Fractal Imaging

Rating:
Summary: A beautiful book that shows the art of science.
Review: It is an amazing book that presents fractal theory and compression algorithms in such a poetic manner. I was glad finally there is a book that covers fractal image compression in such a complete and systematic way from Iterated Systems. The book also displayed the linkage between science, philosophy and art by using fractal image compression as an example, which is awesome. Most C-codes are very efficiently writen as for the performance, so I wish there were more explanations for better understanding. It is a book quite difficult to read for it is unique in its style as well as many subjects. Again, more details will be helpful. Overall, I am very much enjoyed the reading, found as the author said: you will find "something new every time you open it." P.S. It's nice to have the free product Fractal Imager too!

Rating:
Summary: Great IT described and worked by a mathematican!
Review: There are a lot of details about fractal imaging, including IFS, RIFS, techniques. What is more, it provides many very good examples of worked images, figures, tables. All these make the book easier to read. I like it!

Rating:
Summary: A frustratingly unstraightforward book.
Review: This is not a book I would recommend. Whilst the subject matter is very interesting the style of presentation of the material is not to my liking. As opposed to simply explaining how fractal image compression works, the author indulges in chapters of overly philosophic theory. There is a plethora of mathmatical and logical notation (which you are left to fend with for yourself). In its more pretentious moments it's almost comical, with the author becoming ridiculously poetic.

This book really takes itself far too seriously. Less philosophy, less poetry, and more explanation of extremely generalised equations would make it much more readable.