Mirage...

[choronr]

Just another hot season image. Using Photoshop, Gaussian blur was used where it was needed.

[moodflow]

As stated on renderosity, this is the best TG2 desert image I've ever seen.   

Are the sand ripples procedural?  I've been able to pull these off with image maps, but not yet with functions.  If you have any tips, please be sure to share.

[moodflow]

I looked at the image more closely and now see how you pulled it off.  Clever, and it looks great!   

I use this same technique as needed, and it works nicely. 

Keep them coming!

[old_blaggard]

Very nice work!  I'm guessing that the ripples are images maps with displacement?  This looks quite nice, although the background does have some unfortunate fractal lines.

[Seth]

very good desert render
good light and sand ripples !

[choronr]

@moodflow, ole blaggard and seth; thanks for visiting and your encouraging comments. I used an image map for the sand ripples and did a bit of color matching in Photoshop to achieve the result.

[inkydigit]

an exceptional render...love the mood/atmosphere and all the details!

[Saurav]

Great use of image maps and the soft pastel colours work really well.

[rcallicotte]

Wow.  Very nice.  I like the colors and point of view.  Excellent lighting and nice desert scene.  To be picky - the overall rigidity that isn't in a real desert is present, sort of.  But, that is being as picky as I can be.  TG2 sometimes just doesn't fake real life without some magic touch, which is very seldom seen.

Fine work!

[moodflow]

@moodflow, ole blaggard and seth; thanks for visiting and your encouraging comments. I used an image map for the sand ripples and did a bit of color matching in Photoshop to achieve the result.

I use this technique as needed, and even works well with other image map projections laid on top or below (including standard power fractals). 

Personally, I think using all tricks in the book is the best way to pull off an image (for example:  mixing mediums, techniques, generators, shortcuts...all is fair to pull of the desired result!).  I know some are against this, and thats ok.

Ultimately, I think the true success would be to do everything procedurally, but this requires serious research and work to pull off.  I like how TG2 makes it easier to do this, though I haven't seen many images yet (from any 3D app) that truly blur the lines between real and CG.  But we are getting closer every day.

Again, nice work Choronr...

[choronr]

Sometimes, you'll find many roads to satisfaction - a satisfaction which in itself is difficult to achieve. TG2 offers numerous ways to tweak and stretch images to facilitate the desired result. This is what makes working with this program so much fun. Thanks to moodflow and others for their visits and comments.

[joshbakr]

That's Incredible! I wish I could figure out how to do stuff like this.

[choronr]

I am sorry but I have forgotten that I have received the idea of using sand dunes ripples from Jay (thanks Jay). You can see his use of this same file at Rendus 3D called 'San Salvador' http://www.rendus3d.com/showphoto.php?photo=622