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Description
Apophysis renders don't always come out perfect. Quality only goes up to 4000, which often isn't enough to eliminate all the stray pixels. The built-in filter settings aren't perfect, either, and very time-consuming for those with slow computers. If you have a slower computer, using quality 4000 just feels like a waste of time. I've found that this method keeps my renders looking good while getting rid of that awful pixel dust. It's quite possible that everyone but me has already figured this out, since I'm too arrogant to read guides myself, but I hope this can at least help one person.

***Please note: This only works if you have the render to begin with, and if it's a .png file or a .jpg or .bmp with a black or white background. I also assume that you have used GIMP at least somewhat before.

*Guide*
Open rendered .png file (if you're using a .jpg or a .bmp, skip to the red bullet)
Create a layer of black (or white, if you prefer. Whichever creates the most contrast with your render)
Merge your render layer with the black background
Duplicate the merged layer
Select the copy on top
Go to Filters -> Enhance -> Despeckle
Filter settings: Black level: -1, White level: 200-ish. If you just want to make a really cool derivative of the fractal, up the black level. If you want to keep your render as it is for the most part, keep it at -1. Radius ranges from 1-3, depending upon how bad the pixel dust is.
Behold your blurry marvel for a moment.
Still selecting the top layer, go to Layer -> Color to Alpha
Settings: select 50% grey as your color to remove.
Now you have no pixel dust AND a very colorful image!
Merge your two layers and go from there as if you had a perfect render.

It's not foolproof, since it adds a black or white background to your previously alpha-filled render (if you started with a .png), and it ups your saturation something fierce, plus you lose a tiny bit of detail, but now you can save a little time on your renders and you don't need to downsize just to hide that ugly pixel dust / graininess.

If anything here needs elaboration, clarification, or correction, please comment or note me.

Description
Apophysis renders don't always come out perfect. Quality only goes up to 4000, which often isn't enough to eliminate all the stray pixels. The built-in filter settings aren't perfect, either, and very time-consuming for those with slow computers. If you have a slower computer, using quality 4000 just feels like a waste of time. I've found that this method keeps my renders looking good while getting rid of that awful pixel dust. It's quite possible that everyone but me has already figured this out, since I'm too arrogant to read guides myself, but I hope this can at least help one person.

***Please note: This only works if you have the render to begin with, and if it's a .png file or a .jpg or .bmp with a black or white background. I also assume that you have used GIMP at least somewhat before.

*Guide*
Open rendered .png file (if you're using a .jpg or a .bmp, skip to the red bullet)
Create a layer of black (or white, if you prefer. Whichever creates the most contrast with your render)
Merge your render layer with the black background
Duplicate the merged layer
Select the copy on top
Go to Filters -> Enhance -> Despeckle
Filter settings: Black level: -1, White level: 200-ish. If you just want to make a really cool derivative of the fractal, up the black level. If you want to keep your render as it is for the most part, keep it at -1. Radius ranges from 1-3, depending upon how bad the pixel dust is.
Behold your blurry marvel for a moment.
Still selecting the top layer, go to Layer -> Color to Alpha
Settings: select 50% grey as your color to remove.
Now you have no pixel dust AND a very colorful image!
Merge your two layers and go from there as if you had a perfect render.

It's not foolproof, since it adds a black or white background to your previously alpha-filled render (if you started with a .png), and it ups your saturation something fierce, plus you lose a tiny bit of detail, but now you can save a little time on your renders and you don't need to downsize just to hide that ugly pixel dust / graininess.

If anything here needs elaboration, clarification, or correction, please comment or note me.