Sharing fractal parameters with other users can be a great way to learn and get inspired! Here are some helpful hints (originally written by Damien Jones).
Formulas and parameters
For users new to Ultra Fractal, the difference between formulas and parameters can be confusing. Ultra Fractal uses both of these, but they serve different purposes.
Formulas are the mathematical equations and algorithms that are the building blocks of fractal images. This is where all of the overly complicated mathematics are kept, and Ultra Fractal includes tools to automatically update its collection of formulas (see the next section for details). Formulas are re-used to make multiple images; the same formulas can produce radically different images, depending on the numbers that are plugged into them.
Parameters are the specific numbers that are plugged into fractal formulas. These make up the "recipe" that actually builds a particular image. Formulas are re-used for different images but parameters are usually specific to a single image.
Forum members can share formulas via the formula database, and parameters via the forum itself. On the forum, parameters are often called UPRs because Ultra Fractal saves parameter sets in files with the .upr extension.
Getting up-to-date formulas
Before you can effectively participate in exchanging parameters for images you create with Ultra Fractal, you will need to obtain the most up-to-date formulas for the program. To do so, open Ultra Fractal and choose Options > Update Public Formulas from the menus. Click OK and the formulas will be downloaded. If you would prefer to download and install the formulas manually, visit http://formulas.ultrafractal.com.
You can update your formulas whenever you like; the database prepares special packages containing the weekly and monthly updates. Typically, formula authors will announce on the forum when they have uploaded new formulas to the database; that's your cue to update your formulas.
In addition to the official formula database site that Ultra Fractal works with automatically, there are a few other collections in common use by forum members. To get these collections, visit the Ultra Fractal Resource List Page: http://www.parkenet.org/jp/ufresources.html
All of these files go in your Public Formulas folder, usually stored in Documents\Ultra Fractal 5\Formulas\Public. The Resources page has a lot more material you may want to look through later, but read the rest of this message first.
Viewing parameters from the forum
Once you've updated your formula collection, you're ready to start viewing parameters (UPRs) posted to the list. Every UPR posted looks basically like this:
ExampleFractal {
fractal:
title="ExampleFractal" width=512 height=512 resolution=200
author="Damien M. Jones" created="January 18, 2002" numlayers=1
layer:
caption="Layer 1" visible=yes alpha=no
mapping:
center=-0.757826198823750016/0.0770894377492368256
magn=1006318.4854732896 angle=0
formula:
filename="Standard.ufm" entry="Mandelbrot" maxiter=1000
percheck=normal p_start=0/0 p_power=2/0 p_bailout=1E20
inside:
transfer=none repeat=yes
outside:
filename="dmj.ucl" entry="dmj-Triangle" density=8 transfer=linear
repeat=yes p_apower=1 p_aflavor="normal" p_power=2 p_bailout=1E20
gradient:
smooth=yes position=95 numnodes=3 index=25 color=5854316 index=114
color=4129810 index=252 color=15984850
}
It may also look like this:
ExampleFractal2 {
::+1Vo1in2ln5SPutNQA47Lw+fQQnaRb8KNjlfkCdIpN9QRD6hm7BctotZjeVR6dX3f9doeSKR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}
This second form is "compressed" to take less space. Ultra Fractal does this automatically when the parameters get too large.
To view this in Ultra Fractal, first create a new fractal. You can do this by choosing File > New > Fractal from the menu. If you get a formula selection box, choose any formula (it doesn't matter which, you're about to replace it).
Go back to your web browser and select everything from the image title, before the first curly bracket, up to and including the closing curly bracket. In the above example, you would select from ExampleFractal all the way up to and including the final curly bracket. Copy that selected text to your Windows clipboard by pressing Ctrl+C.
Now switch back to Ultra Fractal. Click the new fractal window you created, then Paste by pressing Ctrl+V. The fractal image should start drawing in the window.
If instead of drawing the fractal, Ultra Fractal gives you a warning about missing formulas or parameters, you most likely do not have an up-to-date formula collection. If you're sure you've updated your formulas, and you're still getting warnings or errors, post a question to the list.
