCULATE THE FRACTAL DIMENSION (square box)

It calculates the fractal dimension using the Minkowski-Bouligand box-counting method. It will
only be available when the “Draw all iterations” option is not being used.

• CALCULATE THE FRACTAL DIMENSION (aspect ratio)

It calculates the fractal dimension using a variant of the Minkowski-Bouligand box-counting
method that uses box dimensions proportional to the image dimensions. It will only be available
when the “Draw all iterations” option is not being used.

• SAVE IMAGE
This command allows to save the different graphic components in image format, under the
selected option in the submenu that shows when clicking. For example, a fractal and its
background can be saved by clicking in the submenu “Background + fractal”.

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CREATING CELLULAR NOISE

To create cellular noise, FFE locates randomly a set of points which are known as “Cells” and then applies
the “Voronoi Diagram” to the set to colouring the plane.

Open the Cellular Noise designer from the menu “View” or pressing “Alt + C”.

In order to set the drawing process:

• Choose one of the available cell distribution modes: random, beehive or grid.

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• Choose the number of cells you want to use.

• Adjust the distance of reference for the calculation. The value 1 is the distance to the farthest cell
and the polygons will be drawn with more definition.

• Choose one of the colouring methods available:

1. To use a single colour, check the box “Colour” and select it.
2. To use a palette, uncheck the box mentioned in the previous point and then select a
palette in the combo box.

Finally, choose the aspect ratio and the size you wish to the final image (zone 1 in the image) and then
press the button “Start”.

At any time, during calculation and once completed, the colours may be inverted. To do this, press the
button “Invert”.

The images can be saved when the process finishes.

CREATIG STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTIONS

* The Stereographic projection is not available for the special fractals Bifurcation, IFS and Buddhabrot.

To draw the projection, FFE locates a Riemann Sphere on the fractal and then calculates how it is
reflected on its surface.

Open the “Riemann Sphere” designer from the menu “View” or pressing “Alt + R”. The sphere previews
will be drawn automatically if the “Active canvas” is compatible.

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Adjust the general options: “Background” colour, “View” type, and output “Size”. Then, select one of the
following processes:

• GENERATE IMAGES (zone 1 in the image)

This process generates an image with the set of selected views, and one independent image per
each of them. To do this, check the views you wish and then press the button “Start”. The images
can be saved when the process finishes.

• GENERATE SEQUENCE (zone 2 in the image)

This process generates a sequence of images of the spheres’ elevation (central preview). To do
this, set the following parameters:

1. Initial illumination: start location of the light focus.

2. Focus spins: number of spins that give the focus and the direction.
3. Sphere spins: number of spins that give the sphere and the direction.
4. Length: length in seconds of the sequence.
5. FPS: number of frames per second.
6. Hologram: it creates special frames to be used with a holographic pyramid.

Then press the button “Start”. While the process is running, the frames will be saved in the
images folder of the application, inside a specific subfolder for the process. You will be able to
open the images’ folder when the process is finished.

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CREATING KALEIDOSCOPIC IMAGES

Open the Kaleidoscopes designer from the menu “View” or pressing “Alt + K”.

This designer has an area that allows to customize the triangle that is taken as a pattern to draw the
kaleidoscopic image, and another one that allows to customize the final image (zones 1 and 2
respectively).

Choose “Fractal” in order to create a kaleidoscopic image from the “Active canvas” or choose the option
“Image” to import an external image.

In order to customize the triangular pattern:

• Modify its size with the adjust control “Size”.

• Modify its position with the left button of your mouse over the preview.

In order to customize the final image:

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• You can apply the “Tube” effect with the wished colour.

• You can show the triangular “Divisions” with the wished colour.

Finally, choose the aspect ratio and the size you want for the final image (zone 3 of the image) and then
click on the button “Save image”.

The button “Save texture” allows saving the basic image that serves to fill in the areas of any size.

