Mountain path

[WeekendPlayer]

Hello. This is my latest image and first post here.

Render settings: Detail 1, AA=5, GI 3,4,8
It took about 10 hours.

Critiques, impression and comments are welcomed.
Thank you for viewing.

[schmeerlap]

The path isn't really very realistic. You need to do more than apply a lighter coloured stripe. Break it up more, with edges not so distinct. Maybe even cut into the terrain a little with an image map with displacement applied. And maybe add some small fake stones. And it won't continue to the same degree on the steeper slope.

John

[Mohawk20]

John, that's not the path. The less steep part of the slope is the path, the lighter stripe is supposed to be a stream of water I guess...

K-Macky, you might want to apply a little displacement to the water stream, so it looks like it has carved away the rock over the years.

[Tangled-Universe]

Nice start so far! I like the POV and how the viewer automatically follows the path. Well done!
If I may, I have about 4 suggestions for possible improvements:

I agree with Mohawk about the waterstream-idea. To add to his suggestion I think you should use a powerfractal with billow-noise function and stretched-along the axis the stream is following (either x- or z-axis).
Then add some slight negative displacement to get a carved effect.

Maybe you can also improve the scales of the models. The grasses are rather large and I think it would be great if you made them way denser, close to overgrowing the steep surfaces.

The fake stones is a good idea. Maybe you can add 2 extra layers with larger fake stones. Let's say the first extra layer is 3x bigger than current fake stone layer and then the next extra layer is 6x bigger than the current fake stone layer.
This will add nice variation. Also, don't forget to decrease density over scale. So, many tiny stones, not too many big stones. I'd suggest you increase the density of the small stones very much to make the surface look like grit.

Last suggestion is that there is quite much to see and already ~80% of the image is covered with terrain and models and thus it is already quite "busy". I suggest you either reduce the amount of clouds dramatically or even completely delete them. This way you bring more balance to the scene.

I hope you don't mind all these suggestion and find them helpful. If you need any advice how to do stuff then feel free to ask

Martin

[schmeerlap]

I have to say I don't see much evidence of a path following  the contours of the hillside, the ground colour seems pretty uniform; it certainly isn't a well-trodden path if indeed it is there. I am glad that the vertical stripe ascending the slope isn't a path, though. (confirmation here by the artist, perhaps).

John

[WeekendPlayer]

Thank you for the comments.
Adding some fake stones is good idea! I'll try.

the lighter stripe is supposed to be a stream of water I guess...

Waterstream, that's true.
I will use noise function and add displacement to make it more real.

Tangled-Universe, Thank you for your full suggestions.They are very helpful for me.
As for the clouds, I just like the clouds like this, thick and cumulus one, but you could be right.