How to test simply new formulas ?

[arnaud.bodin]

Dear all,

here is a basic question: I would like to test new formulas for the mandelbulb.
Say for example:
  newx = R^2sin(2p)sin(3q),  (instead of sin(2q))
  newy = R^2sin(2p)cos(3q)
  newz = R^2cos(2p)

My problem is that I don't find how to modify the already implemented formulas.
For instance, the file "MMFwip3D" for Ultra Fractal is very nice for drawing the mandelbulb
but the code is unclear for me.
I would be happy to have a simple formula file (for Ultra Fractal or other) or another program
where I can simply test my formulas. I don't mind too much about fastness nor colors.

I would also like to test : formula of type (newx,newy,newz) = f(x,y,z),
or 3d-slice of (newx,newy,newz,newt) = f(x,y,z,t).

Thanks a lot,
Arnaud

 

[Timeroot]

ChaosPro is probably the easiest to learn for those types of things, since it has all the 3D/4D functionality built in. If you download the program, just search the documentation and tutorials for writing the formulas for quaternions. These are four-D numbers, and you can make the three-D by leaving the fourth coordinate zero. 

[makc]

or you can edit subblue's pixel bender script