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The normal of a fractal surface

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We have discovered a class of fractal functions that are differentiable. Fractal interpolation functions have been used for over a decade to generate rough functions passing through a set of given points. The integral of a fractal interpolation function remains a fractal interpolation function, and this new fractal interpolation function is differentiable. Tensor products of pairs of these fractal functions form fractal surfaces with a well-defined tangent plane. We use this surface normal to shade fractal surfaces, and demonstrate its use with renderings of fractal mirrors.

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Cochran, W., Lewis, R. & Hart, J. The normal of a fractal surface. Visual Comp 17, 209–218 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/PL00013408

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/PL00013408