	                     Fractal3D
                  version 3.0 -- May 1, 2000
	       Copyright (C) 1991-2000 Ivan Lee Herring
                        All Rights Reserved
 

Description
-----------
Fractal3d generates Fractal, Strange attractor, and various graphic images and assists in the assemblage of the generated shapes into a collage (combined) image.  It is designed for an 800x600, 24 bit color screen, modern (with FPU) computer.  It is intended for use on the Microsoft Windows (R) 95/98 platforms.


Installation
------------
Create a directory (Fractal3d) and move the zip file into it.  Unzip the zip file into the directory.  This is a relatively simple program and all required (and sample) files are now located in in the same directory.  To Uninstall, simply delete the directory and all files.

Detailed Instructions:
Make a directory (on the disk with the most space as the program can consume disk space rapidly) and copy the file onto the hard drive.  
Double click the fractl30.zip and unzip it into the directory it is now in. Right click the Fractal3D.exe program that is now on the hard disk and select create shortcut from the menu (then release the mouse button).  Now click and drag the icon just created, from the directory window onto the desktop and release the mouse button.  There should now be a program icon on the desktop with an arrow in the lower left corner.  (On the Desktop Icon: You can click the icon, then click  it again, and the words will become highlighted.  Then you can change the name from 'shortcut to Fractal3d.exe' to 'Fractal3D' by mousing some of the words and deleting them).  From now on, to run the program just double click on the icon on the desktop to run the program.  On the programs top portion is the 'menu'  clicking the Fractals... , 3D..., or the Math... words will activate the respective forms. On these forms are 'folders' of possible types of graphics.  Mousing a round hole - button (Radio button) should fill the radio-button with a black or dark color to represent it being the selected item.  Once a radio-button is selected, there may be possible inputs required- though usually they have an adequate response already - seeing something different would require a different response.  Pressing the [Display] will activate graphic production according to the selected inputs.
    The program is continually being developed and there are some unfinished areas... Especially the 3D form, Torso and Collage on the Math Graphics form, and thus the Torso, Collage buttons on the DIY form of Math Graphics.
    For the most part simply clicking a selection button and then pressing the [Display] will produce a graphic display. On the Math graphics form, buttons requiring input have a [?] such as [i], [X] [h] [i]... and there is usually an example input with the graphic name next to the button, else press the Help button on the form and select the desired topic for possible example inputs and the effect of various possible inputs (though the help is usually lacking any help, there is usually some words). {some Math forms also have examples on files... if that form has a folder button, a data area, and a disk button}  On the Fractal form press the help button, look for "common Fractal Operational Descriptions "  and read the  Description-instructions.  Generally, once there is a Fractal on the screen clicking the Expand File Selection button, Mousing an area of interest on the image, and pressing the [OK] button will produce the desired graphic. There are several color options in the fractal form, changing the selected colors choice will produce a graphic that looks different, also changing the color set can lead to an interesting consumption of time. THIS PROGRAM PRODUCES FILES ON THE COMPUTER THAT CAN BECOME (CONSUME) A LARGE AMOUNT OF FILE SPACE.  It was designed this way to automatically save the Fractal files for creating a historical pathway of zooming (and making avi movies in a later version). After an area is selected the highlighted selected area is ALSO saved as a temp.bmp file... you must rename the temp file to keep it from being overwritten the next time an area is selected... Simply pressing the [File Terminator] button and pressing [Yes], or [all], or [ok] to the dialog questions will remove ALL the produced image files.  (Desired files can be opened in the program, then [Saved As..] a jpeg file (jpeg files are amazingly smaller in size, though they lose some of the detail). The graphics in Math graphics DO NOT automatically save themselves, so you do not have to clear off the image files, although if there is a desired graphic it must be saved using the main menu [Save] or [Save As] selections.
    In Fractals Help Contents there are "References" and "Historical background" sections containing many names of people that have led to the development of math and fractals.
    On the Options main menu: Change the background color and the foreground color set so the background is not one of the foreground colors - else some graphics will not be seen on some iterations.  Select Save preferences and select the Autosave button to always have your color selections saved for the next time the program is run.
Any questions, comments, criticism, suggestions, ideas, etc...
good luck?... several graphics (more the more the program goes to 3D landscape creation)  use random numbers to randomly change the shape of the fractal graphic.... thus even with the same inputs simply pressing the [Display] button will produce a completely different image every time.
I hope you enjoy the program


Fractal3d Features
--------------------
Fractals, Ferns, Mountains, and Dragons... o my.  Fractal Generation at the touch of a button.  Selection from forms that stay visible and chosen so parameter choices and their result can be easily and visibly input into the mental mind.  Sample files are included.

After seeing all the predetermined images, the Vista scene generator enables placing fractal images, basic shapes, and bmp files together to create a Do It Yourself Vista, thus enabling limitless possibilities.

Image size selection from 640x480 to 4096x3072.

Crop off the edges and or cut out the inside of your favorite fractal image and place a bmp file (you and/or your's photo) inside the selected area for "photo framing".

Use of Extended numbers for 20 place precision Fractal image generation.

Choice of 16 color or 256 color sets that are preselected or chosen by you to generate Fractal images the same as in 'the books' or with any of the 16 million colors available.

Generated Fractal images are automatically saved with consecutive numbers and record files (*.rcd) of the image parameters for those of us who like to track the results of changes.

The accumulation of these autosaved image and record files can be easily deleted at the touch of a button.

Archiving selected images into jpg files reduces the disk load (file size) and keeps them from being deleted by the file terminator.


Known Problems
--------------
The Help file is weak.  Portions of the program are only in the planning stages... too unstable to release.


Reporting Bugs
--------------
If you experience an uncaught exception, General Protection Fault (GPF), or something you believe is a bug (or just do not like how something 'works'), please send e-mail to ilh2o@stlnet.com  Please do not assume someone else will report it.  I will try to resolve reported bugs as quickly as possible.  However, I can't resolve bugs that are not reported.

Please describe the problem in as much detail as possible. In your e-mail message, please include the following information:
The version of Fractal3d (as shown in the About dialog box)
The operating system and version (service pack level if known)
Which image was being generated, its parameters and screen size.


Feature Requests
----------------
Please let me know what features you would like to see in the next release-version of Fractal3d so that i can prioritize them based on your input.  See To-Do list in the help file for planned enhancements. You may e-mail feature requests to me at the following address:

     ilh2o@postnet.com

...  my home page...  http://home.postnet.com/~ilh2o/


Terms & Registration Information
--------------------------------
Fractal3d is Shareware.  If you like it send money.  If you have suggestions and or requests for enhancements, send money.  For information on registration, see the "License Registration" topic in the online documentation (see Help/Help Topics), or the included LICENSE.TXT and ORDER.TXT files.


Contact Information
-------------------
  Ivan Lee Herring
  580 Western
  Collinsville, IL 62234 USA.

  e-mail:  ilh2o@postnet.com
