Fractal 3D Magic

by Clifford A. Pickover (Introduction)

This groundbreaking 3D showcase offers a rare glimpse into the dazzling world of computer-generated fractal art. Prolific polymath Clifford Pickover introduces the collection, which provides background on everything from the classic Mandelbrot set, to the infinitely porous Menger Sponge, to ethereal fractal flames. The following eye-popping gallery displays mathematical formulas transformed into stunning computer-generated 3D anaglyphs. More than 200 intricate designs, visible in three dimensions thanks to the enclosed 3D glasses, will engross math and optical illusions enthusiasts alike.

Genres: Art, Mathematics, Science

160 pages, Hardcover

First published September 2, 2014

About the author

Clifford Alan Pickover is an American author, editor, and columnist in the fields of science, mathematics, science fiction, innovation, and creativity. For many years, he was employed at the IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center in Yorktown, New York, where he was editor-in-chief of the IBM Journal of Research and Development. He has been granted more than 700 U.S. patents, is an elected Fellow for the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, and is author of more than 50 books, translated into more than a dozen languages.

Reviews

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful! This book comes with a pair of those cardboard 3D glasses and is full of all kinds of fractals - the images really jump right out of the page. I wear glasses, but was able to use the 3D glasses in combination with my prescription specs.

For anyone unacquainted with fractals, they're visual presentations - graphs, basically - of complex mathematical equations in feedback loops, i.e. chaos science. That description doesn't come near capturing their beauty and otherworldliness, but a quick search for fractal images will turn up some gorgeous examples.

I've seen a lot of fractal art, including a fantastic hour-long animated fractal show in the planetarium at a local science museum (First Friday Fractals, first Friday of every month, set to music composed for the event and presented by a math professor from UNM here in Albuquerque. See the Fractal Foundation website for more info - they offer links to download free fractal software for home computers, too.) This, though, was the first time I've seen it in 3D. Now I want to see the animated fractal show at the planetarium in 3D!

[Read It · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great visuals on Fractals, never ending loops of repeating patterns at every scale. Nice book you can always re-use over and over. Comes with 3-D Glasses. The pages and visuals of fractals is amazing. Great book to invest in and open the mind up with the endless potential that lay hidden within fractals scales.