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Mandelbulber v2 2.01

Free download (executables and source): http://sourceforge.net/projects/mandelbulber/
Website:       http://www.mandelbulber.com/

This is first release of Mandelbulber v2. The program was rewritten from scratch to have nice Qt based user interface. I hope you like it.

What is new in compare with old Mandelbulber?
- user interface is based on Qt 5 environment (before was GTK2+)
- instead of separate windows, there is big main window witch all function grouped in movable and detachable docks (View/Save window state stores favorite window configuration)
- most of edit fields has sliders to set value by mouse. Edit fields where range of value is very high, has slider with logarythmic scale.
- new camera-target functionality and navigator. There is possible to move/rotate camera and target separately. 
- new and more efficient algorithm for image refreshing. Now there is not needed to wait until first percent of image is already rendered. New refreshing method is more intelligent and for instant is able to refresh SSAO effect for only latest rendered lines of image
- textures (for background, environment mapping....) has previews
- new setting file format. I know that you will blame me, but in next version will be import function for old Mandelbulber settings (in 95% should be possible to convert)
- every edit field shows tooltip with default value and parameter name which is the same in setting files
- every parameter which is not default is bold
- every edit field in context menu has reset to default function
- new 3D cursor shows coordinates and distance from camera and actual function
- for hybrid fractals there is separate tab to set parameters for each formula
- thumbnails for settings preview are cached

What is still missing in compare with old Mandelbulber?
- animation editor
- rendering via network
- OpenCL support
- primitive objects
- some fractal formulas

What is prioritized in todo list?
- converter for old Mandelbulber settings
- primitive objects
- set of new example settings files
- add more fractal formulas (your help is needed!)

Further interesting ideas which are possible with new application framework:
- in animation editor will be possible to set different interpolation for each parameter and to change value of selected parameters for every keyframe by one click
- visual spline tangent editor for parameter interpolation
- export/import animation to/from csv file
- automatic animation of selected parameters with sound (frequency bands)

As always every feedback is appreciated!

SVN repository: http://mandelbulber2.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/
This repository is available from Google Code: http://code.google.com/p/mandelbulber2/

nice! sound control is always tricky, consider various audio controls:

- bump with fallof ( peak on highest band in range, decay duration to get back to start) + direction
- continuous, e.g. for rotations the peak controlls the addition, a start end range  controls the range beetween values + direction 
   - can be combined with fallof as well
- direction controls +/-

Thank you Buddhi for V2.01,
will the OpenCL support still have the ability to write own formulas?
a visual spline editor sounds interesting.

here is some thoughts/ wish list

Reinstate the cross hairs for middle of image;

More primitive shapes - cylinder, pyramid, cone

Multiple instances of primitive shapes;

More options for primitive shape surfaces like - gradient colouring, some  surface texture parameters , use of jpeg on a primitive plane surface
(however I realise that lots of different shapes, each with a multitude of parameters may be difficult to manage.)

Rotate/move fractal independent to water plane and background texture image; (and maybe change so that the jpeg image used is not a mirror image like it is currently.)

Mouse click options - reinstate measure (helps with estimating navigation movements, estimating primitive shape size, and sometimes I cut and paste these coordinates);

Mouse click options - reinstate set front of primitive fog ;

Choice of linear mode navigation for animating between key frames;
square or cubic functions for interpolating between keyframes to mimic acceleration deceleration

DEcombinate

Saving image shadow only.

Thanks again for Mandelbulber in all its versions

- visual spline tangent editor for parameter interpolation
- automatic animation of selected parameters with sound (frequency bands)

Exciting stuff! I was always hoping the audio would come back.

I'll get right onto testing the new version. Wonderful to have symmetry in layout.
Some more ideas are brewing for my wishlist.

Just to say thank you very much for all your hard work, Buddhi.

I haven't had a chance to have more than a quick look yet, but my first impressions are extremely good.

Nice one.

as the task at hand is compiling source, so-called "dev" packages are of course an implied requirement.