Visual Basic 2010 (Windows) Guide
Fractals: Introduction

The term fractal is used to describe complex geometric shapes. Back in the mid 1980's computer-generated fractal images were all the rage on the music scene. Now, fractal algorithms are regularly used to generate lifelike images of complicated and irregular natural objects like mountain ranges, trees and coastlines.

This section of the site is concerned with one family of fractal images based on what is called the Mandelbrot Set. After a brief explanation of the Maths involved, there are instructions that will allow you to make and use an application to make your own images.

Fractal Image Gallery

All of these images were produced using different colouring algorithms with plots of various regions of the Mandelbrot set or variations thereof. The images were generated entirely from programming instructions, and appear as they were plotted by the program - no post-processing has taken place. Click on one of the thumbnails to see the image full size.

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With thanks to the AS Computing class of 2007/8.