Planetside Software Forums

Support => Terragen Support => Topic started by: AP on May 07, 2016, 07:33:14 AM

Title: Image map feature request
Post by: AP on May 07, 2016, 07:33:14 AM
It would be great to have some options within the Image Map Shader that allows repeating textures to scatter randomly similar to what the Populator features have. This would avoid the "grid" pattern issue when mapping textures over large terrain areas.
Title: Re: Image map feature request
Post by: Dune on May 08, 2016, 01:34:48 AM
Agreed, very handy. Or a scatter shader that would take input to scatter (like a simple shape shader, crater shader)...
Title: Re: Image map feature request
Post by: AP on May 08, 2016, 01:57:52 AM
Something like that could work just as well, even better then only applying to image maps. On objects and stones it is not such an issue because of such a small limited area but imagine a large chunk of land going out a few thousand meters, then things become rather noticeable.

I think there was discussion about such a shader from older threads if I recall.
Title: Re: Image map feature request
Post by: KyL on May 08, 2016, 11:11:50 PM
two thumbs up on that one!
Title: Re: Image map feature request
Post by: Dune on May 09, 2016, 01:52:01 AM
Btw, to overcome the grid pattern it's quite easy to make a few (rotated) versions of the image map, call them in and have them masked by a PF, for a random 'scatter'.
Title: Re: Image map feature request
Post by: AP on May 09, 2016, 04:21:29 AM
The thought had crossed my mind the other day. However, less work and nodes would be ideal. For now I will consider the current option. 
Title: Re: Image map feature request
Post by: j meyer on May 09, 2016, 11:09:08 AM
Quote from: Dune on May 09, 2016, 01:52:01 AM
Btw, to overcome the grid pattern it's quite easy to make a few (rotated) versions of the image map, call them in and have them masked by a PF, for a random 'scatter'.

Which yields definitely better results than a simple scattering of single image instances.
So maybe a plug in to automate the masking solution would be more appropriate anyway.
Title: Re: Image map feature request
Post by: Kadri on May 09, 2016, 02:28:44 PM

This is one of the features i wanted too since a while.
No deal breakers but some automatic image size adjustment for objects and cubic mapping would be nice too. 
Title: Re: Image map feature request
Post by: KyL on May 09, 2016, 03:10:32 PM
Quote from: Dune on May 09, 2016, 01:52:01 AM
Btw, to overcome the grid pattern it's quite easy to make a few (rotated) versions of the image map, call them in and have them masked by a PF, for a random 'scatter'.

My only problem with that is that every time the texture will be loaded into memory. This can become a serious issue when you start to have a lot of different textures....

Another solution could be to have the ability to change the texture repetition through a node. That's essentially the only reason why you have to use different instances of the same texture. Something that could act like a "texture populator" maybe? With the same settings so it could be possible to have a texture at the same position as an asset, for example a leafy ground at the bottom of trees...  ::)
Title: Re: Image map feature request
Post by: Dune on May 10, 2016, 02:11:40 AM
If you load the texture once and take it through a transform shader (or a few), you can get more 'versions' and mix those. Just one load.
There are ways to mix them without overlap too, there was a thread about a nice setup quite a while ago.
Title: Re: Image map feature request
Post by: AP on May 10, 2016, 03:59:54 AM
That might work for now. Perhaps in some cases it would still require a lot of Transform input shaders just to make it random and natural enough.
Title: Re: Image map feature request
Post by: j meyer on May 10, 2016, 11:30:36 AM
Kadri - most likely you know already, but, just in case....
          Cubic mapping, done manually, works flawless. Only auto generated
          Cube maps don't work. And a manual mapping of six sides is done
          really quick.
Title: Re: Image map feature request
Post by: Kadri on May 10, 2016, 11:44:03 AM
Quote from: j meyer on May 10, 2016, 11:30:36 AM
...And a manual mapping of six sides is done really quick.

I want a "one click solution" ;D
Title: Re: Image map feature request
Post by: Dune on May 10, 2016, 12:28:37 PM
Open Terragen, click once, wait a little while: perfect render  ;)
Title: Re: Image map feature request
Post by: Kadri on May 10, 2016, 12:37:31 PM

I am sure Matt does have a version in his mind in that you click on "make perfect random world" and render away :D
Title: Re: Image map feature request
Post by: KyL on May 10, 2016, 02:27:02 PM
Quote from: Dune on May 10, 2016, 02:11:40 AM
If you load the texture once and take it through a transform shader (or a few), you can get more 'versions' and mix those. Just one load.
There are ways to mix them without overlap too, there was a thread about a nice setup quite a while ago.

I just thought about that after posting my reply. I gave it a try actually and having 6 different rotation values does the trick. Depending on the texture it might become a bit weird or soft in certain places, but I need to do further experiment on that.