Importers

Variations that import a flame, image, etc. from elsewhere.

Download Sample flames and resources

colormap_wf / post_colormap_wf

Load colors from an external image.

Type: Sets z and color
Author: Andreas Maschke (thargor6)
Date: 28 Feb 2012

Importers group Colormap_wf variation Sample
Importers group colormap_wf-2 variation sample

Colormap_wf sets the color of the input point from an external image, but it doesn’t pass the (x,y) coordinates of the input point to the output so it can’t be used on a transform by itself; at least one other variation is needed to set the output point coordinates. (The same is true of post_colormap_wf, but post_ variations always need another variation.)

One common way to use this variation is to use a transform with some shape variation such as square or primitives_wf, then add post_colormap_wf as a second variation. This will map the image onto the shape. Other transforms can then be added to turn the colored shape into a nice flame. The first example above uses this technique; the image of a flower mapped to a square is replicated using a transform with linear3D to make a spiral (coloring type CYCLIC is used to vary the colors in each copy).

Another way to use it is to add colormap_wf to a transform of an existing flame to add (often distorted) copies of the image to the flame. In the second image above, the built-in script Oily_Rev3 was used to create an oily style flame. Then colormap_wf was used to color it with a flower image.

This variation can add bump mapping based on the brightness of the image point. It is scaled by the scale_z parameter (the default is 0, so it needs to be changed to enable bump-mapping).

When used with 3D flames, set the reset_z parameter to 0 to preserve the flame z values. Orthographic projection is used to map the 2D image to the XY plane, so the colors will smear along the z-axis.

ParameterDescription
image_filenameSet the filename for the image to import. The flame is then dependent on that file existing in the same place. If you want to share the flame with others (or don’t want to worry about keeping the image separate), use inlined_image instead.
inlined_imageLoad the image from a file, then keep the image encoded in the flame. This makes it easier to share flames with others, but it also makes the flame very large.
image_desc_srcCan be used to store the URL of the web page containing the image, but not used by the variation
image_srcCan be used to store the URL of the image, but not used by the variation
scale_x, scale_yScale factors for x and y
scale_zScale factor for bump mapping, typically set to between -0.3 and 0.3; 0 to disable bump mapping
offset_x, offset_yAdjust the horizontal and vertical position of the image
offset_zThe base level for the bump map
tile_x1 to tile the image horizontally; 0 to disable tiling
tile_y1 to tile the image vertically; 0 to disable tiling
reset_z0 to preserve the flame z values; 1 to flatten the image before bump mapping
dc_color0 to use the actual RGB image color; 1 to use a gradient color. Gradient colors are limited, so there won’t be an exact match (use the “Create from image” gradient option with the same image to make it closer). The advantage of using a gradient color is that the color index gets set and can be manipulated normally by other transforms.
blend_colormap1 to blend the colormap colors; 0 to disable blending (this only makes a difference when using low resolution colormaps)
with_alpha1 to hide points that map to transparent colormap pixels; 0 to disable
is_sequence0 for a single image; 1 for a sequence of images (used for animation; image_filename must be the first image in the sequence)
sequence_startStarting sequence number
sequence_digitsNumber of digits in the sequence numbers (for example, 4 means sequence numbers are 0001, 0002, etc.)

Image used for above examples
Image mapping on fractal flames tutorial
Texture Mapping in JWildfire Tutorial
Understanding Colormap video

obj_mesh_wf

Load a 3D mesh from an OBJ format file.

Type: 3D mesh
Author: Andreas Maschke (thargor6)
Date: 29 Nov 2016

Importers group  obj_mesh_wf variation sample

The OBJ object file format was developed by Wavefront Technologies but is open and supported by many 3D graphics programs. It defines the XYZ position of each vertex and the faces that make each polygon in the mesh as a list of vertices. It can optionally define UV texture map coordinates for each face, used to map a 2D image to the mesh’s surface. These are used by the color and displacement map features. If the OBJ file does not include texture map coordinates, the color and displacement maps are ignored.

ParameterDescription
obj_filenameThe file containing the mesh; set the default path with the preference tinaMeshPath
colormap_filenameThe file containing a color map to apply to the mesh
displ_map_filenameThe file containing the displacement map
scale_x, scale_y, scale_zScale factors for x, y, and z
offset_x, offset_y, offset_zShift the mesh in the x, y, and z directions
subdiv_levelThe number of levels of subdivision to perform; it must be an integer between 0 (to disable smoothing) and 6. Note each level used will dramatically increase both render time and memory needed.
subdiv_smooth_passesThe number of Taubin smoothing passes to apply to each subdivision level; it must be an integer between 0 and 24.
subdiv_smooth_lambdaThe lambda value used for the first step of each pass; it should be a positive number between 0 and 1.
subdiv_smooth_muThe mu value used for the second step of tach pass; it should be a negative number between 0 and -1, and is usually a bit less than -lambda).
blend_colormapWhether to blend colormap colors with surrounding colors (color_mode 0 only)
0: Don’t blend colors
1: Blend colors
displ_amountScaling for the displacement map; 0 to disable displacement
blend_displ_mapWhether to blend values from the displacement map
0: Don’t blend values
1: Blend valuesreceive_only_shadowsIf set to 1, and solid rendering is enabled, the mesh will be invisible but will show shadows that fall on it (hard shadows must be enabled to see any)

Working with Mesh Objects video tutorial

subflame_wf

Use a flame as a shape.

