Gnofract 4D (open source)

[Tami]

[url=\"http://gnofract4d.sourceforge.net/\"]Gnofract 4D[/url] is a free, open source program which allows anyone to create beautiful images called fractals. The images are automatically created by the computer based on mathematical principles. These include the Mandelbrot and Julia sets and many more. You don't need to do any math: you can explore a universe of images just using a mouse. It runs on Unix-based systems such as Linux and FreeBSD and can also be run on Mac OS X.

Features

Unlimited variety. Most fractal programs provide a fixed set of formulas. Gnofract 4D's formula compiler allows you to use any function you can think of. It also supports Fractint and UltraFractal formulas and coloring algorithms so you can use the many thousands of formulas written for those packages.

Innumerable options. Each base fractal can be displayed in millions of ways, using many coloring algorithms, including old favorites like biomorph, powerful options like Orbit Traps, and unique methods like Hot and Cold. Display multiple fixed points, critical values, or other regions using the "fate" option.

Easy-to-use interface. Modern interface (using the GTK toolkit) with unlimited undo, full-screen mode, simple interaction, and quick previews.

Fast calculations.Since all formulas are compiled to machine code before being run, you get snappy calculations even on complex custom formulas. If you have a dual-processor, hyperthreaded, or dual-core computer, Gnofract 4D will take full advantage of it for even faster calculations.

Four dimensions. What sets it apart from other fractal programs (and makes it "4D") is the way that it treats the Mandelbrot and Julia sets as different views of the same four-dimensional fractal object. This allows you to create images which are a cross between the two sets and explore their inter-relationships. If you'd like to know some more about the maths, you can find details in the user's manual.

High quality output. 24-bit color rendering, coloring methods for smooth gradients, antialiasing, and no limit on output size.

Find cool images quickly and share them with other users. Explorer Mode and AutoZoom help you find interesting parts of the fractal automatically. You can post the results to the user gallery on the web directly from the program.

Popular and widely used. Over 30,000 downloads to date. Actively developed, with over 20 releases over the past 6 years.