Version 14, 8/90
LAST MINUTE NEWS FLASH!
CompuServe announces the GIF89a on August 1, 1990, and Fractint
supports it on August 2! GIF files can now contain fractal
information! Fractint now saves its files in the new GIF89a format
by default, and uses .GIF rather than .FRA as a default filetype.
Note that Fractint still *looks* for a .FRA file on file restores if
it can't find a .GIF file, and can be coerced into using the old
GIF87a format with the new 'gif87a=yes' command-line option.
Pieter Branderhorst mounted a major campaign to get his name in
lights:
Mouse interface: Diagonals, faster movement, improved feel. Mouse
button assignments have changed - see the online help.
Zoom box enhancements: The zoom box can be rotated, stretched,
skewed, and panned partially offscreen. See "More Zoom Box
Commands".
FINALLY!! You asked for it and we (eventually, by talking Pieter into
it [actually he grabbed it]) did it! Images can be saved before
completion, for a subsequent restore and continue. See
"Interrupting and Resuming" and "Batch Mode".
Off-center symmetry: Fractint now takes advantage of x or y axis
symmetry anywhere on the screen to reduce drawing time.
Panning: If you move an image up, down, left, or right, and don't
change anything else, only the new edges are calculated.
Disk-video caching - it is now possible, reasonable even, to do most
things with disk video, including solid guessing, 3d, and plasma.
Logarithmic palette changed to use all colors. It now matches regular
palette except near the "lake". "logmap=old" gets the old way.
New "savetime=nnn" parameter to save checkpoints during long
calculations.
Calculation time is shown in <Tab> display.
Kevin C Allen Finite Attractor, Bifurcation Engine, Magnetic
fractals...
Made Bifurcation/Verhulst into a generalized Fractal Engine (like
StandardFractal, but for Bifurcation types), and implemented
periodicity checking for Bifurcation types to speed them up.
Added Integer version of Verhulst Bifurcation (lots faster now).
Integer is the default. The Floating-Point toggle works, too.
Added NEW Fractal types BIFLAMBDA, BIF+SINPI, and BIF=SINPI. These are
Bifurcation types that make use of the new Engine. Floating-
point/Integer toggle is available for BIFLAMBDA. The SINPI types are
Floating-Point only, at this time.
Corrected the generation of the MandelLambda Set. Sorry, but it's
always been wrong (up to v 12, at least). Ask Mandelbrot !
Added NEW Fractal types MAGNET1M, MAGNET1J, MAGNET2M, MAGNET2J from
"The Beauty of Fractals". Floating-Point only, so far, but what do
you expect with THESE formulae ?!
Added new symmetry types XAXIS NOIMAG and XAXIS NOREAL, required by
the new MAGNETic Fractal types.
Added Finite Attractor Bailout (FAB) logic to detect when iterations
are approaching a known finite attractor. This is required by the
new MAGNETic Fractal types.
Added Finite Attractor Detection (FAD) logic which can be used by
*SOME* Julia types prior to generating an image, to test for finite
attractors, and find their values, for use by FAB logic. Can be used
by the new MAGNETic Fractal Types, Lambda Sets, and some other Julia
types too.
Mike Burkey sent us new tweaked video modes:
VGA - 400x600x256 376x564x256 400x564x256
ATI VGA - 832x612x256 New HP Paintjet support from Chris Martin
New "FUNCTION=" command to allow substition of different
transcendental functions for variables in types (allows one type
with four of these variables to represent 7*7*7*7 different types!
ALL KINDS of new fractal types, some using "FUNCTION=": fn(z*z),
fn*fn, fn*z+z, fn+fn, sqr(1/fn), sqr(fn), spider, tetrate, and
Manowar. Most of these are generalizations of formula fractal types
contributed by Scott Taylor and Lee Skinner.
Distance Estimator logic can now be applied to many fractal types
using distest= option. The types "demm" and "demj" have been
replaced by "type=mandel distest=nnn" and "type=julia distest=nnn"
Added extended memory support for diskvideo thanks to Paul Varner
Added support for "center and magnification" format for corners.
Color 0 is no longer generated except when specifically requested with
inside= or outside=.
Formula name is now included in <Tab> display and in <S>aved images.
Bug fixes - formula type and diskvideo, batch file outside=-1 problem.
Now you can produce your favorite fractal terrains in full color
instead of boring old monochrome! Use the fullcolor option in 3d!
Along with a few new 3D options.
New "INITORBIT=" command to allow alternate Mandelbrot set orbit
initialization.
Version 13.0, 5/90
F1 was made the help key.
