By a change & for once, I bennoH. would like to recommend here in August 2025 a piece of software that is suitable for creating very independent, high-quality videoloops, is free and easy to use. So you can build your own real stilish VJ-Loops.
Minimum Requirements
Windows 10 or later
OpenGL 4.5 capable graphics card
The GPU is put under a lot of strain during final rendering and this strain cannot be reduced!!
Programm-WebSite: https://ifsrenderer.z97.io/
Main interface of the program
So I don't have anything against videoloops in VJing, but they should be created by the VJ themselves and not come from commercials. Ideally, VJ loops are created specifically for the event in question, such as flyers, location logos, or other CI elements like by color schemes, shapes and logos, etc. can be abstracted from them. Custom theme sets are certainly acceptable, but they have to be completely independently created, as high-quality elements and developed from original ideas and not simply copied from somewhere else. Purchased elements, no matter how good the quality, are very cheap and absolutly inacceptable in my opinion; they're simply not compatible with the job of a VJ. A VJ is, first of all, an artist and should live up to that reputation and not simply use other people's stuff or comercial maden stuff, that's not art or artful!!! Furthermore, selling these VJ loops has become a bad habit, tempting ordinary music DJs, or rather, offering them the opportunity to takeover jobs from real VJs and, as a music DJ, also offer the event organizer visuals. All of this is very detrimental to this digital art form, VJing. So create your own videoloops and keep them for yourself and do not sell or shar them.
This software, the IFS-Renderer, offers you the opportunity to do that without having to invest weeks or months in studying or money, and you can still create very stylish and original, but above all, your own, VJ-loops.
A short YT-demovideo of the software:
by bezo97
So, as I was surfing the web for fun again, looking for SDFs (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signed_distance_function#) and sstuff like that around, I came across a website that mentioned an "IFS renderer.". Since I'm always curious about information on ISF fragmentshaders, I perked up wide. But wait, IFS isn't ISF, did they mistype? What's going on?! I looked into it and came across a GitHub page with a program called "3D IFS Fractal Renderer with Editor," or „IFS Renderer“ for short. I quickly browsed the GitHub I found. And yes, ahh, fractal stuff! Yes, that's what the images on the website that first caught my attention looked like, but they were the finest fractal stuff, which really piqued my curiosity.
Since a free Windows 10 installer was available for the program, and the software is licensed under the GPL 3.0, I quickly installed it, following the motto "it's free - nothing to lose". And lo and behold! A truly appealing GUI appeared after launching the program, allowing me to quickly and intuitively achieve very nice, high-quality results. In the "Getting Started Guide," I found the remaining information I needed to quickly create my own short film as a short VJ loop.[/color]
The quasi-Node-based, highly flexible yet easy-to-use editor, with its time stamping capabilities, is ideal for creating your own precise compositions. However, an even simpler option is also offered via the "GENERATOR" button. The quick start guide describes this very aptly: „Experienced fractal artists may start from scratch (File / New) and open the Editor right away. Beginners will find the Generator window useful, which can be used to easily create a starting fractal to build on. The idea is similar to how the mutation feature works in other fractal programs, using the power of evolution.“!
The wiki, with its topic structure on the right-hand side, also offers in-depth online reading and references such as where and what. It's very detailed, comprehensive, and easy to understand.
https://github.com/bezo97/IFSRenderer/wiki/
In addition, links are also offered there, such as this YT tutorial link to a more in-depth application together with Blender:
Developer Zoltán Dócs has done a very good job here. The software is suitable for both newbies and absolute pros of the scene, true to the motto: "Take a look and get started," but also "there's always more to it!"
I highly recommend this app to all discerning VJs and video artists, as well as video creatives. It's already a lot of fun to play around with it, but creating truly tailor-made works with it can also be a real challenge for a creator and inspire new horizons.
Fractals aren't old hat with this software, but a new challenge in this moving format and the high quality that can be generated with bezo97's ISF renderer. The software's somewhat intuitive usability reminds me of some of the first really good PS plugins, like Kay's back then, although I've long since switched to GIMP these days.
A big shout out to the IFS-Renderer and Zoltán Dócs aka “bezo97”, please make a donation if you can and have been able to make active use of the IFS renderer.
Website: https://ifsrenderer.z97.io/ with all links and infos that of interest
GitHub Page - https://github.com/bezo97/IFSRenderer
Still Image Gallery - https://www.deviantart.com/tag/ifsrende ... ost-recent
App Wiki - https://github.com/bezo97/IFSRenderer/wiki
User Forum - https://github.com/bezo97/IFSRenderer/discussions
Have fun getting lost in these magical fractal worlds and good luck using the rendered loops in your live performances, wishes bennoH. from the mountainous Switzerland.