Help needed on modelling a landscape

[-wT-]

Well, I can't think of anything better than displacement maps right now... well, if you're using Maya, you could try making very dense plane, and then start sculpting with Artisan, but that's just if you're using Maya.

And about snowcovered tops, I'd say you make your mountain first. Then, as you should now have quite rough (As in rough, not like a quick sketch) look of the mountain, smooth out the top polygons slightly, the are where you would be putting the snow. After smoothing, you only need to texture it to look like snow

[Derugash]

Looks like ill be going to do a little more work to get a good displacement map.

thanks for replying -wT-, your tip should help on getting a snowcovered idea. :beer:

[derelict]

noise

[TapioKa]

I usually build my landscapes in Bryce and export them out with reasonably good results. You can export with varying polycount levels. It also can export the different maps if you're using height based procedural materials.

works for me.

[Derugash]

Hmm.. a classmate suggested bryce as well.. I dont have bryce though :rolleyes: Guess ill have to make due with max and see if i can come up with anything that works. :shrug:

thanks anyways :)

[Derugash]

Well, using Photoshops render> clouds for a displace map, and repositioned some vertices to get a mountain standing out from the rest. The top is goin to change but it is going to fall off during an earthquake :eek: .. thisll take time =) Any feedback on how to make this look better wuolds be much appreciated :)

http://home.planet.nl/~pete0420/3d/Images/terraintest1.jpg

[Phrank]

all those hills seem to have very similar heights, i mean: the range of "hilltop-heights" is abit too small - thats fine, if u are going for that look, because landscapes like that also exist in the real world, but a more random landscape would look more common. The next thing would be the texture(s). Many details depend on that part. U could also add some grass with some hair- or fur-plugin.
And by the way: i think u will get it, u are on the right way! :D :thumbsup:

[PNelson]

In LightWave you can create a Weight Map/Elevation map.. Set the "Move" tool to falloff based in the Weight Map and you are good to go..

This is the technique that Mike Hulme from Namco uses for creating ULTRA QUICK game terrains.

Hope this helps.

See Ya,
Philip Nelson

[Derugash]

PNelson - Maybe I should try getting my hands on lightwave, it sounds fairly simple, I've spent loads of time trying to get this terrain to look ok. :annoyed:

Phrank - I've changed alot since the first picture, but I still need to add some grass. Also I need ot change the tree, I dont like the way it looks now..

I've also posted this on 3dbuzz, and got a bunch of suggestions there; Here is the latest version:

[dark_lotus]

For landscapes I use Terragen, but you can use a displacement map in LW. You can model an entire landscape with just one poly.

Check em both out.

[Derugash]

Darklotus - I dont have lightwave, but what is terragen? plugin?

[Rabid pitbull]

Originally posted by dark_lotus
For landscapes I use Terragen, but you can use a displacement map in LW. You can model an entire landscape with just one poly.

Check em both out.

one poly? subdivide level of 50 - 100? i always make a dense mesh and subdivide at normal level 3-6... now i gotta try your way! either way i guess you get same render speed similar patch count.

i have heard of terragen before, it is a free app isn't it? or is it shareware???

[TheRustyEagle]

Terragen can give really great results. You can find it here: http://www.planetside.co.uk/

[Derugash]

Thansk TheRustyEagle, I wish I had this when I started out.. alot easier then moving vertices around :beer:

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