Fractal visionaries and enthusiasts:

In today's image I tried something I have rarely if ever tried before.  I created a fractal with the inside set to 'startrail'.  I'm not sure what to make of the result.  After a few minutes pondering, and with nothing better in mind, I named it "A Fascinating Mess"

The formula is the Mystic2, which draws nothing but empty circles that must be brought to life by an active inside fill.  In today's image I chose the image created by the 'startrail' fill, though the other active inside fills also draw interesting images well worth further investigation.

With so many hairline tendrils, the image looks best when rendered at the highest resolution available.  At the default 640x480 the tendrils break up into little more than scattered dots.

The scene is filled with interesting nooks to zoom into and explore.  In a few days I might find something down in there worth the exalted status of FOTD, though for all I know, it could be a dead end.

Don't be put off by the rating of a humble 3.  It is equal to a 5 on the old scale, and the calculation time of only 10 seconds means that no effort will have been wasted if the image is disappointing.

The finished image is available on the FOTD web site at:

      http://www.crosscanpuzzles.com/Archives.html

a high-definition version is available at:

http://www.emarketingiseasy.com/TESTS/FOTD/jim_muths_fotd.html

The original FOTD web site may be found at:

      http://www.Nahee.com/FOTD/

A cloudy morning here at Fractal Central gave way to a bright sunny afternoon, with a pleasant temperature of 73F 23C.  The fractal cats approved of the outside conditions but did not approve of a stray tomcat who sprayed their front door.  They responded with thrashing tails.

The humans had a reasonably peaceful day, though no day here at FC is ever totally peaceful.  The next FOTD will be posted in 24 hours.  Until then, take care, and sometimes miracles happen when least expected.

Jim Muth
jamth@mindspring.com


START PARAMETER FILE=======================================

A_Fascinating_Mess { ; time=0:00:10.05-SF5 on P4-2000
  reset=2004 type=formula formulafile=jim.frm
  formulaname=Mystic2 function=recip passes=1 float=y
  center-mag=0/0/0.99/1/90/0 params=5/4/-0.6/6/-3/\
  -0.5 maxiter=500 inside=startrail periodicity=6
  colors=000MDVJLTCFRBKPAMNAAMGFJMKGSbDYcBcm8im5czzU\
  wchvceu9btB_tDXsFUrHRqJOqLLpNIoPFnRCnSAlU9kV8iW7hX\
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  QJGRNFSRFTWFU_FVcEWhEXlEYqUFpQKpMPpIUX_ZaUZfPZkJZk\
  `ZlXZmTZnPZoLZpHZTGRdFVWR_YQZZPZ`OZaNZbMZdLZeKZgKZ\
  hJZiIZkHZlGZnFZoEZrlpqVgLOvONtQMrTLpVKnYKl_JjbIidH\
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  8c`D``IY`NV_SS_XP_aMZfJZkGZnbLo`NoZOoXPoVQoTRoRSpP\
  TpNUpLVpJWpHXGSaFR_FQZEQX }

frm:Mystic2 {; Jim Muth
a=real(p1), b=imag(p1), c=real(p2),
d=imag(p2), k=real(p3), f=imag(p3),
g=pixel, z=(pixel)^a+(b*(pixel))^c:
z=(fn1(z)+(d*(g)))^k+(f*(cos(g)))
g=sqr(g),
LastSqr <= 100 }

END PARAMETER FILE=========================================