Planetside Software Forums

General => Image Sharing => Topic started by: Gannaingh on March 02, 2017, 05:49:05 PM

Title: Cascades Lake
Post by: Gannaingh on March 02, 2017, 05:49:05 PM
Another generic scene trying to replicate the beauty of the Pacific Northwest. I might be addicted.

Terragen 4 has been giving me some problems recently; if I have more than about three large populations in a scene my computer will lock up. However, the exact same scene will render just fine in TG3. To make this one I had to render the scene in TG3 with a clear sky and render a separate version with the clouds which were layered in photoshop. Beyond adding soft reflections to the water and increasing the specularity of the rocks at the water line it's pretty clsoe to how I want it.

Title: Re: Cascades Lake
Post by: Tangled-Universe on March 02, 2017, 05:53:30 PM
Happy to see you're still making nice renders :)
Did you report the issues you experienced?

Besides rendering it again with the improvements you already have planned for, what else are you considering to do/add/change?
Title: Re: Cascades Lake
Post by: Gannaingh on March 02, 2017, 06:18:22 PM
Yep, I'm still here!

I haven't reported it yet because I'm not entirely convinced it's a Terragen issue. My computer has been a bit wonky recently.

I'm thinking about giving some more TLC to the foreground on the left side of the image. I might add some tall shore grass and lily to extend the vegetation closer to the camera and to cover up the noise in the water's reflection due to the grass.
Title: Re: Cascades Lake
Post by: Jo Kariboo on March 02, 2017, 10:52:17 PM
Very natural!
Title: Re: Cascades Lake
Post by: fleetwood on March 02, 2017, 11:19:08 PM
Like it a lot. Good realism.
Title: Re: Cascades Lake
Post by: Oshyan on March 03, 2017, 01:21:13 AM
How much RAM do you have? Have you monitored memory use during render?

- Oshyan
Title: Re: Cascades Lake
Post by: archonforest on March 03, 2017, 02:46:53 AM
great vista. i wish to be there!! :)
Title: Re: Cascades Lake
Post by: luvsmuzik on March 03, 2017, 09:46:02 AM
Very pretty! I would fish here!
Title: Re: Cascades Lake
Post by: zaxxon on March 03, 2017, 09:57:26 AM
A lovely addiction!  ;). Once again your love for the Pacific Northwest shows in your images. Beautiful. Odd problem with the populations and not one I've experienced in TG 4. Perhaps Ram is the issue. But the image as it stands is very natural and lovely.
Title: Re: Cascades Lake
Post by: Hannes on March 03, 2017, 10:13:20 AM
Beautiful!!! Too bad, that you have these problems.
Title: Re: Cascades Lake
Post by: Gannaingh on March 04, 2017, 11:48:14 AM
Thanks everybody!

Oshyan, I have 8 GB of RAM. During the rendering of this latest version in TG3 RAM usage never rose above 7.1 GB. I'll need to do a test run to monitor usage in TG4.

I think the soft reflection and the reeds and lily pas around the shore really add to the image. Thanks for looking!
Title: Re: Cascades Lake
Post by: Kadri on March 04, 2017, 12:33:43 PM

Great render.
Title: Re: Cascades Lake
Post by: Gannaingh on March 04, 2017, 02:35:04 PM
When rendering in TG4 it does seem that I'm running out of RAM. I've attached a screenshot of the error message for reference.

Strangely, when I send it to PixelPlow, using TG4, I get the following message:

"Your job, job92156621567420, has encountered multiple slice errors during rendering

Warning: SetParamFromString: Unknown parameter: "minimum_threads" in class: renderC:\Windows\system32>IF NOT ERRORLEVEL 0 set retvar=-1073741819
"

I don't really know what that means, but I've sent a message to PixelPlow support asking what I can do to resolve the problem on my end.
Title: Re: Cascades Lake
Post by: zaxxon on March 04, 2017, 02:43:56 PM
The changes are very subtle and very nice. Working with 8 gigs makes it tough these days though.
Title: Re: Cascades Lake
Post by: Oshyan on March 04, 2017, 03:57:37 PM
Quote from: Gannaingh on March 04, 2017, 11:48:14 AM
Oshyan, I have 8 GB of RAM. During the rendering of this latest version in TG3 RAM usage never rose above 7.1 GB. I'll need to do a test run to monitor usage in TG4.

Well there's your problem, I'm afraid. It sounds like in TG3 you're already near the limit of your RAM (the OS needs some memory too, so it's actually a bit surprising that TG can use 7.1GB without crashing). TG4 definitely uses more memory for rendering, especially for objects and for new v3 clouds. So it seems like a pretty clear case of running out of memory indeed.

I'm surprised you've been able to do as much amazing work as you have with only 8GB! Surely you can upgrade? Maybe get one of those new AMD Ryzen CPUs in an affordable "monster" render box, and get 32GB of RAM. :D

- Oshyan
Title: Re: Cascades Lake
Post by: Gannaingh on March 04, 2017, 04:17:45 PM
I'm definitely looking in to getting myself a render monster of a PC!
Title: Re: Cascades Lake
Post by: bobbystahr on March 05, 2017, 12:01:18 PM
Quote from: Gannaingh on March 04, 2017, 04:17:45 PM
I'm definitely looking in to getting myself a render monster of a PC!

That was my decision but get a real 3D pro to build it for you if you are, like me, and not a DIY guy. Still waiting for my 2nd 16Gb RAM to arrive and it seems I should have waited till Ryzen came out because the AMD cpu I have is, I suspect, a tag feeble for my work. The one I have is apparently a bargin bin cpu, a FX-8120 processor($80.00)...don't go there for sure...Mine still doesn't like TG4 and I'm thinking of a major cpu/mobo upgrade and my box is merely months old.
Title: Re: Cascades Lake
Post by: DocCharly65 on March 06, 2017, 05:30:47 AM
An absolute masterpiece - and very tough with that 8GB-PC!  :)
Title: Re: Cascades Lake
Post by: DannyG on March 06, 2017, 05:54:07 PM
Awesome work Jeff, I am sure you will take this further, it looks amazing already
Title: Re: Cascades Lake
Post by: Gannaingh on March 13, 2017, 07:31:56 PM
All the changes I make to this one result in an image I don't quite like as much, so I think I'm going to call this one complete. However, here is a nice big 1080p compatible version for all you folks with big monitors.
Title: Re: Cascades Lake
Post by: masonspappy on March 13, 2017, 08:35:18 PM
nice work, definitely easy on the eyeballs
Title: Re: Cascades Lake
Post by: Jo Kariboo on March 14, 2017, 12:23:43 AM
Excellent again!!!
Title: Re: Cascades Lake
Post by: cyphyr on March 14, 2017, 06:41:06 AM
Sublime image, great water. I can't imagine what you don't like about it but sometimes you do just have to walk away.
Title: Re: Cascades Lake
Post by: fleetwood on March 14, 2017, 11:59:52 AM
Excellent photo-realism.
Title: Re: Cascades Lake
Post by: archonforest on March 14, 2017, 12:46:01 PM
This is a very well done! Stunning vista 8)