A Get Started Terragen 2 Tutorial for the Terrified

DVA99 · October 25, 2010, 04:33:53 AM

Hey John, you rock!

Thanks for a very good tutorial.

Echo R · November 07, 2010, 02:37:52 PM

I did the tutorial and it wasn't quite the same still had a lot of the strata rock part showing but my biggest problem was rendering time. It took 1 hour 40 minutes. I have the free version so it changed the size automatically but I didn't mess with any of the other settings since I don't understand what the numbers or words mean.... so how can I get rendering time down?

schmeerlap · November 09, 2010, 08:54:56 AM

Hi Echo R
An hour and 40 minutes isn't too long a render time as TG2 renders generally go. Of course it will depend on the spec of your machine, in particaular the speed of your processor and the amount of ram your machine has.
Check out the following link which will give you good advice on optimum rendering settings:

http://forums.planetside.co.uk/index.php?topic=6442.0

regards
John

nemasis · December 05, 2010, 04:29:21 PM

I have known about Terragen for a while. I first heard about it when I read Jag Panzer used it for the mountain scenes in one of there videos. Unfortunately the learning curve was a bit steep, and the search continued. I have used Vue, but just didn't like it. I know its been used in major motion pictures and all...but eh, whatever.

I just want to thank you John for putting this together as this has helped tremendously in my understanding!

I'll post my render as soon as its finished.

Nemasis

nemasis · December 05, 2010, 06:04:50 PM

Posting of finished render. I have the free version so detail is set at 1 and AA set at 3. res at 800x480. rendered in 53mins.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1628241/ben_mcduff_final.jpg

-nemasis

schmeerlap · December 06, 2010, 12:02:11 PM

Good effort nemasis. Maybe the grass is a bit too saturated and yellowy; going darker and closer to the reddish side of green might improve it. The more you practice, the more confident and better you get.
Oh, and there shouldn't be any need to go higher than 1 with the render detail setting; I usually render at 0.9.

John

nemasis · December 07, 2010, 12:06:56 AM

Yea the grass is something i want to tweak...way to yellow.

Is it possible in the full version to go past 1 in render detail?

Again, thanks.

bobbystahr · December 07, 2010, 01:32:20 AM

yes it is...

Oshyan · December 07, 2010, 01:46:57 AM

Yes, but it is almost never necessary and generally not advised to do. If there appear to be "detail" issues, they likely stem from other factors like antialiasing, atmosphere or cloud samples, etc.

- Oshyan

nemasis · December 08, 2010, 11:28:22 PM

Any chance on seeing a tutorial on vegetation populations?

nemasis

Henry Blewer · December 09, 2010, 12:21:01 AM

I am nearly ready to start one.

freelancah · December 09, 2010, 08:08:42 AM

A fine tutorial. I usually link this to people who ask for help

DannyG · December 16, 2010, 07:43:25 PM

John thanks, this is a must have foundation to TG 2. Thanks for taken the time to write it. Credit Mr Lampost's Bush pack

schmeerlap · December 29, 2010, 11:13:49 AM

Sorry it's taken me so long to respond , Danny, but I've been off the computer since I injured my right arm. Nice clouds, and I like the sunlight streaking through the atmosphere; small terrain features seem a wee bit spiky.

John.

bobbystahr · December 29, 2010, 11:23:28 AM

Quote from: schmeerlap on December 29, 2010, 11:13:49 AM
Sorry it's taken me so long to respond , Danny, but I've been off the computer since I injured my right arm. Nice clouds, and I like the sunlight streaking through the atmosphere; small terrain features seem a wee bit spiky.

John.

sorry to hear you injured yourself man...got a bit of arm pain lately as well but due mainly to over work as I'm practicing, playing and computing as well as shovelling snow so the arms get a bit stressed. glad yer back on the box again.. ...