Use F1 for help
Use F9 for EGA 320x200x16 video mode
Use CF4 for EGA 640x200x16 mode (if anybody uses that mode)
Super-Solid-guessing (three or more passes) from Pieter Branderhorst
(replaces the old solid-guessing mode)
Boundary Tracing option from David Guenther ("fractint passes=btm", or
use the new 'x' options screen)
"outside=nnn" option sets all points not "inside" the fractal to color
"nnn" (and generates a two-color image).
'x' option from the main menu brings up a full-screen menu of many
popular options and toggle switches
"Speed Key" feature for fractal type selection (either use the cursor
keys for point-and-shoot, or just start typing the name of your
favorite fractal type)
"Attractor" fractals (Henon, Rossler, Pickover, Gingerbread)
Diffusion fractal type by Adrian Mariano
"type=formula" formulas from Scott Taylor and Lee H. Skinner.
"sound=" options for attractor fractals. Sound=x plays speaker tones
according to the 'x' attractor value Sound=y plays speaker tones
according to the 'y' attractor value. Sound=z plays speaker tones
according to the 'z' attractor value (These options are best
invoked with the floating-point algorithm flag set.)
"hertz=" option for adjusting the "sound=x/y/z" output.
Printer support for color printers (printer=color) from Kurt Sowa
Trident 4000 and Oak Technologies SuperVGA support from John Bridges
Improved 8514/A support (the zoom-box keeps up with the cursor keys
now!)
Tandy 1000 640x200x16 mode from Brian Corbino (which does not, as yet,
work with the F1(help) and TAB functions)
The Julibrot fractal type and the Starmap option now automatically
verify that they have been selected with a 256-color palette, and
search for, and use, the appropriate GLASSESn.MAP or ALTERN.MAP
palette map when invoked. *You* were supposed to be doing that
manually all along, but *you* probably never read the docs, huh?
Bug Fixes:
TAB key now works after R(estore) commands
PS/2 Model 30 (MCGA) adapters should be able to select 320x200x256
mode again (we think)
Everex video adapters should work with the Autodetect modes again
(we think)
Version 12.0, 3/90
New SuperVGA Autodetecting and VESA Video modes (you tell us the
resolution you want, and we'll figure out how to do it)
New Full-Screen Entry for most prompting
New Fractal formula interpreter ('type=formula') - roll your own
fractals without using a "C" compiler!
New 'Julibrot' fractal type
Added floating point option to all remaining fractal types.
Real (funny glasses) 3D - Now with "real-time" lorenz3D!!
Non-Destructive <TAB> - Check out what your fractal parameters are
without stopping the generation of a fractal image
New Cross-Hair mode for changing individual palette colors (VGA only)
Zooming beyond the limits of Integer algorithms (with automatic
switchover to a floating-point algorithm when you zoom in "too far")
New 'inside=bof60', 'inside=bof61' ("Beauty of Fractals, Page nn")
options
New starmap ('a' - for astrology? astronomy?) transformation option
Restrictions on the options available when using Expanded Memory
"Disk/RAM" video mode have been removed
And a lot of other nice little clean-up features that we've already
forgotten that we've added...
Added capability to create 3D projection images (just barely) for
people with 2 or 4 color video boards.
Version 11.0, 1/90
More fractal types
mandelsinh/lambdasinh mandelcosh/lambdacosh
mansinzsqrd/julsinzsqrd mansinexp/julsinexp
manzzprw/julzzpwr manzpower/julzpower
lorenz (from Rob Beyer) lorenz3d
complexnewton complexbasin
dynamic popcorn
Most fractal types given an integer and a floating point algorithm.
