Newbie render :)

[Valentina]

[attach=1][attach=2][attach=3]
So here I am with three of my first renders, hoping to improve myself thanks to this experience! I've studied only a week on Terragen 3 and I submit to you the images that I think best represent what I'm trying to achieve with my first steps in this software. I've already introduced myself, but just a little summary: my name is Valentina, i'm from Italy, i'm not new in 3d software but quite new with Terragen (just a very short experience some years ago with Tg classic).

What I did here...
1) I created a Power fractal terrain
2) I added more details with another layer as showed here http://www.planetside.co.uk/wiki/index.php?title=Terrain_and_Water
3) I added water as a lake
4) I added 4 different surface layers in the shaders tab in order to add more details for the "grass effects"
     -a darker green with 1 as coverage with a maximum altitude constrain and a minimum altitude constrain
     -a darker green with 0,875 with only minumum altitude constrain  (i thought it was better for the snow to cover also the grass)
     -a lighter green with 0,25 of coverage with a minimum altitude constrain

     -a white layer for the snow with a high minimum altitude constrain and a slope constrain
     -a light yellow/sand layer for the bottom part of the mountains with a maximum altitude constrain

5) I played with the clouds addying a
     -cyrrus layer
     -cumulus layer which I decided to be set between 4800m and 5000m (top of the mountain)
     -and a cumulus layer which I localized manuallyto be set at low altitude

6) I wanted the water to be absolutely flat.. even if unrealistic..

of course I have many many questions alreay at this very simple level, but let's start with opinions and advice, I'm ready.. 



Ps if I do anything wrong with the attachment of images, please tell me, I'll correct it


Valentina

[archonforest]

Ciao,

A bigger resolution render(around 1200*900) would be much better as these are very small. Hard to see anything on the screen

Otherwise seems to me a good start

[Valentina]

[attach=1]

Ciao,

A bigger resolution render(around 1200*900) would be much better as these are very small. Hard to see anything on the screen

right! sadly, not bigger... I have the Free version..

Otherwise seems to me a good start

thanks..

[archonforest]

In the free version you can go high as 1200x900 pixels...
What u uploaded is looking like 600x300...

Never mind... just saw the last upload and that is way bigger...

Looks good so far. Next I would suggest to try to give some displacement for some of the shaders so u can have more details and some rocks coming out from the surface.

Also recommend to you the site of "geekatplay" where u can buy videos about using TG. The prices are very friendly.

[Kadri]

Welcome Valentina. Nice start.

There are tutorials on Youtube and here that could help.

http://www.geekatplay.com/terragen-tutorials.php

[bobbystahr]

good first renders....no time to crtitique now but keep on tweaking....leads to wonderful surprises....

[Valentina]

thank you guys, I'll give a look to the tutorials and I'll "play" a bit with this render and post results..

but I would like to ask something..
following tutorials I add grass or snow by choosing : colour schader --> distribution shader, while in this case I choose: add layer--->surface layer. I had the feeling it was better. then inside this layer I can work with colour function and fractal brekup for example.. Which way is better when working with shaders? 

one of your suggestion is to give more displacement, and by instinct I would do it through the fractal breakup of the interested shader (where I can control the displacement amplitude).. is that correct?

thank you

Valentina

[Dune]

You might as well take surface layers, and you can add more surface layers or power fractals as children (child input). When adding power fractals do pay attention to the displacement tab and the sizes of the fractal. Displacements will be passed along to the terrain, so if you leave them and stack a few, it gets very messy. With a stack of surface layers you can decrease coverage for each and choose a nice color. Also you can add another power fractal as a mask input.
Think in meters, every value corresponds to that, so 0.01 is a centimeter, and adjust displacement in relation to fractal sizes. So, if you add a small fractal, like o.1/1/0.01, don't leave the displacement at 10, or you'll get a very spikey surface.
Reading older threads will reveal some setups for everything, so browse through them if you have time.