Fractal Terrain Simple Shape Shader??

[pixo]

I am trying to understand the Simple Shape Shader component of the default Fractal Terrain node in Terragen 3.  The "Apply displacement" checkbox is unchecked yet the terrain is flattened where the shader is applied.  If the shader is deleted, the terrain becomes flat.  It is not making sense to me.  How is the terrain being flattened without displacement and why does deleting this shader in effect, delete the terrain?
This behavior does not seem logical... but then, many of Terragen's parameters still elude me.

[Oshyan]

The Simple Shape Shader is being used as a Mask for the Fractal Terrain. Look at the Fractal Terrain node's settings and you can also see that the mask is inverted, meaning it only masks out where the Simple Shape Shader is present, thus flattening (or rather, excluding from displacement by the Fractal Terrain node) the area of that Simple Shape Shader (SSS).

A helpful way to trace the workings of things in the scene is to look at the node network. There you can quickly see that the SSS output goes to an input of the Fractal Terrain node. Mousing over that input tells you that it is the Mask Shader input.

- Oshyan

[pixo]

Thanks for the explanation.  Now it makes sense.  Guess I need to spend more time in the node network.

[Oshyan]

Well, we do try to make it easy to see and change that kind of thing outside of the network too, it's just easier to identify the specific input port there. But if you look at the Node List (on the left) in the Terrain layout, you can see the Fractal Terrain 01 node has a +, indicating it has "child" nodes. Expand it and you see the Simple Shape Shader. So that likewise indicates the "child" node is connected to on of its other inputs (an input into the primary "Input Shader" input of that node won't show as a child).

- Oshyan

[Dune]

It's best to learn to work in the node network as soon as possible!! That gives the most information and works very good once you get the hang of it. I never use the upper left area, unless for checking out objects and populations.