CREATING DIFFUSION-LIMITED AGGREGATIONS

The aggregate is achieved by a particles liberation that takes random paths until they collide with
something that stops them. FFE allows to set a seed in order to make the aggregate grow around it.

Open the aggregation designer from the “View” menu or press “Alt + A”.

In order to set the aggregate process:

• Choose the option “Image” in order to import an external image as seed. Then, you can change its
position with the left button of your mouse over the preview.

• Modify its size with the adjust control “Size”.

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• Select an available colouring method in the combo box “Method”.

1. BORDER: it colours the image according to the distance between the particle and the
canvas borders.

2. SEED: it colours the image according to the distance between the particle and the seed
borders.

3. MIX: this is a mix between the two previous colouring types.

• Select an available palette in the combo box “Palette”.

• Choose the aspect ratio and the size you want for the final image (zone 1 of the image). The
process may take some time depending on the selected size, but the “Aggregates designer” can
be closed without interrupting itself.

Then, choose DLA or Eden mode and press the “Start” button in order to start the process. It will end by
itself when all the canvas edges are closed and no more particles can access, but the background colour
can be selected and the image can be saved at any time. To do this, check the box “Background”, select
the colour and then press the button “Save image”.

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CREATING SIERPINSKI DESIGNS

Open the Sierpinski designer from the “View” menu or press “Alt + S”.

In order to set the algorithm, adjust the iterations number and select an available drawing mode:
“Triangle” or “Carpet”.

To customize the image, choose the colours you want for the inside and outside zones of the fractal.

Finally, choose the size you want for the final image and then click on the button “Save image”.

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CREATING PYTHAGORAS TREE

Open the Pythagoras designer from the “View” menu or press “Alt + P”.

To set the drawing algorithm:

• Adjust the iterations number. A bigger number of iterations will produce more branches.

• Adjust the value of the variable angles of the right triangle. This causes the tree to tilt to one side
or the other.

• Adjust the trunk height. Its maximum value will depend of the size of the tree.

• Adjust the size of the tree.

• Activate the “Zigzag” mode to create a pointy tree or inactivate it to create a rounded tree.

To customize the image, choose the colours you want for the inside and outside zones of the fractal.

Finally, choose the size you want for the final image and then click on the button “Save image”.

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CREATING MULTIPLICATION DIAGRAMS

Open the Diagrams Designer from the “View” menu or press “Alt + D”.

To set the drawing algorithm:

• Set the “Multiplier” number.

• Set the “Number of operations”.

All numbers from zero to the number of operations will be multiplied by the multiplier and such
results will be represented with lines in the diagram.

In order to apply the parameters, once you have introduced the values, press “Enter” or the button
“Apply”. It can also be varied, to do so adjust the increments and check the boxes placed on the right
of each parameter.

To customize the image:

• Choose the colour for the “Outside”. This will colour the outer part of the circumference.

• Choose a colour for the “Inside”. This will colour the inside of the circumference.

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• Choose the colour for the “Marks”. This colour will draw the circumference’s perimeter and the
corresponding points to the number of operations.

• Choose one of the available colouring methods for the lines:

1. Colour. Use always the same colour for all the lines in the diagram.

2. Palette. Use the different colours in a palette in order to differentiate the lines of the
diagram according to one of the following methods:

a. Product. The line's colour will depend on the products' result.

b. Multiplier. The line's colour will depend on the multiplying number.

Finally, choose the size you want for the final image and then click on the button “Save image”.

CREATING CELLULAR AUTOMATON

FFE allows to create cellular automaton based on the Game of Life or rules.

Open the “Cellular Automaton” designer from the “View” menu or by pressing “Alt + U”. This works in full
screen mode, so FFE will be maximized to improve the experience, and the “Automaton” menu will be
displayed to give access to all the designer functions.

