WIP What Phoenix hopes to find

[Mahnmut]

I have been thinking about an ice-on-mars-scene for some time, but until recently I had problems combining my heightmap (thanks to the celestia motherlode!) with my handmade surface details.
so the first image is purely procedural, -powerfractal, fakestones and crater.



Here comes my first little success using the real heightmap, although the scale is completely wrong.



Its meant to be beautiful more than realistic, even though.
Comment and critique are welcome!

[Mr_Lamppost]

Both look good.  Only time will tell how accurate you are. 

[Phylloxera]

Chinasky on Terragen Planet posted this image

[Phylloxera]

Another image of Chinasky !

[Chinaski]

Hmmm Phyllo, je pense pas qu'il soit nécessairement utile de copié/collé tapageusement mes images dans le thread de Mahnmut. J'ai déjà un topic sur le présent forum, qu'ont vu ceux qui le souhaitaient, c'est fort bien. Et c'est Chinaski avec un "i" bordel.

Mahnmut, if you need an imperfect Phoenix lander mesh (the one I've maked for my renders) send me a PM and I'll give you the download link.

nb : The ice crater on first image was inspired by "Residual water ice in Vastitas Borealis Crater" DLR images ?

[Phylloxera]

Je m'en suis rendu compte après ça fait 10 jours que j'étais en rade de PC, je me suis jeté sur PlaneteSid ecomme un mort de faim, c'est promis je ne recommencerai plus CHINASKI !

[Seth]

hehe frenetic cut/paste from Phyllo after 10 days of computer crashes !!!

[Mahnmut]

Thanks to all.
I have been playing with planetwide views of a terraformed Mars for long now,
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1270/1390592497_b67657d673_o.jpg
but I could´nt get rid of kilometer sized artifacts when trying to make closer views.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3245/2527795631_a98143c14c_o.jpg
Now that I finally solved the problem using a "selective gaussian blur" on the heightmap (in Gimp), I intend to make some series "before-after" terraforming.
I just think the before-images are more interesting with some Ice, and it makes the terraforming more realistic.
All this is mostly inspired by Kim stanley Robinsons brilliant Mars-trilogy, although of course I also read the news.

I didn´t see this image in a big version until today, but now that I did:

http://esamultimedia.esa.int/images/marsexpress/212-010705-1343-6-3d-01-CraterIce.jpg

Why are they still looking for evidence of life when there are those highly suspicious streaks of yellow snow along the rim of this snowfield???
Best Regards, Jan

[Mahnmut]

Thanks for your offer, but I am a purist when it comes to nature.
I don´t like artifacts in my landscapes, not even well made landing probes like yours.
I like your pics, they must be much more accurate in scale than mine, which are a bit dramatized.
I tried with realistic scales, but much to often Mars´wonderful features get lost behind the horizon or in the haze.
What does "tapageusement" mean?
best regards, Jan

[Phylloxera]

hehe frenetic cut/paste from Phyllo after 10 days of computer crashes !!!