Overview of Program

This program allows you to create a sequence of  pans and zooms through the Mandelbrot set.  The end result is an AVI file which can be played back by the Media Player supplied by Windows.

Creating the AVI file is a 4-step process:

1. Create an outline – Use the arrow buttons and zoom button to pan and zoom through the Mandelbrot set.  At each step, it may be desirable to adjust the color boundaries with the scroll bars.  When the outline is completed, press the Next button.
2. Choose the frame size and zoom smoothness of the final AVI file.  A larger frame size and smoother zoom will cause the file size to become considerably larger.  After making the choices, press the Next button.
3. Watch while the program fills in the details.  This process could take several hours depending on the number of outline steps, and the choices made in Step 2.
4. Rename the supplied AVI filename if you wish.  You can also change the folder where the file will be stored.  After you change the folder, all subsequent files you create will be stored in that folder.

Creating the Outline

Creating the outline consists of panning, zooming, and adjusting color boundaries.  It is also possible to "back up" by using the Reverse button.

Panning

Simply click on one of the eight arrow buttons to pan in the desired direction.

Zooming

Place the dashed rectangle in the desired location, and press the zoom button.

 To adjust the size of the rectangle - Place the cursor over one of the four handles on the rectangle, hold down the left mouse button and drag the mouse.

To adjust the location of the rectangle – Place the cursor in the middle of the rectangle, hold down the left mouse button and drag the mouse.

Adjusting color boundaries (This is REALLY inportant!)

The default colors are blue, yellow, pink, and white.  Blue is furthest from the Mandelbrot set, and white is closest.  The default color of the Mandelbrot set is dark red.  Adjusting the color scroll bars makes it possible to pick out the exquisite details on the boundary of the Mandelbrot set. You can pick your own colors in the Options menu.

Blue scroll bar – Scrolling to the right causes more blue to appear, and less yellow.  Scrolling to the left causes less blue to appear, and more yellow.

Yellow scroll bar – Scrolling to the right causes more yellow to appear, and less pink.  Scrolling to the left causes less yellow to appear, and more pink.

Pink scroll bar – Scrolling to the right causes more pink to appear, and less white.  Scrolling to the left causes less pink to appear, and more white.

Note that finer scrolling is accomplished by clicking on the scroll bar arrows, and coarser scrolling is accomplished by clicking inside the arrows.

Reverse

Press the Reverse button to back up as many outline steps as you want to.  This makes it possible to zoom in, back out to gain perspective, and then zoom somewhere else.

Selecting File Options

Zoom Smoothness

Choosing maximum will cause the most number of frames to be inserted while zooming.  This will increase the amount of disk space and the amount of time required to create the file.

Frame Size

The larger the frame size, the more details you get to see.  Obviously, this requires more disk space and time to create the file.

Compression

Windows has several compressors available.  You can select a different compressor by pressing the Change button