Fractal
Updated: 31 Jan 2025
Generates a 3D Fractal structure for Procedurals
Fractal
Method #
This node generates a distance field from 3D fractals, such as the Julia Quad, Mandelbulb and Menger Sponge. These complex and detailed structures can then be combined and altered for more unique effects.
Fractals can have a lot of small thin details that can be difficult to represent using Procedural Meshing, so it’s advised to use the Procedural Raytracer instead.
Parameters
These properties control the 3D transforms of the node. Transforms will generally be inherited by child nodes, although they can be ignored through the Inherit Transform Channels attributes.
Parameter Details Position X The objects position along the local x-axis.
Position Y The objects position along the local y-axis.
Position Z The objects position along the local z-axis.
Rotation Heading The objects rotation around the local y-axis.
Rotation Pitch The objects rotation around the local x-axis.
Rotation Bank The objects rotation around the local z-axis.
Scale X The objects scale along the local x-axis.
Scale Y The objects scale along the local y-axis.
Scale Z The objects scale along the local z-axis.
Control the inheritance of the transforms from the parent.
Parameter Details Position Toggle inheritance of the Position from the parent.
Rotation Toggle inheritance of the Rotation from the parent.
Scale Toggle inheritance of the Scale from the parent.
World Position Only Inherit the world position from the parent only, rotation and scale will be ignored. Overrides above properties.
Inherit Time Toggle inheritance of time from the parent.
These properties control the core behaviours of the node.
Parameter Details Fractal Mode Choose the fractal shape to be generated.
- Quat Julia : A 3D version of the Julia set, tends to create lots of thin looping lines.
- Mandelbulb : A 3D version of the Mandlebrot set, tends to generate coral like shapes.
- Mandelbox : A 3D version of the Mandlebrot set, tends to generate boxier shapes.
- Mandelblob : A variant of the Mandlebulb, which is a little more adaptable and and controllable.
- Apollonian : A 3D Apollonian Gasket fractal. Makes lots of balls of varying sizes.
- Sponge : A 3D Menger Sponge, which breakes up a cube by iteratively cutting out smaller and smaller cubes.
Num Iterations How many iterations are processed to generate the fractal. Higher values will increase detail, but can be both intensive to calculate and introduce aliasing issues.
Quat Julia Param Cycles through a seed of the julia set, to see more variances of the fractal. Only available when set to Julia Set.
Mandlebulb Power Cycles through a seed of the Mandlebulb, to see more variances of the fractal. Only available when set to Mandlebulb.
Folding limit TBC. Only available when set to Mandlebox.
Fixed Radius TBC. Only available when set to Mandlebox.
Min Radius TBC. Only available when set to Mandlebox.
Iteration Scale TBC. Only available when set to Mandlebox.
Iteration Angle TBC. Only available when set to Mandlebox.
Iteration Angle TBC. Only available when set to Mandlebox.
Phi Offset TBC. Only available when set to Mandlebox.
Theta Offset TBC. Only available when set to Mandlebox.
Apollonian Scale TBC. Only available when set to Apollonian.
Sponge Offset X TBC. Only available when set to Sponge.
Sponge Offset Y TBC. Only available when set to Sponge.
Sponge Offset Z TBC. Only available when set to Sponge.
Sponge Rotate X TBC. Only available when set to Sponge.
Sponge Rotate Y TBC. Only available when set to Sponge.
Sponge Rotate Z TBC. Only available when set to Sponge.
Sponge Scale TBC. Only available when set to Sponge.
CSG Mode These options change how a this procedural node combines with the existing of the procedural system.
- Replace : Replaces the previous procedural system with a new procedural shape.
- Union : Simply combines both the new procedural shape and the existing procedural system.
- Intersection : Interesects the new shape with the shape before.
- Subtract : Subtracts the new procedural shape from the existing procedural system.
- Blend : Blends between both the new procedural shape and the existing procedural system, driven by the CSG Blend Weight.
- Union Blend : A combination of union and blend which tries to preserve both objects more, with the blending being driven by the CSG Blend Weight.
- Smooth Union : The new procedural is added to the old, and smoothing (driven by the CSG Blend Weight) is applied to the outcome.
- Smooth Subtract : The new procedural shape is subtracted from the existing procedural system, and smoothing (driven by the CSG Blend Weight) is applied to the outcome.
- Offset : Blends one procedural ontop of the other another withing the area of the original procedural system.
- Custom Code : Allows you to enter your own expression code.
CSG Blend Weight How much the new procedural blends with the old procedurals, depending on the CSG Blend Weight.
