—•— Ultra Fractal Masking Techniques —•

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Course description: Ultra Fractal Masking Techniques

The ability to create and use masks is one of the most exciting features of Ultra Fractal. It gives the artist even greater control over the work and subtle uses can create extraordinary effects.

This series of Ultra Fractal courses increases in intensity and many students find it advantageous to take some time off after the Masking course to absorb the information and practice the techniques presented before proceeding to the Artistry course.

Prerequisites:

Students must have Ultra Fractal 3 or 4 installed on their computer, have worked through the tutorials in the Help file, and have completed the "Working With Ultra Fractal" course at the Visual Arts Academy.

Lesson 1 -- Transparency and Solid Color Masking

A demonstration of basic masking techniques using the Mandelbrot shape
Using a Mandelbrot-shaped mask with texture
Using a Rose Range Lite solid color mask
Using an Orbit Trap solid color mask

Lesson 2 -- Transformation Masks (Part 1)

Exploring textures
How transformations work
Deluxe Clipping
Borders and frames
Screen-Relative mode
Even-width borders on rectangles
Diptych panels
Triptych panels

Lesson 3 -- Transformation Masks (Part 2)

Checkerboard Clipping and Ying-Yang Scissor
Two- and three-part mappings and tesselations
Polygonal and Intricated Rings

Lesson 4 -- Masking with gradient transparency

Modulated iteration masks
Trap only masks
Limited iteration masks

Lesson 5 -- Masking with fractal structure and coloring

Know thy gradient
Mask shape options
Texture, but not everywhere!
Work flow redux

Lesson 6 -- Soft edges and subtleties

Special merge layer masks
Soft shape masks

Final thoughts

Links