Fractracer v1.1 released

[fractracer]

Hello!

Today we have released Fractracer - software for creating and rendering high-complexity 3D objects.
Fractracer uses similar approach as POVRAY (for objects description), but supports fractals natively and has built-in modeling capabilities.
Lua scripting language used as SDL (Scene Definition Language)

Some features:
-Interactive Real-Time 3D fractal generator
-Mesh Export (OBJ format)
-Animation (from script)
-Formula Compiler
-Built-in script editor
-Available both for Win32 and Win64

Official website:
www.fractracer.com

Download Page:
http://fractracer.com/downloads.php

Script example for IFS Fern available here:
www.fractracer.com/fern.php

Best Regards,

Fractracer Team

[Sockratease]

I'm always on the lookout for a good obj file making Fractal Generator!

But ...

The price seems a bit steep given that the trial version wont export anything, thus limiting our ability to test the quality of the product   

Do you have any sample obj files we can play with in our 3D Software of choice to judge it's quality?

[cKleinhuis]

cool, program, thank you for reporting!

[fractracer]

I'm always on the lookout for a good obj file making Fractal Generator!

But ...

The price seems a bit steep given that the trial version wont export anything, thus limiting our ability to test the quality of the product   

Do you have any sample obj files we can play with in our 3D Software of choice to judge it's quality?

Here couple examples:

fractracer.com/meshes/Apollonian_3D.rar - Apollonian_3D.fts rendered in medium (512x512x512) resolution (150k polygons)
fractracer.com/meshes/crescent.rar - crescent.fts rendered in small (64x64x64) resolution (64k polygons)


Both files without any postprocessing (like smoothing or simplification)

[Sockratease]

Thanks for the samples!  That was fast 

I'll play a bit with them and post what I come up with   

The demo wont let me open the mesh window at all... could I have grabbed the wrong one?  They only say X64 and X86 - I'm not on a 64 bit system, so I downloaded X86 thinking it was the 32 bit version, but not sure if that is correct.

It installed and started, so I'm assuming it is the correct one, but I miss obvious things like that all too often...

[fractracer]

Thanks for the samples!  That was fast 

I'll play a bit with them and post what I come up with   

The demo wont let me open the mesh window at all... could I have grabbed the wrong one?  They only say X64 and X86 - I'm not on a 64 bit system, so I downloaded X86 thinking it was the 32 bit version, but not sure if that is correct.

It installed and started, so I'm assuming it is the correct one, but I miss obvious things like that all too often...

X86 version for Windows 32 bit, X64 for Windows 64 bit

To generate 3D Mesh:
1) Run Script
2) Select Rendering->Generate 3D mesh
3) Wait (for example 30 sec).. you should see Mesh Rate (voxels per second) in status bar
4) Select Rendering->Triangulate 3D mesh
5) Now you should see "triangulating.." in status bar
6) After triangulating, Mesh Window should be opened.

You can repeat steps 4-6 several times.
If after 5) you do not see Mesh Window, try to reduce mesh resolution in View->Options dialog, then restart script from step 1)

[Nahee_Enterprises]

I noticed that your Domain Name is registered with a Russian service in Novosibirskaya, so I am assuming that the developers are also Russian??  I saw no physical contact information available on your web site.

The listed price says $120.  Is that in U.S. dollars??
 

[lycium]

$120 for a simple ray tracer with implicit surfaces is (sorry) crazy! on this forum are many people with exactly such software, but far more advanced lighting and shading, antialiasing, ... maybe we should charge lots of money instead of giving it away for free.

[Sockratease]

$120 for a simple ray tracer with implicit surfaces is (sorry) crazy! on this forum are many people with exactly such software, but far more advanced lighting and shading, antialiasing, ... maybe we should charge lots of money instead of giving it away for free.

After playing with the program, and the sample obj files kindly provided, I was trying to find a polite way of saying exactly that!

The only advantage of this software is the obj file export  (anyone want to try and make an obj file of the Mandelbulb / box??)  and I have to say - if I were to spend that sort of money on a fractal generator it would be exclusively for the obj export feature.

But then, for just about the same money, there is Xenodream.

I have the free version of Xenodream and it exports obj files too - but the size is limited to about the size of the samples provided until you pay for the full version.  Plus, Xenodream's interface allows non-mathematicians to generate interesting designs for export without ever touching a formula!

