In nuce: Boonar Studio has released version 2.0.5 of Terrain Mixer, a node-based terrain generator for the 3D software Blender. The release can be found in an announcement published today on 80.lv.

In toto: The same announcement states that Terrain Mixer uses up to nine heightmap sources to mix and generate new terrains. On boonar.gumroad.com Terrain Mixer is described as a suitable tool for environment artists, game artists, matte painters, concept artists and illustrators. On the same Gumroad site, Terrain Mixer has received 40 user ratings to date – the majority of 85 per cent awarded the maximum score of five stars. Terrain Mixer 2.5.5 is priced at 39 US dollars.

The new functions: Below are some of the most important new features of Terrain Mixer 2.0.5. The almost five-minute video at the end of this message explains how Terrain Mixer can be properly installed on your system.

• Two new shader groups: On the one hand, Plain Terrain Blend is introduced, allowing artists to level areas, and on the other, ShaderBlend makes its debut, allowing artists to seamlessly blend terrains together.
• High-resolution 3D scans and assets have been added: These depict rock faces, for example, or demolished buildings.

Click to continue: Terrain Mixer 2.0.5 at boonar.gumroad.com. To the website of Boonar Studio. On 15 July 2021 , Digital Production reported on the release of one of the previous versions of Terrain Generator.

Source: 80.lv ( message from Gloria Levine)

16 Lesser-Known Blender 3D Terrain Mixer Features

The post The definitive terrain generator for Blender? first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Patrick Poti.

In nuce: Planetside Software has announced its Terragen Sky application, which can be used to create – and render – realistic skies. This is according to an announcement from Planetside Software.

In toto: Planetside’s overarching software offering, Terragen (without Sky), focuses on generating landscapes (Digital Production reported on the release of Terragen 4.5 on 1 February 2021). According to the manufacturer, 360-degree HDRIs can also be generated with the new Terragen Sky. It also states that Terragen Sky makes it easier to create clouds than with the parent software Terragen – thanks in part to a revised user interface and simplified workflow. Terragen Sky will be available as early access from December 2022 and will be available either as stand-alone software or in tandem with Terragen.

Click further: All further information on Terragen Sky can be found below the Terragen 4.6 release announcement at mailchi.mp/planetside . The lead image of this announcement was created by 3D artist Kadri Özel.

The post Draw the sky with Terragen Sky! first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Patrick Poti.

In nuce: Quad Spinner, the software developer with a soft spot for nature – as it says in the company’s self-promotion – has released the latest version of its terrain design tool Gaea. This is according to a blog posting on blog.quadspinner.com from 14 November this year. According to 80.lv, Gaea 1.3.2 adds some of the most requested functions, including a new rock tool and object import (see below). Cost: The community version of Gaea is free of charge, although the range of functions is limited. The Indie licence costs 99 US dollars, the Professional licence costs 199 US dollars and the Enterprise licence costs 299 US dollars.

In toto: Below is a brief overview of the new functions of Gaea 1.3.2.

• RockNoise: This function can be used to create a field filled with stones of different sizes. The stone density is user-definable. The stones can be placed on any surface.
• Object-to-Heightfield: This is the name of the new tool that can be used to capture the height field. This converts an OBJ file into a terrain – and thus prepares it for further processing in Gaea.
• Screenshots: The status bar now has a dedicated screenshot button that can be used to take a screenshot of the viewport – whereby the resolution of the screenshot can be doubled or even quadrupled (supersampling option). The user is free to select the storage location and name of the screenshots. Optionally, a screenshot of the diagram can also be created. Screenshots with a transparent background can also be selected.
• Minor improvements have also been incorporated – can be viewed at blog-quadspinner.com.

Click further: An alternative to Gaea is the Terrain Mixer; Digital Production reported on15.07.2021 about the Terrain Generator for Blender.

Sources: 80.lv ( report by Gloria Levine), blog.quadspinner.com ( report by QuadSpinner Team)

The post Gaea 1.3.2 simplifies terrain generation? first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Patrick Poti.

In nuce: Every week we present you with the best tutorials that will help you polish your workflows with the hottest digital content creation tools in the world!

Terrain creation from A to Z – the complete guide: This time it gets rocky, because Nikola Damjanov, Lead Game Artist at Serbian mobile game developer Nordeus, is releasing his 13-part tutorial series, which is divided into three topics (Dust, Fire and Ice). In his tutorial series, Damjanov will provide you with a didactic approach to the following topics:

• How does the underlying layer of HF nodes work?
• How do you use generated masks to create textures in COPs?
• How do you achieve scatter geometry using such masks?
• Correct application and rendering within a LOPNet with Karma – how does it work?

Click further: Click through the recommended tutorial series on SideFX. Find out what lead game artist Nikola Damjanov is up to when he’s not teaching on his Artstation profile. Hint: It has a lot to do with gaming!

Goodbye! Check back next week when it’s Tutorial Tuesday again!

Terrain Handbook 01 – Introduction | Brief Overview

The post Houdini | Tutorial Tuesday first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Patrick Poti.

Environmental artist Pascal Beeckman recently published his impressive experiments with procedural structures. Here, with the support of Houdini, entire desert canyons rise out of nothing. The special thing about it: the landscape is made of Lego bricks.

According to Pascal Beeckman, it is possible to add Lego bricks of any size with his Legoliser. However, if certain bricks do not fit into the volume grid, they can be removed, which in turn speeds up the procedural generation.

The procedural Legolizer can be marvelled at in action in the two videos below. Further information on Legolizer and Beeckman’s other projects can be found on the artist’s Behance profile.

The post Procedural Legoliser | Houdini first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Patrick Poti.