Creating 3-D Fractals with Winfract

    I use winfract (I think the most recent version is a year or two old, maybe
version 18 or so, check the link on the bottom of my fractals page, 
http://www.neca.com/~bjones/fractals/).  

The basic trick for 3d fractals:  

1)  start with a nice 256 color fractal gif image made with winfract 
    (I stick to classic mandelbrots myself)  
2)  select it under 3D RESTORE (under File) (3D OVERLAY will overlay the 
    new image above the current one, also handy for complex pictures)  
3)  This will bring up the first of three dialogue boxes.  Select SPHERICAL 
    OBJECT and LIGHT SOURCE PRE-TRANS, leave the rest at default and hit OK.  
4)  At the next dialogue box change RADIUS to 80 or so to make it fit on the 
    screen, change SURFACE SCALING to about 10 or the image will be very spiky, 
    you can also shift the image screen location with X and Y shift values (0-50).  
    Leave the rest at default for now and hit OK.  
5)  At the next dialogue box leave the default settings and hit OK (play with 
    these later, it's a little more complex).  
6)  It should now draw the image (could take a long time on a slow machine...
    like my old 386 used to).  Let the image draw.  The colors
    will look weird because of the light source pre-trans option, but this
    allows shading.  
7)  Select COLORS from the menu bar and LOAD COLOR MAP. Choose "altern" for a 
    moon-like setting, green, gray, and blues are ok. One of my favorites is 
    Lyapunov (orangy).  This will smooth the colors and produce photo-like shading.  
8)  Save the file!  Thats all!  

    Goof around a lot with the other variables and you'll find some interesting effects.  
For more detailed fractals, be sure to increase the iterations (under 
Fractals|Basic Options)!

	good luck- 

	Brian Jones
 	bjones@neca.com
        http://www.neca.com/~bjones/