Fractal Photographer

Introduction 

Have you ever seen the Mandelbrot Set? If not, then this app will allow you to explore this mathematical object and discover some of the most mind-blowing patterns of nature. There is no other known shape as diverse and as mesmerizing as the Mandelbrot.

After you've seen this, you will not resist the temptation to use the 'pictures' you'll take as your wallpaper.

This program is designed to provide as fun of an experience as zooming into a fractal can be. Mandelbrot Renderers can be written in 20 lines of code. This app is far more extensive and feel more responsive, more natural. The algorithms are optimized to save up to 75% in rendering time. A variety of color schemes can be easily previewed and chosen from to provide enjoyable customization.

This app is currently available in the Windows Store. 

Features 

• Support for a variety of different input devices. Zooming can be done by pressing a button, double-clicking, using the scroll-wheel, using touch, etc.

• Multitouch support, including Pinch-Zoom-ROTATE. You don't see that often.

• Amazing color schemes included. We've designed a wide selection for you, so you can just open up the Color Scheme Picker and they will all be there. Each color scheme generates a thumbnail that previews what the image would look like on those colors, so you can choose it in one glance.

• Save and share your best spots via our implementation of the Windows 8 Share Contract.

• Optimized algorithm rerenders only the relevant areas. Your computer will not waste time rendering a 200x200 black square.

Demonstration of the color scheme picker. 

Background 

This app is a larger version of Mandelbrot Photographer published on the Windows Phone. Fractals is our passion, they are a marvel of mathematics.

Points of Interest

The app makes heavy use of multi-threading, which needs to be paused and restarted whenever the use navigates. Below is a sample of the code, showing how each row is rendered. Rendering is done at different magnification levels. It starts with rendering large chunks and then goes into finer details. That allows a better previewing of the image while it is rendering.

// Calculates the iteration count of all pixels row by row as long as there are rows to render.
private void RenderRow(IAsyncAction source)
{
    int row = GetCurrentRow();

    // As long as there is still work to be done.
    while (row != -1)
    {
        // Render all pixels in that row at a particular magnification.
        for (int x = 0; x < RenderWidthInPixels; x += _currentSeperation)
        {
            // Check if thread was cancelled.
            if (source.Status == AsyncStatus.Canceled)
                return;

            // Avoid repeating rendering.
            if (_pixelsIterations[x, row] == UNRENDERED)
            {
                // Get iteration count for that pixel
                _pixelsIterations[x, row] = RenderPixel(x, row);
                // Associate color to that pixel
                DrawPixel(x, row, _currentSeperation);

                Interlocked.Increment(ref _renderedCount);
            }
        }

        // Get the next row to render from the rendering queue
        row = GetCurrentRow();
    }
}

So in Conclusion... 

History 

September 20, 2012 : App published to the Windows Store.

October 4, 2012 : First update, included a purchasable color scheme pack.