Sharing fractal parameters with other users can be a great way to learn and get inspired! Here are some helpful hints (originally written by Damien Jones).
Formulas and parameters
---
For users new to Ultra Fractal, the difference between formulas and parameters can be confusing. Ultra Fractal uses both of these, but they serve different purposes.
Formulas are the mathematical equations and algorithms that are the building blocks of fractal images. This is where all of the overly complicated mathematics are kept, and Ultra Fractal includes tools to automatically update its collection of formulas (see the next section for details). Formulas are re-used to make multiple images; the same formulas can produce radically different images, depending on the numbers that are plugged into them.
Parameters are the specific numbers that are plugged into fractal formulas. These make up the "recipe" that actually builds a particular image. Formulas are re-used for different images but parameters are usually specific to a single image.
Forum members can share formulas via the formula database, and parameters via the forum itself. On the forum, parameters are often called UPRs because Ultra Fractal saves parameter sets in files with the .upr extension.
Getting up-to-date formulas
---
Before you can effectively participate in exchanging parameters for images you create with Ultra Fractal, you will need to obtain the most up-to-date formulas for the program. To do so, open Ultra Fractal and choose Options > Update Public Formulas from the menus. Click OK and the formulas will be downloaded. If you would prefer to download and install the formulas manually, visit http://formulas.ultrafractal.com.
You can update your formulas whenever you like; the database prepares special packages containing the weekly and monthly updates. Typically, formula authors will announce on the forum when they have uploaded new formulas to the database; that's your cue to update your formulas.
In addition to the official formula database site that Ultra Fractal works with automatically, there are a few other collections in common use by forum members. To get these collections, visit the Ultra Fractal Resource List Page: http://www.parkenet.org/jp/ufresources.html
All of these files go in your Public Formulas folder, usually stored in Documents\Ultra Fractal 5\Formulas\Public. The Resources page has a lot more material you may want to look through later, but read the rest of this message first.
Viewing parameters from the forum
---
Once you've updated your formula collection, you're ready to start viewing parameters (UPRs) posted to the list. Every UPR posted looks basically like this:
ExampleFractal {
fractal:
title="ExampleFractal" width=512 height=512 resolution=200
author="Damien M. Jones" created="January 18, 2002" numlayers=1
layer:
caption="Layer 1" visible=yes alpha=no
mapping:
center=-0.757826198823750016/0.0770894377492368256
magn=1006318.4854732896 angle=0
formula:
filename="Standard.ufm" entry="Mandelbrot" maxiter=1000
percheck=normal p_start=0/0 p_power=2/0 p_bailout=1E20
inside:
transfer=none repeat=yes
outside:
filename="dmj.ucl" entry="dmj-Triangle" density=8 transfer=linear
repeat=yes p_apower=1 p_aflavor="normal" p_power=2 p_bailout=1E20
gradient:
smooth=yes position=95 numnodes=3 index=25 color=5854316 index=114
color=4129810 index=252 color=15984850
}
It may also look like this:
ExampleFractal2 {
::+1Vo1in2ln5SPutNQA47Lw+fQQnaRb8KNjlfkCdIpN9QRD6hm7BctotZjeVR6dX3f9doeSKR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}
This second form is "compressed" to take less space. Ultra Fractal does this automatically when the parameters get too large.
To view this in Ultra Fractal, first create a new fractal. You can do this by choosing File > New > Fractal from the menu. If you get a formula selection box, choose any formula (it doesn't matter which, you're about to replace it).
Go back to your web browser and select everything from the image title, before the first curly bracket, up to and including the closing curly bracket. In the above example, you would select from ExampleFractal all the way up to and including the final curly bracket. Copy that selected text to your Windows clipboard by pressing Ctrl+C.
Now switch back to Ultra Fractal. Click the new fractal window you created, then Paste by pressing Ctrl+V. The fractal image should start drawing in the window.
If instead of drawing the fractal, Ultra Fractal gives you a warning about missing formulas or parameters, you most likely do not have an up-to-date formula collection. If you're sure you've updated your formulas, and you're still getting warnings or errors, post a question to the list.