Apophysis ~ v2.09
OS: Win
author: Mark Townsend
url: http://www.apophysis.org
Apophysis is a program used to design flame and IFS fractals. While originally created as a utility to be used with Ultra Fractal (UF), it spun off and became a stand-alone program in a class of its own. It’s still one of the most popular fractal generators around. It can export images in several different formats or export parameters as UPR file to render in UF.
Latest version in SourceForge: https://sourceforge.net/projects/apophysis/
Last revision: 26 April 2013. – jrs + jlm
Apophysis 7x
OS: Win
author: Mark Townsend, Ronald Hordijk, Peter Sdobnov, Piotr Borys & Georg Kiehne
url: https://sourceforge.net
Apophysis 7x is the 64-bit brother of old (and still good) Apophysis by Mark Townsend. As such, it can do everything the old one was capable of and then some. Yet, I find it somewhat slower than the classic version —and it gets slower while zooming in— as it used to happen with the old one too. The program starts with a random batch of images (a different set each time) that you can transform at will, or you can begin from scratch. Once a picture is done, you can render it within the program and save it in various image formats, or export the parameters as UPR file to render in Ultra Fractal, a good choice for larger-size outputs (for users of that other generator).
Last revision: 18 October 2014.
Apophysis AV ~ v1.0.2
OS: Win
author: Alice Vital
url: https://sourceforge.net/projects/apophysis-av/
And yet, here is another take on the beloved fractal flame generator, Apophysis. This version includes the same features of the previous ones, along with other improvements (including, apparently, some easter eggs) —check documentation for details. What matters most to me is that it reads old parameter files just fine and renders images accurately. I would say, then, that it’s safe to switch to this newer version, extending Apo’s life some more.
Last revision: 23 July 2022.
Chaoscope ~ v0.3.1
OS: Win & Linux
author: Nicolas Desprez
url: http://www.chaoscope.org (broken)
Chaoscope is a ‘3D Strange Attractor rendering’ program, eternally in beta stage. In addition to 9 attractor types, it also has 5 different render types, which users can combine to create some extremely interesting fractals. It has a fairly extensive online manual (which means that images can be created fairly quickly). This new release adds some extra equations and bug fixes. The website is unavailable at the time of this update, but to software is easy to find in several download sites.
Requires OpenGL. jrs + jlm
Last revision: 27 May 2006.
ChaosPro ~ v4.0.249
OS: Win
author: Martin Pfingstl
url: http://www.chaospro.de
Chaos Pro features multiple windows and multi threading (calculates multiple fractals at the same time). Can create 3D views and animations. Compatible with Fractint (including most of its formulas) and Ultra Fractal parameters, transformations, palettes and formula files. Also supports alpha channels. A most-have for those interested in Ultra Fractal but looking for something less expensive (freeware). It will also run on any Win32-compatible operating system.
Last revision: 21 November 2011
Double Fractal ~ v2.9
OS: Win
author: Joao Paulo Schwarz Schuler
url: http://www.schulers.com
Double Fractal has grown up since its previous version. This one is greatly improved, with more controls and access to the main parameters and coloring palettes. Also new fractal formulas. Good for simple explorations; includes documentation. Can save pictures to BMP files and export to POV-Ray.
Last revision: after 2001.
Fract-o-Rama ~ v1.7.1
OS: Win/UNIX
author: John F. Dumas
url: http://fractorama.com/
Fract-o-Rama is an application for power fractalists or for those who have some mathematical background on fractals because this is a tool to generate any kind of fractal figure imaginable. You have to literally write down the formula directly before going any further. In that sense, it’s very flexible. Source code and documentation available.
Last revision: 12 December 2007.
Fractal Architect X ~ v5.8.0 (69)
OS: Mac
author: Steven Brodhead Sr. (Centcom Inc.)
url: https://www.fractalarchitect.net
Fractal Architect X is a versatile 2D and 3D fractal flame generator with a lot of options and too many windows for my liking. That doesn’t mean it isn’t good or difficult to use; while it can be confusing at first, it’s actually quite intuitive once you understand how it works, especially if you’ve worked with similar flame generators before. It starts with a set of random images that you can modify, combine, layer, or even create a sequence of images or modifications into a movie. Pictures can be saved in various image formats (wth a maximum limit of 1024×768 pixels in the freeware version), and parameters can be exported to Apophysis 7 or Flam3. A version for iOS is also available.
Last revision: 2024.
Fractal Explorer ~ v2.02
OS: Win
author: Arthur Sirotinsky and Olga Fedorenko
url: Softpedia http://www.softpedia.com
Fractal Explorer is an excellent generator that can render 2D and 3D images and animations of various fractal types, including Mandelbrot, Julia, Newton, IFS, landscapes, 3D strange attractors, and quaternions. Three-dimensional renderings use OpenGL technology. Sterling-ware and POV-Ray support, batch rendering, AVI animations, and more. The home page of this generator is no longer available, and the developers stopped working on it a long time ago, so expect no more updates in the future.
Last revision: 27 July 2004.
Fractal Forge ~ v2.8.2
OS: Win
author: Uberto Barbini
url: https://sourceforge.net
Formerly known as True Mandel, Fractal Forge is an excellent Mandelbrot and Julia set exploration tool that stands out for its fast calculations, even of deep zooming shots. This version improves the amination tool.
Last revision: 25 August 2002.
Fractal Fr0st~ v1.4.0
OS: Win
author: Vitor Bosshard
url: https://launchpad.net/fr0st
Fractal Fr0st is a flame fractal generator that is simple to use. It’s similar to the well known Apophysis, though it doesn’t seem to include a batch function to automatically generate a series of images to start your journey. Instead, it begins with a blank canvas (so to speak), and you start adding xforms to manipulate at will. From there, you can navigate through other tabs to modify parameters, adjust the colors using an intuitive gradient editor, tweak some image settings, or even animate it. Parameters can be saved as .flame files, and images can be rendered as PNG. The rendering process is pretty fast… depending on the size you want the picture to be and the available memory.
