This menu contains all the usual functions to create, open, save, and print documents, as well as the function to quit the program.
New ...
If you select the New ... menu option a checkmark is placed into the New Window checkbox within the Fractal Editor. The remaining settings are imported from the uppermost window. If the top window is a Mandelbrot set, "Mandelbrot" is used as the name of the fractal; otherwise the name "Julia" is entered. If the Fractal Editor is not open yet, it will be opened automatically. You can then enter or change additional settings and use Execute to generate a new fractal. For a detailed description of the Fractal Editor, please consult the chapter Fractal Editor.
Open ...
Opens a Fileselectbox. File Navigation Services are automatically utilized if System 8.5 or later has been installed. This provides you with extended options when selecting files. For example, keep the SHIFT key depressed to select and open several files at once.
Tip: If you are using an older operating system and would like to open several files at once (e.g., to obtain an overview), just switch to the Finder, open a window with the selected files there, select all files to be opened, and then drag these to the EasyFractal program icon or double-click on the selected files.
Open Manual
Opens the window containing this manual. Use this menu option also to pull a manual window that has slipped to the back to the front.
Close Window
Closes the uppermost document window.
Close All Windows
Closes all windows, including the manual, the Fractal Editor, and the Palette Editor windows.
Save
Only available if the uppermost window contains a fractal, which has been loaded or saved previously. Saves the image using the same name, overwriting the old file. A security query is not issued in this case and a backup is not generated either.
Save As
This menu option has a submenu where you can select whether to save the image as a fractal or as a picture.
Save As Fractal ... opens first a file select box where you can enter the desired name and specify the path for saving the fractal. If System 8.5 or later has been installed, the File Navigation Services are automatically utilized. Only those parameters are saved that are generated by the selected picture as well as the color palette assigned to the window. Depending on the size of the color palette, a picture thus requires only a few kilobytes memory in your hard disk. This means you can easily save thousands of pictures without running out of hard disk space. However, pictures saved in this manner can only be loaded again with EasyFractal.
Save As Picture ... saves the image using the 'PICT' format. This requires that a true pixel image has to be generated from the calculation formula, which means that EasyFractal needs additional information to be entered via a dialog box.
In the upper part of the dialog box the name and size of the picture in pixels (inner dimension of the window) are listed. Below that is a popup menu where you change the resolution. In addition to a few default zooms (enlarging/reducing), you can also use Others ... to open an EDIT field where you can indicate manually the desired zoom in percentage. Once you have entered the new values and pressed the RETURN or ENTER key, the new values are imported and the new dimension of the picture is displayed above.
If all settings are according to your liking, click on Save. This opens another file select box you can use to save the picture where you want it.
Images using the 'PICT' format can be opened by virtually all programs and then edited. Use this menu option to import fractals into paint or drawing programs where you can further edit them. However, 'PICT' format images cannot be reloaded by EasyFractal.
Note: The unregistered version of the program only permits you to save images with a max. size of 800 x 600 pixels.
Page Setup ...
Opens a dialog box offering the usual print options such as setting the paper size, etc.
Note: When you want to print a fractal, you can access this dialog box from the PRINT dialog as well so that do you not have to open this menu option in addition.
Print ...
Use this menu option to directly access the printer driver dialog box if you would like to print the manual or the order form.
If the top window contains a fractal, another dialog box opens first because EasyFractal needs additional information to print fractals (similar to Save As Picture).
The upper section of the dialog box displays the name and size of the picture in pixels (inner dimensions of the window). Below that is a popup menu where you can change the resolution. In addition to a few default zooms (enlarging/reducing), you can also use Other ... to open an EDIT field where you can indicate manually the desired zoom in percentage. Once you have entered the new value and pressed the RETURN or ENTER key, the new value is imported and the new dimension of the picture is displayed above.
The popup menu also contains the Auto option. This enlarges the picture so that it fits exactly on the selected paper format.
The Page Setup ... button is located below the popup window where you can access an additional dialog to set the paper format, zoom, and other items.
Note: The printer drivers for the Macintosh are usually set to print an image at 72 dpi regardless of the physical resolution of the printer, which means that the printed picture will correspond roughly to the size depicted on the monitor. However, modern printers offer a much higher resolution than only 72 dpi. To take advantage of these higher resolutions, select a zoom (reduction of approx. 50%, for example) in the Page Setup dialog and enlarge the fractal (200%) at the same time. This example would then be printed at 144 dpi.