I have to agree that given the interface, and the lack of ability to really explore it's possibilities on a trial basis as the only other comparable software out there does, it does seem to have priced itself out of the market.

I'd suggest adding more functionality to the demo (limited resolution export of any 3d obj file) plus an overhaul to the interface so that it is easier to modify the existing samples.  It's even very difficult to tell how it's coloring things when every rendered sample has the word DEMO splashed all over it.  That should be changed to either no watermark and disabled export, or a less obtrusive watermark so one can actually see the coloring clearly.

I think the software has potential, but it needs to address a few issues before it can be commercially viable.

EDIT - Another idea may be a fully functional, but time limited, demo?

[fractracer]

Hi!
Thanks to all for suggestions!

We just released version 1.02.
Some changes:
1) Trial version now allows to export 3D mesh in resolution up to 128
2) Watermark is less obtrusive in the trial version.
3) New samples - Quaternion Julia, 2 generated mebius IFS, Julia Set, juliabulb (experimental)
4) New option: export UV-map. You can export object together with very complicated color information. Use "Mebius IFS" sample to test this feature (don't forget to enable uv-mapping in options dialog).
You can see screenshot of exported mesh (with UV-map) in 3D Studio Max here:
http://fractracer.com/images/Fractracer_and_3ds.jpg 

Some info:
Fractracer can be used without any mathematical knowledge (user can use provided samples).
More samples will be available soon.

User with some Matlab, Mathematics, Maple or Povray Experience, can write own scripts with custom GUI.
Fractracer uses IUP (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IUP_(software)) for creating GUI controls.

Moreover, "camera" and "light source" dialogs are implemented using scripts. You can see source code in program installation folder (and even modify it).

Fractracer uses formula compiler for 32 and 64 bit version. 64 bit version can utilize all computer RAM (for high-resolutions rendering and exporting)

Internally, program works with objects of arbitrary dimension (up to 256D), and you can write formulas for it. Only on last step,  object is mapped to 3D.

Fractracer has built-in high level operators - union, composition, shader.
Powerful "Shader" operator allow to write own procedures for colorizing and uv-mapping.


Best Regards!

[Nahee_Enterprises]

The only advantage of this software is the obj file export  (anyone want to try and make
an obj file of the Mandelbulb / box??)  and I have to say - if I were to spend that sort of
money on a fractal generator it would be exclusively for the obj export feature.

Terry Gintz's fractal applications have been exporting to the .OBJ file format for many years now, and also to other 3-D file formats as well.  And he has incorporated Mandelbulb formulas into some of those programs (both 32-bit and 64-bit).

Here are a couple that were saved as .OBJ and then pulled into Bryce for further rendering:
    http://www.fractalforums.com/mystic-fractal-programs-gallery/mandelbulb-3d-picture/
and
    http://www.fractalforums.com/mystic-fractal-programs-gallery/mandelbulb-julia-image/

You can download the trial versions of QuaSZ to see how it compares.
 

[Sockratease]

Thanks N_E!

I tried QuasZ recently, but it was at the same time the Doctors were filling my brain with radiation, and I may not have been on form.  Couldn't get anything at all interesting beyond the sample formulas   

I'll have to open that one back up   

And to Fractracer ; Glad to see you taking the comments in the spirit they were given.  I was concerned they may have come off as rude. 

I look forward to the next update...

[fractracer]

Hello!

Fractracer v1.04 released.

What's new:

- Mesh Import: Smoothing (for low-poly models)
- Mesh Import: UVW-map import (for texturing)
- Mesh Export: UVW-map export
- Mesh Export: RGB as UVW, for direct color export to another programs
- Mesh Export: Colors in mesh preview window
- Antialiasing (up to 4x)
- New preview mode - "Textured" (with colors, but without advanced lightning)
- New samples, some samples reworked

Best Regards!

Mesh import example:

[Sockratease]

I really like the Mesh Import idea!

I'll have to play a bit with this over the weekend.

Now I can make Fractal Cows!!

MOOO!!  

[fractracer]

Hi!

Version was updated to 1.04c.

Some new tutorials are available:
http://fractracer.com/wiki

Best Regards,