Mountains, Sunset, Planet

Started by jbest, July 27, 2010, 01:37:24 AM

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jbest

My brother and I decided to give it a go at the contest. The first picture is here, and I didn't want to make the other five until I got some input on it. For example, the rocks might do some work.

The whole idea is to go forward to the top of the mountain, switch to a time lapse of the sun setting, then go upwards, showing the cresent planet. To make it good will take some work, of course. Any suggestions on how to improve the picture (and idea) will be appreciated. Any ideas for add-ons in the picture will be nice too.
Heard of computer graphics? CG? Terragen 2, the landscape generating program, also known as TG, a whole cool way to create realistic CG - with TG.

jbest

here is the picture
Heard of computer graphics? CG? Terragen 2, the landscape generating program, also known as TG, a whole cool way to create realistic CG - with TG.

domdib

I would be inclined to thin out the fake stone distribution with fractal breakup, plus perhaps a distance shader and some slope restrictions.

jbest

do you think the rocks should be taken out all together? Maybe some texture?

i think that since an empasis is realism that maybe the planet should be out and maybe some better clouds should be in (like cumulus). Maybe some trees should be in the picture too.
Heard of computer graphics? CG? Terragen 2, the landscape generating program, also known as TG, a whole cool way to create realistic CG - with TG.

TheBlackHole

It doesn't have to be realistic as in, "Where on Earth is that?". It just needs to look like a photo of anywhere in the galaxy. It can be Earth. It can be Mars. It can be Pluto, Venus, the Moon, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, or even Pandora. It just has to look like a real place somewhere in the universe, as my Epic Planet ( http://forums.planetside.co.uk/index.php?topic=9881.0 ) thread shows.
They just issued a tornado warning and said to stay away from windows. Does that mean I can't use my computer?

jbest

well, I'm making a new render with no rocks (I thought the rocks just weren't needed). I stuck in some trees. I made two renders of each picture; one with no planet, and one with a planet. We'll see which one will be used. The idea of the animation will be the same, except that instead of looking up at the planet, I'll just show a picture from the other side of the mountain. That is, unless, someone has a better idea.
Heard of computer graphics? CG? Terragen 2, the landscape generating program, also known as TG, a whole cool way to create realistic CG - with TG.

domdib

I rather like the rocks in the foreground - although the terrain needs a little work just there, as it has obvious seams showing. Anyway, look forward to the next iteration.

jbest

any idea how to make clouds move? it'll be needed
Heard of computer graphics? CG? Terragen 2, the landscape generating program, also known as TG, a whole cool way to create realistic CG - with TG.

jbest

#8
the first picture is with the trees, and the second is with trees and planet. Which is better?
Heard of computer graphics? CG? Terragen 2, the landscape generating program, also known as TG, a whole cool way to create realistic CG - with TG.

jbest

here is the second frame; the first has no planet, and the second has a planet (and slightly different camera position).
Heard of computer graphics? CG? Terragen 2, the landscape generating program, also known as TG, a whole cool way to create realistic CG - with TG.

Hannes

I think this is a matter of taste. I personally prefer the versions without the planet, because the landscape looks very very earthlike. But it's up to you.

domdib

 I think it would be good to adjust the tree distribution. At the very least, I would restrict it by altitude, as you don't usually see trees going right up to the top of snow covered mountains.

jbest

Quote from: domdib on August 03, 2010, 06:36:48 AM
I think it would be good to adjust the tree distribution. At the very least, I would restrict it by altitude, as you don't usually see trees going right up to the top of snow covered mountains.

that's true, but how do you make good looking trees that end at a certain place? Adjusting the "length b" for the trees made it look downright awful, and it wasn't quite easy to get it the way I wanted. Also, with no trees at the top of the mountain, the second frame with no trees looked pretty plain. Maybe different trees with more spacing, or trees going partly into the snow, but not too the top?
Heard of computer graphics? CG? Terragen 2, the landscape generating program, also known as TG, a whole cool way to create realistic CG - with TG.

TheBlackHole

Use a surface layer as a distribution shader.
They just issued a tornado warning and said to stay away from windows. Does that mean I can't use my computer?

jbest

hi,

i am not so sure if I want to have the trees stop at the snow. As I said before, without trees, the second frame looks quite barren and not at all interesting. I think that I'll just make less trees at the top, rather than removing them.

As for the planet, I took out the atmosphere and made the planet look like a moon. It actually looks pretty good. Also, because the planet has no atmosphere, I changed the sunset to be behind the camera so the moon with its terrain is clearly visible. The moon is also quite big in the picture. I'll post it once the picture is rendered.

Jahnu
Heard of computer graphics? CG? Terragen 2, the landscape generating program, also known as TG, a whole cool way to create realistic CG - with TG.