Fractals are considered to be generated artwork because the only thing you really need to create them is a program to generate fractals. Moving sliders around to create an affect does not really equate to original works. Another person could take the same program and set things to the same settings and end up with the exact same image.

The site is really for original works, something that cannot be carbon copied and duplicated.

If your friend feels that there is something that sets his works apart, or a reason he feels that factals deserve a place on the site, he can certainly raise the question in a note to an administrator, or in the forums. While we're not out to exclude people from the site, there is a line that we've been trying to keep when it comes to what passes as artwork on the site. The only way for this to change is for there to be a good argument as to how fractals is something beyond simply a generated image from a piece of software.

Damaratus

FA Administrator


Hello, Damaratus. First off, I would like to clear the suspicion of aggressiveness or attitude here. I am in no way attempting to become a troll or anything of that sort.

Fractals, as you have said, are generated artwork. That is true. However, fractals are different than generated artwork. The reason why, is that fractals have an infinite number of possibilities, just like artwork. Tell me this; have you ever seen a fractal the EXACT same as another fractal someone else has made? If you have then it was on purpose, and they had swapped the fractal algorithm.

To create a fractal, you have to do a LOT more than just move a slider or two around. Let me delve into how a fractal is made just a bit. A fractal in it's sense is normally made from two or tmore base points called 'transforms'. A transform is automatically assigned an effect called a 'variation'. Two transform, depending on it's location with the default setting of a 'linear variation', can create many different fractal images in themselves. Granted, with only two transforms and the default variation of linear, I'd limit the amount of possibilities to around 100. However, on these transforms, you can add MANY different effects, changing their strength and power with numbers, (that have an infinite possibility in themselves), to create limitless fractals. With two transforms that have two different variations, with a number between '1 and 10', it is possible to make around 10,000 fractals. (Note that these are simple, extremely crude estimations). This is before adding more transforms or different variations. There are a total of almost 150 different variations for fractals out there on the web. You can add a limitless amount of transforms on an endless grid for location.


In essence, I am saying fractals are ever-changing, and are always different. However, this does not end my part of the argument.


Take Photoshop, for example. There a lot of people that mess around in the filter effects in Photoshop. THAT is simply moving sliders around, and nothing more. However, I have noticed that this is allowed.

Also, I can see where you believe that fractals take no 'originality' part. That's why you probably disapprove of them. However, how many cliche stories or generic artworks have you seen? A lot. Fractals, (and in no offense do I mean to any artists or writers), more often have more originality than most other stuff. Fractal artists, for the most part, do actually TRY to get an effect, and don't simply click one button and slide sliders around and assume that it is a pic. No, most fractal artists strive for a certain image, and make it.




However, for now, that is all. I do not wish to continue for fear of typing too much down and deviating from the point. I hope this is enough to appease you and change you to see our side.

Sincerely,

Raliegh Fhang