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Spot Light Corner:
Layers post processing technique using MBF pure fractals
One of the most effective ways to enhance fractal pictures and still maintain (when artistically done) some of the pure and fresh fractal feeling, is the layers technique. This is a graphical manipulations, that lets you put some fractal pictures one over the other, and then play with the merging transparencies, to create an accumulative compound picture.
Up to few months ago and during the last 3-4 years this layering post processing technique was left almost completely to UF users, since it has a built in layering post precessing routines, and users of other fractal programs were too lazy to transfer the output of their fractal generator into a photo enhancing graphical program, and play with the layers to their heart content.
Of course the multilayer effect contributed into enhance expressions of patterns and textures, which created typical heavily designed works. Now this has aroused the attention of many fractal writers, who in the last year have started to incorporate both fractal generator and layering facilities into one software package. So is the case with last versions of FFF (Flight From Fractal), FE (Fractal Explorer), iFTP (international Fractal Therapeutic Program), Vchira and others. I will be on the safe side while predicting, that a year from now all major fractal generators will add this gadget to their package.
Anyway, till such time arrives, and even then, it is worthwhile to learn and use the layers by any good graphical program. As a thumb rule, any one of them will surpass the layers options and feature that of the fractal programs, some of them by far. So here follows a full report of how this post processed image was done, step by step. You are invited to try the same and enjoy. I will be happy to see your works, and publish the good ones in the "Hot pages" section.
I have decided to use MBF (Mind Boggling Fractal), Paul Carlson's fractal generator, to create this demo for two reasons: first it renders clear cut pictures, that are natural works for layers manipulation, and second MBF has not yet an integrated layers processing facility. The starting point was the fractal in picture 1. I liked the strange pattern, that resembles to me a futuristic skyscraper. So I painted the saucers landing site in green, and kept the rendered picture.
Picture 1: 1st MBF fractal
Keeping the same formula I changed the coloring gradient to get the top yellow, as seen in picture 2:
Picture 2: 2nd MBF fractal
I repeated the same procedure as above again, and now I have picture 3 with the red top.
Picture 3: 3rd MBF fractal
Now it was time to take the single layered fractals to compose something artistic with it. From step one I had in mind a picture of a futuristic scifi city, and I aimed the picture toward it. In PSP I opened all 3 single layers pictures. I used picture 1 as the background layer and carefully located over it the two additional pictures as new layers. I adjusted the transparency ratio to get best colors and details, and changed the transparency mode, till I got satisfied with the visual results. Now I made small location adjustments, to pinpoint the various objects (buildings) at the desired places. Still the end result contained only 3 buildings, and it hasn't the look of a city. So I reposted the single layer picture, and again rearranged the layers processing modes. At the end I got a six layers work, that was busy enough for a city. I "merged" all layers and got the 6 layers compound work as seen in picture 5.(You may click on it to see it in bigger scale).
Picture 4: All 6 layers together.
Well, the technical part was now satisfactory completed, but the artistic result was far from pleasing. The lines were too sharp, having a graphical design and not a picture texture, and the dynamic balance of the composition was disturbed. Some additional weight was needed on the right-lower quadrant. So I put the new one layer picture into the PSP program, carefully marked the green complex and copied it to the desired location. I applied 3 additional transformation filters, to soften the rough lines, to gentle twist the patterns, and to add some misty atmosphere. The end result was pleasing to the eye, and not an ordinary fractal scene of a spiral or Mandel. I decided that this picture is good enough to be passed as "artistic", so add my signature to it, which I do only in pictures that I consider to be worthy of signing them. This ended this joyful session, with the result seen down in picture 5. (You may click on the picture for a magnified 640x480 picture).
Picture 5: The finished double post processed picture.
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The curator
December 2000
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