The different functions available in the “Automaton” menu are described below:

• MODE
It allows switching between the “Life”, “Rule” and the “Multistate” mode, as well as establishing
an initial layout of active cells in the automaton or changing the number of the rule in that mode.

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It must be considered that for the “Ruler” mode, only the state of the first row of the grid can be
modified.

To manually activate or deactivate cells, click on the desired cells. You can also activate several
cells in a row by clicking and, without releasing the button, moving the mouse. In the same way,
but also pressing the "Shift" key, several cells can be deactivated in a row.

• CELL SIZE
It allows changing the size of the cell, so that for a larger size the number of cells that will make
up the grid will be smaller, and the automaton will work at a higher speed.

• CELL SHAPE
Allows you to change the shape of the cell between “Square” and “Round”.

• COLOUR THE GRID IN…

Allows you to choose a predefined or customized colour for the grid lines.

• COLOUR THE BACKGROUND IN…

Allows you to choose a predefined or customized colour for the background of the grid.

• COLOUR LIVING CELL IN…

Allows you to choose a predefined or customized colour to represent a living cell.

• COLOUR TRAIL IN…

Allows you to colour the trail left by a cell with a single predefined or customized colour. The
colour of the cell will darken over time.

• COLOUR TRAIL WITH THE PALLETTE…

Allows you to colour the trail left by a cell with the colours of a palette. The cell colour will go
through the different colours in the palette over time.

• START
It starts the cellular automaton. It can also be started by clicking the right mouse button.

• STOP
When the cellular automaton is running, this command allows you to stop it. It can also be
stopped by pressing the "Escape" key on the keyboard.

• CLEAR
This command allows you to remove all cells from the grid. They can also be removed by clicking
the middle mouse button anywhere on the grid.

• SAVE IMAGE
This command allows you to save the current state of the cellular automaton in image format.

• SAVE IMAGE CHANGES AUTOMATICALLY

This command allows you to save in image format any changes that occur in the cellular
automaton during its operation.

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Learn more…
When a cellular automaton relies on the state of cells in one line to generate the state of the next, as in
"Rule" mode, it is said to be a one-dimensional automaton. Instead, when based on the state of cells
throughout the plane, as in Conway's Game of Life, it is said to be a two-dimensional automaton. In two-
dimensional cellular automaton, the plane extends infinitely in all directions, but in FFE it has been
decided to use a toroidally folded plane, so that complex structures that exceed the limits of the window
on any of its sides appear by the opposite side.

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CREATE SNOWFLAKES

FFE is inspired by the symmetry of the hexagonal crystalline system of ice crystals in order to create
snowflakes.

Open the “Snowflakes” designer from the “View” menu or by pressing “Alt + N”.

To create the snowflake, use the design area on the left, where you can execute the following actions:

• ACTIVATE A BRANCH
Click on one end of the branch. The ends of the activated branch will be colored black to identify
it.

• ADD A PRIMARY BRANCH

Click the left mouse button on an empty area. The parent branch will be shown in blue.

• ADD A SECONDARY BRANCH

Right-click on an empty area. The child branch will be displayed in red.

• MOVE ONE BRANCH END

With the left mouse button, click on the desired end of a branch and, without releasing it, move
the mouse. Release the button to confirm scrolling.

• DELETE A BRANCH
Double-click one of the ends of the branch. If the endpoint belongs to a child branch, only this
branch will be deleted. If the endpoint belongs to a parent branch, this and all its child branches
will be deleted.

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• DELETE ALL BRANCHES

Click the middle mouse button anywhere in the design area.

The gray area of the design area is indicative and helps to create patterns that, when replicated with
hexagonal symmetry, do not produce unexpected branch crossings.

To personalize the image, choose the thickness of the line and the colors you want inside and outside the
snowflake.

Finally, choose the size at which you want to generate the final image and press the "Save image" button.

CREATE BOIDS NETWORKS

FFE allows you to create Boids Networks based on the Reynolds Model to observe emergent behaviours.

