This repository has grown unmanageable enough that I've started a second one for the tools to generate large Buddhabrots.
This one will keep all the semi-related stuff like making the diagrams for the writeup.
Some of the below is correct.
Overview
A tool to generated Buddhabrot images.
Usage
The application is running using a command-line program (Fractals.Console.exe).
There are several operations that are performed through those same applications. To control which operation is done, switches are passed to the application:
| Switch | Description |
|---|---|
| -t | Controls the type of operation being performed |
| -c | The path to the (XML) configuration file for the operation |
| -u | (Optional) The number of logical processes to use for parallel operations |
Find Points
Operation Switch: FindPoints
Find Buddhabrot (or Mandlebrot) points using different point selection strategies.
Configuration File:
| Argument | Description |
|---|---|
| OutputDirectory | The location where the found points will be stored |
| OutputFilenamePrefix | The prefix for the output file names (a unique suffix will be added) |
| MinimumThreshold | The minimum number of times a point must be valid to be included in the output |
| MaximumThreshold | The maximum number of times to validate a point before giving up on it (i.e. bailout value) |
| SelectionStrategy | The strategy to use when selecting the random points for evaluation |
| InputDirectory | (If using an "edge" strategy) The directory containing the input file |
| InputEdgeFilename | (If using an "edge" strategy) The filename containing the locations of the grids bordering the Mandelbrot set |
Buddhabrot Selection Strategies
| Strategy | Description |
|---|---|
| Random | Generate a random complex number |
| BulbsExcluded | Exclude the "bulbs" from the Mandelbrot set (these are known to not generate Buddhabrot points, computationally cheap) |
| EdgesWithBulbsExcluded | Only use points from the grids on the edge of the Mandelbrot (excluding the "bulbs") |
Mandelbrot Selection Strategies
| Strategy | Description |
|---|---|
| Random | Generate a random complex number |
| BulbsOnly | Only uses points within the "bulbs" from the Mandelbrot set (computationally cheap) |
| EdgesAndBulbsOnly | Only use points from the grids on the edge of the Mandelbrot or within the "bulbs" |
Plot Points
Operation Switch: PlotPoints
Plot the Buddhabrot points for a specified number of iterations, tracking the hit count per location.
| Argument | Description |
|---|---|
| Resolution | The resolution at which to plot the points (must match the rendering resolution) |
| Bailout | The bailout value (how many iterations of the function to apply per point while tracking vectors) |
| InputDirectory | The directory containing the input files |
| InputFilePattern | The file pattern to use to find the input files (the list of points to plot) |
| OutputDirectory | The location where the output file will be stored |
| OutputFilename | The name of the output file containing the plotted point values |
Render Plot
Operation Switch: RenderPlot
Render the plotted points into an image.
| Argument | Description |
|---|---|
| Resolution | The resolution at which to render the image |
| InputDirectory | The directory containing the input file |
| InputFilename | The name of the file containing the plotting results |
| OutputDirectory | The location where the output file will be stored |
| OutputFilename | The name of the rendered output file |
Render Points
Operation Switch: RenderPoints
Render the Mandlebrot points into an image.
| Argument | Description |
|---|---|
| Resolution | The resolution at which to render the image |
| InputDirectory | The directory containing the input file |
| InputFilename | The name of the file containing the plotting results |
| OutputDirectory | The location where the output file will be stored |
| OutputFilename | The name of the rendered output file |
Find Edge Areas
Operation Switch: FindEdgeAreas
Find regions near the Mandlebrot set (that are more likely to have Buddhabrot points).
| Argument | Description |
|---|---|
| Resolution | The resolution at which to search for points (recommended to not exceed 8192x8192) |
| Grid Size | The size of a single side of a grid (out of a total size of 3.0) |
| OutputDirectory | The location where the output file will be stored |
| OutputFilename | The name of the output file |
Render Nebula Plots
Operation Switch: RenderNebulaPlots
Render three separate plots of points (generally gathered with different bailout values) into a multi-color image.
| Argument | Description |
|---|---|
| Resolution | The resolution at which to render the image |
| InputDirectory | The directory containing the input file |
| RedInputFilename | The name of the file containing the plotting results to be used for the red channel |
| GreenInputFilename | The name of the file containing the plotting results to be used for the green channel |
| BlueInputFilename | The name of the file containing the plotting results to be used for the blue channel |
| OutputDirectory | The location where the output file will be stored |
| OutputFilename | The name of the rendered output file |