Multiple transformations

Ultra Fractal lets you combine multiple transformations to achieve more complex effects. With more than one transformation, the order in which the transformations appear in the list in the Mapping tab of the Layer Properties tool window is important.

You can view a transformation as if it transforms the image of the layer as produced by the fractal formula and the coloring algorithms. (In fact, it works differently, but you can ignore that unless you are writing your own transformations.)

The transformations are then processed from the bottom of the list to the top. So, if you have two transformations, the top one works on the "image" produced by the second transformation.

Here is an example to illustrate this:



Original	Inverse	Lake

Two variations on the original image are shown. The first uses the Inverse transformation that turns an image "inside out". The second variation uses the Lake transformation that mirrors the image horizontally and creates the illusion of water ripples.

What happens if we combine the two transformations?



First Lake, then Inverse		First Inverse, then Lake

If we put Inverse above Lake, we get the first image. If we put Lake on top instead, the second image is produced. This shows that a transformation works on the intermediate result produced by the transformations below it.

Notes

You can freely experiment with the order of the transformations by dragging them up or down in the list.
When you add a new transformation, it is always inserted above the selected transformation, so it works on the intermediate image produced by that transformation.

Next: Solid color