Open the "Boids Networks" designer from the "View" menu or by pressing "Alt + B".

To customize the simulation, use the following control groups:

• SIMULATION
With this control group, you can choose the type of simulation you want.

1. Water: boids will be represented in the form of fish.

2. Air: boids will be represented in the form of birds.
3. Land: boids will be represented in the form of ants.
4. Machine: boids will be represented in the form of circles.

When positioning the mouse over the preview, informative text will appear with the parameter
values associated with the chosen simulation type.

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• RULES
This control group allows you to activate or deactivate the basic rules defined by the Reynolds
Model.

1. Separation: boids use this rule to try to avoid colliding with each other.
2. Alignment: boids use this rule to try to match the speed and trajectory of those around
them.
3. Cohesion: boids use this rule to try to belong to a group.

Additionally, for "Air" and "Earth" simulations, a special rule specific to FFE will be available.

1. Migration (air): this rule simulates the behaviour of migratory birds. When activated,
under suitable conditions, "V"-shaped structures may appear, with a leading boid guiding
the rest.
2. Inspection (earth): this rule simulates the behaviour of ants inspecting their environment
for food.

• CURSOR
This control group allows you to decide the type of reaction boids will have when encountering
the mouse cursor.

1. Disabled: boids will not react to the cursor.

2. Interest: boids will show interest in the cursor and deviate from their original trajectory to
move towards it.
3. Obstacle: boids will try to avoid the cursor while maintaining their original trajectory as
much as possible.
4. Panic: boids will feel panic from the cursor and deviate from their original trajectory to
flee from it.

Use the "Size" control to adjust the cursor size.

• TURBULENCE
This control group allows you to activate an FFE-specific algorithm simulating random turbulence
affecting the trajectory and speed of the boids.

1. Smooth: turbulence will have a gentle effect on the movement of the boids.
2. Strong: turbulence will have a strong effect on the movement of the boids.

When the "Show" checkbox is activated, a "wind vane" will appear, representing the speed and
direction of the turbulence at each moment.

• PREY
This control group allows you to add or remove boids of the "prey" type, as well as adjust the
parameters of the field of vision and vision range.

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• PREDATORS
This control group allows you to add or remove boids of the "predator" type, as well as adjust the
parameters of the field of vision and vision range.

When the "Initiate Attack" checkbox is activated, “predator” boids will attack “prey” boids,
eliminating the latter if caught.

• AREA
This control group allows you to activate or deactivate the boundaries of the area in which the
boids move.

When the boundaries are deactivated, boids that exceed the window boundaries on any side
reappear on the opposite side.

The "Clear" button removes all boids.

• GENERAL
This control group allows you to adjust the following general parameters of the simulation.

1. Size: Adjusts the size of the boids. “Predator” boids will be 1.5 times larger than “prey”
boids.
2. Speed: Increases or decreases the speed of the boids. When the "Initiate Attack"
checkbox is activated, the speed of “predator” boids will be slightly higher than that of
“prey” boids.

Press the "Start" button to begin the simulation or "Stop" to pause it. The "Reset" button restores all
parameters to their initial values.

Learn more...
Deleted boids will not disappear automatically; they will be marked to leave the area when possible.

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AUTOMATE PROCESSES WITH TASKS

* Tasks are not available for the special fractals.

Open the tool “Tasks” from the “View” menu or press “Control + Alt + T”. This tool has a tab page per task
with the adjusting controls for its parameters and a common area for all tasks that allows to fix the
precision of the adjusting controls (zone1 in the image).

FFE 12.7 version includes the following tasks:

• ITERATE: it increases or decreases the iterations number.

• ZOOM: it performs a progressive zoom, positive or negative.

• ROTATE: it increases or decreases the image rotation angle.

• PALETTE SCROLLING: it scrolls the colours of the palette.

• EXPONENT: it increases or decreases the exponent of the variable “Z”.

