I've been researching and testing methods to produce realistic waves and swell in TG2, and finally making some exciting progress. As you can see, there is still plenty of work to do, but I am excited by the results so far. This is mainly a "proof of concept" image and is not fully complete. I didn't finish some elements that are off in the distance, and there are plenty of things that could be dialed in better.
Anyway, this is a 100% TG2 render, with no post processing. The camera could be moved around anywhere within the scene with no problems. In fact, if done properly, I believe this could be an animated scene!
Though there is no post-processing, it did require pre-processing in Photoshop, but this was actually not all that hard. Here is what I did:
I started off by painting the rocks on a 1000^2 pixel image in PS, simply painting the rocks and cliffs where I wanted using a larger rough brush. This method gives amazing control. This took only a few minutes, as I knew there was an "add fractal detail" option that would be applied by TG2, adding the neccessary "crags" and "crinkles" on the rock faces later.
Next, I drew in the swell lines as a second layer using the rock map as a guide, so I knew where the swell would meet and be affected by the rocks. This image would serve as swell displacement only. Additionally, I have been a dedicated surfer all my life, so I tried to use some of this knowledge to assist.
The final image was to paint in the water color and foam effects. I did this on a 3rd layer so I could see where the waves and rocks were, which I could use as a guide for water color and foam placement. This took about 20 minutes or so to paint. I then separated and saved each image as a different file, then set them up in TG2 appropriately. After this, its all 'standard' TG2 work.
By the way, the water itself is NOT a water plane, and is simply part of the terrain. The rocks and grass colors are standard stacked power fractals (similar to Volker's technique), but with a low altitude constraint so it doesn't cover the water. The foliage is the same, just populations with altitude and slope constraints.
Anyway, I hope you like the image and can see the possibilities I see with this new "wave and water" technique.
Wow, this is looking remarkably good. Definitely a lot of potential in your technique!
- Oshyan
Looking Good! Definitely a technique to put into ones tool box :)
As I said on Renderosity, this is a great beginning.
I think someone is drowning...:D
amazing work!
I've been toying with doing this same thing except with functions. Unfortunately, I can get the shapes looking quite good, but as soon as I attach a reflective shader to it, it creates crashes. Hopefully Matt will fix this sometime soon :P. Later today I'll attach a couple of quick renders if I get the chance.
@ Moodflow:
Any chance you could post the jpgs of the 3 painted layers that you used. I believe that other than Sonshine's fake water caustics/transparency this is the best potential interim UI water effect that I have seen posted here. Great idea, and one can plainly see that with more image map development this technique can only get a great deal better. The ocean needs a better noise transition from the near shore defined blues to the flat greys further out, and also a little more image map definition at/under the wave break would help the realism. Having semi lived in the surf you probably are more aware of this than I am. Thanks for sharing your obviously successful method workup and a very beautiful ocean scene.
Arisdemos-
Not to be a thread hijacker, but I just wanted to share what I mentioned earlier. This was done entirely with function nodes.
really cool stuff, lovely foam effects
Many thanks for the compliments everyone.
@Old Blaggard: Nice work! I also considered this method, but realize it might not work as waves morph around obstructions.
@Arisdemos: The image maps I used are HUGE in size and only make sense when they are stacked. I am currently working on another image that features this effect and will eventually do a write up on it.
Awesome stuff. Keep it up.
Quote from: moodflow on October 31, 2007, 11:35:09 PM
I have been a dedicated surfer all my life
I envy you. Always wanted to learn how to surf and Hawaii is the one place I'm going to sometime in my life.
Quote from: sjefen on November 01, 2007, 04:38:47 PM
Awesome stuff. Keep it up.
Quote from: moodflow on October 31, 2007, 11:35:09 PM
I have been a dedicated surfer all my life
I envy you. Always wanted to learn how to surf and Hawaii is the one place I'm going to sometime in my life.
You need to get on it ASAP! You only live once. I just got in from surfing some 6' waves - had a blast. Life is about experiencing and helping others do the same.
I kiteboard, not really like surfing but still awsome
Quote from: Will on November 01, 2007, 05:27:06 PM
I kiteboard, not really like surfing but still awsome
Definitely, kiteboarding is what its all about - its the best water sport there is in my opinion. I've been riding since 1998 and still just as excited about it as ever! Glad there's another k'boarder on the forums. (sorry about the tangent)
very very good starting !
good waves !