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hello all,

the university in mexico is making some kind of event where they want to combine an axolotl image
with a fractal, and they asked me if i know someone who can create an image that ist looking
like an axolotl,

here is an google image search for axolotl

https://www.google.com/search?q=axolotl&aq=0&sugexp=chrome,mod%3D0&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=de&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=aIqFUKaJIoTlqAHauYHgAg&biw=1024&bih=475&sei=bYqFUIXMJqK8yAG0xIHQDw

kraftwerk has a similar image, and i am going to ask him
http://www.fractalforums.com/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view;id=12090

perhaps you can come up with a better similar image, perhaps using a flame !??!

any help would be welcome, i think they would need the image by the end of the week

regards
ck

bringing it up ;)

so, i am at home now, was trying out to place a circle, and 2 eyes and a mouth using julia circles, enroused with red julia spirals, but they werent fond of it ;) will post my try tomorrow, would be nice if someone finds just some-thing like it ;) at best in 3d :)

HI, I have this axolotl model, the bad news are that is not fractal.
I see two options, the first one, to create a fractal background for the model, the other one, to texturize the model with a fractal pattern.
What do you think?

axolotl with fractal background

another angle

Maybe you could do something crazy like remapping the axolotl mesh's curvature to itself in an iterative process to get the axolotl "self-fractal".
What ever that means.
:D

thank you for that, i forwarded it!

Oh, this was my first idea! :-\
Seriously, I hardly understand what you say, but I would like to do it if possible, but I fear I´´m just a draughsman without any mathematical skills.
This said, if anyone wants to try it, I will provide the mesh.

you´´re welcome, tell us what finally happens with it.

  As I explained in another thread
http://www.fractalforums.com/help-and-support/shark-or-small-aircraft-and-how-to-describe-it-in-fractal/
 the modelling process, is a fractal one.
  Due to software architecture, wich in turns depend on real needs, the model start as a box,then an iterative process, divide and subdivide the original box into all the needed sections .
   In this particular case, we can also see some fractals in the axolotl "head branches", I don´´t know how to tell them.
   For this model, I´´ve also used fractals to create the animal´´s skin, by mapping some fractal noise over it.
   THere´´s also a fractal noise map projected by light to create the caustic effect.The caustics effect depends, in turn, of the fractal nature of waves.
    Of course, the background is  a 3d fractal, and the ground is a plane with fractal noise applied.
    Definitely, we can´´t get rid off fractals, they are all around us, and any closer look to anything will show fractals.

It of course doesn't matter but technically you can start your model without ever having a box. It's poly-for-poly-modelling vs. box-modelling.

If the head branches were axo's too (and iterated) that would be interesting. Just scale, translate and rotate the mesh.

has anyone tried using a complete julia approach ? the julia shape  is very suitable for the resemblance, i had no time, and was playing just with the face
nice work so far ;)

this is my attempt ;) who can do a top view using julias ?!?!

This is true, but, as you said is simply a technical option... that don´t exist out of the virtual world.
I mean that box-modelling is based in the natural way of drawing, first you do the boxes, then the bigger areas, and finally, the small ones, a natural fractal process.
But it is impossible to model poly-by-poly if you don´t have a well done drawing as a basis, and, of course, this drawing, must have been done as has been said.

You´re right, this is it!
With a bit more work it would be perfect, all the small models should be carefully placed to show his best in a general view, I´ve donde just two iterations, the third would be too small.

   :D
It reminds me of movie by mister Been.

this is getting interesting, although i cant see the shape of the axolotl in the head ;)
great and thank you for the effort

using it for the legs with just 2 iterations would make them look really good
combined with the fractal background a wonderful piece then!

A better arrangement.

More detail

And more, smaller iterations are not visible in a general view at this resolution, for a bigger render more iterations can be added.

I won't dicuss this any further beyond this post, since it's way off topic and could become sort of philosophical, but:

The box is made up of polys. You can start with it as a base right away, but in case of drawing, you can't do this. You have to draw the box first.
And that box is made up of lines which are made up of strokes which are more equivalent to polys than to a box.

If you're a sculptor and start with a block of marble or something, then I see how you always "start with a box". But if you're a drawer or painter, there's absolutely no need to do so and even if you do, you first have to draw it.
Of course, you're refering to constant refinement of a given layout. This is true for all arts.
If you model something in 3D, there are some techniques that are typically thought of as "box-modelling" techniques, like subdividing a side of the box and some that are rather thought of as "poly-by-poly-modelling", like extruding a free edge into a ridge over mutliple extrusion steps.

But the reality is, you can only truely differentiate between the two in the beginning. Do you start with nothing (an empty canvas or maybe an edge that, unless you choose to draw mesh grids later, wouldn't even be visible in a render) or do you start with a box (a marble block that you can sculpt into the shape you want).
At some point, and that can come pretty early, if you're an artist with a decent amount of experience, you'll use techniques of either "camp".

Which techniques you think of as superior might heavily depend on the 3D package you use or its supported featureset.
For instance, in Blender3D, not too long ago you didn't have NGons, so working the Box-modelling way was highly limiting. Most users quickly learned that it's just way easier to go for Poly-by-Poly. However, now that NGons are supported and we see a couple of new, really powerful modelling function features (sure to increase quickly), it's much less limiting to do Box-modelling and more and more users will use that.
Even before NGons, there was quite an increase in Box-modellers with the implementation of a sculpt-mode that, by now, is pretty powerful aswell...

Ok, I'm done. I kinda went on a tangent there. All I'm saying is, that even "physical" art can start either way.

We are talking about the natural way for drawing, not about the technical options computers bring, I use 3D model software each day, and I can assure you that if you can´t draw in the traditional way, you will go nowhere in this field, no matter what the computers can do, that´s because 3D software is just a drawing tool.
Excuse my bad english, probably I don´t explain myself clearly enough.

I´m not sure about this, rather I think that the full body should be made with the small models to keep coherence.
Therés a feature in some software that does this more or less, to fill a given shape with small instances of itself, but this is rather uneven and would need a lot of work to rearrange the models, moreover, each small model should be made with even smaller ones to be able to explore iterations, you must hand build the fractal before navigating it . This would be really expensive, and probably beyond a personal computer´s reach.
But if there´s a mathematical way, I can provide the model and you and others  can try your skills over the code.

here is a wish for what is should look like:

great stereoman, contact me privately, and you can discuss with them private if you want to finish this off with them!!!

I can complete this challenge   

feel free to do so ;) consider that this years contest has an axolotl section as well!

hear

Wow this fish named AXOLOTL just have fractal ferns branches.
This is main issue for AXOLOTL is big chapter for 6-th competition.
 :peacock: :thumbsup1:

@matty what is this image you posted ?! a photography!?!?!?

no its from blender and fractalized  in photoshop

hears some more variations

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzBwVCSFZPY

I ll do some more also

hears another

another view with different lighting

matty686
Actualy your first is so far the best of all, second is second best, but later they gets hmm, I don't like last versions. Probably becouse in so close plane all is visible.

Don't you think this (Luntik) looks like axolotl?
(http://merti.ru/files/luntik001.jpg)

ya last one doesn't look wet enough sorry  ;D  and yes luntik does look like one sort of except for the hair he needs a tail though