Orbit Variation Properties Page
The Fractal Science Kit fractal generator Orbit Variation page is a Transformation Array used to define a transformation based on 1 or more orbit points. A transformation is a mapping on the complex plane that takes a single complex value and maps it to a new complex value that is the result of the transformation.
The Orbit Variation defines a transformation applied to the orbit point returned from the fractal/orbital equation thus altering the orbit of the fractal. The point returned from the transformation is passed back to the equation on the next iteration and therefore truly affects the orbit. This is in contrast to transformations that transform the point solely for the purpose of modifying the resulting image. These transformations change the orbit point prior to accumulating the statistics used to color the image but the changes made to the orbit point are not passed back into the equation so the fundamental orbit does not change.
In fact, the Transformation Array page maintains a list of Transformations that are applied in series to transform the input point; i.e., the input point is transformed by the 1st transformation in the list and the resulting point is passed to the 2nd transformation, and so on.
Unlike normal Transformations, the Orbit Variations instructions can access the entire set of orbit points using the Orbit Functions. In truth, Orbital fractals do not have access to the entire orbit but only the last N points, where N is the value of the Orbit Buffer Size property set on the Orbital / IFS / Strange Attractor page.
See also: