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mapping:creatingterrainheightmaps [2010-09-20 14:41] Kai Change to more specific apps and add of flash based alternatives |
mapping:creatingterrainheightmaps [2013-01-07 12:07] (current) |
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| However most of these methods are more likely to create a basic uneven surface that can then be altered inside the Cafu Editor for more precise interaction with bsp or mesh based geometry. | However most of these methods are more likely to create a basic uneven surface that can then be altered inside the Cafu Editor for more precise interaction with bsp or mesh based geometry. | ||
| - | While most terrain specific tools offer much more natural control over the final result (like eroding based on water and wind) almost every 2d application can provide highmaps. | + | While most terrain specific tools offer much more natural control over the final result (like eroding based on water and wind) almost every 2d application can provide hightmaps. |
| Noise filter (like perlin noise) are very powerful and can create a wide variety of surface distortions that are great as a base. | Noise filter (like perlin noise) are very powerful and can create a wide variety of surface distortions that are great as a base. | ||
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| **SplashUp** another flash based 2d app http://www.splashup.com/ | **SplashUp** another flash based 2d app http://www.splashup.com/ | ||
| - | ==== World-Machine ==== | + | ==== L3DT (Free/Commercial)==== |
| + | Under developement for many years, **L**arge **3D** **T**errain is an app made for game devs. The basic version is free but there is also a Pro version that costs about 34$ for an indie license.\\ | ||
| + | http://www.bundysoft.com/L3DT/ | ||
| + | ==== Geo Control 2 (Demo/Commercial)==== | ||
| + | Quite new and very powerful in all its features, Geo Control offers a 31 day demo with all features or can be purchased for 129€.\\ | ||
| + | It offers many realistic features like erosion, isoline control for artifical leveling and a nice gradient based texturing system. | ||
| + | There is also a version 1 available for a lower price. | ||
| + | http://www.geocontrol2.com | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==== World-Machine (Free Edition/Commercial) ==== | ||
| + | |||
| + | The free edition is limited to 513*513 pixel but offers all tools. The next basic version costs 89$, can go beyond 8k resolution for maps, which also authorizes for comercial use.\\ | ||
| This program has become my favourite for height-map //creation//, see the manufacturers website at http://www.world-machine.com/ for more details. I also used it to create the height-map for the Cafu TechDemo with it. While it does not allow to "paint-edit" very fine details in a height-map, it is very good at composing logically structured terrains in a repeatable manner. The features of all logical devices that are used to build a height-map can be edited independent of each other, allowing for very flexible, reproducible results. | This program has become my favourite for height-map //creation//, see the manufacturers website at http://www.world-machine.com/ for more details. I also used it to create the height-map for the Cafu TechDemo with it. While it does not allow to "paint-edit" very fine details in a height-map, it is very good at composing logically structured terrains in a repeatable manner. The features of all logical devices that are used to build a height-map can be edited independent of each other, allowing for very flexible, reproducible results. | ||
| - | ==== Leveller ==== | + | ==== Leveller (Commercial) ==== |
| + | |||
| + | Looks like it offers quite a few different tools to work with, however the price of 199 dollar is way too much and there is not much indication about when the last update actually took place. | ||
| + | http://www.daylongraphics.com/products/leveller/ | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==== Terragen (Free Edition/Commercial) ==== | ||
| - | While this program might serve as an intermediate solution until CaWE has it's own editing implemented, I was a bit disappointed by its cumbersome use. | + | This is //the// software for terrain rendering, but due to it's "relative height editing mode" I'd not recommend it for height-map creation or editing. Terragen //is// very good though at generating a base (ground) texture from a height-map! http://www.planetside.co.uk/ |
| - | ==== Terragen ==== | + | ==== Earth Sculptor (Commercial/outdated) ==== |
| + | A small app, that works fine and allows for decent manipulation. Unfortunatly it's development stopped since 2008, but still its worth noticing it | ||
| + | http://www.earthsculptor.com/index.htm | ||
| - | This is //the// software for terrain rendering, but due to it's "relative height editing mode" I'd not recommend it for height-map creation or editing. Terragen //is// very good though at generating a base (ground) texture from a height-map! See FIXME | + | ==== Other 3D Engines ==== |
| + | There are a few games with a great support for terrain editing, such as Crysis or Unreal3. | ||
| + | Epic offers the Unreal Developer Kit as a free alternative, and the terrain editor is capable of exporting. This may sound strange but still offers another option which is also completly free. | ||
| ==== Other Programs ==== | ==== Other Programs ==== | ||
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| ===== Summary ===== | ===== Summary ===== | ||
| - | Use any of the above mentioned programs for creating the initial height-map. Future versions of CaWE will allow you to further edit these maps conveniently in the editor. If you must fine-tune them before that, patience and creativity is required, although the above programs will help with that, too. | + | Use any of the above mentioned programs for creating the initial height-map. However CaWE will allow you to further edit these maps conveniently in the editor. If you must fine-tune them before that, patience and creativity is required, although the above programs will help with that, too. |
| Once your height-map is complete enough for use, you'll also want to have a base texture for it that represents the color of the ground and is used in the material definition with which your terrain is rendered. | Once your height-map is complete enough for use, you'll also want to have a base texture for it that represents the color of the ground and is used in the material definition with which your terrain is rendered. | ||
| While the texturing of the terrain might be possible in future versions directly in CaWE, too, I currently just import my height-maps into Terragen for this purpose, make sure the dimensions (lateral size and altitudes) are correct, setup the Terragen materials, set the sun appropriately (full-bright and no shadows) and turn off all atmospheric effects, set an orthogonal camera view and then use the Terragen rendering result as the base texture. | While the texturing of the terrain might be possible in future versions directly in CaWE, too, I currently just import my height-maps into Terragen for this purpose, make sure the dimensions (lateral size and altitudes) are correct, setup the Terragen materials, set the sun appropriately (full-bright and no shadows) and turn off all atmospheric effects, set an orthogonal camera view and then use the Terragen rendering result as the base texture. | ||
mapping/creatingterrainheightmaps.1284986501.txt.gz · Last modified: 2013-01-07 12:07 (external edit)