Terragen 2.5 becomes free for non-commercial!

You can download the Free Non-commercial Edition here:
http://www.planetside.co.uk/terragen-2-free-download


The free version may only be used for non-commercial purposes and is limited in the following ways:
- Render Size Maximum: 800x600
- Render Detail Maximum: 1.0
- Antialiasing Maximum: 3
- Maximum Number of Rendered Populations: 3
- Maximum Render Detail for Micropolygon Export: 0.1

With 800x600 it is more like a demo. even if I do a non-commercial project, lets say for a contest, or my portfolio this small size is really not up todate.

But as a demo version it is enough of course.

Yeah, I always thought that limitation was odd even in v1.0. At 800x600, there isn't much you can do with it.

Worst case you can always stitch a bunch of renders together.

PITB, and it is a weird, arbitrary limitation for non-commercial work, but hey!

or you could buy it to unlock it's full render capability

I agree, if you need bigger files, buy it.

800*600 is perfectly fine to evaluate or learn it. I donīt understand what the fuss is about..

I agree on both counts. It's basically a demo, but still allows you to evaluate it in a more comprehensive way.

Sigh...Sidefx Houdini Apprentice and Apprentice HD equals the proper way for non-commercial versions.

it's enough to get me curious about it, tough the title is a bit misleading =)
I've been browsing trough the image gallery, and some of the work is really stunning

The free version has no limitations in functionality.
Everything is included and works the same as in the licensed version.
I think if you look at those restrictions then they are purely based to prevent abuse of the free version to get your work done for "free" (license wise that is of course).
Why would you want to have full HD, have high AA and more instanced objects?
Or export more detailed geometry?
You want these if you want to use it seriously and then you'll have to buy it

So this version is creatively crippled, but still would allow you to completely explore and learn the software, for nothing.

What I find funny though is that, despite that I feel with the people who think these kind of restrictions are a bit of a let down, don't really have suggestions for other limitations.
Houdini Apprentice has similar restrictions, even a couple extra, and Houdini Apprentice HD isn't comparible since it isn't free as it costs you $99 a year.

I'd check it out and keep an eye on this.
Some great stuff is being worked on behind doors, that's all I can/am allowed to tell.

It's a non-commercial license, though. As such, I'd expect people to want to use it to generate imagery that they could hang on their wall or, surprisingly, as wallpaper on their computers (most of which run well above 800x600 these days).

Yeah, that's what I meant. I don't know about you guys but just because I'm making something non-commercial doesn't mean I wouldn't render it at 2k or 4k.

However, this is in no disrespect to the software. I have always loved Terragen since it was first created and if you try it you will love it. Simple workflow with great results.

Yeah I admit if you look at it from that perspective there's indeed a need to change the naming convention from non-commercial to something like "learning edition" or the like.
I'll ask the commercial guy from the development team to have a look at these opinions here.
It's just better to have these kind of things communicate by themselves.



I think this is one of the many misconceptions about the software which seemed to be nailed/hammered into many (experienced) CG artists around. Say "Terragen" and many say "oh that simple click and render landscape app anyone can use...isn't it?"
Thus I suppose you were referring to the "Classic" Terragen, version 0.9?

"Houdini Apprentice has similar restrictions, even a couple extra, and Houdini Apprentice HD isn't comparible since it isn't free as it costs you $99 a year."

Similar, yeah a restriction on image size, from HD useful versus your 800x600 non-useful. You want a suggestion, match their resolution and have a non-intrusive watermark like Houdini Apprentice. Done.

As far as Apprentice HD being $99 a year, so what, the vast majority of users of a non-commercial program would pay that for a 3D program that is actually useful to them versus a free one that you can't even make a wallpaper out of. Again you guy's termed it as a new non-commercial edition. Take sidefx's lead on a proper non-commercial edition or don't. That's my opinion. I have a commercial version of Vue that I use as a hobby so unless you guy's lowered your commercial version substantially or did a proper non-commercial version like HD, I'm not even going to look Terragens way.