Fractal visionaries and enthusiasts:

The October 22 image is late because I spent extra time today trying to get the 2000mhz fractal computer to run.  The machine has always been questionable, and this morning, when it came on with a blue 'something's wrong' screen, I decided to try only one more time to get it running.  Reseating all the cards did nothing, so I said farewell to the 9-year-old 2000mhz unit, stored it in the closet, and brought the 13-year-old 200mhz machine out of retirement.

The older machine booted up perfectly, and now has the position of honor on the fractal desk top, where it will remain until replaced by the next currently active machine to be retired.  The failed machine will live on however through its video card, which handles the Fractint DOS video modes perfectly, and which I will install in the replacement machine.

Today's image is a quickie that I found on the old fractal computer after the newer unit stopped working.  The very fast image is a mixture of Z^2 and Z^5 created by the FinDivBrot-2 formula.  The rating of a 7.5 includes an unusual 1.5-point bonus for my coloring work.  The basic fractal shape has appeared several times previously as FOTD's, but I did devote a considerable time to achieve the slate-gray effect, which was only inspired by the program and needed much hand work.

The central shape is filled with quintic minibrots, all of which are virtually identical and not worth the trip down.  The parent minibrot is one of those deceptive Mandelbrot sets that at first glance appears normal, but develops more quintic-like features the deeper one dives into it.

The name "Platinum Oxide" refers to the overall color cast.

The calculation time of 35 seconds is an estimate.  The image actually took 2 minutes and 13 seconds on the 200mhz unit.  On the 2000mhz machine, which runs 4 times, not 10 times as fast, I assume it would finish in 35 seconds.

Today's weather here at Fractal Central was a repeat of yesterday's, with more dry but dark clouds, raw winds and a temperature of 52F 11C.  The fractal cats took the day in stride, and were distracted only by a big cat fight that broke out in the back yard when two roaming tomcats crossed paths.  The humans had a routine day, though I became quite annoyed when the 2000mhz fractal computer conked out.

The next FOTD will be posted in 24 hours.  Until then, take care, and the most qualified does not always win.

Jim Muth
jamth@mindspring.com
jimmuth@aol.com


START PARAMETER FILE=======================================

Platinum_Oxide     { ; time=0:00:35.00-SF5 on a P2000
  reset=2004 type=formula formulafile=basicer.frm
  formulaname=FinDivBrot-2 function=recip passes=1
  center-mag=+0.3596259397545952/+0.6447633584097521\
  /3515559/1/-30/0 params=5/100000/0/0 float=y
  maxiter=1500 inside=0 periodicity=6
  colors=000fdLhdKjcJkcImcGocFqcErcDn_FjWHfSIbPKZLLV\
  HNREOUKNWQMYWL`aKbgJdlJJhLKQPNSRPUTRWVTYXV_ZXa`Zcb\
  `edbgfdihgkkimmkoonqrpstruvtwxzzzvvvrrrmmmhhhcccZZ\
  ZUUUPPPKKKFFFAAA55500000000000000000000U00cQNmSUmN\
  SqIRwGOsEMpCKmAIi8Gf7Ec8Gd8Hd9Id9JeAKeALeBMfBNfCOf\
  CPgDQgDRgVzrEShEThFUhFVhGWiGXiHYiHZjI_jI`jJakJbkKc\
  kKdlLelLflMgmMhmNimNjmOknOlnPmnPnoQooQpoRqpRrpSspS\
  tqTuqTvqUwrUxrVyrJsvPwtzksylrxlrwlrwmrvmrumrunrtnr\
  snrrorrorqorpprpproprnqrmqrmqrlrrkrrkrrjsrisrhsrht\
  rgtrftrfureurdurcvrcvrbvrawrawr`wr_xrZxrZxrYyrXyrX\
  yrWzrVzrt`FrbIpdKoeNmgPkiSjjUhlXgmZeoacqcbrf`thZvk\
  YwmWypboKapMapNaqP`qQ`rS`rT_sV_sW_tYZtZZu`ZuaYubYv\
  dYveXwgXwhXxjWxkWymWynVzpVzqJC3MPGPaTSneCCWDEXDFYE\
  GYEHZFIZFK_GL_GM`GN`HOaHQaIRbISbJTcJUdKVdKXeKYeLZf\
  L_fM`gMbgNchNdhOeiOfiOhjPijPjkQklQllRmmRomSpnSqnSr\
  oTsoTupUvpYeS_dQadPcdOddN }

frm:FinDivBrot-2   { ; Jim Muth
z=(0,0), c=pixel, a=-(real(p1)-2),
esc=(real(p2)+16), b=imag(p1):
z=(b)*(z*z*fn1(z^(a)+b))+c
|z| < esc }

END PARAMETER FILE=========================================