Some programmers create fractal software for themselves because of the novelty and because of the challenge in understanding the related mathematics.

Modern computers may take seconds or minutes to complete a single high resolution fractal image.

This software presents the user with a more limited range of settings and features, sometimes relying a series pre-programmed variables.

Some were conceived before the naming of fractals in 1975, for example, the Pythagoras tree by Dutch mathematics teacher Albert E. Bosman in 1942.

The development of the first fractal generating software originated in Benoit Mandelbrot's pursuit of a generalized function for a class of shapes known as Julia sets.

[8][9] Loren Carpenter created a two-minute color film called Vol Libre for presentation at SIGGRAPH in 1980.

[10] The October 1983 issue of Acorn User magazine carried a BBC BASIC listing for generating fractal shapes by Susan Stepney, now Professor of Computer Science at the University of York.

An early list of fractal-generating software was compiled for the book titled Fractals: The Patterns of Chaos by John Briggs published in 1992.

[16] Leading writers in the field include Dietmar Saupe, Heinz-Otto Peitgen and Clifford A. Pickover.

In fractal software values for a set of points on the complex plane are calculated and then rendered as pixels.

[21] Fractals emerge from fluid dynamics modelling simulations as turbulence when contour advection is used to study chaotic mixing.

Most feature some form of algorithm selection, an interactive image zoom, and the ability to save files in JPEG, TIFF, or PNG format, as well as the ability to save parameter files, allowing the user to easily return to previously created images for later modification or exploration.

The formula, parameters, variables and coloring algorithms for fractal images can be exchanged between users of the same program.

Increasing the iteration count is required if the image is magnified so that fine detail is not lost.

Because of the convenient ability to add post-processing effects layering and alpha compositing features found in other graphics software have been included.

A number of web-based interfaces for the fractal generation are freely available including Turtle Graphics Renderer.

Some software presents the user with a steep learning curve and an understanding of chaos theory is advantageous.

Mandelbulber is an experimental, cross platform open-source program that generates three-dimensional fractal images.

[28] Mandelbulb 3D is free software for creating 3D images featuring many effects found in 3D rendering environments.