*** Fractal Clouds 2.4 for Windows 3.1 and Windows 95 *** 1.1 About Fractal Clouds 1.2 Contact 2.1 How to Install 2.2.1 Automatic Installation in Windows 95 2.2.2 Automatic Installation in Windows 3.1 2.3 Manual Installation 3.1.1 Setting up the Screen Saver in Windows 95 3.1.2 Setting up the Screen Saver in Windows 3.1 3.2 Screen Saver Setup 3.3 Changing Color Palettes 4 Registering 5.1 Disclaimer 5.2 Terms of Use 5.3 Troubleshooting 5.4 Suggestions and Bug Report 5.5 What's new 6 More fractals 1.1 About Fractal Clouds Fractal Clouds screen saver generates random clouds on the screen in an endless variety of forms and colors. You never know what image will be next. This screen saver doesn't show you the pictures you provide, it creates them. You have the freedom to choose all the features of your clouds, and have the freedom to let the computer make this choice for you. You can change colors, define how "stormy" your clouds should be, and set up special effects: you can have color-changing clouds with a psychedelic effect, clouds moving in an endless flow, clouds transforming one into another, and other extra effects. Fractal Clouds is FAST. It doesn't take minutes to create an image, it takes seconds. 1.2 Contact If you want to contact the author write to: Letizia Di Nunno Viale D. Pietri, 22 00122 ROMA - ITALY e-mail: fclouds@registerline.com URL: http://www.registerline.com/fclouds All your comments are welcome. 2.1 How to Install a) Unpack the zipped file; you will find the following files in your directory: 1) FCLOUDS.W31 (Fractal Clouds 16-bit version) 2) FCLOUDS.W95 (Fractal Clouds 32-bit version) 3) README.TXT (The file you are reading) 4) INSTALL.EXE (Installation program) 5) INSTAL32.EXE (Invoked by the install.exe program) b) Now you can either manually install the screen saver (see 2.3) or use the installation program (see 2.2.1 or 2.2.2). The installation program will automatically detect your operating system and prompt you for the right version to install. 2.2.1 Automatic Installation in Windows 95 a) Run the installation program install.exe from the DOS shell by typing INSTALL on the command line, or b) From the Start Menu, choose Run and click on the Browse button to look for the INSTALL.EXE program into the directory where the unpacked files are. Run the INSTALL.EXE program. The program will automatically install the screen saver onto your Windows directory. No changes will be done to your AUTOEXEC.BAT or CONFIG.SYS files. 2.2.2 Automatic Installation in Windows 3.1 Start Windows, or return to Windows if you are in a DOS shell. Run the installation program INSTALL.EXE through the Program Manager's File/Run menu or through the File Manager. Click on the "Continue" button; the program will automatically install the screen saver onto your Windows directory. No changes will be done to your AUTOEXEC.BAT or CONFIG.SYS files. 2.3 Manual Installation If you are running Windows 95, copy the file FCLOUDS.W95 to your Windows 95 directory, renaming it to FCLOUDS.SCR (copy fclouds.w95 c:\windows\fclouds.scr) If you are running Windows 3.x, copy the file FCLOUDS.W31 to your Windows 3.x directory, renaming it to FCLOUDS.SCR (copy fclouds.w31 c:\windows\fclouds.scr) 3.1.1 Setting up the screen saver in Windows 95 To enable the screen saver, click on the desktop with the right button of your mouse, then click on Properties. Otherwise you may click on the Start button, then activate the Control Panel and click on the Desktop or Screen program. Click on the "Screen Saver" section, then click on the down arrow. In the list that appears, select "Fractal Clouds". In the "Delay" field, enter the number of minutes of inactivity before the screen saver is executed. Now click on the "Setup" button, and the Fractal Clouds configuration window will display. 3.1.2 Setting up the screen saver in Windows 3.1 To enable the screen saver, execute the Control Panel application, usually in the Main group. When Control Panel opens, double-click on the Desktop icon. In the "Screen Saver" section, click on the arrow near the "Name" field. In the list that appears, select "Fractal Clouds". In the "Delay" field, enter the number of minutes of inactivity before the screen saver is executed. Now click on the "Setup" button, and the Fractal Clouds configuration window will display. 3.2 Screen Saver Setup Setting the options in this screen saver is fairly easy to do and does not require much help. Here is a brief description of each section and option. Registration - This section reminds you that this program is NOT free, and that if you want to use it, you must register your copy. The registration fee is very low, and this should encourage you. In this section the "How to register" button opens a window in which you can read all informations you need to get registered and how to contact the author. The same informations you can read in this file. The "Terms of use" button opens a window in which is contained a shorter description of the terms of use contained in this file. General section Seconds on screen - enter in this field the number of seconds the clouds should remain on the screen before a new image be generated. The program doesn't do anything during this time, it is only for you to watch the image. This period of time is meaningful when the "Psychedelic colors" option is enabled; it is not relevant when the "Moving clouds" or the "Transforming clouds" option is enabled. Infinite - enable this check box if you want the fractal image to remain on the screen forever. When this option is set, it overrides the "Seconds on screen". Fixed granularity value - this value is taken as the fixed value to establish the granularity