Heightfield vs PF as Procedural

Started by WAS, June 14, 2015, 07:43:17 PM

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WAS

I've noticed in a lot of threads avid knowledgeable users indicate heightfields are not procedural. Is this in reference to image based heightmaps? Or even generated? I was under the impression the generation was using a rudimentary algorithms similar to other terrain generation programs based on the limited inputs TG allows.

Oshyan

"Heightfield" refers to a static, raster representation of height data. As such, while its origins may be procedural, its actual data is not; it is finite, raster data consisting of specific pixel values like any other image. You can create a heightfield from procedural functions, or from non-procedural functions, so it's really a description of the data format, not the source of the data.

- Oshyan