Planetside Software Forums

General => Image Sharing => Topic started by: mesocyclone on April 08, 2012, 12:32:25 AM

Title: Oldies using Image Map as BG
Post by: mesocyclone on April 08, 2012, 12:32:25 AM
Hello again!!

I am posting here tonight 4 really old images in wich I've used an image map to project some things in the TG sky  ;)

Well, these are from the Tech Preview times, they're really simple as I was a begginer (well I still am  ;) ) and had just discovered this method...

Thanks for viewing!
Title: Re: Oldies using Image Map as BG
Post by: TheBadger on April 08, 2012, 12:44:10 AM
Image 2 & 3 are really amazing! You should go back to them now that you know TG2 better.

If you have the time can you detail the steps involved in getting a look like that? Or if anyone has a link in the forum where this method is discussed could you please post it.

I was also wondering if the rings DandelO shared could be used over a 2d image? Would you still be able to get that color and light on the rings?

This is very interesting!

Thanks for posting the pix mesocyclone. 8)
Title: Re: Oldies using Image Map as BG
Post by: mesocyclone on April 08, 2012, 01:38:45 AM
I've made a nice tuto on how to do it but get a 406 when trying to post  :-\
Title: Re: Oldies using Image Map as BG
Post by: Kadri on April 08, 2012, 04:22:36 AM

I like how you used them.  :)

Title: Re: Oldies using Image Map as BG
Post by: Matt on April 08, 2012, 03:27:37 PM
Quote from: mesocyclone on April 08, 2012, 01:38:45 AM
I've made a nice tuto on how to do it but get a 406 when trying to post  :-\

Try clearing your browser cache and restarting your browser.

Matt
Title: Re: Oldies using Image Map as BG
Post by: mesocyclone on April 08, 2012, 03:50:39 PM
Cleaned the cache, restarted browser and still got:

QuoteNot Acceptable

An appropriate representation of the requested resource /forums/index.php could not be found on this server.

Additionally, a 404 Not Found error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle the request.
Title: Re: Oldies using Image Map as BG
Post by: yossam on April 08, 2012, 05:08:09 PM
You must be using Chrome...........that is the same error message I get when I try to attach a pic to a post. When using Explorer, I get a 406 error. If you find any information...........please share. I am totally frustrated at the moment.
Title: Re: Oldies using Image Map as BG
Post by: TheBadger on April 08, 2012, 05:21:23 PM
Don't give up guys. I'm sure Planetside is trying to understand the problem too.

@mesocyclone
Looking forward to reading your tut!

@DandelO
If you happen to be reading this... What do you think about your rings being used like in image 2 ^^? I'm just wondering if by looking at it you can say if its even possible. Adding that color and glow for example. I'm going to try, but if you  can see right off the bat that it wont work, then I would be glad to know it.
Title: Re: Oldies using Image Map as BG
Post by: Oshyan on April 08, 2012, 09:49:59 PM
I'm mystified by the 406 error stuff so far. What I can find about it seems to indicate it's an error in what your browser has told our server that it will accept in a data stream? That seems odd. I'm using Chrome here as well and no problems posting images/attachments. We'll continue looking into it, but until/unless we can reproduce it, it's going to be difficult to address.

- Oshyan
Title: Re: Oldies using Image Map as BG
Post by: dandelO on April 09, 2012, 09:29:01 PM
Quote@DandelO
If you happen to be reading this... What do you think about your rings being used like in image 2 ^^? I'm just wondering if by looking at it you can say if its even possible. Adding that color and glow for example. I'm going to try, but if you  can see right off the bat that it wont work, then I would be glad to know it.

Badger, I'm sure it would work, as long as you use GI you will be able to get glow from clouds into the atmosphere and also onto surfaces. You'll probably need to go mad with the cloud layer's colour or ambient colour, maybe in excess of '1'.
* You'll maybe even need to disable 'primary' for the ring layer to stop the colours blowing out if they go above 1 to only apply the secondary lighting to the scene from the rings.

The second image is my favourite here, looks very good.
Title: Re: Oldies using Image Map as BG
Post by: mesocyclone on April 10, 2012, 09:46:23 PM
Well, this is a quite simple method.

With TG2 open, click on the Objects tab. There, you will see an object called "Background".
Click, and inside it, you'll see a tab called "Surface Shaders". Click on it.

There will be a default shader called "Background Shader". You will create a new shader to take the place of background shader, and it will be an Image Map Shader

To do this, click on the rightside "+" button, and goto Create New Shader, then Colour Shader

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7255/6920233122_4890969686_c.jpg)

In Colour Shader menu, click Image Map Shader

(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5327/7066312191_7f9a0ab5fa.jpg)

Then, you will be asked to choose any image from your computer. After choosen click the "+" button again and click "Go To Image Map Shader 01"

The example3 window will appear.

