Fabulous Fractals

Joel Fagin · Post by **Joel Fagin** » Fri May 18, 2007 2:38 am

I found a five page gallery of some amazing fractals. They really are very cool looking. I've got me one as my wallpaper right now.

- Joel Fagin

McDuffies · Post by **McDuffies** » Fri May 18, 2007 4:53 am

They're cool looking, though I don't like when people try to pass them for art. They're too dehumanized, detached for that.

Joel Fagin · Post by **Joel Fagin** » Fri May 18, 2007 4:59 am

They're art. You have to place the "camera", set the angle of the shot, choose the colours and so on. It's a bit like photography, really. You try to capture the best way to display something you didn't actually create yourself.

But I'm playing devil's advocate. I mainly posted them because they're cool looking.

- Joel Fagin

Dooky · Post by **Dooky** » Fri May 18, 2007 6:46 am

There's something about fractals that appeals to my inner nerd. As to whether or not they're art... well, it's the age-old question of what art really is. The initial pattern is generated by pure mathematics, but everything else you see there is arguably the product of artistic talent. I will concede, however, that I probably like them more for their mathematical qualities, rather than their artistic value.

Dr Legostar · Post by **Dr Legostar** » Fri May 18, 2007 10:44 am

those are pretty damn cool.

Pimpette · Post by **Pimpette** » Fri May 18, 2007 12:14 pm

Oooh, pretty.

Grabmygoblin · Post by **Grabmygoblin** » Fri May 18, 2007 1:40 pm

I love fractals, and not for the math involved. just so pretty!

Vorticus · Post by **Vorticus** » Fri May 18, 2007 1:51 pm

mmmm, fractals. They are nummy for the maths and the visuals. ^_^

[AlmightyPyro] · Post by **[AlmightyPyro]** » Fri May 18, 2007 9:42 pm

Can some one sum up these 'fractals' to me? I'm not sure I know what they are, or how their made exactly. They are pretty though.

Joel Fagin · Post by **Joel Fagin** » Fri May 18, 2007 9:59 pm

[AlmightyPyro] wrote:Can some one sum up these 'fractals' to me?

Great pun!

I'm not sure I know what they are, or how their made exactly. They are pretty though.

A fractal is a pattern created by a mathematical formula which repeats itself infinitely. Here's a very simple one...

Look closely and you'll see that the top triangle looks just like the whole thing - and the top triangle of the top triangle looks like the whole thing... and so on. It has infinite detail. You can zoom in for a million years and still see the same pattern.

A tree is a fractal of sorts. It's obviously not infinitely detailed but a branch has the same sort of shape as the tree and a twig has the same sort of shape as the branch. The edges of beaches, rocks and clouds are all fractals as well.

Generally fractals tend to look pretty crinkly and make good T-shirt designs.

- Joel Fagin

Warofwinds · Post by **Warofwinds** » Fri May 18, 2007 10:23 pm

Mm'mm, gorgeous colors. Never been too much of "patten" person though. Still, a couple of those...just awesome. *sets as desktop too*

[AlmightyPyro] · Post by **[AlmightyPyro]** » Fri May 18, 2007 10:33 pm

I've always thought about those things with out ever knowing their name... or that they can make freakin' sweet patterns like on that site.