This has proven to be a hot issue with fractal artists. Our intent in establishing a separate 3D category is to recognize this emerging form of fractal art while not losing what we consider the "core" of our art form. As our tools evolve, drawing the line between two- and three-dimensional images becomes increasingly difficult.      For the purposes of this contest, we will consider an image "3D" if, by the best determination of the contest officials, it attempts to depict a 3D scene, particularly including the use of perspective. As examples, fractals mapped onto spheres, toroids, and pyramids would be considered 3D. So would heightfield renderings of 2D fractals, or renderings of true 3D fractals and 3D slices of 4D fractals. These are only examples, however, and not an exhaustive list.      We wish to encourage those exploring 3D imagery using fractals to continue to do so. We admit we are far more interested in renderings of true 3D fractals than in 3D scenes which incorporate fractals only as textures, but at this time we are not excluding the latter in any way. This is similar to our stance regarding the use of post-processing: we want to see your ability to produce fractals, not your ability to create 3D scenes using 2D fractal images as textures.     Return to contest rules