This is intended as an easy start guide to Mandelbulb 3D. It will let you can generate your own spectacular source/styles very quickly.
Firstly, install the latest version of Mandelbulb 3D from here:
Run the Mandelbulb3D.exe file
You should see a screen like this
Next, copy the following text:
Mandelbulb3Dv18{
g….oR…kT/…C….IM…UInS34HWT6.pyXgsRxT11EBexCCs6KB.ADh0KyJGvyzSR9UEFpBD0E
…………………………..T0KRsIuuF.2……..A./m……………..Y.2…wD
…s.7/…E5…./Q.1/….2k.3…o…..E4…..csQ6D5LR/pD/QkTvvvD…6/dkpXq1….U
yEEnAnQD12../2k…cfWnOgz………..4…1Knl7z1………..U0/….y1…sD…../..
.zHnAnQDRaPah.4lnw1emBFIr8AHz04hFRs0mUnj0PdmPCxG.xHNhSp18228zai.forWuioD2ZqK5Xsa
8xPm2SXw1hADziIKB.pNuXnDU…..YG1…S5……..kD.2….sD..G…………………
………….cNaNu1…sD….zw1………………………………qSi/EB….k1.
…..4iSoz1………2wzzzXUU.60……61…EN….U0.06s/.kPk2…../…M3w..UG.95A
..E06/aZczDM6/nzMg2czX6dE16.0c..zrhe..UoK/nl2xvj6sM93P58iz1………..U.8.UQgk0.
.wUmc2beYzH.dA8E5Exwz0………./.U0.wzga/..0PJWp1Puzs/0.p4HE3zD/………E.0c..
zzzzo/.U……..F16……….0…….2U.8.kzzzD………..k3………………..
/6U0.wzzz1……………………………..UTVR..y3q/yzz/k.1A..1Ak.vzDsnwF.UDn
5VTzThdht0kaqaPiQs5y3q/.sLM5s1bTsLM5.UTVRUDlyVTVR..y3q/yMw5y3q/.sLM5snqTsLM5.UTV
RUDkzVTVR..y3q/y…y3q/bzz/k.1Akyz1yATomxzpaqaffnFLMmBb9e/rN.Yb9e/rN.c4Qb/.Aic4Q
E….AU2V2E…..I….c….EMh3aSdtqN7NoI.A3…………………………MU/4…
……….kAnAnAnAHxzmsfv9eoCPzjAnAnAnAHW.2…….AB./……U51k…….MI/2L1m2V
NtKtz……..UxDOaNaNaNarzHtLLiTdp3I./…….s4EwO7YDcbhPz1…………………
…………………A…..3….8….UKNsFrNmZ4N7NoI……………………….
.sU1….0MU/4…………….UyDDM1vS3KB..IcN0b.T6AnzUD53SDmxHvj………..iSIsu
FVfjz…………..EOxhZEz1deYkSfG9bz….5PoUGxD……….2……..wz………..
OaNaNaNaty1…………………/….E/…E1….H/5OZ7LN7NoI.MoI…………….
…………Cs..CoE1B6U./2……Se6mr2GCVzn/nfBqvWR/.xB82qYemj.k…………….
…wz0……..zD……..kznfKNm03qXwz………zD……….2………./……..zD
UzvMz8J2Wz9………./………………….}
{Titel: 19h57m18s MutaGen1F3E2A88DF6D4C2B0454~}
Save the copied parameters to your PC Clipboard by pressing ctrl + c.
Note that a lot of these parameter files are available for download on Deviant Art (Search Google for Mandelbulb 3D Parameter download).
Just copy the respective text to your clipboard to use it.
Click on the Open tab.
Click on the From Clipboard button.
On the right hand side click on the Calculate 3D button.
Wait 5 minutes and you should see this image replace the initial bright green blob:
Click on Save Pic Tab.
Click on JPEG Make sure the Viewing ratio is set to 1:1. Otherwise, it will reduce the size of your image.
Once your image is saved, you are going to create your own unique version of this starting image,
Click on Mutagen top left tab. The mutagen popup window will appear with the golden ball image at the bottom.
Click on the Mutate! button on the left.
You may see different images, but after a couple of minutes the popup will look like something like this:
You can change the variation in the image set by altering the slider bars on the left.
For now, right click on one of the variations and from the small popup. Choose Send To Main Editor.
I have chosen Mutation 2.2.2, as it looks quite a bit different to the others.
Close or minimize the Mutagen window.
Return to the starting Main Editor window.
Click on the Calculate 3D button and after a couple of minutes your new image will appear:
So I am happy with this but, before I save it as a JPEG this time, I am going to enlarge it.
You will see the image box for altering the scale of the image at the top of the Main Editor window:
Use the arrows to Scale up the image size with keep aspect checked or enter your own image size with it unchecked.
Now click on Calculate 3D again.
The image may take a lot longer to generate this time because of the bigger settings.
To generate your first cut image, always set the image size small as it generates much faster.
If you copy someone else’s parameters before you hit the Calculate 3D button. make sure the image size is small.
Once you are happy with the result, alter it to a larger size, then generate.
Next thing to play with is the navigator button. It allows you to move about and zoom on your image.
Click on Navigator in the top right
An approximation of the Main editor image should be in the window.
If it’s an older image refresh the image by pressing the Parameter and Formula buttons bottom left
Now play around by using the arrow buttons
As it says at the bottom Hold Shift key for finer steps
Once you are happy with your new image click on View to main button
Close the Navigator window
Back in the Main window click on Calculate 3D
Assuming you are happy with it alter the size of your image so its larger and click on Calculate 3D again
Once your image has been generated
Click on Save Pic Tab.
Click on JPEG after making sure the Viewing ratio is set to 1:1. Otherwise, it will reduce the size of your image.
My result at 3816×3064
Couple of things before we are done with the quick start
You can do some quick color touch-ups without regenerating the image
Click on Lighting Button to bring up the popup window
Click on one of the fast presets at the bottom of the Lighting window
Your image will change color immediately
Save your new image after setting Viewing to 1:1
You can also choose to load your own lighting presets or sets of pre-built m3l files.
Go to http://www.fractalforums.com/tutorials/44-mandelbulb3d-colours-and-lights/
download and extract the zips to your pc preferably a new folder inside of the Mandelbulb folder
To use them once your image is built click on the folder icon 
at the bottom of the Lighting popup window.
Select one of the m3l files and your colors will change immediately without re-rendering
Mandelbulb 3d is a huge product with many features but this tutorial should give you a fast start with immediate spectacular results, enjoy
Visit https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/albums/72157704998812582 to see examples of what’s possible just using this tutorial
Pete
