strata WIP for metablobs

[Jack]

hey guys

i have been experimenting with strata on my terragen metablobs as the conventional way with the strata outcrops does not work with metablobs.

this was done using image masking with a strata mask i created in PS. I used standard colour fractals for surfacing, for displacement i just used a standard displacement with the strata mask applied and added a layer of power fractals over it to roughen it up a little.
its still a WIP and crits and tips would be very helpful

[CCC]

I would toss in some fake stones in strata layers, each with different sets of stones because it all still looks like hard dirt only. Keep the stones more flat though as if embedded will into the hard dirt. The stones could be a very similar close color the the per strata layer. More color variations per each strata layer, some in very similar color shades while others could be more apart yet keeping the colors close in hue. Some strata could be more or less displaced in variation.

[Jack]

would you be able to create a set of functions that variate the displacement of the strata bands sorry I am hopeless with functions .
and thanks for the tips
variating the colour will be a hassle though

[CCC]

Sure, the strata mask could have a power fractal blend added to it with a stretched noise. That should do it i hope. I will see what i can do about this.

[Jack]

Sure, the strata mask could have a power fractal blend added to it with a stretched noise. That should do it i hope. I will see what i can do about this.

http://www.mediafire.com/?utjuqxzmz0m
here is the file with textures etc sorry its a little unorganized

[cyphyr]

Looking very interesting and promising. Are you using camera projection for your strata (using a special camera). I experimented with this with some success (didn't get as far as you) but gave up when I realised I'd need a camera for each "metablob"
Richard

[CCC]

Here is the variation of your TGD file. Worked with it all night but without any image maps as i tried to do it all procedurally because i was curious what internal effects i could get. The strata displacement still needs work and the colors are a bit dull but easy to change. The stones are still not there as i want them and there are some small-scale spikes here and there. Do not know how to get rid of them.

[Jack]

damn fine work 
will have a look at this
cheers!

[Tangled-Universe]

Looks cool so far
A metablob like this is also quite suitable for tutorial-purposes.
If I find time I'll try something with this TGD as well.

Cheers,
Martin

[CCC]

Here is another variant. More color distinction, however the small-scale spikes are still showing up. There is a better sense of embedded stones here as well with no fake stones being used, only power fractals but it would be nifty to try that shader as well for this.