As soon as all the setting are to your liking, click on Print. The actual print dialog of the printer driver then opens where you can specify additional settings such as page number, grayscale, etc.
Note: The unregistered version of the program only permits you to print images with a max. size of 800 x 600 pixels.
This menu contains all of the functions you need to edit fractals.
Undo
Reverses an editing operation performed within the Fractal Editor. Also use this menu option to restore the original picture if you have zoomed into a fractal. EasyFractal offers up to 64 undo levels. This means the undo function will reverse 64 changes (zooming, changed parameters) and thus restore the original picture step-by-step. This command is identical to the button in the Fractal Editor with the same name.
Copy Block
Use this menu item to copy portions of an image to the clipboard and then paste it into other programs. Just draw a frame with the depressed mouse button. The thus marked area can extend across the entire virtual window. Select this menu option to transfer the marked area to the clipboard ('PICT' format).
If you have used the mouse to mark an area, you can change it subsequently as well. Just move the mouse close to one corner and press the SHIFT key. The block corner closest to the mouse now snaps to the mouse position. This corner will follow the mouse movements as long as the SHIFT key and the mouse button are kept depressed.
Note: The unregistered version of the program only permits you to print blocks with a max. size of 800 x 600 pixels.
Copy Entire Window
This command has the same effect as Copy Block with the difference that the content of the entire window is copied to the clipboard instead of only the block.
Note: The unregistered version of the program only permits you to print windows with a max. size of 800 x 600 pixels.
Calculate Block
This menu option has a submenu where you can select whether to calculate the image in the same or a new window. The area marked by the block is then enlarged so that it fits exactly into the existing window. Use this function to examine very specific areas.
Edit ...
Use this function to open the closed Fractal Editor. If you are using an operating system that does not support floating windows (before Mac OS 9), use this menu item to pull the Fractal Editor to the front if it has slipped to the back.
Generate Julia Set
As the name implies, use this menu option to generate so-called Julia sets. This entry is only available if a window containing a Mandelbrot set is the topmost window. If you select this option now, the menu item will be activated with a checkmark and the mouse cursor switches to crosshairs as soon as the cursor is located above a window with a Mandelbrot set and this window is the uppermost window. Now click on the Mandelbrot set to select a specific point for which you would like to calculate a Julia set. The values are imported to the Fractal Editor and the New Window checkbox is activated. The entered default name is "Julia". Now you can also change the other parameters or click on Execute right way and the Julia set associated with the selected point will be displayed in a new window.
Note: A Julia set does indeed exist for every point of a Mandelbrot set, but interesting pictures are only the result if clicking into the turbulent areas at the edge of the Mandelbrot set.
This menu contains all of the functions required to edit the color palette.
Undo
Use this function to undo your last operation if you have made a mistake when editing the palette that would like to reverse. EasyFractal supports an undo depth of up to 64 operations or steps. Click on this button several times to step-by-step undo up to 64 changes you made to the palette. This command is identical with the menu item of the palette menu with the same name.
Copy
Copies the color palette of the topmost window to the clipboard.
Replace
Replaces the palette of the topmost fractal window if a palette is located in the clipboard. The fractal then has to be recalculated if certain conditions are met. Don't be surprised if replacing the palette takes a bit longer sometimes.
Edit ...
Use this function to open the closed Palette Editor. If you are using an operating system that does not support floating windows (before Mac OS 9), use this menu item to pull the Palette Editor to the front if it has slipped to the back.
Load ...
Use to load a palette from the hard disk. File Navigation Services are automatically utilized if System 8.5 or later has been installed. This makes it possible to load several palettes at once. EasyFractal then offers the option of scrolling through the selected palettes by keeping the CTRL key depressed and using the cursor keys. Thus loaded palette set can also be used in other fractal windows without having to reload the palette. The palette set remains valid until you load a new one (loading several palettes at once).
Tip: If you are using an older operating system and would like to load several palettes at once (e.g., to view a specific picture in a different coloration), just switch to the Finder, open a window with the selected files there, select all files to be opened, and then drag these to the EasyFractal program icon or double-click on the selected files.
Save As ...
Saves the palette of the topmost fractal window. Of course, a file select box is opened first so that you can select the desired path of the palette and change the name if desired.
EasyFractal enters all open fractal windows into this menu. Select the corresponding menu item to pull the desired window to the front. This option is very helpful in trying to keep a clear overview when many windows have been opened searching for interesting pictures.
