Considering Purchasing TG2, But Have A Question About The GUI

[BriDog]

Back when all we knew about TG2 was some text on the website offering a basic description of its new features and abilities there was a mention of a simplified GUI similar to the original Terragen's being offered for retail versions of TG2. Now, I struggle with  TG2's new interface, it just confuses the hell out of me. Has the simplified interface been released at all? If not is it being developed?

I would very much like to purchase and start working with TG2, but right now, while using the free edition, it's exceedingly difficult for me to do anything.

Any and all answers/comments are welcome

[Kadri]

Hi , BriDog and welcome,

I had a similar question here. I don't think that there is anything new.

http://forums.planetside.co.uk/index.php?topic=7576.0

Maybe there is ?... Oshyan ? 

Cheers.

Kadri.

[neuspadrin]

Personally I think one thing that might be good is to have a "Simple Mode" toggle, which hides many of the advanced parts of a scene that normally don't need tinkering.

[BriDog]

Thanks for the link Kadri that was pretty helpful. I can understand how the developers would want to focus on functionality before anything else. I'm a bit concerned about the comment reffering to a "hobby" version having scaled back functionality along with the simplified GUI. See, I *want* the full feature set, just more user friendly than it is.

Neuspadrin's idea of a "simple mode"  could be the answer, provided easy switching to "expert mode" is available. IMO the point of "simple" and "advanced" modes should be to teach users enough to graduate to "expert mode". I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

[Kadri]

Personally I think one thing that might be good is to have a "Simple Mode" toggle, which hides many of the advanced parts of a scene that normally don't need tinkering.

Yes.
One thing ı would love to see but don't think that would implemented in the near time , would be to be able to make most changes direct over the 3D preview.
Min , max preferences  and many more things.... like the paint tool , but more advanced . But this will maybe only in  TG 3 .  I hope  

Kadri.

[Henry Blewer]

For a long time, I did not use the nodes window. I stuck with the features I understood from using Terragen 0.9xx. The basic way to build a landscape is to think of it like a cake. The base is the bedrock layer. Next comes the exposed stone layer; I use slope constraint in the surface layers. Now the sand/dirt layer, slope constrained. The grass layer, slope constrained. Last the snow layer (if I want snow).
This way gives you a basic landscape to start adding things to. Power fractals into the color input fro instance, provide more variation. Altitude settings in the Surface layer can keep a grass layer from 'growing' into the water.
I hope this helps.

[domdib]

I would definitely suggest checking out this thread by schmeerlap: http://forums.planetside.co.uk/index.php?topic=7733.0
He avoids using the nodes in this tutorial.

[neuspadrin]

you can also add "-nonetworkview" as a parameter when starting up terragen and it will automatically not show the node network view (i use that).  When I want the node network, i go to the node network tab, i dont care for it to show on every setting.

You might also want to look into the beginner tutorials on the wiki
http://www.planetside.co.uk/wiki/index.php/Terragen_2_Tutorials

[Oshyan]

Nothing has really changed at this point - the "simplified" UI is not currently the focus of development as other things are taking priority. But it's still something we'd really like to work on. We'll definitely take your feedback about not confining "simple mode" to a "hobby" version with less features, too.

In the meantime, keep in mind that you can work with TG2 in a fairly simple way, much like Terragen Classic, by just ignoring the node network and working in the node list views and 3D preview.

- Oshyan

[rcallicotte]

I use both the node list views and node network.  Just get 'er dun.