Fractal Development in JWildfire for Mac

I've been busy creating lots of fractals and thought I would share the development of 2 final fractals. This isn't a tutorial but a blog to show my fractal development to 2 final works.

Starting a Spiral Fractal

I used a "Spiral" fractal in JWildfire. A typical example of how they look are shown here. I choose one that I like the look of from the thumbnails on the left and start to adjust and change the variations and nonlinear parameters (on the right). Then I start to adjust the triangles by moving them, adjusting the sizes, rotating and scaling until I start to get something I like. They are usually nothing like the starting thumbnail.

The second image is where I start to get something I can work with. I continue to change the settings, drag round the triangles, maybe add a new transformation triangle and generally explore lots of options. This is a very addictive program for me. I love the nature of fractals and how I never know what the outcome will be. I love working like this with no expectations.

The start of my fractals, lots more to do here.

The following screenshots are some of the designs that I progressed through. I save a lot and then rename and delete most of them later. When I'm working on them and get something I like I save it and refine it by changing colour and adjusting position etc. Then I push it further and see what else I can get.

Development Image 1 - starting to get something here.

Development Image 2 - I've changed the colour on this one.

Development Image 3 - I really like this one may work on this later.

Development Image 4 - Image pushed further. I like this also.

Development Image 5 - It's difficult to abandon this one so I continue working on it.

Development Image 6 - Yes!

Before rendering I explored some more colour options. Rendering really takes some time on my old Mac as you can see from this screenshot.

JWildfire Renderer for 1 image - approx 2 hours done and another 1.5 hours to go.

I usually take the final .png files and take them into Photoshop to do a quick adjust on colour if needed. This is how the final images look. Large prints and items are available to buy on Fine Art America and Red Bubble. Both ship to the UK.

Lemon Lime © mforrester

Dreamy Pink © mforrester

Fractal Art using JWildfire

I've been working on some fractal art in a wonderful free program for the Mac called JWildfire V5. I have previously tried to install this but just couldn't get it to work. No problems with V5, installed straight away. I'm finding this to be really similar to Apophysis in it's ease of use but I have so much more to learn. This is the link to the program: JWildfire so much support available and tutorials. There's also a great Facebook page too.

A couple of my creations 😊 large versions available to buy in my on-line stores soon.

Coral Reef ©mforrester

Foxy ©mforrester

Green Man Linoprint

Just a couple of photos of how I did the Lino for my Green Man Linoprints.

Green Man Design

Finished Linocut

Finished Print

Almost finished drawn design, scanned and flipped in Photoshop. I used white Tracedown to transfer the image to the lino and then I go over it again with white pen. I drew most of it freehand on the lino.

The finished linocut is shown. I am working on 6x4 lino so this was a bit fiddly with the leaves but I was looking forward to seeing how it would print.

I was really pleased with the final result. I am still using my dad's old vintage photo mounts to print on and will be really sad when they run out as they are really good quality. I am half way through them already. Oh well, will have to keep my eyes open for other unusual printing surfaces.

As always these will be available on Artfinder as pictures and Etsy as greeting cards. Links are top right on blog.

New Lino Prints on Xcut Xpress, Express Craft Machine

Xcut Xpress

I came across a great little machine on a group on Facebook. Many people are using this die-cut craft machine for lino printing as it has rollers, a printing bed and a roller adjustment dial. This is not for large size printing but will take A4 paper so is ideal for my 6x4 prints. I bought my Xcut from Hobbycraft on-line for £79 and I am really pleased with it, on the box it says Express Craft Machine. It was easy to put the handle on. The dial is a little stiff and the lock sliders are too but this is a good thing, in my opinion and it all folds up to a nice portable size. It is a lot heavier than it looks though.

So, my first prints on the Xcut Xpress and a couple of photos of the Xcut.

These will be available for sale on my on-line shop at Artfinder and I will be printing greetings cards for Etsy.

Green Man

Mandrake

Abaddon Fallen Angel

Bartzabel Fallen Angel

Guland Fallen Angel

Jeretik Fallen Angel

Registration Process

Xcut from above