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• INITIAL Z: it increases or decreases the initial value of the variable “Z”.

• CENTER: it scrolls the fractal horizontally and vertically.

• JULIA: it modifies the “Real” and “Imaginary” components of Julia’s constant “C”.

• DISTORTION: it modifies the “Real” and “Imaginary” components of Distortion constant “D”.

• RELAXATION: it modifies the “Real” and “Imaginary” components of Relaxation constant “R”.

• ORBIT TRAP OPACITY: it increases or decreases the opacity of the orbit trap.

• ORBIT TRAP SIZE: it increases or decreases the size of the orbit trap.

• ORBIT TRAP SCROLLING: it scrolls the orbit trap.

Not all tasks are supported with all fractals, thus some of them are shown as “disabled” depending on
“Active canvas”.

Click on the “Start” button in order to associate the task tool to the “Active canvas”. Then, adjust the
parameters and check the boxes of the tasks you would like to perform. This will modify progressively the
parameters and will calculate a new image of the fractal every time.

Uncheck the box of a task if you would like to stop it, and then, click on “Stop” button when you wish to
disassociate the canvas.

Learn more…
The “Tasks” tool can only associate to one canvas every time (all exploring functions relay disabled during
the association).
A task can stop itself if any of the parameters reaches invalid values with the type of fractal loaded in the
canvas.
The “Decimal” adjust allows to select the decimal position that will vary in the parameter value when it is
modified through its own adjusting control (it only works over tasks highlighted in blue).

A task can be used combined with the option “Save image changes automatically” of the “Options” form
in order to get images, like movie frames, for building a video or animation using an external application.

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VIEW INFORMATION ABOUT THE FRACTAL

Open the tool “Information” from “View” menu or press “Control + Alt + I”. This tool shows up
information concerning the “Active canvas”.

The available information is the following:

• COORDINATES: VISIBLE AREA

It shows the coordinates of the area of the fractal represented in the image.

• COORDINATES: CENTRAL POINT

It shows the coordinates of the point of the fractal corresponding to the centre of the image.

• COORDINATES: MOUSE POINTER

It shows the coordinates of the point of the fractal corresponding to the pointer location.

• DIMENSIONS: FULL SET

It shows the approximate diameter that the full fractal should have to view the selected area. It
also compares this value with the size of a real object.

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• DIMENSIONS: VISIBLE AREA

It shows the approximated diameter of the fractal area being viewed. It also compares this value
with the size of a real object.

• DIMENSIONS: IMAGE
It shows the printing dimensions of the image and its aspect-ratio.

• ZOOM LIMIT
It shows the zoom level of the “Active canvas” in a progress bar. It is located over a background
that changes its colour in relation to three zoom levels: low (green), medium (amber) and high
(red).

• GENERAL INFORMATION
It shows the type of fractal, the identifier number of its window and its comment.

You can also view the formula used during the drawing of the “Active canvas”. To do this, open the
“Formulas viewer” from the “View” menu or press “Control + Alt + R”.

Learn more…
The window identifier allows you to locate the subfolder corresponding to the canvas within the images
folder.

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HIBERNATION OF PROCESSES

Another important feature of FFE is that it allows closing the application at any time without losing the
calculations made for the pending images. The next time you start the application it will display a message
offering the possibility to view the hibernations to resume the calculations from the point they stayed by.
To do this, choose the hibernation you wish and click on the button “Continue”. The hibernations are
available in the “Hibernations” tab of the form “File” that opens from the “View” menu or pressing
“Control + Alt + F”.

Learn more…
The calculation of certain images can be a slow process according to the fractal characteristics, the image
size or the “Anti-aliasing filter" applied. In occasions like these you may need to close the application and
it is then when the hibernation of calculation avoids losing the work previously done.

ADVICES

To make a good use of FFE you can get updated information and tips in www.fractalfun.es/en.

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