content: <PAGE>
   
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
  
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
  
                                    FORM 8-K
  
   CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE 
                                   ACT OF 1934
  
  DATE OF REPORT  May 5, 1997
  
  
                                _________________
  
  
                           FRACTAL DESIGN CORPORATION
  
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  
                                     0-26822
                            (Commission File Number)
  
       California                            77-0276903
       (State or other jurisdiction of       (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
       incorporation or organization)
  
  
                            5550 Scotts Valley Drive
                             Scotts Valley, CA 95066
             (Address of principal executive offices, with zip code)
  
  
                                 (408) 430-4000
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
  <PAGE>
   
  ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS
  
       On May 1, 1997, Fractal Design Corporation, a California corporation (the
  "Company"), announced its financial results for the quarter ended March 31,
  1997. Further details regarding this announcement are contained in the
  Company's press release dated May 1, 1997 attached as an exhibit hereto and
  incorporated by reference herein.
  
  ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS.
  
       (c)  EXHIBITS.
  
       Exhibit 99  Fractal Design Corporation Press Release dated May 1, 1997
  <PAGE>
   
                                   SIGNATURES
  
  
  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
  registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
  undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
  
  
                                          FRACTAL DESIGN CORPORATION
  
  
  Date:  May 5, 1997                      By:  /s/ LESLIE WRIGHT
                                             ----------------------
                                             Leslie Wright
                                             Chief Financial Officer and Chief 
                                             Operating Officer
                                             (Duly Authorized and Principal 
                                             Financial and Accounting Officer)
  <PAGE>
   
                           FRACTAL DESIGN CORPORATION
  
                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS
  
   
   
   Exhibit Number               Description             Sequential Page Number
   --------------               ------------            ----------------------
   
   99.1                Press Release dated May 1, 1997
metadata_documents: [{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM 8-K", "secsgml_size_bytes": 2687}]
metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "FRACTAL DESIGN CORP", "cik": "0000930884", "assigned-sic": "7372", "irs-number": "770276903", "state-of-incorporation": "CA", "fiscal-year-end": "0331"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-26822", "film-number": "97595302"}, "business-address": {"street1": "335 SPRECKLES DRIVE", "city": "APTOS", "state": "CA", "zip": "95003", "phone": "4086885300"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "335 SPRACKELS DR", "city": "APTOS", "state": "CA", "zip": "95003"}}
text: SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
  
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
  
                                    FORM 8-K
  
   CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE 
                                   ACT OF 1934
  
  DATE OF REPORT  May 5, 1997
  
                                _________________
  
                           FRACTAL DESIGN CORPORATION
  
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  
                                     0-26822
                            (Commission File Number)
  
       California                            77-0276903
       (State or other jurisdiction of       (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
       incorporation or organization)
  
                            5550 Scotts Valley Drive
                             Scotts Valley, CA 95066
             (Address of principal executive offices, with zip code)
  
                                 (408) 430-4000
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
  ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS
  
       On May 1, 1997, Fractal Design Corporation, a California corporation (the
  "Company"), announced its financial results for the quarter ended March 31,
  1997. Further details regarding this announcement are contained in the
  Company's press release dated May 1, 1997 attached as an exhibit hereto and
  incorporated by reference herein.
  
  ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS.
  
       (c)  EXHIBITS.
  
       Exhibit 99  Fractal Design Corporation Press Release dated May 1, 1997
  SIGNATURES
  
  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
  registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
  undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
  
                                          FRACTAL DESIGN CORPORATION
  
  Date:  May 5, 1997                      By:  /s/ LESLIE WRIGHT
                                             ----------------------
                                             Leslie Wright
                                             Chief Financial Officer and Chief 
                                             Operating Officer
                                             (Duly Authorized and Principal 
                                             Financial and Accounting Officer)
  FRACTAL DESIGN CORPORATION
  
                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS
  
   
   
   Exhibit Number               Description             Sequential Page Number
   --------------               ------------            ----------------------
   
   99.1                Press Release dated May 1, 1997