Welcome to Fractal Forums

I am new at Mandelbulb 3d.
Well i can say that with tutorials i have learned to use m3d and completely understand every function . (I studied fractal-math too)
But i am facing some difficulties. I have been browsing through Fractal-forums for a long time and saw all those exceptional renders like this one http://www.fractalforums.com/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view;id=9749
or that one
http://www.fractalforums.com/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view;id=5853

These guys use combinations of formulas and so do i.
But i cant understand how do the find out what specific changes they must make to have the preferred result,
Do they just randomly adjust (thats what i do )?
Or do they actually know what each number performs ?
If they do know i want to know too!!
However i can not find any tutorials on the web and guidance from someone seems to be the only option..
 Your help will be welcome..

Tough question.

In general, fractal art is not at all like other art forms.  It's exceedingly difficult to make it do what you want.

It's more a matter of going where it leads you rather than trying to lead it where you want.

There's some general rules, but nothing like what you are asking for because changing the same values can have dramatically different effects in different hybrids.

So it is 10% directed and 90% fumbling around - depending on your goals.  Approximately.

The sliders in the 3D Navigator help give a good idea where to play.

I just play and use the logic explained in the info for the formulas  (the "i" button next to the name in the formula tab).

My advice is to focus more on exploration than trying to control it  (except for fine tuning to reduce noise, etc.).

Good luck with it - and have Fun!

I am totally with Sockratease and there is much about what some call "finds".

My five cents:
If you want to "construct" something, you better use a 3d program.
Start with single formulas and check out what single parameters do.
Check out what Julia does.
If you think you know what a formula does, try the first hybrid.
Check out iterations and "repeat from here".
Use the animation maker for lots of snapshots to simply go back to better spots and settings.
Render bigger previews! You'll see much more potentially spots than in the navigator.
If you find an interesting spot, take your time to find the best possible perspective and try to establish a size-relation.
Spend hours and snapshots on lights, colors and atmospheric effects.
Don't loose the playful access. Be an explorer, not a constructor. Things often go better without the pressure of "success".

Hope i don't go overboard ..  ;D

i have tried to collect informations about what do hybrids ... my five cent is, just use 2 same formulas in the hybrid, and
play around with the parameter, this way you can get a handle for how to distort any fractal you like

the alternating hybrid has basic properties: first iteration is always done with first formula, this way you get a rough base shape of the first formula, formulas afterward influence deeper iterations, you could use mandelbulb for the first 20 iterations, and then use another formula for the rest of the iterations- e.g. when zoomed deeper

above tips are just about waht can be done, and what always works, perhaps you find new insights, and share your findings ?!

It seems that appealing shapes will only come through trial and error. :-\
 i think that observing each formula separately and distorting it in order to learn it's behavior before using combinations would actually help.

Thanks to all for replying (fractals now seem less challenging )

Do explore the presets and any parameters people post of images you like.

That will give direction and minimize the trial & error.

Hope that helps and enjoy the journey   O0

It is challenging enough not to lose patience when you spend weeks of fruitless search.
And it is challenging enough to transform a raw shape into a fantastic image. A fine tune can be an exponential effort ...

about fruitless search, starting exploring parameters of something you like limit a lot fruitless search and may be very rewarding also because  speed a lot the learning process.

At least for me visual examples are much more clear then detailed explication, and change only 1 parameters or option, and confront the difference (in the nav preview or in case seems worth with a new render), helped me a lot to understand.