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#31
Open Discussion / Re: VUE, PlantFactory and Plan...
Last post by ShelLuser - July 24, 2025, 06:09:42 PM
Quote from: Doug on July 24, 2025, 05:37:29 PMThank You
I will read it 42 times and see what happens.
HA, the universal answer can't go wrong there! (loving it!).

Seriously though: don't hesitate to ask if you still have some questions. This is not basic stuff so to speak and I definitely understand if you're still having issues. I no mind (as long as the Planetside staff also doesn't mind, but I can't help but be convinced that they don't mind as long as we keep this reasonable within this thread).
#32
Open Discussion / Re: VUE, PlantFactory and Plan...
Last post by Doug - July 24, 2025, 05:37:29 PM
Thank You
I will read it 42 times and see what happens.
I do have UV mapped objects, and i have imported one into Vue and applied a material file, then saved it.
It doesn't look as good in Terragen yet, I will work on it.
#33
Open Discussion / Re: VUE, PlantFactory and Plan...
Last post by ShelLuser - July 24, 2025, 04:26:11 PM
Quote from: Doug on July 23, 2025, 09:31:28 PMIs there any way to convert .png files to VUE .mat files?
I think that's a really fair question, I can easily see how the concept of material presets could become confusing if you're used to working with shader nodes like in TerraGen.

But first I need to draw 2 disclaimer cards...  While I'm pretty confident that I got a solid understanding of the TerraGen basics... I still got plenty to learn.  Thing is, as for Vue...  I already need to correct myself (previous comment?) because as it turns out I have a lot of uses for Vue but even so... still a Vue newbie at this point.

Back to the .mat files...  Not trying to be funny (!) but the answer is yes, and no....

You won't be "mass converting" files because it simply doesn't work that way. A PNG file is essentially a (raster) image aka a 2D image and/or representation, most often used for textures. Which - as far as I can tell - is a concept that TerraGen doesn't use as software like Vue does.

So...  a texture is usually a pattern (like that in an image file (such as your PNG file?)) which gets used as a "coat" to 'cover' a mesh. How to cover a mesh? That's where so called UV maps come in: a UV map is essentially a 2D representation of a 3D object. Lemme show an example...



^ This is ZBrush, a "3D editor" if you will. I basically added a 3D cube and then told ZBrush to take it apart and create a UV map for me. Fun fact about ZBrush: as you can see above it literally took the cube apart. Now, this is a big deal because if you want to apply some kind of specific looks to the cube then all you have to do is load the above image ("template"?) into a graphics editor like, say, Gimp or my personal favorite of PaintShop Pro and then you just start working on it, and as long as you stay within the above boundaries you'll be able to apply patterns or colors to that cube.

I know I haven't answered your question yet, but trust me: this is related, we're getting there.

Notice the orange color? Notice the mention of "MatCap Red wax" on the left side? That is courtesy of the so called material preset.

Generally speaking a material preset determines how an 3D object ("mesh") behaves within a scenery, I'm now mostly talking about how the surface of such a mesh behaves with regards to light sources. An object made out of metal is bound to reflect a lot more light than one made from, say, plastic or glass. So: a material preset determines how a mesh behaves. A texture then determines how the object (or: its surface) will look like.

Trust me: this is important to know.

Now onto Vue.

No, you can't "just" convert a TIFF image to a material preset, simply because the image is basically a 2D representation which lacks all the extra data that is required for it to be a material preset.

However....



Warning: I customized my Vue workspace, so this may not fully look like yours. Nothing too drastic: I basically swapped the scene pane ("world browser") with the object properties. So basically: bottom left right is top left right within the default workspace. (oh dear, left wasn't right ::) ?).

Now: Vue has a material editor which allows you to change the looks of the object you're working on. In my above example I added a cube (just like I did within ZBrush) and then opened the material editor by clicking "edit material" (see my highlight on the far right side of my screenshot).

By default Vue uses procedural colors, but there's nothing stopping you to change that to a "mapped image". Of course, the main problem then is that if you apply an image then it'll simply get 'plastered' and repeated on the surface of your mesh. Could be what you were looking for of course, but... maybe not?

Then we get to option #2 => "Edit Graph" (highlighted above on the left side):



(notice the repeating fish pattern on the cube?)

If you use the "Edit graph" option (see previous screenshot) then you'll get into a node network which is somewhat comparable to that of TerraGen. And just like with TerraGen this "Vue node network" will provide a lot more advanced options that provide much more direct control over how you'd like to use the 2D image and apply it onto a (3D) mesh.

This is basically your key into "converting" ("using") a PNG (raster) image file and turn it 'into' a material preset.

Ey... no one said this would be easy! ;)

Still... Vue does have some insane scripting ("macro") options that may allow a mass conversion but... that's way beyond my Vue expertise at this point.

I hope this answered your question.

PS

(unrelated) Fun fact: Vue also provides support for procedural terrains. And yet I am still very much determined to get my own TerraGen license soon enough. Once again software which provides a certain feature (like procedural terrains) amongst dozens of other features - generally speaking - can't compete with software that was designed from the ground up with that one specific feature in mind. I'm saying "once again" because I have the same experiences with the (digital) audio industry (which is passion of mine).

