Sterling is a
fractal-generating
computer program
A computer program is a sequence or set of instructions in a programming language for a computer to execute. Computer programs are one component of software, which also includes documentation and other intangible components.
A computer program ...
written in the
C programming language in 1999 for Microsoft Windows by Stephen C. Ferguson. Sterling was initially released as
freeware
Freeware is software, most often proprietary, that is distributed at no monetary cost to the end user. There is no agreed-upon set of rights, license, or EULA that defines ''freeware'' unambiguously; every publisher defines its own rules for t ...
but is not free now. Sterling2 is a freeware version of Sterling with different
algorithm
In mathematics and computer science, an algorithm () is a finite sequence of rigorous instructions, typically used to solve a class of specific problems or to perform a computation. Algorithms are used as specifications for performing ...
s. It was released in September 2008 by Tad Boniecki. Apart from the name (which shows as sterlingwar2 in the title bar and on the About screen), the program looks just like the original Sterling. The only internals that are different are the 50 formulae for fractal generation. Parameter files made by Sterling can be used in Sterling2 and vice versa, though they will draw different images.
Sterling is based on the notion that one way to generate interesting fractal images is by using elaborate color filters and shading. In many images, the main interest lies in the filters rather than the actual fractal boundaries themselves, as in traditional fractal-generating programs. The fractal merely serves as a seeding function to the coloring algorithms and filters. A feature of Sterling is the richness of the
renders.
Sterling has a simple
GUI
The GUI ( "UI" by itself is still usually pronounced . or ), graphical user interface, is a form of user interface that allows users to interact with electronic devices through graphical icons and audio indicator such as primary notation, inste ...
interface with a limited number of functions. The program saves files as
JPEG,
BMP or one of six other formats. It draws in Julia mode, allows inside-out rendering and does
anti-aliasing Anti-aliasing may refer to any of a number of techniques to combat the problems of aliasing in a sampled signal such as a digital image or digital audio recording.
Specific topics in anti-aliasing include:
* Anti-aliasing filter, a filter used be ...
. It offers 32 different renders and four transform effects. There are three independent color controls and two ways to zoom into an image.
The Sterling2
ZIP file (436 KB) contains brief instructions. There is no installation — it is enough to put the executable and
dynamic-link library files in the same directory and start the exe file.
In 2018, the original code for sterling was released under the GPLv
Sample images
Image:Fractal Sentinel SterlingW3165.jpg
Image:Fractal tower Sterling2 1837.jpg
Image:Fractal red flare Sterling2 2831.jpg
Image:Sterling2 4728aa.jpg
Image:Baroque bug fractal SterlingW2589.jpg
Image:Sterling2 4906aa4.jpg
References
External links
* Sterling2 (freeware) home pag
including download, instructions and sample images.
{{Computer science
C (programming language) software
Graphics software
Fractal software
1999 software