Fractals






Fractals

Fractals feature fine detail at arbitrary scales.

They are usually highly irregular.

They exhibit some degree of self-similarity.

They can be mathematically defined.




Mandelbrot set

Classic fractal image, described by Benoit Mandelbrot.

The set is those points (c) in the complex plane for which the formula:

    z = z2 + c
remains finite when applied iteratively.

This can be estimated by

    z = c
    for i in range(0, maxIterations):
        z = z*z + c
        if abs(z) > 2: return False
    return True

Sample code: glmandelbrot.py




Other Fractals


Julia Set





Other Fractals


Quaternion (4D) Julia Set





Other Fractals


Koch Curve





Other Fractals


Sierpinski pyramid





Fractal terrain

Fractal terrain can be generated in different ways, some using statistical filtering of noise.

Another, simple method is "midpoint subdivision".

Start with a basic terrain model, and add detail - split each edge at its midpoint, and move the point up or down randomly.

The maximum amount of displacement possible should decrease as the scale decreases.




Fractal terrain

Fractal terrain that is a full 2D surface (rather than 1D line) is created by making a grid of points, and applying the midpoint subdivision approach.




Fractal terrain

A fractal heightfield can also be used for other purposes.

e.g.: clouds, noise textures




Fractal terrain


Rescue on Fractalus

Genesis Effect





L-systems






L-systems

Lindenmayer systems are generated by a "grammar" - repeatedly applying replacement rules to a string of commands.

Example:

  start: A
  rules: A  ->  AB
         B  ->  A
after 1 iteration: AB
after 2 iterations: ABA
after 3 iterations: ABAAB





L-systems

  start: X
  rules: X  ->  F-[[X]+X]+F[+FX]-X
         F  ->  FF
Where
  • F = draw forward
  • - = turn left
  • + = turn right
  • [ = push current position & angle
  • ] = pop position & angle


Creative Commons License
This document is by Dave Pape, and is released under a Creative Commons License.