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Hello Mandelbulb 3D Artists & Programmers,

This is my first letter to the forum at large. I am a sculptor and I create mathematical objects using applications that incorporate implicit and parametric equations. My question:  is there a way to export Mandelbulb 3D files in a standard 3Dformat such as; .obj, .stl, .vrml, .ply, .jvx (javaview), .off, .dxf, etc. or points file in order to generate a polygonal file. If so, how do I accomplish that? Is there a special plug-in or add-on to export path files?

The Dude Abides,
Yllib

Hello and Welcome!

The short answer to your question is...  No.

I've heard people have managed to make an stl file from exporting a sequence of 2D Slices then converting - but I have had zero luck in so doing.

I'd LOVE to see somebody make it easier to export obj files directly, but it's tricky as these objects are point clouds or something - no real mesh to work with.

Try Xenodream for the simplest program that exports fractally obj files, but it does not do any of the new Mandelbulb / Box stuff.

Hopefully somebody will figure out a way to make this happen - soon!

I suggest those wanting obj or stl export watch Terry Gintz site for updates :)

http://www.mysticfractal.com/ (http://www.mysticfractal.com/)

Note that export is included in some of his current software but he's just updating his ray-tracing to include distance estmation and (I think) adding bulb and box formulas.

http://www.mysticfractal.com/fractal_mirage/ani1.html (http://www.mysticfractal.com/fractal_mirage/ani1.html)

These files would be huge. The smaller the mesh the greater the detail, the greater the file size.
There is not enough cpu power to contemplate an animation, even with the use of render farms.
that's why all movie animation uses mapping that wrap realistic images over simpler 3d meshes.

At this moment in time it can still take an i7, up to 50hrs to render 1 typical architectural scene using Maxwell Render.

http://www.fractalforums.com/3d-fractal-generation/geometric-transformations-of-a-3d-object/msg28659/?PHPSESSID=7c459d04699e8339ba55a67190478c65#new

I regularly use 3D files of 250 to 500 MB each.  It's no big deal and the fractal obj files are Wonderful things!

Software like Bryce, Carrara, Blender, and even 3D Studio Max, Maya, and the other "Big Boys" can handle them.

You can decimate the high poly count in a modeling program like Blender, Hexagon, Wings 3D, or even Z-Brush if you plan animations with them.

if you can get a logical 3d model that doesnt have all kinds of internal occlusions and gaps, you can refine the number of vertexes in it with a program like okino polytrans. xenodream is indeed ok for .obj export but it will be hard to use the models in 3d environments as they need alot of post processing, the last time i checked.

Actually, Xenodream can do Mandelbulbs. Here is an example:

We used to try to get people walking through a mall, doors opening, elevator cabs ascending, people riding an escalator, leaves on trees moving, all to get more realism into the avi's for our clients.  With respect, it does become a big deal.  However with this new cloud technology, perhaps soon polygon modeling may be a thing of the past, like the sony walkman  :)

http://www.fractalforums.com/general-discussion/point-cloud-and-voxels-system-real-time-unlimited-detail/msg28961/#new

Wow!

Since when does Xenodream do Mandelbulbs??

I may have to buy it now...

How is the quality of the obj export?




Fortunately, I am not doing animations with them, and even more fortunately - I have no interest in, nor any love of, Realism in my 3D work.  In fact - I can't stand the idea of realism in 3D!!

If you want realism, take a picture.  3D Software is for Fantastic Wild Crazy Psychedelia, not realism  (in my Universe, anyhow  O0 ).

I have never done any object export and have not had any need to do so. To make mandelbulbs you need Xenodream v2.3

Thanks, Ron. From v2.3, XD does a range of Juliabulbs of several types, with powers between -3 and 10. It can't do Mandelbulbs, because there's no known reasonable method to do Mandelbrot sets with inverse iteration. I tried some Julia versions of Mandelbox, but it was too slow due to the density. Raymarching is the best way to render these structures.

The obj quality is good, but resolution is the limiting factor for these. You can generate to about 15 or 20 million polys and decimate as required for export. Here's a Bryce render of a power 5 bulb with 2M triangles.

Is there any chance of a Mac version of Xenodream ?

Juliabulbs will do!  Nice render   O0

Xenodream has always been an attractive little program for it's obj export feature  (I have played with the free version and was pleased), and I hope one day soon to have the money to spend on it.  

You don't take payment in old Comic Books, do you?   :nastyteeth:

Nope.

But I got the trial to run under WINE   O0

Not soon because I don't do any kind of Mac development. Longer term maybe, depending on how the Delphi crossplatform GUI options turn out. It does run in Bootcamp, Parallels or Crossover though.


Maybe graphic novels, by good artists such as Druillet.  :crazy:

Unfortunately not an option at the moment - I only have a Mac mini and there's simply not enough drive space for Windows too (and I've no cash to squander until I can afford a Mac Pro, that even takes precendence over a new (second-hand) car in spite of the fact that it's likely to cost more than 4* what I'd spend on a car).