Population: how to place objects at specific coordinates

drongo · September 28, 2012, 09:05:38 AM

Hello,

normally I add a population to a specific area using an image map shader of a black/white map. BUT how to add single objects to single points? Since it is not possible to import point-vectors or a sheed of point coordinates, I tried to create image maps with very tiny white points at my coordinates (just a few pixels). But then I have to lower the object spacing to a very small value so the population finds the small spots. But then again, I got two objects at some of the spots.
Any idea how to do this...? I don't want to add hundreds of objects by hand...

Greetings,
Drongo

jo · September 28, 2012, 09:19:07 AM

Hi,

There's not really any good way I'm aware of for doing this. It's something I've been thinking about adding in a future version.

Regards,

Jo

drongo · September 28, 2012, 09:30:49 AM

thought so..
the only way I found is quiet complicated. I created an image map of for example 10x10 Pixel > 10x10 meters and gave it to the population with an object spacing of 1 meter... see the attached result...
but this is very artificial and hard to reproduce with real data (using a GIS). Well I will try on.

Thx for the reply.
Drongo

Dune · September 29, 2012, 03:22:06 AM

I had the same problem when making my first medieval (winter) city; wanting rows of trees along lanes. Some small dots were missed, others got two trees. Had to hit seed until about right. So I am glad you're thinking about this, Jo! But a solution won't be easy, I think.

Tangled-Universe · September 29, 2012, 03:39:40 AM

Quote from: Dune on September 29, 2012, 03:22:06 AM
I had the same problem when making my first medieval (winter) city; wanting rows of trees along lanes. Some small dots were missed, others got two trees. Had to hit seed until about right. So I am glad you're thinking about this, Jo! But a solution won't be easy, I think.

Making rows is super-easy. Just make a 100x1m population and set both spacing variation values to 0 and object spacing to 1.
You should have one straight row of trees perfectly spaced 1m now. Then if you increase the object spacing variation on Y a tad bit (0.2 or so) you'll still have 1m spaced trees, but they will follow a slight irregular line.
I did that in my Dutch Landscape image you may remember.

Dune · September 29, 2012, 03:51:28 AM

Thanks, Martin. Yes, I did know that. I used that method for one or two lanes after all, but if you have a complicated network of lanes plus normal stands of trees, it's more work

And it's getting complicated if you have a curved lane, like (winding) roadside trees. You can't as yet warp the population (or maybe you can, mmm...)

bobbystahr · October 05, 2012, 10:38:14 AM

Quote from: Dune on September 29, 2012, 03:51:28 AM
Thanks, Martin. Yes, I did know that. I used that method for one or two lanes after all, but if you have a complicated network of lanes plus normal stands of trees, it's more work And it's getting complicated if you have a curved lane, like (winding) roadside trees. You can't as yet warp the population (or maybe you can, mmm...)

Any luck with the warping of pops Dune...just curious....

Dune · October 06, 2012, 12:14:07 PM

Sorry Bobby, haven't got the chance yet. Recovering from a minor operation. But don't put your hopes up, very little chance it'll work.

drongo · May 28, 2015, 10:51:44 AM

Still not possible in Terragen 3, I guess?

bobbystahr · May 28, 2015, 12:00:27 PM

Quote from: drongo on May 28, 2015, 10:51:44 AM
Still not possible in Terragen 3, I guess?

Y'know I'd totally spaced this thread as I was recording music mainly in that time period. Doubt that works yet or it would have been mentioned, and there'd be a WOO HOO thread about it, other than by warping it's mask which I find handy.

Dune · May 29, 2015, 02:51:14 AM

No, it's not, I'm afraid.