As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 24, 1996
Registration No. 33-__________

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

----------------------

FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

----------------------

FRACTAL DESIGN CORPORATION
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

CALIFORNIA 77-0276903
(State of incorporation) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

335 SPRECKELS DRIVE
APTOS, CA 95003
(Address of principal executive offices)

----------------------

1992 ASSUMED RAY DREAM, INC. STOCK OPTION PLAN*
1995 STOCK OPTION PLAN
(Full title of the Plans)
* assumed pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization dated
February 17, 1996

----------------------

MARK ZIMMER
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
FRACTAL DESIGN CORPORATION
335 SPRECKELS DRIVE
APTOS, CA 95003
(408) 688-5300
(Name, address and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

----------------------

Copy to:

James L. Brock, Esq.
Venture Law Group
A Professional Corporation
2800 Sand Hill Road
Menlo Park, California 94025
(415) 854-4488

Page 1 of 8 Pages
Exhibit Index on Page 8
(Calculation of Registration Fee on following page)

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

Proposed Proposed
Maximum Maximum Maximum Amount of
Amount to be Offering Price Aggregate Registration
Title of Securities to be Registered Registered Per Share Offering Price Fee
- -------------------------------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------

1992 ASSUMED RAY DREAM, INC. STOCK OPTION PLAN
Common Stock,
$.001 par value . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219,459 Shares $ 1.2966 (1) $ 284,549.50 $ 98.11

1995 STOCK OPTION PLAN
Common Stock,
$.001 par value . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300,000 Shares $14.875 (2) $4,462,500 $1,538.67

(1) Computed in accordance with Rule 457(h) under the Securities
Act of 1933 solely for the purpose of calculating the registration
fee. Computation based on the weighted average per share exercise
price (rounded to nearest cent) of outstanding options under the
referenced plan, the shares issuable under which are registered hereby.

(2) Estimated in accordance with Rule 457(h) and 457(c) under
the Securities Act of 1933 solely for the purpose of calculating the
registration fee. The computation with respect to unissued options is
based upon the average of the high and low sale prices of the Common
Stock as reported on The NASDAQ National Market on May 23, 1996.

PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

The following documents filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") are hereby incorporated by
reference:

(a) The Registrant's Prospectus filed on May 2, 1996 pursuant to Rule
424(b)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), which contains
statements for the last fiscal year for which such statements have been filed.

(b) The Registrant's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal
quarter ending December 31, 1995.

(c) Items 1 and 2 in the Registrant's Registration
Statement on Form 8-A filed with the Commission under Section 12 of
the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") on September
20, 1995, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of
updating such description.

All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant
to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"), prior to the filing of a post-effective
amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been
sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall
be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration
Statement and to be part hereof from the date of filing such
documents.

Item 4. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES. Not applicable.

Item 5. INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

Certain legal matters with respect to the shares will be
passed upon by Venture Law Group, Professional Corporation, Menlo
Park, California. As of the date of this filing, certain attorneys of
Venture Law Group and affiliated partnerships beneficially own an
aggregate of 13,125 shares of the Company's Common Stock and options
to purchase an aggregate of 60,000 shares of the Company's Common
Stock.

Item 6. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

The Company's Articles of Incorporation limit the liability of directors
for monetary damages arising from breach of their fiduciary duty to the maximum
extent permitted by the California Corporations Code ("California Law"). Such
limitation of liability does not affect the availability of equitable remedies
such as injunctive relief or recession. The limitation on monetary liability
also does not apply to liabilities arising under the federal securities laws.

The Company's Bylaws provide that the Company shall indemnify its
directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by California Law,
including circumstances in which indemnification is otherwise discretionary
under California Law. The Company has entered into indemnification
agreements with its directors containing provisions which are in some
respects broader than the specific indemnification provisions contained in
the California Corporations Code. The indemnification agreements may require
the Company, among other things, to indemnify its directors against certain
liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service as directors
(other than liabilities arising from willful misconduct of a culpable
nature), to advance their expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding
against them as to which they could be indemnified, and to obtain director's
insurance if available on reasonable terms.

The Company believes that the limitation provision in its Articles of
Incorporation and the indemnification provisions in its Articles of
Incorporation, Bylaws and indemnification agreements will facilitate the
Company's ability to continue to attract and retain qualified individuals to
serve as directors of the Company.