Type: 3D blur
Author: Andreas Maschke (thargor6)
Date: 22 Jan 2012

Importers subflam_wf variation sample

Subflame_wf includes a flame (the subflame) inside another flame (the main flame). Transforms in the main flame can manipulate the subflame, but don’t affect the subflame itself.

To set the flame, select the flame parameter and click the gear icon to its right. Then delete the existing flame text and paste in the desired flame. Alternatively, select the flame_filename parameter, click the gear icon to its right, and select the file containing the desired flame.

Subflame_wf supports animation. The easiest way to include animated subflames in an animated flame is to use motion curves when preparing the subflame. An alternate method is to use the JWildfire Easy move maker to save an animated flame as a sequence of flames (select FLAMES as the output type). Then set flame_filename to the first flame in the sequence, set flame_is_sequence to 1, and set the other flame_sequence parameters.

ParameterDescription
flameThe flame to import as a subflame (copy the flame to the clipboard, edit the flame parameter by clicking the gear icon, delete the existing flame, and paste the new flame)
flame_filenameAn alternate to flame, the name of the file containing the subflame (or first flame in a sequence of flames)
scaleAdjust the size of the subflame
angleAdjust the rotation angle of the subflame in degrees
offset_x, offset_y, offset_zAdjust the position of the subflame
colorscale_zMultiply the flame’s gradient index by this and add to z (like colorscale_wf)
color_modeHow to treat subflame colors:
-2: True color – Use the original subflame colors
-1: Ignore subflame colors (use the coloring type of the transform containing subflame_wf)
0: Direct color; use the gradient index of the subflame, but the gradient of the main flame
1: Red – set the gradient index to the amount of red in the subflame
2: Green – set the gradient index to the amount of green in the subflame
3: Blue – set the gradient index to the amount of blue in the subflame
4: Brightness – set the gradient index to the brightness of the subflame
flame_is_sequence0 for a single flame, 1 for a sequence of flames (flame_filename must be set to the first file in the sequence)
flame_sequence_startStarting sequence number
flame_sequence_endEnding sequence number (0 for none)
flame_sequence_repeatSequence number to start repeating at after flame_sequence_end is reached
flame_sequence_digitsNumber of digits in the sequence numbers (for example, 4 means sequence numbers are 0001, 0002, etc.)

Subflame tutorial
Description on Fractal Formulas
Subflame tutorial on JWildfire Sanctuary
JWildfire subflame cylinder technique video

svg_wf

Import a Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) file.

Type: 2D blur
Author: Andreas Maschke (thargor6)
Date: 2 Jun 2013

Importers group svg_wf variation sample 1
Importers group svg_wf variation sample 2

A Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) file stores graphics as objects (lines, circles, etc.) instead of pixels, which allows them retain high quality when being scaled to different sizes. They can be created using programs such as Inkscape. The svg_wf variation allows using SVG graphics in flames. It works by first rendering the SVG file as a grid of dots, then returning one of the dots for each flame iteration that uses it.

ParameterDescription
svgThe SVG file to use
antialias_radiusControls the size of the dots returned by svg_wf; larger values make the dots larger, which can help reduce aliasing (but can also make the result blurry)
resolution_multiplierControls the resolution of the grid of dots used to render the SVG file; increase this value to reduce pixelation or aliasing; decrease it for special effects, as in the second example
true_color1: Use the colors specified in the SVG file
0: Use similar colors from the gradient
pre_antialias1: Use antialiasing when rendering the SVG graphic to a grid of dots
0: Disable this antialiasing
scale_x, scale_yAdjust the horizontal and vertical scale of the graphic
offset_x, offset_yAdjust the horizontal and vertical position of the graphic

used for the examples (source)
Understanding and Creating SVG Tutorial

text_wf

A line of arbitrary text

Type: 2D blur
Author: Andreas Maschke (thargor6)
Date: 24 Dec 2012

Importers group text_wf variation 
ParameterDescription
textThe line of text to use (line breaks are ignored)
font_nameThe font to use, including style (bold/italic), but the size is ignored (use scale_x and scale_y)
font_sizeThe size of the grid used to rasterize the text; increase to reduce aliasing, but JWildfire can hang if it is too large; most users will want it under 1500. Small values will result in text made from dots.
antialiasControls the size of the dots in the raster; larger values make the dots larger, which can help reduce aliasing
scale_x, scale_yScale factors for x and y
offset_x, offset_yMoves the text horizontally and vertically
baselineNot used (it specifies the spacing between lines, but since the text is put on a single line, it is ignored

Tutorial
Variation information at the JWildfire Sanctuary



This information has all been created by Rick Sidwell as a guide to the more popular variations used in fractal flames, and very generously allowed me to reproduce it here. Not all of the variations are included with JWildfire, but a great many are, so it is worthwhile learning about them.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.


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