Mandelbrot Tear is a kaleidoscope and geometry effect in FRCTL, the browser VJ studio. Low-iteration fractal edges tear and pull UV coordinates apart.
Runs live on video, images, a camera or generated art. Stack it with any other effect, and route LFOs, envelopes or any of ten audio bands to its controls so it moves with the music.
Lays a drifting Mandelbrot set over the frame and tears the picture along its edge, twisting, shredding and channel-splitting the pixels near the boundary with rainbow fringes. At the default, the frame outside the set drops to black, leaving a jagged fractal island that wanders slowly. Warp wobbles the set's outline, Tear sets how violently the edge pulls, and Fringe how much rainbow rides the rips.
Using Mandelbrot Tear
Where it works
Drops and breakdowns where the picture should disintegrate, plus abstract loops for a pack. The fractal island makes one strong shape, which works as a centrepiece on a big LED wall.
With the music
The set drifts and the shreds churn unaided, with Speed setting the pace. B1 on Tear rips the edge wider on every kick, and B9 on Fringe lets the air band light the fringes.
Starting point
Warp at a quarter, Tear at centre, Fringe at three-quarters, Speed under centre, then ride Tear upward until the edge shreds.
Controls
Warp
Pre-fractal sinus UV warp amplitude.
Tear
Fracture exponent and shred displacement.
Fringe
Spectral fringe additive on torn regions.
Speed
Rate of the effect motion. Centre is the authored speed, hard left a tenth of it.