Terragen Documentation from Planetside Software - User contributions [en]

Terragen Tips and Tricks

2013-07-24T12:05:27Z

Neon22: Added Bryce Tree import section

__TOC__
=== [http://forums.planetside.co.uk/index.php?topic=6442.0 Render settings recommendations]===
Some tips on how to optimize your render times and quality thanks to Oshyan.

=== Waterfalls ===
[http://forums.planetside.co.uk/index.php?topic=9961.msg103924#msg103924 From water] - A method of creating a waterfall effect via displacement shaders, with a shared demonstration .tgd, located on the Planetside forums.
 
[http://forums.planetside.co.uk/index.php?topic=6454.msg68227#msg68227 From clouds] - a method of creating waterfalls from cloud objects with a painted shader.

=== Redirect and Warp Shaders ===
Details about how they work with displacement. http://forums.planetside.co.uk/index.php?topic=7035.0

===Converting xFrog Trees and Plants in TG2 to TGO===
When the xFrog plant or tree is not in the TG2 native format of TGO, then this will help you transform that object for use in Terragen 2.

1. Take the LWO xFrog tree and all associated files into PoseRay. 
2. The branches are all adjusted by setting the UV for each to Cylindrical and x=0, y=0, z=1. Weld UV Coordinates is checked. 
3. Hit update under UV for each branch changed in #2. 
4. Go to each Material in Basic Texture Properties and make sure that the TIF files are used as the Bump Maps for all. 
5. Go to each leaf Material in Basic Texture Properties and make sure that the TIF files are used Transparency Maps; invert mapping is unchecked. 
6. Make sure under Material / Finish that the Metallic check-box is unchecked. 
7. Hit update under Basic Texture Properties for all changes in #4, #5 and #6. 
8. Export object as an object file. 
9. Bring into TG2 and adjust any changes that didn't go through, like displacement maps or Alpha maps. 
10. Under the Opacity tab, make sure that for each texture associated with that leaf, that it has its Opacity set for 1, that it has the appropriate TIF file and that it has Use Alpha Channel checked. 
11. Once everything is completed in TG2 for the object, save this new object as a TGO. 

=== Power Fractal Lessons ===
Power fractal shader lesson by Volker Harun of PS forums. http://forums.planetside.co.uk/index.php?topic=2287.msg22357#msg22357

=== Global Illumination Examples page ===
http://sites.google.com/site/d4nd310/tg2gi

=== Loading Trees from Bryce ===
Files exported from Bryce in obj format can be read into TG2 with the following file modifications: 
1. OBJ files 
- the mtllib line at the top of the file will have the filename surrounded by quotation marks. These marks must be removed. 
2. MTL files 
- any map field (such as map_Ka) will have quotes around the filename. These quotes must be removed. 
If you do this then the mtl file wil be recognised and loaded - creating a suitable shader. Many aspects of the mtl file will not be loaded but the essential map_Ka will be imported. 
- e.g. specular maps, ambient maps, reflection maps are not imported.

Tutorial planning Area

2012-07-12T04:53:04Z

Neon22:

In this section we want to accumulate and sort proposed turorials.
These fall into several categories: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, and Specific.
with the following definitions:

'''Beginner'''
* Assuming the user has only just begun to use Terragen2 and is learning basic manipulations and organisation of graph nodes and concepts
'''Intermediate'''
* Aimed at users who have no difficulty in understanding the tutorials defined as Beginner. Who also has control over all aspects of the UI and knowledge of most but not all nodes.
'''Advanced'''
* For users who have no difficulty with the contents of the Intermediate tutorials. Tutorials that use corner cases or rely heavily on such aspects as Blue nodes or prior understanding of intermediate level aspects of TG2.
'''Specific'''
* Where the tutorial assumes intermediate knowledge and is aimed at deconstructing a specific image or Animation.

The intention would be to organise and sort many desired tutorials, and then for individuals to create pages that match these with the tutorial linked or directly on those pages. Supporting files must be made available in the file sharing part of Planetside forums.

==Beginner==
Introductory scene - Desert
:Shows simple scene constructing eroded desert canyon
:Concentrate on colours, PF scales, add strata node, basic sky (cirrus)
::''is it too soon for strata node''
Introductory scene - Moons in the sky
:Shows two moons and sun position over basic terrain
Introductory scene - Sky at sunset
:Shows sun angle and atmosphere for sunset
Rocks on Rocks
:Adding detail using childnodes to rocks
Rocks and sand on a beach
:Adding detail using surface layers
Waterlines
:Using colour Adjust shader to darken wet sand above water
::''intermediate?''

==Intermediate==
Painted shader introduction
:Show Masking using the painted shader
Painted shader and camera projection
: use camera projection and the painted shader to show an image projected onto terrain
==Advanced==
==Specific==

Tutorial planning Area

2012-07-12T04:52:16Z

Neon22: /* Beginner */

Tutorial planning Area

2012-07-12T04:51:45Z

Neon22: comment on waterlines

In this section we want to accumulate and sort proposed turorials.
These fall into several categories: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, and Specific.
with the following definitions:

'''Beginner'''
* Assuming the user has only just begun to use Terragen2 and is learning basic manipulations and organisation of graph nodes and concepts
'''Intermediate'''
* Aimed at users who have no difficulty in understanding the tutorials defined as Beginner. Who also has control over all aspects of the UI and knowledge of most but not all nodes.
'''Advanced'''
* For users who have no difficulty with the contents of the Intermediate tutorials. Tutorials that use corner cases or rely heavily on such aspects as Blue nodes or prior understanding of intermediate level aspects of TG2.
'''Specific'''
* Where the tutorial assumes intermediate knowledge and is aimed at deconstructing a specific image or Animation.

The intention would be to organise and sort many desired tutorials, and then for individuals to create pages that match these with the tutorial linked or directly on those pages. Supporting files must be made available in the file sharing part of Planetside forums.

==Beginner==
Introductory scene - Desert
:Shows simple scene constructing eroded desert canyon
:Concentrate on colours, PF scales, add strata node, basic sky (cirrus)
::''is it too soon for strata node''
Introductory scene - Moons in the sky
:Shows two moons and sun position over basic terrain
Introductory scene - Sky at sunset
:Shows sun angle and atmosphere for sunset
Rocks on Rocks
:Adding detail using childnodes to rocks
Rocks and sand on a beach
:Adding detail using surface layers
Waterlines
:Using colour Adjust shader to darken wet sand above water
:''intermediate?''

==Intermediate==
Painted shader introduction
:Show Masking using the painted shader
Painted shader and camera projection
: use camera projection and the painted shader to show an image projected onto terrain
==Advanced==
==Specific==

Tutorial planning Area

2012-07-12T04:47:20Z

Neon22: added comment

In this section we want to accumulate and sort proposed turorials.
These fall into several categories: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, and Specific.
with the following definitions:

'''Beginner'''
* Assuming the user has only just begun to use Terragen2 and is learning basic manipulations and organisation of graph nodes and concepts
'''Intermediate'''
* Aimed at users who have no difficulty in understanding the tutorials defined as Beginner. Who also has control over all aspects of the UI and knowledge of most but not all nodes.
'''Advanced'''
* For users who have no difficulty with the contents of the Intermediate tutorials. Tutorials that use corner cases or rely heavily on such aspects as Blue nodes or prior understanding of intermediate level aspects of TG2.
'''Specific'''
* Where the tutorial assumes intermediate knowledge and is aimed at deconstructing a specific image or Animation.

The intention would be to organise and sort many desired tutorials, and then for individuals to create pages that match these with the tutorial linked or directly on those pages. Supporting files must be made available in the file sharing part of Planetside forums.

==Beginner==
Introductory scene - Desert
:Shows simple scene constructing eroded desert canyon
:Concentrate on colours, PF scales, add strata node, basic sky (cirrus)
::''is it too soon for strata node''
Introductory scene - Moons in the sky
:Shows two moons and sun position over basic terrain
Introductory scene - Sky at sunset
:Shows sun angle and atmosphere for sunset
Rocks on Rocks
:Adding detail using childnodes to rocks
Rocks and sand on a beach
:Adding detail using surface layers
Waterlines
:Using colour Adjust shader to darken wet sand above water

==Intermediate==
Painted shader introduction
:Show Masking using the painted shader
Painted shader and camera projection
: use camera projection and the painted shader to show an image projected onto terrain
==Advanced==
==Specific==

Tutorial planning Area

2012-07-12T04:34:19Z

Neon22: Initial page layout and appearance

In this section we want to accumulate and sort proposed turorials.
These fall into several categories: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, and Specific.
with the following definitions:

'''Beginner'''
* Assuming the user has only just begun to use Terragen2 and is learning basic manipulations and organisation of graph nodes and concepts
'''Intermediate'''
* Aimed at users who have no difficulty in understanding the tutorials defined as Beginner. Who also has control over all aspects of the UI and knowledge of most but not all nodes.
'''Advanced'''
* For users who have no difficulty with the contents of the Intermediate tutorials. Tutorials that use corner cases or rely heavily on such aspects as Blue nodes or prior understanding of intermediate level aspects of TG2.
'''Specific'''
* Where the tutorial assumes intermediate knowledge and is aimed at deconstructing a specific image or Animation.

