A D D I T I O N A L . I N F O R M A T I O N
Those of you already working with fractal images, here are various
documents that could help you to learn about several graphics procedures and technical
considerations (if you don't know them already).
W H A T . I S . A . F R A C T A L ?
A fractal is an object that display self-similarity at various scales. In other words, if we zoom in any portion of a fractal object, we will notice the smaller section is actually a scaled-down version of the big one. Another very important aspect of a fractal is that it has a fractional dimension. Fractals are produced
by iteration (the repetition of the same process).
Benoît Mandelbrot defines a fractal as "A rough or fragmented geometric shape that can be subdivided in parts, each of which is (at least approximately) a reduced-size copy of the whole."
LEARN MORE ABOUT FRACTALS
H I S T O R Y . O F . F R A C T A L S
Here are some articles about the history of fractals and fractals
in history.
F R A C T A L S . A S . A R T
The term fractal art applies mainly to a form of digital abstract art that
seeks to reflect and emphasize the eternal expressions of order and chaos
that permeates Nature's structures and behaviors as well as the intricacies of
humanity through the use of self-similar patterns and shapes. Although artists
have been using self-repeating designs since time immemorial, this new form
of algorithmic art chooses fractal geometry functions and the computational
capabilities of the computer as its tools for the creation of infinitely detailed
or stunningly simple forms that reveal and enhance the fantastic visions that
comes from the realm of numbers.
Emerging from the studies of fractal geometry in the last third of the
twentieth century and the popularity of the microcomputer in the 1980's, it
rapidly evolved throughout that decade, and especially in the 1990's, thanks
to the development of faster processors and the advent of the Internet as a
medium of mass communication. --This paragraph is part of the Fractat-Art FAQ [go].
Many things have been said about the artistic value of fractal images. The
matter is far from settled.
ARE FRACTALS ART?
I N F O R M A T I O N . I N . O T H E R . L A N G U A G E
S
If your main language is not English, here are a few sites with fractal
information in other languages. French and Spanish to begin with (I hope there
will be more to add in the near future).
EN FRANÇAIS
EN ESPAÑOL
t h i r d . a p e x . t o . f r a c t o v i a