of the picture, when it is generated. The lowest value is 0; the highest is 999, but in the latter case instead of clouds you see the frame of a tissue, and you risk to be hypnotized if you set the Psychedelic option. The value in this field is valid only when the "Random granularity" check box is unchecked. For displays with less than 256 colors, the lowest value is 1. Random granularity - if you want the screen saver to change the granularity at each picture, enable this option. If this option is enabled, the value in the "Fixed granularity value" field is ignored. The values chosen vary from 0 to 100, with a higher weight on 1; this means that the most likely value is 1, while the least is 100, and all the intermediate values have intermediate probabilities. Exclude rainbow - enable this check box if you want to exclude clouds with a granularity value of 0 (rainbows). When the "Random granularity" option is not set, this option is ignored. Do not clear the screen - enable this check box if you don't want to clear the screen between two images. If yours is a palette-based display device (256 colors) and you are not using a fixed palette (see options described below), the old image changes its colors according to the new palette before a new image is generated. This option is not relevant when the "Moving clouds" or the "Transforming clouds" option is enabled. Colors section Use random palettes - if you enable this option, when a new image is to be generated, the program can create and use a new random palette, and if the "Use predefined palettes" option is NOT set, a new random palette is created for every new image. When the "Moving clouds" or the "Transforming clouds" option is set, a random palette is chosen only for the first image, while the subsequent ones, use the same colors as the first one. You can use this option in conjunction with the "Use predefined palettes", not with the "Used fixed palette". Use predefined palettes - this screen saver contains 7 predefined palettes, chosen with some criteria. If you enable this option, the predefined palettes are included in the choice of a new palette, and if the "Use random palettes" option is NOT set, the new palettes are always chosen from the predefined 7. When the "Moving clouds" or the "Transforming clouds" option is set, this option is used only for the first image, while the subsequent ones, use the same colors as the first one. You can use this option in conjunction with the "Use random palettes", not with the "Used fixed palette". Use fixed palette - this option can be set when you want all the images to be generated with the same palette, choosing one among the predefined 7. Enter the number of the palette in the "Choose fixed palette" field. You cannot use this option in conjunction with the "Use random palettes" or the "Use predefined palettes". If NONE of these options is set, the program uses random palettes. Special effects - REGISTERED USERS ONLY section If you are not a registered user of Fractal Clouds, these options are disabled, and the "None" button is selected by default. When you register, these options will be enabled. None - The program will use none of the special effects available: moving clouds, transforming clouds and psychedelic colors. This button is selected by default and is not changeable if you are not a registered user. Just a taste - This option is available for non registered users only: it enables the Psychedelic effect for the first image, and for the first 30 seconds. If you choose a higher value for the "Seconds on screen" parameter, the psychedelic effect stops after 30 seconds in any case, while the image remains on the screen. This option is enabled by default. Psychedelic colors (256 and more color displays only) - while the image is on the screen, before it disappears, its colors rapidly spin, giving the psychedelic effect. If you like this effect, increase the amount of time the image remains on the screen. Be very careful using this option, especially with high granularity values: you may be hypnotized! This option works much faster with palette-based display devices (256 colors). Delay - this scrollbar allows you to set up the delay time between two color changes, in milliseconds. Continuous color changing - this option is also available for non registered users. If you enable this option, color palettes change continuously while an image remains on the screen and always new colors flow into your cloud. Use this option with a high value for "Seconds on screen", otherwise you won't appreciate its beauty. This option is not valid if the "Use random palettes" option is not set. Moving clouds - with this option, when an image is on the screen, another is created in the background, then the second is attached to the first and gradually substitutes it, giving the sensation of moving clouds. Try using this option with palette #3 (sky-like effect). In Windows 3.x while the new image is created, the screen is "frozen", while in Windows 95 the movement doesn't stop. Speed - this value indicates the speed of movement. Low values result in a smoother change between images, while values too high won't let you appreciate this feature. Transforming clouds - This option is what was most asked by the users of former versions of Fractal Clouds: the actual image gradually transforms into another having the same color and granularity values. This results in a smooth change of a static image into another. No Psychedelic effects, no color changing, just a smooth transformation. Try this with palette #3 and you will find yourself observing a realistic sky. In Windows 3.x while the new image is being created, the screen is "frozen", while in Windows 95 the transformation doesn't stop. Steps - This is the number of steps necessary to transform an image into another. Higher values will result in a smoother, slower transformation and viceversa. Choose the best value according to your computer's speed. Extra special effect - you may choose one of these effects in addition to each of the others: None (no extra effect), Pepper, Confetti, Terrible (this is a screen destroyer, not a screen saver!). Password section (Windows 3.1 only) It works just like all other screen savers: it allows you to set a password to "lock" your computer while you are away and the screen saver is running. The password is necessary to stop the screen saver, so don't forget it. 3.3 Changing Color Palettes The Fractal Clouds screen saver contains 7 pre-defined palettes. When the screen saver is executed or configured, all the configuration parameters are written to the "control.ini" file, into your Windows directory. All the times subsequent to the first, the configuration parameters are read from this file. The palettes are treated as all other parameters, so they also are written to the file. Every palette is generated by mixing together from 2 to 8 out of 8 main colors, and these main colors are those you can find on the configuration file. If you want to change one of these palettes, simply edit the file and change the colors in the "Palette" entries in the [ScreenSaver.FractalClouds] section. You can change, add and delete colors from a palette, but you cannot insert new color names, or specify less than 2 or more than 8 colors for each palette. Neither you can increase or decrease the number of palettes. To restore the original palettes, delete all the "Palette" entries from the configuration file, and then enter the Setup again and exit with "OK". 4. Registering Living in the U.S.A.? You may register your copy of Fractal Clouds by just making a phone call! No credit cards. No money in the mail. Register immediately through Regi$ter Online! Your registration fee is charged to your phone bill and accepted as payment. Visit http://www.registerline.com/fclouds and have your copy of Fractal Clouds fully functional in minutes!!. The registration fee is $7.95. Not living in the U.S.A.? You cannot access the Regi$ter Online! service. The registration fee for Fractal Clouds is US$8.00 (eight) if you have an e-mail address, otherwise you should add $1.00 for shipping. When you register, you will receive your personal registration code and informations on future upgrades to the program. To register Fractal Clouds, send the registration fee and your e-mail address to: Letizia Di Nunno Viale D. Pietri, 22 00122 ROMA - ITALY The registration code is strictly personal; it cannot be given away or sold. Requests for "group" or "unlimited" licenses will be accepted and evaluated. Ask for more details. By registering, the Author grant you a permanent license to use this copyrighted computer program, in the current version, on a single computer, subject to the terms and conditions of this license. REGISTER NOW. If you register now, you will have all future upgrades to this version for FREE, should even the registration fee grow. It doesn't cost too much to support the shareware concept. 5.1 Disclaimer THE PROGRAM AND ALL THE RELATED FILES ARE PROVIDED "AS IS". THE AUTHOR DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES RELATING TO THIS SOFTWARE, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO THE PROGRAM OR ITS PERFORMANCE OR QUALITY, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT WILL THE AUTHOR BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, LOST PROFITS OR LOST DATA, RESULTING FROM THE USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THE PROGRAM. YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE READ THIS AGREEMENT, UNDERSTAND IT, AND THAT BY USING THIS SOFTWARE YOU AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS. IF THESE TERMS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE TO YOU, THEN PLEASE DELETE THE PROGRAM AND ALL RELATED FILES FROM YOUR DISKS IMMEDIATELY. 5.2 Terms of Use If you try Fractal Clouds and decide to use it, you must register your copy. If you do not register your copy, you are not authorized to use the program beyond an initial evaluation period of thirty (30) days. Fractal Clouds is distributed as a shareware program. It is NOT a public domain program. However, you are encouraged to copy it for trial purposes. The program and all associated files can be freely copied and shared to allow others to try it. You may upload this program and all associated files to any bulletin board system (BBS) or on-line computer service. The program and all its related files must be distributed in unmodified form. You may not remove any files from the distribution archives or diskettes. You may not add any files unless the added files are clearly marked as being an addition to the original archives or diskettes. If this program and its related files are included in a collection of shareware and/or public domain programs, it must be clear to the purchaser of the collection that no license to use this program is granted by the purchase of the collection. This program and all its related files may not be given away with commercial products without an explicit authorization from the Author. You agree not to: a) modify, disassemble, reverse engineer or decompile the program, b) use this program on more than one terminal of a network, on a multi- user computer, on a time-sharing system, on a service bureau, on any system on which the program could be used (other than for trial purposes) by more than one person at