Abusing TGTP!!! Here are the results...

[moodflow]

Well, I finally broke down and started using TGTP to fit my own style, rather than the other way around. 

This render is 100% TGTP, but does include some image maps I created in photoshop and applied using the image map shader.  The thing I like is, TGTP lights/shades the maps perfectly and in its own way to fit the scene!  Its probably not the true way TGTP was meant to be used, but I love the results.

If done correctly, you can create foliage maps, rock maps, etc, and TGTP will apply them seamlessly.

Still some work to do (there always is), but I like this technique, as its fun, quick, and flexible.  This image only took about 20 mins to render @ 800x600.

I hope you like it.  I did some minor color/contrast/sharpening corrections in Photoshop, but even the native render was presentable.

[Will]

neat, mind writing a tutorial or giving a .tgd? I got plenty of image files that I would like to use in this way.

[dhavalmistry]

this is amazing man....just one question....the rock....is it made using image maps or functions or something else???

[moodflow]

this is amazing man....just one question....the rock....is it made using image maps or functions or something else???

Thanks for the compliments. 

The rock is made of functions...its pretty much an inverse crater shader thats warped with a power fractal. 

[dhavalmistry]

how do you make inverse crater shader??

[Will]

give it negative values I think.

[nvseal]

So is that foliage 3d geometry or is it 2d billboards?

[efflux]

Very nice result.

[rcallicotte]

Never mind the "right" way.  This is great.

As for learning how to use TG2, we can learn all of the ins and outs, but this is what it's all about.  Good job, Moodflow.

[Mr_Lamppost]

Oh yes I like this I don't care how you did it, the foreground is excellent but where is the girl with the Flake?

God I could murder a Cadbury's Flake.
But then you wouldn't let me into heaven.
Or maybe you would because there adverts promote oral sex.

Lyrics curtsey of Half Man Half Biscuit.

Sorry if you are not from the UK that will make no sense 

how do you make inverse crater shader??

There was a dead old thread about this but I can't find it so I knocked up this one;  Not sure if this is how everyone else does it but it should give you a start.


       

[Will]

Cadbury's Flake? Is that like a Corn flake and if so how do they advertises oral sex?

[efflux]

How about a whole planet covered in rock spires :

http://forums.planetside.co.uk/index.php?topic=2530.0

[moodflow]

So is that foliage 3d geometry or is it 2d billboards?

Its 2D foliage mapped to actual 3D geometry.  I plugged the image map shader into a default shader, which gave control over diffusion, translucency, luminosity, and reflectivity (all of which really add realism if done correctly).

[moodflow]

Yes, the rock was made similar to mr. lampposts method.

[Oshyan]

Really nice results here. Wonderful, subtle lighting.

TG2 is "supposed" to be used however it can be to achieve your desired end result. Part of what makes it stand out is its flexibility. So bravo in taking advantage of that to create a scene using different, and clearly very effective, techniques.

- Oshyan