In case you already have FA 3D (the previous FA app version), this news might be of interest.
The last update to FA 3D included an update to read files created in FA 4.
The renderer in FA 3D does not support the new features in FA 4, so if a fractal built with FA 4 uses either Pre or Post variation groups, it can’t be rendered in FA 3D.
If the fractal uses just a single Normal variation group per transform in all transforms, it can be rendered in FA 3D. Its a little confusing to understand, but all Flam3/Apophysis fractals have a single variation group per transform. (They do not use this terminology).
Apophysis pre/post variation types (as distinct from Pre/Post variation groups), can be rendered in FA 3D.
How To Tell if a Fractal uses the New Features in FA 4
Open the Info window on the fractal, Look at each transform and their variations.
Note in this example, transform #1 uses a Pre and a Normal Variation Group:
Xform #1 weight: 0.9634 colorIndex: 0.0536 color_speed: 0.785 opacity: 100% var_color: 1 rotates: YES Variation Group Pre#1 ======== npolar #1: -0.6421 parity: 0.1687 n: -1.5161 post_flatten #1: 1.384 Variation Group Normal ======== julia #1: 0.3463 post_flatten #1: -0.1504
This transform has a single normal variation group.
Xform #2 weight: 0.5347 colorIndex: 0.0615 color_speed: 0.5 opacity: 100% var_color: 1 rotates: YES Variation Group Normal ======== julian #1: 0.7325 power: 6 dist: -0.1098