Anyway... time for me to click post ;)
#34
Open Discussion / Re: VUE, PlantFactory and Plan...
Last post by Doug - July 23, 2025, 09:31:28 PM
Is there any way to convert .png files to VUE .mat files?
#35
Terragen Discussion / Re: Terragen best plant pack f...
Last post by pokoy - July 23, 2025, 07:16:01 AM
Quote from: Dune on July 23, 2025, 01:21:32 AM
Quote from: pokoy on July 22, 2025, 09:06:45 AMTG still doesn't support normal maps, does it?
No, but you can use them alright in the displacement slot/input. Or by using a vector displacement shader as input for that slot. Not optimal, so it needs some fiddling.
Good to know, thank you!
#36
Terragen Discussion / Re: Terragen best plant pack f...
Last post by Dune - July 23, 2025, 01:21:32 AM
Quote from: pokoy on July 22, 2025, 09:06:45 AMTG still doesn't support normal maps, does it?
No, but you can use them alright in the displacement slot/input. Or by using a vector displacement shader as input for that slot. Not optimal, so it needs some fiddling.
#37
Open Discussion / Re: VUE, PlantFactory and Plan...
Last post by ShelLuser - July 22, 2025, 01:25:06 PM
Holy crap... 

Err, pardon me.. First: I just came to appreciate this forum so much more. No, not because of the mention of the above freebie (that's already on my computer), no, because of the "powers that be" that didn't go on a zealot spree but allowed this post. Let's just say that I saw "other sentiments" on "other fora" when "the competition" got addressed.

Second...  So, I just discovered this feat for myself (outside of this forum) only a few days ago. Yah, I'm that Internet nut who can appreciate good things so I actually tried to show some appreciation by posting on the Bentley System forum. I dunno what happened, I posted, and immediately got warnings that I didn't have permission to view the contents. My assumption (!) right now is that I found an accidental loophole (I mean: I never purchased any of their stuff). My profile (which does exist) doesn't show any activity, which I don't like because I poured serious effort into that post.

AND here we are... considering your account name I'm just going to assume that you're affiliated with Bentley Systems.

Thank you (Bentley Systems) for your awesome generosity!

There's also some poetry here because as much as I (truly) love working with Vue (it's an awesome addition for Daz Studio users) ... I'm actually getting better results with TerraGen. No, I am not making this up and I am not "just saying" just because of the forum we're on (no offense!). But at the same time.. it also often works both ways.

When it comes to terrain generation my main "tools of trade" are both TerraGen and Gaea. TerraGen creates the world for me in a procedurally way and Gaea is awesome to fill in the specific details which I sometimes need. Vue does not support all that which - in my opinion - is a huge pro for TerraGen. Did I forget to mention that I'm not all that good at drawing? ;)

(edit) => but then I realize that I can also (eventually!) bring plenty of assets into Vue, render my 360 Iray landscape and use that. At the time of writing I am working with the free ("community") versions of both TerraGen & Gaea (mad respect!), but that also means that I sometimes overlook things. Consider that corrected.

Anyway... my point being: IMO it's awesome that you guys (= Bentley Systems) decided to share with the community once you decided that you weren't going to further support E-On software (Vue & PlantFactory). Mad respect!

Thank you!

(edit) => Forgot to mention.. while I may not have that much use for Vue.. OMG: PlantFactory!

Any random Bryce 7 users here? => If you ever needed a good reason to abandon that ((still) awesome) abandoned thingamagick: PlantMagic + TerraGen (+ (optional) Gaea).

Even the free versions will get you much better results.
#38
Terragen Discussion / Re: Terragen best plant pack f...
Last post by pokoy - July 22, 2025, 09:06:45 AM
+1 for the above comment. I'm using Plant Factory right now after it turned out I need to use vegetation on a project and the software is great. The library is a bit thin maybe, XFrog had a better catalogue for sure, but what's there looks good and plenty presets to try out for each type of plant. Materials look good, you might have to replace normal maps with bump (I think TG still doesn't support normal maps, does it?). Also, you can quickly generate different plants for the same species, it's a matter of a few clicks.
#39
Terragen Discussion / Re: Terragen best plant pack f...
Last post by ShelLuser - July 22, 2025, 08:49:50 AM
Late reaction, but better late than never, right?

First a small disclaimer: I'm still very new to the concept of what I like to call "professional terrain building" (so: using software such as TerraGen, Gaea, WorldBuilder (edit) => World Creator, etc.), but not to 3D modelling/sculpting.

Anyway, about vegetation: buying assets is one thing, making them yourself... that can become a deal breaker (IMO). I learned that the Bentley Systems company has taken over E-On software and are now providing their software free of charge. This includes Vue, PlantFactory (!), PlantCatalog and extra Vue assets.

In other words...  Why not build some plant assets of your own, then export that as a mesh and import that into your TerraGen world / project?  You can find all that using this link. Maybe food for thought?
#40
User-contributed Tutorials / Re: Please use the wiki for al...
Last post by Kevin Kipper - July 21, 2025, 02:42:15 PM
Hi ShelLuser, welcome to Terragen.  We're glad you're enjoying the software.

The wiki page online documentation has gone through major updates in terms of feature and parameter descriptions and examples since the 2013 post just before your observations and questions above.

In the past couple of years several users have posted fairly in-depth guides regarding their discoveries and workflow in Terragen right here on the forums.  I would encourage you to do the same.  If you develop a good workflow between Daz Studio and Terragen and write something up, please feel free to share it here.