Gimp Script: Fractalize Path

[RobA]

A follow-up on Cool as a Cucumber's question about making fractal lines in Gimp I once again pulled on my coder hat and, stealing liberally from the inkscape fractalize extension and Isomage's random cave script (thanks for the gaussian random number generator!), proceeded to duct tape a script together!

This script will take the active path and fractalize it, using a random midpoint displacement algorithm, with the displacement proportionate to the length between nodes. Also the nodes don't move.

Parameters are:
Subdivisions - number of iteration to divide each segment in half... so for a value of 3 the line between two nodes is replaced by 8 new lines.
Method - Uniform or Gaussian... the distribution of the displacement.
Smoothness - Higher = less displacement, lower = more displacement.
Interpolate First - Not checked, it will subdivide between nodes. Checked, it will walk the path and create new evenly spaced noted. These nodes will not likely line up with existing nodes, so is not great for accurate replacement, but is super for fractalizing a smooth shape, or a path created from a selection.
Interpolate Pixel Spacing - if Interpolate First is checked, the spacing to use.
Create New Path - if checked, it creates a new path. If unchecked, it replaces the active path.

Here a few examples with the black line a stroke of the original path, and the red after fractalizing:


And a sample of making a quick map with rivers:


Attached is a zip of the script. I have debugged it fairly well (doesn't seem to crash anymore ) but there could still be issues.

The script creates a new entry in the path dialog menu, so right click on a path and select "Fractalize path"


-Rob A>