Custom CSG Code Type your Custom code here, using the HLSL language. Read more on Editable Code.
Inputs
These properties control the 3D transforms of the node. Transforms will generally be inherited by child nodes, although they can be ignored through the Inherit Transform Channels attributes.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Position X | The objects position along the local x-axis. |
| Position Y | The objects position along the local y-axis. |
| Position Z | The objects position along the local z-axis. |
| Rotation Heading | The objects rotation around the local y-axis. |
| Rotation Pitch | The objects rotation around the local x-axis. |
| Rotation Bank | The objects rotation around the local z-axis. |
| Scale X | The objects scale along the local x-axis. |
| Scale Y | The objects scale along the local y-axis. |
| Scale Z | The objects scale along the local z-axis. |
Control the inheritance of the transforms from the parent.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Position | Toggle inheritance of the Position from the parent. |
| Rotation | Toggle inheritance of the Rotation from the parent. |
| Scale | Toggle inheritance of the Scale from the parent. |
| World Position Only | Inherit the world position from the parent only, rotation and scale will be ignored. Overrides above properties. |
| Inherit Time | Toggle inheritance of time from the parent. |
These properties control the core behaviours of the node.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Fractal Mode | Choose the fractal shape to be generated.
|
| Num Iterations | How many iterations are processed to generate the fractal. Higher values will increase detail, but can be both intensive to calculate and introduce aliasing issues. |
| Quat Julia Param | Cycles through a seed of the julia set, to see more variances of the fractal. Only available when set to Julia Set. |
| Mandlebulb Power | Cycles through a seed of the Mandlebulb, to see more variances of the fractal. Only available when set to Mandlebulb. |
| Folding limit | TBC. Only available when set to Mandlebox. |
| Fixed Radius | TBC. Only available when set to Mandlebox. |
| Min Radius | TBC. Only available when set to Mandlebox. |
| Iteration Scale | TBC. Only available when set to Mandlebox. |
| Iteration Angle | TBC. Only available when set to Mandlebox. |
| Iteration Angle | TBC. Only available when set to Mandlebox. |
| Phi Offset | TBC. Only available when set to Mandlebox. |
| Theta Offset | TBC. Only available when set to Mandlebox. |
| Apollonian Scale | TBC. Only available when set to Apollonian. |
| Sponge Offset X | TBC. Only available when set to Sponge. |
| Sponge Offset Y | TBC. Only available when set to Sponge. |
| Sponge Offset Z | TBC. Only available when set to Sponge. |
| Sponge Rotate X | TBC. Only available when set to Sponge. |
| Sponge Rotate Y | TBC. Only available when set to Sponge. |
| Sponge Rotate Z | TBC. Only available when set to Sponge. |
| Sponge Scale | TBC. Only available when set to Sponge. |
| CSG Mode | These options change how a this procedural node combines with the existing of the procedural system.
|
| CSG Blend Weight | How much the new procedural blends with the old procedurals, depending on the CSG Blend Weight. |
| Custom CSG Code | Type your Custom code here, using the HLSL language. Read more on Editable Code. |
| Name | Description | Typical Input |
|---|---|---|
| Transform Modifiers | TBC | TBC |
| Target Node | TBC | TBC |
| Local Transform Override | TBC | TBC |
| Position X | TBC | TBC |
| Position Y | TBC | TBC |
| Position Z | TBC | TBC |
| Rotation Heading | TBC | TBC |
| Rotation Pitch | TBC | TBC |
| Rotation Bank | TBC | TBC |
| Scale X | TBC | TBC |
| Scale Y | TBC | TBC |
| Scale Z | TBC | TBC |
| Get World Position X | TBC | TBC |
| Get World Position Y | TBC | TBC |
| Get World Position Z | TBC | TBC |
| CSG Blend Weight | TBC | TBC |
| Material Colour | TBC | TBC |
| MandelBulb Power | TBC | TBC |
| Quat Julia Param | TBC | TBC |
| Folding Limit | TBC | TBC |
| Fixed Radius | TBC | TBC |
| Min Radius | TBC | TBC |
| Iteration Scale | TBC | TBC |
| Iteration Angle | TBC | TBC |
| Theta Offset | TBC | TBC |
| Phi Offset | TBC | TBC |
| Apollonian Scale | TBC | TBC |
| Sponge Offset X | TBC | TBC |
| Sponge Offset Y | TBC | TBC |
| Sponge Offset Z | TBC | TBC |
| Sponge Rotate X | TBC | TBC |
| Sponge Rotate Y | TBC | TBC |
| Sponge Rotate Z | TBC | TBC |
| Sponge Scale | TBC | TBC |