Controls

Click the dialog element you want to learn more about or scroll down for full explanation.

Preset bank
"Presets" are saved image parameters. Mystica comes with some "factory-default" presets to demonstrate its capabilities. However, you are encouraged to extent these presets with your own work.
The preset section allows you to store an unlimited number of presets (they just need 1k of data):

Next preset: This button cycles through all presets. With each click, a new image preset is loaded and displayed.

Add a preset: This button adds the actual image parameters to the end of the preset list. All presets are saved immediately to disc, hence your presets will still be available on your next launch of Mystica.

Erase preset: Click to erase the previously loaded preset. After deletion, its image parameters are still visible, but the preset has been removed from the preset list.

Snapshots
Snapshots allow you to store all actual image parameters and reload them with one click.

Save all image parameters. Do this before trying image variations.

Reload the previously stored parameters.

Undo and redo
Mystica provides unlimited hierarchical undo and redo functionality.

Undo the last action. Click multiple times to undo many previous actions.

Redo last action(s).

Iteration depth

This slider defines the number of iterations being computed for each pixel in the image. See the following image sequence for examining the visual influence of this slider:

The leftmost image is rendered using very low iterations. The image contains just low frequency regions, smoothing every detail. As the slider progresses to high iterations (right images), the images gain more detail and sharpness.

Depending on the image parameters, moving to iteration slider to its rightmost position brings no more detail than setting it in middle position. Make sure to set it then to lower positions to reduce the rendering time.

Algorithms
Mystica generates its images based on different algorithms, each providing its own characteristics.
Two algorithms are to be selected, a slider allows to blend bewteen them:

In this example, two algorithms have been chosen. Now watch the effect of moving the slider:

Moving the slider from left to right yields different designs. Typically you use the slider to gradually change your image design until it reaches a desired form. The mixing procedure is a linear process, which means that you are able to smoothly blend between various designs without sudden jumps of chaotic structures.

Chaos and order

This slider allows to blend between "ordered" (low frequency, soft images) and "chaotic" (high detail, sharp designs) structures.
Watch the effect of moving the slider form its middle position (order) to its left or right extent:

The images gain more "chaotic" structures.
Choosing the final slider position does just influence the "chaos" on the selected viewport and preserves any other image parameters. Hence, you are able to continuously add "distortion" to your image while its basic character remains constant.

Sequence

The 'sequence' is a powerful image parameter that applies slight changes to the scene, preserving the original image character. Hit the "Shuffle"-button multiple times until you are satisfied with the scene complexity. (You might want to save a snapshot before applying different sequences).
See the following four images: each picture is redrawn after just pushing the "Shuffle"-button.

Random image

The random button is always a good starting point for creating new images. It randomly sets image parameters. Hit the button multiple times to find nice initial settings. Store candidates using the snapshot function.

Algorithm Layers
Use this section to alter the image composition. usually you would that after algorithm, chaos, sequence
and colors have been set to achive overlay or distortion effects.

Choose on top among 5 tabs: each tab is on or off (triggered by the enable button), white tab = on, black = off.

Hit Shuffle to randomize all 5 tabs (always handy for initial ideas).

The iteration window allows to limit the computation to a certain iteration range.

"Function" defines how the iteration result is mapped to the final
output value, default is "x".

Blending defines the influence of the current tab (compared to all 5 tabs) on the final output.

Add, Sub and Mix indicate if the tab value is to be added, substracted or mixed-in with the other tab values.

Coloring

Mystica provides 5 identical color sections, each carrying its own color and its region of influence.
Besides its color value (defined by pick color button), the color region as well as the color spread characteristics are of great importance. These sliders are presented next:

Width slider:

This defines the color influence width. The leftmost slider position gives thin, sharp color boundaries useful for adding specular effects, the rightmost position lights the whole color band width.

Falloff slider:

The peak-bell slider defines the color distribution in the area defined by the thin-wide slider. The rightmost position yields a linear color distribution while the leftmost emphasises just peak areas:

Distribution slider:

This most important parameter shifts the color center, hence capable of changing the image design drastically:

Transparency slider:

The transparency defines how strong the color impact is on the image. It gets important when using many colors on one image. Especially effects like specular coloring for "polished metal" surfaces gain from it.

Done Editing button
Click this button to render the actual image. This will move the image to the RenderQueue.