The learning curve for fractal exploration, in general, and Ultra Fractal, in particular, is quite steep. What seems chaotic, unpredictable, and impossible to understand in the beginning is usually due to the user's lack of knowledge about and familiarity with the nature of fractals and how to work with the various formulas. While there is a precise mathematical explanation for every characteristics and effect, it is quite possible to become proficient in using Ultra Fractal and creating fractals without having to learn or relearn the complex math. The intent of this course then, is to both inform the student about many of the basics of the nature of fractals and to provide a structured, systematic way to explore both the intricate fractal structure itself and the many parameters of several important coloring formulas. This systematic approach can then be applied to working with any new or unfamiliar formula.

    Students must have Ultra Fractal 3, 4, or 5 installed on their computer and should have worked through the tutorials in the Help file. Although this course will explore many basic concepts in depth, a familiarity with the UF workspace and user interface is presumed. Please be familiar with how to:

• load fractal formulas (on the Formula tab)
• load coloring formulas (on the Inside and Outside tabs)
• open the Gradient Editor
• add, delete, and move layers
• save and open parameter sets
• save images as .ufr files

    Lesson 1 – Exploring the Mandelbrot set

• How pixels are colored
• Orbits
• Iterations
• Exploring the Mandelbrot coastline
• Deep-zooming

    Lesson 2 – Spirals and Julia sets

• More exploration of the Mandelbrot set
• Spirals, spirals, everywhere!
• The Julia switch
• Creating some prototype structures

    Lesson 3 – Understanding the Gradient Editor and working with basic coloring formulas

• The Smooth (Mandelbrot) coloring formula
• Transfer functions
• The Gaussian Integer coloring formula
• Layers
• RGB vs HSL
• Fun with the Gradient Editor
• Merge modes
• Gradient opacity and transparency

    Lesson 4 – Exploring Rose Range Lite

• Installing Rose Range Lite and its Help file
• Using the formula's Help to explore its parameters
• Working with the example parameter set and learning the Magnitude/Angle layering technique
• Special merge layers
• Rendering Rose Range Lite images

    Lesson 5 – Working with the Orbit Trap coloring formula

• What are orbit traps?
• Overall Parameters: Trap Mode, Trap Coloring, Threshold and Solid Color
• Trap Shapes, Trap-specific parameters, Aspect Ratio, Center & Rotation
• Trap Drift, Rotation Step, Skew, and Skew Step
• Limited Iterations
• Multiple Traps
• The trap only Trap Mode
• A method for creating

    Lesson 6 – Aesthetic Layering techniques

• Working with layers
• Layering with slight parameter changes
• Averaging Layers technique
• Luminosity/Color and Grayscale Shape layering
• Pseudo-embossing
• Rendering images to disk

    Final Thoughts & Bonus information

• How to "un-busy" a spiral
• Exploring the Mandelbrot starting point and power parameters
• How the disks are numbered
• Evolution of Spiral Structure
• More about Gradients, Transfer Functions, & Color Density
• Transfer Functions Redux
• Coloring Deep Zooms
• Another example of limiting Orbit Trap iterations

• Help with installation or technical problems with the software
• Formulas not used in this course
• Masking layers (covered in the next course)
• Apophysis or flame fractals
• Version 4's animation capabilities
• Features and capabilities introduced in UF5. Everything in this course can be done in Version 5, but no new v5 features will be discussed.