The Registrant has also obtained directors and officers' liability
insurance covering, subject to certain exceptions, actions taken by the
Registrant's directors and officers in their capacities as such.

Item 7. EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED. Not applicable.

Item 8. EXHIBITS.

Exhibit
Number
---------

4.1 1992 Assumed Ray Dream, Inc. Stock Option Plan and forms of
agreements thereunder.
4.2* 1995 Stock Option Plan and form of Stock Option Agreement.
4.3* Restated Articles of Incorporation.
4.4 Restated Bylaws.
5.1 Opinion of Venture Law Group, a Professional Corporation.
23.1 Consent of Venture Law Group, a Professional Corporation
(included in Exhibit 5.1).
23.2 Consent of Independent Auditors.
24.1 Powers of Attorney (see p. 7).

_______________
* Incorporated by reference from Registrant's Registration Statement on
Form SB-2 (Registration No. 33-96942-LA), as amended, filed with the
Commission on November 9, 1995.

Item 9. UNDERTAKINGS.

The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) to file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made,
a post-effective amendment to this registration statement to include any
material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously
disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such
information in the registration statement.

(2) that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities
Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act"), each such post-effective amendment shall
be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered
therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be
the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3) to remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination
of the offering.

The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the
Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement
shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities
offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be
deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

Insofar as the indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant
has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission
such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities
Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the Registrant in a successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered hereunder, the Registrant will,
unless in the opinion of its counsel the question has already been settled by
controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the
question of whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as
expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication
of such issue.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant, Fractal Design Corporation, a corporation organized and existing
under the laws of the State of California, certifies that it has reasonable
grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form
S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Aptos,
State of California, on this 24th day of May, 1996.

FRACTAL DESIGN CORPORATION

By: /s/ MARK ZIMMER
-----------------------------------
Mark Zimmer
Chief Executive Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Mark Zimmer, his or her attorney-in-
fact and agent, with the power of substitution and resubstitution, for him
or her and in his or her name, place or stead, in any and all capacities, to
sign any amendments to this Registration Statement on Form S-8, and to file
the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith,
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting into said attorney-in-
fact and agent, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act
and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as
fully as he or she might or could do in person, and ratifying and confirming
all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his or her substitute or
substitutes, may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

SIGNATURE TITLE DATE
------------- ----------- --------
/s/ MARK ZIMMER Chief Executive Officer May 24, 1996
------------------------- and Director (Principal
Mark Zimmer Executive Officer)

/s/ THOMAS HEDGES Chairman of the Board
------------------------- of Directors May 24, 1996
Thomas Hedges

/s/ LESLIE WRIGHT Vice President Finance
------------------------- and Chief Financial May 22, 1996
Leslie Wright Officer (Principal
Financial Officer)

/s/ BRADEN RIPPETOE Controller (Principal
------------------------- Accounting Officer) May 24, 1996
Braden Rippetoe

/s/ ARTHUR COLLMEYER
------------------------- Director May 22, 1996
Arthur Collmeyer

/s/ CRAIG JOHNSON
------------------------- Director May 24, 1996
Craig Johnson

/s/ LEE JAY LORENZEN
------------------------- Director May 21, 1996
Lee Jay Lorenzen

/s/ STEPHEN E. MANOUSOS
------------------------- Director May 24, 1996
Stephen E. Manousos

/s/ THOMAS UNTERBERG
------------------------- Director May 24, 1996
Thomas Unterberg

------------------------- President and Director May ___, 1996
Eric Hautemont

------------------------- Director May ___, 1996
Alain Rossman

------------------------- Director May ___, 1996
Anthony Sun

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit
Number
- --------
4.1 1992 Assumed Ray Dream, Inc. Stock Option Plan and forms of
agreements thereunder.

4.2* 1995 Stock Option Plan and form of Stock Option Agreement.

4.3* Restated Articles of Incorporation.

4.4 Restated Bylaws.

5.1 Opinion of Venture Law Group, a Professional Corporation.

23.1 Consent of Venture Law Group, a Professional Corporation
(included in Exhibit 5.1).

23.2 Consent of Independent Auditors.

24.1 Powers of Attorney (see page 7).

* Incorporated by reference from Registrant's Registration Statement
on Form SB-2, as amended, (Registration No. 33-96942-LA) filed with
the Commission on November 9, 1995.