Plug-in Tutorial: Background

**Background** This tutorial will be focused upon some formulas that I use frequently and the plug-ins they can use. Many of the plug-in types have multiple authors. **Formulas** **UFM:** - Object Formula Switch and Object Formula Switch Lite Object formula plug-ins have enhanced the capabilities of Ultrafractal. Unfortunately the built-in switch capability to switch between Mandelbrot and Julia forms is lost. Object Formula Switch and Object Formula Switch Lite provide access to 110 switchable object formulas (101 in reb.ulb and 9 in alt.ulb). Several of these plug-ins have advanced capabilities. These include Switch Emboss, Switch Trap Emboss, Switch Slope and Switch Fractal Tiler and will be discussed in more detail later. In addition to Switch plug-ins, Object Formula Switch can accept two different transform plug-ins. For a single Switch formula the plug-ins can before and after the formula calculations. Object Formula Switch also has a dual formula mode, and the two transforms can be placed in four different positions relative to the two formulas. In the dual formula mode the formulas can be combined by a variety of different iteration options and several different merge types. Coloring can be achieved with a variety of formulas, many of which can also use plug-ins. Switch Emboss, Switch Trap Emboss, and Switch Slope have some specific coloring requirements. - 3D Fractal Raytrace Progressive This is a 3D raytracer with multiple options. Sixty 3D formula plug-ins are available. The algorithm is based upon an article by Hart, Sandin and Kauffman for estimating the distance from a point to a fractal surface. The potential and gradient functions are based upon the exponential smoothing potential function. No screen buffer is used so image calculations are shown immediately. For optimal Raytracing results, use the coloring formula 3D Fractal Coloring Direct Progressive or 3D Fractal Coloring Gradient Progressive. Any coloring formula can be used when the Object view parameter is 2D. **UCL:** - Image Traps This coloring formula is based upon Damien Jones' Orbit Traps and has many plug-in options including image import. The most important plug-in is for Trap Shape. There are 226 Trap Shapes in reb.ulb and several hundred more created by other authors. Textures and Trap Shapes are usually interchangeable and can use the same plug-in slots.

Thank you for all these. Much appreciated :)