Transform Editor

This is the top-most level of the Transform editor.

It shows the underlying structures that make up the fractal.

Transform Editor Table of Contents

Concepts

Fractal has:

Fractal Layers

A Fractal is compromised of 1 or more Fractal Layers.

Fractal Layer

Fractal Layers are similar to legacy Apophysis fractals. A single layer can create an image.

Fractal Layers are not rendered to separate images that are alpha blended together to form the final image (like in a typical image editing app). Instead they all share the same Histogram. The Histogram is later HDR reduced down to the final graphic image.

A Fractal Layer is made up of 1 or more Normal transforms plus optional multiple Final transforms.

Each render iteration, the engine chooses one of the transforms to apply to the fractal point cloud. The Transform weights determine the probability that that particular transform is chosen.

Transform Components

A Transform represents a set of graphic operations that will be applied to the point cloud. Points represent both a 2D or 2D position in space plus a color value.

Each Transform has:

Pre Matrix
List of Variation Groups
Post Matrix
2 dimensional Xaos from/to weights

A Transform has 2 classic transformation matrixes: the Pre and Post matrix.

Variation Group Chain

Each Variation Group Chain has:

1 or more Variation Groups, which have:
- 0 or more Variation instances.

This Chain transforms the points in series.

The point output from 1 group becomes the point input for the next group.

Variation Group

A Variation Group has 0 or more Variation instances.

In a group, the transform affect of each variation instance is added together. Inside one group, the variation instances’ affects are combined in parallel.

This ability to chain variation groups gives you the artistic ability to apply shape transformations both in series and parallel.

This is extremely powerful in practice.

Variation Instances

Variations create “shapes” and have the biggest impact on how a Fractal looks.

There are hundreds of different Variation types. A large part of the creative process is finding good combinations of variations to use in your fractal.

The Whole Hierarchy of Parts

Fractal has 1 or more Layers
Layer has 1 or more Normal Transforms + optional Final Transforms
Transform has Pre & Post Matrix + Variation Group Chain
Variation Group Chain has 1 or more Variation Groups
Variation Group has 0 or more Variation instances
Variation has 0 or more Parameter instances

On this view, the whole hierarchy of parts is shown.

Each table row has a characteristic color to show what part of the hierarchy it represents.

Hierarchy Filter Selector

This Filter affects what parts of the hierarchy are shown:

Layer
Transform
Group
Variation
All

Normal Mode

Image Touch Actions

Single Tap on Image: Opens Quicklook view.

Render to File: Render the image to a file.
Add to Favorites: Add selected fractals to Favorites.
Variants: Open Variants Editor for first selected fractal.
Editor Settings: Adjust the [Editor Settings][Preview Render & Image Size Options] .

Edit Mode

In Edit mode, you can manipulate the fractal’s viewport:

Rotate the image.
Shrink or enlarge the image.
Move the image around.

Changes you make in Edit mode can be undone and redone.

Image Touch Gestures

Rotate Image: Use 2 finger rotation gesture.
Shrink/Enlarge Image: Use 2 finger pinch gesture.
Move Image: Touch and drag the image around with 1 finger.

Undo: Undo the last change.
Redo: Redo the last undone change.
Info: View the fractal info.

Table Row Types

Layer Type

Layer Number
Weight
Layer Link

Transform Type

Transform Number
Weight
Transform Link

Group Type

Group Name

Variation Type

Variation Name
Weight
Variation Link

Parameter Type

Parameter Name
Value
Parameter Link

Table Row Selection

To manipulate the hierarchy, you must first tap on the table row for the part you want to edit.

The toolbar items will change:

Layer Selected Toolbar

Undo: Undo the last change.
Redo: Redo the last undone change.
+: Add a new Layer.
-: Remove this Layer.
+Xform: Add a new Normal Transform to this layer.
+Final: Add a new Final Transform to this layer.

Transform Selected Toolbar

Undo: Undo the last change.
Redo: Redo the last undone change.
+: Add a new Transform.
-: Remove this Transform.
Add Child: Add a new Variation Group to the Chain.

Variation Group Selected Toolbar

Undo: Undo the last change.
Redo: Redo the last undone change.
Up Arrow: Move this variation group up in the chain.
+: Append a new Variation Group to the Chain.
-: Remove this Variation Group.
Add Child: Add a new Variation instance to the Group.

Variation Selected Toolbar

Undo: Undo the last change.
Redo: Redo the last undone change.
+: Append a new Variation instance to the Group.
-: Remove this Variation instance.
Change: Replace with a different Variation type.

Variation Parameter Selected Toolbar

Undo: Undo the last change.
Redo: Redo the last undone change.

Editing Render & Image Size Options

Image Size: Pick an image size from the list. If there is space, the fractal preview will be that size.
Retina Scalefactor: Selects whether to render for Retina resolutions. Recommend: @1x - adequate for fast previews
Render Time Estimate Calculator: The following fields let you estimate how long it takes to render fractal based on Image size, quality, and Mips.
Enter Mips: Mips = “Millions of Iterations per Second” - render performance indicator
Enter Quality: Render quality.
Render Time: Estimated render time.