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2. General Use

2.1 Menus


== File

  -- Open Parameter File
    You can open any parameter files that you have saved.  Saved
    format includes everything to regenerate the fractal exactly
    (well as exactly as fractals get) as you see it on the save.
        
  -- Save Paramter File
    What is says :)
        
  -- Save Image
    Save in .png, .jpg, or .ppm format.
        
  -- Quit
    "Get me out of this Program!"


== Fractals

  -- Fractal Types
    Pick which type of fractal you would like to play with
        
  -- Parameters
    Some fractal specific parameter options
        
  -- Image Size
    Width by Height options. At biggest 10000 by 10000, but
    I wouldn't pick that large of an image.  Imlib has a 
    hard time saving those really really large images.
        
  -- Edit Zoombox
    Type in the values for the zoombox corners.  Point1(x1,y1)
    will map to the lower left corner of the image and the clockwise
    from there.
        
  -- Clear Zoombox
    Get the zoombox off of the image.
        
  -- Undo Zoom
    Undo zoom and go back to the last position for the corners.


== Colors

  -- Choose Color Functions
    Pick inside and outside color functions based upon fractal
    behavior.
        
  -- Edit Gradient Map
    Change the color blending.

2.2 Zooming

eFractal is a typical fractal program in what it does. The biggest difference is how you zoom. You use the left mouse to drag out four points which are the corners of the zoom box. Once you have a rectangle you can then drag around any of the points.

On the zoom box you should see an arrow. It is pointing from Point One to Point Two. Point One will get mapped to the bottom left corner of the image, Point Two the upper left, Point Three the upper right, and Point Four the lower right. You can select any quadrangle, even one with crossed sides. Once you are happy with the zoombox just right click anywhere on the image to zoom in. If you ever want to clear a zoombox from the image just use the Clear Zoombox option under the Fractals menu. Unlike previous versions of eFractal you can now undo zooms. Just use Undo Zoom from the Fractal menu.

You can also change the order of the points by using the middle mouse button. Just click on a point with the middle button and you can then use the number keys 1 through 6. Keys 1 through 4 will make the point switch its number with the one from the selected key. For example: if you click on Point 3 and then hit the 1 key, Point 3 will become Point 1 and Point 1 will become Point 3. Keys 5 and 6 will rotate the order clockwise and counterclockwise respectively.

2.3 Saving Parameter Files

You can save your fractal as a parameter file from the file menu. The format of the parameter files has changed from version 0.3.1 to 0.3.4. It is easier to read them and for me to add new stuff over time. You can look at an example in params/sample1.par and see the general setup. Basically all that is needed is the signature as the first line, no blank lines, and "end" as the last line. You can use # to comment a line so you can add copyrights, comments, or whatever to your image.

2.4 Images

You can save images to png, jpg, or ppm format. Just give your files the appropriate extension.

2.5 Color Functions

The color functions are what can make fractals look really cool. In general terms (for this particular program) fractal sets have points inside and outside of the set. How you choose to color these points is what creates the image. Points inside of the set are ones that never cross the Bailout value through all of the Iterations. Points outside cross the Bailout value sometime before the total Iterations have been completed.

2.6 Color Gradient Maps

Colors are currently a blending of a 12 color palette with as many colors as you specify. To change the colors in the palette just click on the one you want and the GTK color wheel will popup so you can pick a new color. You can also save and load color maps from the gradient editor.


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