(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5315/7066312371_0f75dc036e.jpg)

Set the projection camera to Render Camera. This setting will make the image to be always directly in front of the camera named "Render Camera", but you can choose any other camera to project it. And also, it will need to be lightened to appear well, so I put the main sunlight opposite to the image projected (directly behind the camera, at a negative elevation, in this case) and created another sunlight to lit the terrain a little.

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7049/7066312451_7104e3d362.jpg)

All the images I've used in this and other renders are property of their  creators.

Hope it helped!!  ;D
Title: Re: Oldies using Image Map as BG
Post by: dandelO on April 10, 2012, 10:14:00 PM
An extra hint here to remove the non-rendered 'skirts' around the border of the image map in the final rendered sky;

Set the image map to 'position centre' and enter 'position x/y' to 0.5 and set 'size' to 1.1.
You might get away with 1.05 or smaller but 1.1 should ensure that those skirts are removed as it stretches the image just beyond the camera's field of vision. :)

* Ammended foolisheries and nonsense.
Title: Re: Oldies using Image Map as BG
Post by: mesocyclone on April 10, 2012, 10:26:47 PM
Yeah dandelO you're right, thanks for the tip  ;D
Title: Re: Oldies using Image Map as BG
Post by: TheBadger on April 11, 2012, 02:35:49 AM
Nice tut! Thanks a lot!

Need to copy this down so I dont loose it.
Title: Re: Oldies using Image Map as BG
Post by: Dune on April 11, 2012, 04:41:20 AM
QuoteSet the image map to 'position centre' and enter X=0.51, Y=0.51 for size

When I do this, I have to set it to slightly above 2 for size.
Title: Re: Oldies using Image Map as BG
Post by: cyphyr on April 11, 2012, 05:01:30 AM
Yes an excellent method. You can use a similar technique (identical) for matching a Terragen scene to real world footage.
Why did you set the image size to 0.5? Surely for camera projection (irrespective of the camera settings) the image sizes should be 1 (or just above it to remove the fringing of skirt ...) I've come across this setting before and don't quite understand it.
Cheers
Richard
Title: Re: Oldies using Image Map as BG
Post by: dandelO on April 11, 2012, 02:51:57 PM
Quote from: Dune on April 11, 2012, 04:41:20 AM
QuoteSet the image map to 'position centre' and enter X=0.51, Y=0.51 for size

When I do this, I have to set it to slightly above 2 for size.

Sorry, I meant position, not size. Oops!

And, while I was at it, it got worse...

You need to set 'position x/y' to 0.5 and set 'size' to 1.1.

I shouldn't type from memory, it rarely works. :D
Title: Re: Oldies using Image Map as BG
Post by: bobbystahr on December 08, 2013, 12:52:47 PM
well I previously had Backgrounds working fine but no matter what I try the attached image is the 'best' result I've been able to get. Nothing serious, just a sunset experiment but I would like to figure this out. Using TG2 Full
Title: Re: Oldies using Image Map as BG
Post by: j meyer on December 09, 2013, 09:33:59 AM
Compared to the given instructions your settings are not the same.
You didn't set projection to position center and you didn't enter
0.5 to position x and y.
I'd give that a try and see if it works.
Title: Re: Oldies using Image Map as BG
Post by: bobbystahr on December 09, 2013, 10:52:12 AM
Quote from: j meyer on December 09, 2013, 09:33:59 AM
Compared to the given instructions your settings are not the same.
You didn't set projection to position center and you didn't enter
0.5 to position x and y.
I'd give that a try and see if it works.
Did that Jo and the results were the same. I was trying to get the sun in the image into the field of view so I could put the TG sun there. It seems I can't see the BG image when there is any atmosphere at all (it's[the BG] totally covered) and I add 3D clouds to the scene. I'm guessing that in order to see the BG you need ) atmosphere. Got it working sorta in TG3 but got distracted by a phone call and changed projects to one I was getting paid for, heh heh heh. But I am going to pursue this so if I get it working I'll post about it here.
Title: Re: Oldies using Image Map as BG
Post by: Dune on December 10, 2013, 03:26:52 AM
Possibly the sun is not illuminating that part of the 'outer globe' on which you project your image. Maybe have it as an luminance image helps.
Title: Re: Oldies using Image Map as BG
Post by: pclavett on December 15, 2013, 09:11:52 AM
Lovely effect and will have to read this completely to see how this was done !
Beautiful work !
Paul