Last revision: 14 May 2011.
Fractal Therapeutic Project ~ v0.4
OS: Win
author: Stephen C. Ferguson, Joseph Trotsky, and Petrus van Pelt
url: http://www.wack.ch
FTP has tried to hide all the scary things about fractal creation behind a user-friendly interface. Because it’s also intended to be used as a therapeutic tool, it only comes with a minimal set of formulas and filters. Yet, beneath it lies the same power as all other Ferguson’s software, with brilliant color algorithms and tools. Beyond its medical finality, it’s also a good fractal generator for beginners and children because it’s extremely easy to use. As such, it has surpassed its initial goal.
Last revision: February 2001.
Fractally ~ v1.0.1 (6)
OS: Mac
author: Craig McPheeters
url: Apple Store
Fractally is a simple fractal generator with one purpose in mind: to explore the Mandelbrot and Julia sets. As such, it lacks the niceties of other more robust applications, so don’t expect to create stylish pictures with it. Nevertheless, it’s very easy to use and surprisingly fast, and is an excellent tool for understanding the conversion process from Mandelbrot to Julia. The only “parameters” users can specify are iteration level and, with a mouse click on the screen, switch between different color schemes. Images can be saved as bookmarks and exported in PNG format. Important note: Once you save an image, make sure to move the file to another folder (for example), or the program won’t save another one to the same location. If you don’t, you may think everything’s fine, only to discover later you only have one image instead of ten.
Last revision: 2022.
FractalNow ∼ v0.8.2
OS: Win/BSD/Linux
author: Marc Pegon
url: https://sourceforge.net
FractalNow is a neat fractal generator that is quite fast in rendering complex pictures. It doesn’t come with a lot of formulas or other special algorithms to add a thousand effects, but does its job pretty well. What I find quite efficient is the automatic anti-aliasing applied when exporting pictures; I think it does a better job than most fractal generators. I usually render images 3-5 times larger than I actually need them, and then downsample them in a graphics editor for the same effect because the result are always better; not needed with this one. Props on that.
Last revision: 28 October 2017.
Fractalscope ∼ v1.6.3
OS: Win/Linux
author: John Westwood
url: https://sourceforge.net/projects/fractalscope/
Fractalscope is a cross-platform fractal generator with an interesting interface: all modifiable parameters, including color settings, are right in the main window by way of tabs (not exactly an exclusive feature). You can choose from 14 fractal formulas to begin your exploration, and then go zooming wherever you want using the mouse’s scroll wheel. As you move the cursor over the main image, a secondary window on the lower right will display the corresponding Julia fractal. I’m not sure if, right now, that’s just for fun as I couldn’t find a way to render that Julia instead. Hopefully that’s something the developer will implement in the future. Although the program itself is surprisingly fast, the antialiasing tool can slow down the computer while its working —especially when rendering images at maximum size. If you want an image larger than 2048×1346, you will have to use the Poster tool.
Last revision: 15 March 2025.
Fractice ~ v1.0.6
OS: Win
author: Chris Korda
url: https://fractice.sourceforge.net/
Fractice is a small and pretty fast fractal generator that can render classic Mandelbrot, Mandelbar (a.k.a. tricorn) and Newton fractals. It is capable of deep zooming and recording movies. I love two features in particular: how it keeps thumbnails —functioning as bookmarks for easy access— of all images you render on a vertical bar to the left of the main window (that you can click any time to go back to that stage for further development or fine-tune parameters), and the way it let you manage color palettes, which you can also import from other programs or export as well. When you save parameters, all bookmarks will be saved in the same file, an excellent choice for those of us hyperactive explorers that move around from point to point continuously. Images can be saved as bitmap files (bmp), or even sent to print as posters directly (apparently, I haven’t used that option).
Last revision: 17 March 2010.
Fracton ~ v3.2.3
OS: MacOS 11.0 or later
author: Michael Frazier
url: http://www.fracton.org
Fracton is a very nice freeware 2D and 3D generator for MacOS that lets you design your own fractal formulas. It can also import FractInt formulas, parameters and colors, in case you come from the FractInt camp or are willing to try the vast collection of FractInt-related files out there. I actually like the coloring window (not shown) since it lets you edit the color palette in a very easy and intuitive way, somewhat similar to that of GF4 and PowerFrac, which I also like a lot. It can also export some 3D parameters to be used in 3D rendering programs. Deep zooming anyone? Yep, Fracton can to that too. The included documentation is pretty good, and it’s in PDF format.
Last revision: April 2025.
Fraqtive ~ v0.4.8
OS: Win/MacOS/Linux/FreeBSD
author: Michał Męciński
url: https://fraqtive.mimec.org
Fraqtive is as small but interesting and fast generator that can render several different variants of Mandelbrot and Julia fractals, on 2D and some simple 3D views. Its interface is pretty simple and quite intuitive, so you can start working like a “pro” right away. It doesn’t come up with a lot of parameters or filters to play with, but you can still input some variables directly. The coloring settings are super easy to understand, and it comes with some basic animation options as well. Images can be generated at any size, and you can apply anti-aliasing from within the program. Parameters are saved as bookmarks with thumbnails for easy identification; color parameters can also be saved as presets. Use the mouse to zoom in or out, and the arrow keys to move up/down, left/right. Undo and Redo are also available using the Navigate Back or Forward in the toolbar.
Last revision: 29 January 2015.