"Float=yes" option now determines whether integer or floating-point
algorithms are used for most fractal types. "F" command toggles the
use of floating-point algorithms, flagged in the <Tab> status
display
8/16/32/../256-Way decomposition option (from Richard Finegold)
"Biomorph=", "bailout=", "symmetry=" and "askvideo=" options
"T(ransform)" option in the IFS editor lets you select 3D options
(used with the Lorenz3D fractal type)
The "T(ype)" command uses a new "Point-and-Shoot" method of selecting
fractal types rather than prompting you for a type name
Bug fixes to continuous-potential algorithm on integer fractals, GIF
encoder, and IFS editor
Version 10.0, 11/89
Barnsley IFS type (Rob Beyer)
Barnsley IFS3D type
MandelSine/Cos/Exp type
MandelLambda/MarksLambda/Unity type
BarnsleyM1/J1/M2/J2/M3/J3 type
Mandel4/Julia4 type
Sierpinski gasket type
Demm/Demj and bifurcation types (Phil Wilson), "test" is "mandel"
again
<I>nversion command for most fractal types
<Q>uaternary decomposition toggle and "DECOMP=" argument
<E>ditor for Barnsley IFS parameters
Command-line options for 3D parameters
Spherical 3D calculations 5x faster
3D now clips properly to screen edges and works at extreme perspective
"RSEED=" argument for reproducible plasma clouds
Faster plasma clouds (by 40% on a 386)
Sensitivity to "continuous potential" algorithm for all types except
plasma and IFS
Palette-map <S>ave and Restore (<M>) commands
<L>ogarithmic and <N>ormal palette-mapping commands and arguments
Maxiter increased to 32,000 to support log palette maps
.MAP and .IFS files can now reside anywhere along the DOS path
Direct-video support for Hercules adapters (Dean Souleles)
Tandy 1000 160x200x16 mode (Tom Price)
320x400x256 register-compatible-VGA "tweaked" mode
ATI VGA Wonder 1024x768x16 direct-video mode (Mark Peterson)
1024x768x16 direct-video mode for all supported chipsets
Tseng 640x400x256 mode
"Roll-your-own" video mode 19
New video-table "hot-keys" eliminate need for enhanced keyboard to
access later entries
Version 9.3, 8/89
<P>rint command and "PRINTER=" argument (Matt Saucier)
8514/A video modes (Kyle Powell)
SSTOOLS.INI sensitivity and '@THISFILE' argument
Continuous-potential algorithm for Mandelbrot/Julia sets
Light source 3D option for all fractal types
"Distance estimator" M/J method (Phil Wilson) implemented as "test"
type
LambdaCosine and LambdaExponent types
Color cycling mode for 640x350x16 EGA adapters
Plasma clouds for 16-color and 4-color video modes
Improved TARGA support (Joe McLain)
CGA modes now use direct-video read/writes
Tandy 1000 320x200x16 and 640x200x4 modes (Tom Price)
TRIDENT chip-set super-VGA video modes (Lew Ramsey)
Direct-access video modes for TRIDENT, Chips & Technologies, and ATI
VGA WONDER adapters (John Bridges). and, unlike version 9.1, they
WORK in version 9.3!)
"zoom-out" (<Ctrl><Enter>) command
<D>os command for shelling out
2/4/16-color Disk/RAM video mode capability and 2-color video modes
supporting full-page printer graphics
"INSIDE=-1" option (treated dynamically as "INSIDE=maxiter")
Improved <H>elp and sound routines (even a "SOUND=off" argument)
Turbo-C and TASM compatibility (really! Would we lie to you?)
Version 8.1, 6/89
<3>D restore-from-disk and 3D <O>verlay commands, "3D=" argument
Fast Newton algorithm including inversion option (Lee Crocker)
16-bit Mandelbrot/Julia logic for 386-class speed with non-386 PCs on
"large" images (Mark Peterson)
Restore now loads .GIF files (as plasma clouds)
TARGA video modes and color-map file options (Joe McLain)
30 new color-cycling palette options (<Shft><F1> to <Alt><F10>)
"Disk-video, RAM-video, EMS-video" modes
Lambda sets now use integer math (with 80386 speedups)
"WARN=yes" argument to prevent over-writing old .GIF files
Version 7.0, 4/89
Restore from disk (from prior save-to-disk using v. 7.0 or later)
New types: Newton, Lambda, Mandelfp, Juliafp, Plasma, Lambdasine
Many new color-cycling options (for VGA adapters only)
New periodicity logic (Mark Peterson)
Initial displays recognize (and use) symmetry
Solid-guessing option (now the default)
Context-sensitive <H>elp
Customizable video mode configuration file (FRACTINT.CFG)
"Batch mode" option
Improved super-VGA support (with direct video read/writes)
Non-standard 360 x 480 x 256 color mode on a STANDARD IBM VGA!
Version 6.0, 2/89
32-bit integer math emulated for non-386 processors; FRACT386 renamed
FRACTINT
More video modes
Version 5.1, 1/89
Save to disk
New! Improved! (and Incompatible!) optional arguments format
"Correct" initial image aspect ratio
More video modes
Version 4.0, 12/88
Mouse support (Mike Kaufman)
Dynamic iteration limits
Color cycling
Dual-pass mode
More video modes, including "tweaked" modes for IBM VGA and register-
compatible adapters
Version 3.1, 11/88
Julia sets
Version 2.1, 10/23/88 (the "debut" on CIS)
Video table
CPU type detector
Version 2.0, 10/10/88
Zoom and pan
Version 1.0, 9/88
The original, blindingly fast, 386-specific 32-bit integer algorithm