The intention would be to organise and sort many desired tutorials, and then for individuals to create pages that match these with the tutorial linked or directly on those pages. Supporting files must be made available in the file sharing part of Planetside forums.

==Beginner==
Introductory scene - Desert
:Shows simple scene constructing eroded desert canyon
Introductory scene - Moons in the sky
:Shows two moons and sun position over basic terrain
Introductory scene - Sky at sunset
:Shows sun angle and atmosphere for sunset
Rocks on Rocks
:Adding detail using childnodes to rocks
:Adding detail using surface layers
==Intermediate==
Painted shader introduction
:Show Masking using the painted shader
Painted shader and camera projection
: use camera projection and the painted shader to show an image projected onto terrain
==Advanced==
==Specific==

Main Page

2012-07-12T04:09:53Z

Neon22: adding planning area

<big>'''Welcome to the Planetside Software Wiki'''

This is the primary source of documentation on Planetside's Terragen software products, including [[Terragen Classic]] and [[Terragen 2]]. This wiki contains official information as well as community-written content. Official documentation is clearly delineated from user contributed information by section below. We hope you find this to be a valuable resource and we encourage you to contribute any information you can in the community-generated areas. For help on how to use and contribute to a Wiki system, check the [[Help:Contents|Help]] section.

If you are a licensed user of Terragen and you need direct support, you can contact us via [http://planetside.co.uk/index.php?option=com_contact&view=contact&catid=4:uncategorised&id=1-planetside our contact page].

== Terragen 2 Official Documentation ==

===Guides===

[[Quick Start]] 
For those pressed for time, this is a very short and simple list of steps to take to create and render your first scene. Please refer to the "Creating Your First Scene" document below for a more full explanation of each step.

[http://planetside.co.uk/docs/tg2/first-scene.pdf Creating Your First Scene] (PDF 600KB) 
A step-by-step tutorial on how to create a basic Terragen 2 scene.

[http://planetside.co.uk/docs/tg2/tg2-guide-part1.pdf Terragen 2 User Guide Part 1: Fundamental Concepts and User Interface Overview] (PDF 800KB) 
The User Guide is a series of documents that give an overview of all the major work areas of Terragen 2 and how to construct a basic scene. It is designed to be read through completely over time. Part 1 is currently available and additional guides will be added over time.

[[Terragen 2 User Guide Part 2: Fundamental Rendering and Shader Concepts]] 
This part of the User Guide explains some of the fundamental concepts used for rendering and shaders.

[[Terragen 2 Animation Module Guide|Animation Module Guide]] 
This is a guide to using the Animation Module. It has information and tutorials about creating animations using TG2.

[[Terragen 2 Network View Guide|Network View Guide]] 
This is a guide to using the Network View in TG2.

[http://planetside.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=16:tg2-with-max-and-maya&catid=14:help 3DS Max and Maya Tutorials] 
Learn how to work with TG2 and 3DS Max or Maya with these in-depth tutorial videos, courtesy of Xfrog Software and Jan Walter Schliep.

[http://planetside.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=35:22cloudfunctiontutorial&catid=14:help Advanced Cloud Function Tutorial (clouds follow terrain)] 
Get an in-depth understanding of the new cloud control functions in Terragen with this tutorial by Martin Huisman

===Reference===

[[Terragen 2 Node Reference]] 
Describes all the TG2 nodes.

[[Glossary]] 
The Glossary explains terms relevant to TG2.

[[Terragen 2 Input Settings Reference|Input Settings Reference]] 
Lists all the input settings which can be used in various views.

[[Terragen 2 Menu Reference|Menu Reference]] 
Describes the menus in the main TG2 menubar.

[[Terragen 2 Window Reference|Window Reference]] 
Describes the different windows used in TG2.

[[Terragen 2 Animation Module Reference|Animation Module Reference]] 

Gives an overview of the Animation Module as well as a reference for animation related windows and views.

[[Terragen 2 Gathering Projects Reference|Gathering Projects Reference]] 

Describes the project gathering process, which allows you to gather a project and related assets into a single folder.

[[Terragen 2 Global Illumination|Global Illumination]] 

Explains what Global Illumination is and how to use it in Terragen 2.

[[Terragen 2 Preferences|Preferences]] 

Describes Terragen 2's preferences, which let you customise how the application behaves.

== Terragen 2 Community-Generated Content ==

[[Using Terragen 2]] 
A quick overview of using TG2.

[[Terragen 2 Tips and Tricks]] 
Some quick tips and tricks for using TG2.

[[Terragen 2 Tutorials]] 
A list of tutorials, from beginning to advanced, to take you through how to do certain things with TG2.

[[Tutorial planning Area]] 
A list of planned or desired turorials