a time. 5.3 Troubleshooting Q- "I installed the new version on Windows 95, but when I click on the "setup" button of the Control Panel, I still see the old program's setup". A- In Windows 95, the installation program installs the "Fractal clouds" file, instead of the "fclouds", as it was before. You should activate the new screen saver and remove the old one. See section 3.1.1. Q- "I have not registered my copy of Fractal Clouds yet, and I have noticed that colors spin only for the first image, and even if I increase the Seconds on screen, the psychedelic effect stops after a certain time". A- Non registered users don't have full access to all the features of the program. The only feature enabled is the Psychedelic effect, only for the first image and only for the first 30 seconds. Q- "I have enabled the 'Psychedelic' option, but I can see nothing psychedelic happening". A- Probably the Delay is too high and/or yours is a non palette-based display device. You should either reduce the value for Delay, or set your system's color palette to 256 colors. Q- "I have enabled the 'Continuous color changing' option, but I cannot see any new colors in the actual pattern". A- This is because the Seconds on screen are too few and there is no time to change the current color palette, or probably the colors change too slowly. In the first case increase the Seconds on screen, in the second reduce the Delay time. Q- "I have enabled the 'Continuous color changing' option, but at times colors have a 'jump' instead of changing smoothly. A- Disable the 'Use predefined palettes' option, to allow the program generate new random color palettes as a continuous flow of colors, without jumps. Even in this case you may notice a little jump in colors, but in this case it is between two different intensities of the same color. The change of the color intensities is a feature of the program, not a bug. Q- "A cloud pattern transforms into the next too slowly / too rapidly and not continuously". A- Decrease / increase the number of steps. Q- "When viewing moving clouds or transforming clouds, the movement stops for a certain time, then starts again. I'm running Windows 3.1". A- Fractal clouds moves or transforms a cloud pattern into another, and when has finished, has to generate another pattern. During this time any other operation has to be interrupted, so that the screen looks like frozen. Q- "When viewing moving clouds or transforming clouds, the speed increases visibly after one second or so. I'm running Windows 95". A- Fractal clouds moves or transforms a cloud pattern into another, and when has finished, has to generate another pattern. In Windows 95 new patterns are generated in background, so that the main operation has not to be interrupted, but the background working takes some of the system's resources and slows down the movement or transformations of clouds. Q- "When I click on 'Moving clouds' or 'Transforming clouds' the Seconds on screen field gets disabled". A- When one of these features is selected, the Seconds on screen are meaningless, therefore they are ignored. Q- "When I click on 'Use fixed palette', the 'Continuous color changing' gets disabled and the two other color options get unchecked". A- If you want a fixed color palette, you cannot have colors changing. To enable back the 'Continuous color changing', click on 'Use random palettes'. Q- "The 'Terrible' effect is not so terrible". A- Set up your system's color palette to 256 colors, then select the 'Psychedelic effect' and set a low Delay (less than 10). 5.4 Suggestions and Bug Report If you spot bugs or have comments or suggestions about the program, please write to the he Author. All your suggestions will be accepted and, if possible, included in the subsequent release. In any case you will be noticed (e-mail only) on the acceptance of your suggestion. 5.5 What's new October 1997 - version 2.4 * Added "Transforming Clouds" feature. * Added "Continuous color changing" parameter. * Added "Speed" parameter for Moving Clouds. * Changed algorithm for Moving Clouds, to get smoother movement. * Made Extra Effects work with non palette-based display devices (more than 256 colors). * Added background working in Windows 95: clouds do not stop moving or transforming as in Windows 3.x. * 3D-like configuration window in Windows 3.x also. * Made unique package for 16 and 32 bit versions; improved installation program. * Fixed bug in Win 95 version: a memory leak caused the program to stop after a certain time. * Fixed bug that made Psychedelic colors not work on non palette-based display devices (more than 256 colors). May 1997 - version 2.3 (Windows 95 only) * Timeout reset to zero at every new version. * Fixed bug in timeout management. 6. More fractals FracTrip FracTrip is a program that allows you to generate images of the Mandelbrot Set and make movies of them. It lets you explore this fascinating Set and enter the wonderful world of fractal geometry in a simple and intuitive way, allowing you to save the generated images, and to create zoom movies, one of the main features of FracTrip. It is also possible to save, load and review a film. A film can be generated by zooming in or out an image leaving unchanged the center. You can choose the number of frames, the zooming speed and other useful parameters. With FracTrip you can also zoom inside any region of a displayed image by just selecting an area to zoom into. It is easy to modify the pre-set color palette by mixing together 8 main colors, set the background color, change the color intensity and swap to a B/W palette. Creating fractals has never been so easy. Special offer for registered users of Fractal Clouds.