#fractal landscaping
8 messages in this thread
I am doing some digital terrain modeling, and rather than using texture maps,
it seems the way to go is fractals. Can someone reccommend a good fractal
program (shareware or commercial) that can generate some realistic lawns, dirt,
desert brush, trees, as seen from an aerial view?
Is there an appropriate sectio or forum for this stuff?
Mark,
Try FRACTINT, runs on multiple platforms, it's free, absolutely the best
fractal program available bar none.
Go GRAPHDEV and check out the fractal libs there.
-Marco
thanks for the info. someone else has reccommended Vista Pro by vrli, and I was
about to download it when I saw your message. Are you familiar with it? I need
fractal landscaping to apply to models and animations done in 3DS; don't want
to spend money if I don't have to!
By the way, I'm trying to find a source for USGS quad maps in CAD format. I
know they're out there, I just can't find them. Do you know?
Mark,
VRLI is a very good commercial product for creating landscapes. If you are more
focused on landscapes then VistaPro from VRLI is an excellent decision.
However, it is commercial and while not too expensive by 3ds standards, it is
not cheap. I believe it can export DXF files.
Fractint is a free program that has no equal in generating fractals. If you
want to use a specific fractal for a landscape or tweak a fractal to get it
just right Fractint is your bet. It can export DXF files.
In any case, get Fractint, it is well worth the download.
In the VRLI section in GRAPHVEN you should be able to find someone who can get
you information on where to get the USGS quad maps in various formats,
including VRLI's.
Good luck,
-Marco
thanks for the help, i'll let you know how it turns out
>> Can someone reccommend a good
>>fractal program (shareware or commercial)
>>that can generate some realistic lawns,
>>dirt, desert brush, trees, as seen from an aerial view?
Maybe Vista Pro? Not sure, but it's worth checking out.
I have used Schreiber's 3D Surf program which can generate rolling landscapes
randomly. Also, on the Rendering Plant BBS we have terrain meshes from military
sources that may be of the right type. Another way for you to create fractal
landscapes (for free!) is to use Fractint to create a fractal height field,
then export to DXF at the detail level you want.
The materials that come with Schreiber 3D Surf can do lots of lawn/dirt/forest
floor/asphalt etc. types of ground cover, probably good enough for your needs.
They even made this material library available to those who are using the
"Demo" version of their IPAS routine. So that may work. For brush, trees, and
other terrain features, I'm pretty sure you'll have to lay that in yourself.
Yost group's disk 5 of IPAS routines can auto-generate most of the plant forms
you want. It can even create a forest. It may be what you're looking for. I
know that Digimation discounts most of the above IPAS routines – if you need
their phone number let me know.
Jim
>> Also, on the Rendering Plant BBS we have terrain meshes from military
sources that may be of the right type. <<
I appreciate the info. What is the rendering plant BBS, and what is their
phone no.?
I did'nt know schreiber was doing demonstration packs, i'll have to give them
a call.
Sounds like fractint is the way to go at a minimum, and my budget for now.
I'll see what vrli has to offer too.
Sounds like you're experienced with this. Is fractals the way to go, or will
texture maps work better? The problem with the maps is creating them, sizing
them etc.
Thanks for the help
Mark c.
>> Also, on the Rendering Plant BBS <<
>>we have terrain meshes from military <<
>>sources that may be of the right type. <<
I appreciate the info. What is the rendering plant BBS, and what is their
phone no.?
It's a BBS I help run, totally focused on 3D Studio. The number is
816-525-5614. It's 14.4, and we have tons of meshes, textures, and utilities
for 3DS Users on-line 24 hours/day.
>> I did'nt know schreiber was doing <<
>>demonstration packs, i'll have to give them a call.<<
Most of the Schreiber IPAS routines are distributed freely as "convertable
demos". They have a CD ROM out there, free (or near it) for the asking that has
all their stuff on it.
>> Sounds like you're experienced with this.
>>Is fractals the way to go, or will texture
>>maps work better? The problem with the
>>maps is creating them, sizing them etc.
Well, you can paint a custom height map, or you can use Fractint to create a
fractal height field. The only problem you may find is that since the image
only has 256 levels of luminance, it will only have 256 height levels when
converted. But it is possible to use Fractint as a poor man's DISPLACE.PXP.
Simply create a greyscal bitmap where brighter=higher and darker=lower. Load
the greyscale GIF image into Fractint and run the Fractint 3D menu. Set it up
for DXF export at the detail level required. Import the DXF into 3D Studio.
Instant terrain! If you want an automatic random fractal terrain, use
Fractint's Plasma fractal. Fractint is pretty amazing for freeware.
Jim