A Quick note about the April Agony Aunt feature:As we did not get any questions last month there was no Agony Aunt feature for April. Assuming that most of the burning questions you had about UF have now been answered we have decided not to do this feature again for the time being. It may be something we will re-visit in future but for now it seems to have run its course.
May 2013 BarnsleyJ Deluxe Challenge 
This month we are introducing you to one of the Barnsley formulas of Ed Algra:
BarnsleyJ DeLuxe (UF4) from
ea.ufmThis starter layer, kindly provided by
Jimpan1973 will help you get started with this style of fractal. Jimmie has recommended this formula as a good one for beginners to start with. The starting fractal uses the default settings for this formula - we would like you to explore these parameters fully and submit entries that clearly show you have made some changes to these settings. Apart from the requirement to only use this one formula (with parameter changes) you can do whatever you like with any settings and may use whatever colourings and/or textures you like on the Outside Tab. So make the most of these loose rules and show us what you can do!
In line with the group's aim of sharing and learning together we do require you to either publish the parameters with your image -or- submit them to the group by note so that we may check that you have complied with the rules.
To avoid misunderstandings the full rules for this challenge are listed below, please be sure to read through them carefully. If you have any questions please just ask.
Here are some examples of the use of
BarnsleyJ DeLuxe from DA's fractal gallery to inspire you:
FULL LIST OF BARNSLEYJ DELUXE CHALLENGE RULES 
Formula: All layers, including masks, MUST
use the
BarnsleyJ DeLuxe (UF4) formula from
ea.ufm provided in the starter image.
Do not just use the default parameters - you MUST do some work on this formula and change one or more of the parameters.
Layers: Any number of layers/masks may be used.
Outside Coloring: Use any colouring/s you wish. Textures are allowed.
Location: The image may be zoomed in/out, rotated and cropped to a different aspect ratio for compositional purposes.
Gradient: You can use any gradient/s you wish.
NO mappings/transforms and
NO frames of any kind allowed.
NO huge/ugly watermarks (that includes the DA watermark).
Minimal postwork allowed e.g. small amount of sharpening plus a
small/subtle watermark/sig only.
NO frames.
You MUST be a member of
Ultra-Fractal-Redux to participate and may enter up to TWO different versions of your tweak into the challenge folder over the month.
Your entries MUST be newly created works that have not previously been published.
Please consider your entries carefully. If you need to change your image send us a Note with the details.
You may make just ONE change to your entries per month so choose wisely!
The challenge starts on the 1st and runs through to the end of the month.
Submit your image into our
May 2013 "BarnsleyJ Deluxe" Challenge folder in the gallery:
ultra-fractal-redux.deviantart… You MUST note this group with your Parameter set for checking OR make the parameters publicly available by putting them in your artist comments or linking to the parameters saved in your
Sta.sh area. This is compulsory (we need to check your work abides by the challenge rules) and we will disqualify any entries made without this having been done.
A direct link to this journal and the name of the group MUST be included in your artists comments, i.e.
My entry for the
May 2013 "BarnsleyJ Deluxe" Challenge [please add a
working link to this challenge journal]
You may if you wish, add the thumb of the journal itself. This would be much appreciated!
May 2013 Freestyle Challenge Theme: Pastel This "freestyle" challenge has one simple rule. Using
Ultra Fractal create a fractal image in pastel colours. The challenge will run until the end of the month and you may submit TWO images. Parameter sharing in this challenge is encouraged but NOT a requirement if you do not wish to do this.
To avoid misunderstanding the full rules for this challenge are listed below, please be sure to read through them carefully. If you have any questions please just ask.
The definition of pastel is: "having pale, delicate colors". Essentially what we are looking for are images with more delicate colours - try making your gradients a little less saturated and/or lighter in shade.
Tip: If you have not done so already try switching the display of UF's Gradient Editor to Luminance view where you can adjust the colour control points by Hue, Saturation and Luminance, which is ideal for creating pastel colours. Look up the first page of the "Gradients" chapter in the program's Help file for more info on this option.
Tip: With the Gradient window selected use the F7 key to generate a "Randomized Misty" gradient. This type of gradient usually includes more pastel colours. Press the key repeatedly to find something you like. Or press the F8 key to create a custom palette - here you can set the levels of saturation and lightness required. Both of these actions are a good way of finding a nice gradient to work with. Recommended for new users!
To whet your appetite and perhaps give you a few ideas here is a selection of
Ultra Fractal artwork showing how such delicate colouring can be used to great effect:
FULL LIST OF MAY 2013 FREESTYLE PASTEL CHALLENGE RULES Images MUST use pastel colours. These should be visible on MOST or ALL of the image. Small splashes of pastel colouring is not acceptable.
Please note that we, the admins, reserve the right to refuse entries that we feel are too dark or too heavily saturated. Questionable entries will be decided on by more than one member of the admin team. Please do not be offended if your entry is refused on these grounds, we always try to be generous and fair but the challenge rules ARE there for a reason and need to be followed.
You MUST be a member of
Ultra-Fractal-Redux to participate and may enter up to TWO different images into the challenge folder over the month.
Your entries MUST be newly created works that have not previously been published.
The challenge starts on the 1st and runs through to the end of the month.
Submit your image/s into our
May 2013 "Pastel" Challenge folder in the gallery:
ultra-fractal-redux.deviantart… Minimal postwork allowed e.g. small amount of sharpening plus a
small/subtle watermark/sig only.
Parameter sharing is encouraged in this group. You can do this by:
▪ adding the parameters for your image/s to the artist comments
▪ linking to the parameters saved in your
Sta.sh area (avoids long parameter text in your artist comments!
)
▪ offering to share them privately by note to individuals that ask
Any of these sharing options will greatly help others so do please consider generously offering your parameters in this way.
If you do NOT wish to share that is OK too, and for this freestyle challenge you will NOT be required to send in your parameters to us.
Please consider your entries carefully. If you need to change your image send us a Note with the details.
You may make just ONE change to your entries per month so choose wisely!
A direct link to this journal and the name of the group MUST be included in your artists comments, i.e.
My entry for the
May 2013 "Pastel" Challenge [please add a
working link to this challenge journal]
You may if you wish, add the thumb of the journal itself. This would be much appreciated!
CONCLUSIONThat's it! If you have any questions please ask.
We hope you will participate in and enjoy these challenges! Please remember that these exercises are primarily intended to be for fun and learning, by members of all abilities. Great artistic works are not the prime objective, though we hope that you will all choose the best examples that you come up with and that you will publicly share your parameters - I'm sure we all have much to learn from each other!
Have fun!
