Hint 2

How do fractal artists make up names for their fractals?

Creating a fractal can be very difficult. Making up a name for one sometimes even more! This has been discussed on the Fractint Mailing List some time ago. Below are some excerpts. If you have difficulties finding names for your fractals you might find some very usefull ideas here! Look for the red highlighted text.

From: Jacco Burger
To: fractint@lists.xmission.com <fractint@lists.xmission.com>
Subject: (fractint) We're only in it for the fractals
Date: Friday January 8 1999

When I first tried to think of names for my fractals I really had no inspiration. I didn't want to give them those often used names like 'Neon Spiral' or 'Blue Mandelbrot' or 'Red Alien', but I couldn't think of anything better either...

So one day I was sitting, staring at one of my fractals on my computerscreen, thinking and thinking: how should I call this one? At that moment I had a record of Frank Zappa playing, and I heard him singing: "In the dangerous kitchen..... if it ain't one thing it's another...." and I thought: that's it! So I started reading the sleeves of all the LP and CD records I had, and that is how many of my fractals got their names.

So if you take a good look at my fractal gallery you might also find some songtitles from other bands and musicians. I am not going to spoil the fun by telling which ones they are, that is for you to discover.

A source of inspiration for exotic fractal names are dictionaries of foreign languages. The dictionary also provides you very conveniantly with the meaning of the word so you can be sure you are not using offensive words. This can be tricky, though! I know for instance that some very ordinary Dutch words sound very rude to Polish people....

Another way of finding names is fun and very easy. Just show a fractal to somebody, preferably a child, and ask: "what does this look like?". You will be surprised! At least 3 of my fractals got their names this way.

Actually, I am thinking of adding some of this kind of information to my fractals on my webpages. I will let you know in time.

I am very curious about other people's sources for names. Anyone who would like to tell about it?

Bye!
Jacco
webgallery: www.caiw.nl/~jaccobu

From: Ricardo M. Forno
To: fractint@lists.xmission.com
Subject: (fractint) Fractal names
Date: Friday January 8 1999

Jacco:
I sometimes use names from my classical music CD collection. Once, for example, I named one of them 'Sprotar', an Icelandic word of which I do not know the meaning yet, but surely it is not offensive.

Ricardo.

From: Damien M. Jones
To: fractint@lists.xmission.com
Subject: Re: (fractint) Naming fractals
Date: Friday January 8 1999

Jacco,

- I am very curious about other people's sources for names.
- Anyone who would like to tell about it?

Normally I just look at the fractal and think of what it reminds me of. That probably accounts for most of the lame names I've used. :-) Often while exploring I will see a shape that makes me think of something, and I'll refine the image in that direction to make it fit the name. Sometimes I'm just totally stumped; at that point, I turn to a few friends for help. I do have one friend who has named several fractals who doesn't know much about fractals at all (just that he likes them). And sometimes it just helps to have someone else look at the images, so that you get a fresh perspective.

Damien M. Jones \\
xxx@xxxxxx.com \\ Fractalus Galleries & Info:
\\ http://www.fractalus.com/

Please do not post my e-mail address on a web site or in a newsgroup. Thank you.

From: Dama
To: fractint@lists.xmission.com
Subject: Re: (fractint) We're only in it for the fractals
Date: Friday January 8 1999

In a message dated 1/8/99 12:32:40 PM Pacific Standard Time,
Jacco Burger writes:

> I am very curious about other people's sources for names.
> Anyone who would like to tell about it?

Some I name for friends, some for mythological characters, some for my own transient thoughts......

You mentioned using words in other languages. I just found a wonderful site for that, which provides links to languages most of us have never even *heard* of, for translation and even on-line language lessons:

http://www.elite.net/~runner/jennifers/languag2.htm

BTW I have a Frank Zappa for President tee-shirt.....count me in :)

Dama

From: Paul Derbyshire
To: fractint@lists.xmission.com
Subject: Re: (fractint) We're only in it for the fractals
Date: Saturday January 9 1999

At 04:38 PM 1/8/99 EST, you wrote:
>In a message dated 1/8/99 12:32:40 PM Pacific Standard Time,
>Jacco Burger writes:
>
>> I am very curious about other people's sources for names.
>> Anyone who would like to tell about it?
>
>Some I name for friends, some for mythological characters,
>some for my own transient thoughts......

I invent names for mine. If you see "Teralla" or "Krenias" or something similar in an online dictionary it is entirely coincidental.

>You mentioned using words in other languages. I just found a
>wonderful site for that, which provides links to languages most
>of us have never even *heard* of, for translation and even
>on-line language lessons:
>
>http://www.elite.net/~runner/jennifers/languag2.htm

Thanks! Might be interesting and/or useful. :-)

>BTW I have a Frank Zappa for President tee-shirt.....count me
>in :)

How about Gillian Anderson for president-ess?
(I don't think there's ever been a red-head in office in the western world.... let alone a lady one.)
--
"Clouds are not spheres, mountains are not cones, coastlines are not circles, and bark is not smooth, nor does lightning travel in a straight line." ---------------------------------------------------
B. Mandelbrot
|http://surf.to/pgd.net
_____________________ ____|________
Paul Derbyshire xxxxx@xxx.xxx
Programmer & Humanist|ICQ: xxxxxxx|

From: PKyleCA@xxx.com
To: fractint@lists.xmission.com
Subject: Re: (fractint) We're only in it for the fractals
Date: Saturday January 9 1999

In a message dated 01/08/1999 12:32:40 PM Pacific Standard Time, Jacco Burger writes:

<< I am very curious about other people's sources for names. Anyone who would like to tell about it? >>

how about http://members.aol.com/vbolug/fractal.htm. Here is where various people get to give them names in a contest format. Amazing to see how many different people think in naming a fractal. Sparks the creative process.

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