Infinite diversity in infinite combinations

Bora Horza Gobuchul — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 08:20:28 -0800

Since they were first discovered just a few years ago Mandelbulbs (a remapping of the 2D Mandelbrot set into 3D space) have grown in diversity, becoming more exotic, ornate, and animated. They’ve even inspired their own fanbase and usergroups. Some Mandelbulb explorations have the feel of epic science fiction - appropriate, since Mandelbulbs were first proposed by SF writer and mathematician Rudy Rucker 20 years ago, Visually, the work of Rena Jones and Jock Cooper also deserve notice, even if they use hybrid fractals, much like the Menger Sphere Sponge by Tom Beddard. More traditional artists using Mandelbulbs (sometimes referred to as “fractalists”) include Tom Wilcox and James Knowles. If you’d like to start making your own Mandelbulbs, there are a variety of tools. Tom Beddard has the (previously mentioned) browser-driven FractalLab, as well as a Mandelbulb Ray Tracer (and a fun Escher Droste Effect filter) for PhotoShop’s Pixel Bender plugin. There’s also Fragmentarium and the related StructureSynth, along with Mandelbulb3D, Mandelbulber, XenoDream and Visions of Chaos. “Deep zooms” of traditional Mandelbrot sets give you an idea where all this diversity comes from. While not exactly fractal, I thought Taras Hrabowsky’s ThingPit was also worth watching, if you like collapse-of-the-universe animation. Mandelbulbs previously on the blue, along with StructureSynth and Benoit Mandelbrot.

My fractal in a box

Burhanistan — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 10:26:22 -0800

Take a trip through the Mandelbox. (You may wish to hit mute and provide your own sound.) Make your own with Mandelbulber. Much more from xlace.