HOME | DD
Velvet--Glove — Ultra Fractal Marble Tutorial
#fractaltutorial #learning #resource #teaching #technique #tips #tricks #velvetglove #tipstricks #ultrafractaltutorial
Published: 2007-10-31 14:10:14 +0000 UTC; Views: 29397; Favourites: 331; Downloads: 4697
Redirect to original
Description
UPDATED FILE: Version 1.1 ~ October 7th 2014This tutorial shows you how to make great 3D style marbles like the one above using Ultra Fractal . Topics covered include the basics of 3D Mapping, adding a Glass Hemisphere and how to use further layers and masks to add various highlights and shadows to a sphere.
This tutorial is not recommended for complete beginners (e.g. those who have just downloaded UF and looking for their first tutorial) but if you have at least a little experience and familiarity with the program interface then you should find it quite accessible.
TROUBLE WITH THE PARAMETERS?
- Some users have reported being unable to copy/paste the parameters when reading the tutorial in a web browser.
- This is not a fault in the file.
- Best solution is to download a physical copy of the PDF and open it from your hard drive.
- Adobe Digital Editions has been reported as a good app to use for this. Good old Adobe Reader should work too.
If you find this tutorial useful please come back and vote for it by adding this to your Favourites! I'm sure others would love to see any marbles made using these techniques as much as me so please do leave a comment below with a link to your creations! 
My thanks go to the following Deviants for offering their services as beta testers and helping to iron out a few little problems before public release: Baz135 , CVaznis , Fraxa , one-tough-one , z00reka .Revision History
- October 31st 2007. Original v1.0 uploaded.
- October 7th 2014. v.1.1: broken links to tutorials on other websites removed, typo corrected.
Related content
Comments: 179
Do you use Apophysis sometimes too, or do you just stay with UF?
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
No, I only use UF. I've tried Apophysis on several occasions but find myself stumped by the simplest of things as there is no comprehensive help for the program. I have many other criticisms about it too. It's not bad for a freebie, I suppose, but it's not really my cup of tea.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I'm so glad to hear you say that! I thought it was me because it was highly recommended, and I just got more confused. I thought maybe I was just getting too old, but I remember UF as student friendly. Going back there and staying there! Thanks for the comment!!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
OOOOOHHHHH!!! Thank you 
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Glad to hear it!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
hummm... I maybe doing something wrong but... when I download I can only see the very first page, all the others are blank !!! any suggestions... x
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I take it you mean you are trying to download the file to your computer?
I can only suggest you try again... you could try right-clicking the download link and choosing "save as"... it might be better to save it to your hard drive before opening, maybe?
Alternatively you could try reading the file online in your browser. I personally don't find this quite as convenient as a saved copy but .pdf files do work with both Firefox and Internet Explorer 9 so that's another option for accessing this material. Sometimes these online/browser files give me problems like you describe but opening the (white PDF window) frame in another tab usually gets round the difficulty. Perhaps this is the problem you are having?
Hope this helps?
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I open mine with Adobe Reader. Would that help?
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I sometimes have trouble myself with using a browser - currently my Firefox seems to be well and truly broken in that regard 
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
I'll be trying this one.
Thank you.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Great, I hope you find it useful!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Thanks! Glad you found it useful!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
thanks very much for all your hard work!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
can i upload to my web site: [link]
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
If you don't mind I would rather you didn't do that. Sorry! I only want to offer this tutorial on DA.
Thanks for asking, though!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Because: it's simpler to manage one source (that I am in control of) and to update/change the file contents if necessary. Visitors seeking this information are more likely to visit my gallery and homepage - they may find other information & tutorials of use to them as well as generally engaging with me on a variety of fractal/art matters. Here people are also able to ask questions about the material and show me what they have done with the tutorial, often getting feedback on what they have created. When the file is hosted elsewhere the connection with the original author and owner is lost or at the very least made more difficult, to the disadvantage of everyone.
If you wish to spread the word then by all means provide a link to this page, there is really no need whatsoever to duplicate the file elsewhere. I spent a very long time writing, producing and testing this material, which I like to get due credit for. Like I said, I really do appreciate you asking, many people wouldn't bother with such niceties... but I hope you will understand and respect my wishes on this matter, thanks!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
OK,I won't do this.I will not duplicate the file .and write some about this tutorial and link to your page.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
That sounds good, thanks!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Hi - Your tutorial is great! It taught me so much. Well I don't know how well I did on my first marble - but it's a start. Thank you. Here is a link: [link]
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Sorry for the delay in replying, I've been away.
Thank you for the comment and faves. Good job on your first marble, I like the tunnel effect and lighting. Thanks for the link! 
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I'm glad you found it useful!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Thanks for the tutorial. I am in the process of working on a marble but I did something wrong, so I'll go back and try again. That's how one learns, right?
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Indeed it is! That, and lots of experimentation and practice.
Good luck!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Your awesome & delicious round spheres have been featured !!! 
Please have a look at News >> Marbles-Fractal Styles 
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Thank you very much for sharing this tutorial
I'll let you know about my result
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Extremely helpful tutorial Chris, one of the best UF tutorials out there. I didn't realize that I hadn't faved it before.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Thanks! Glad you found it useful, Cyd.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
I'd like to thank you for your marble tutorial it has helped me greatly and here is a link to my second attempt, the first one was too bland
[link]
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
You're very welcome, I'm glad it was helpful! Thousands of people have downloaded this tutorial now but very few acknowledge it so thanks for the feedback, it's really great to see what folks are doing.
I've left a comment on your marble devation - good work!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Here's what I did with the help of your tutorial [link] I hope you like
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I'm so glad to hear that not only has the tutorial assisted you with making marbles but has helped to clarify some of the mysteries of masking too, that's very satisfying to know. 
If you keep practising these techniques I promise you they will soon become second nature and one day you will wonder what all the fuss was about... I should know because I've been there, done that myself!
Good job on the marble, I've left you a comment on your deviation.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Yes, it helped me a whole lot! I always thought masking was hella hard, since the tutorials in the help menu of UF were kind of difficult for me. But it turns out everything is acutally really easy.
I shall actually send this link to my sister. She wanted to know how to make the marbles look polished of a kind and I was quite embarrassed to tell her I didn't know how.
And thank you once more
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Awesommmeee!!! 
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Hi Chris,
I used your tutorial for this: [link]
Many thanks!!!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I've (finally!) got round to looking at this and have left you a comment on your deviation. Good work!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Great tutorial
Had few strange things happen when the marble is not in the centre of the image - the hemisphere applies distorted ..well I did overcome that
Here are the results >> [link]
>> [link]
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Thanks for the links, Winter Dreams is my favourite of the two, not only compositionally but because it shows how adaptable you are at taking a technique and using it in other circumstances. I'm glad to hear you managed to work through any problems you had, that's half the battle with UF, getting it to do what you want! I'm glad you found the tutorial helpful as an introdcution to marble making.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
| Next =>