Lesson 20: 3ds Max and Landscape Generators

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3ds max is often used for architecture modeling and visualization. When an exterior form is developed, it is impossible not to take into account the peculiarities of the landscape. Of course, you can create a landscape using only 3ds max; here and in the book "3ds max 4: From Objects to Animation" we already described some methods. However, there is a range of applications specially intended for landscape creation and visualization, and it would be wrong to leave them out. In this lesson we will briefly discuss using them as plug-ins to 3ds max.

Corel Bryce 5 and E-on Vue D'Esprit 4

These packages are similar in features and methods of use with 3ds max. The landscape editors in both applications are excellent (Fig. 20.1). They enable you to interactively create landscapes by simply squeezing or dragging areas on the surfaces. In addition, many effects allow you to imitate wind erosion, changes of season, and so on. The material editors in both packages are powerful, although not traditional (especially in Bryce). Fortunately, both packages include good material libraries.

Figure 20.1: Landscape editor in Bryce 5 (a) and Vue D'Esprit 4 (b)

The only way to use landscapes created in these packages in 3ds max is to export them in the 3DS format. For this reason, Bryce enables the creation of an adaptive grid, while Vue D'Esprit can export only an object with a regular structure. Both packages export not only landscape geometry, but also textures (Fig. 20.2).

Figure 20.2: Export into the 3DS format in Bryce 5 (a) and the corresponding dialog in Vue D'Esprit 4 (b)

It is worth mentioning that to render landscapes, Bryce uses voxel technology, creating an image from colored "columns," or voxels. This provides surface smoothness that is impossible when common algorithms are used. Therefore, conversion to the polygonal format leads to an inevitable loss of detail.

Both packages (especially Vue D'Esprit) allow the generation of beautiful skies (Fig. 20.3). Since each packages provides an option for creating panoramas, they can be used as environment textures.

Figure 20.3: Cylindrical panoramas created in Bryce (a) and Vue D'Esprit (b)

Neither of these packages can convert images into files supporting the Z-Buffer (for example, RLA). Nevertheless, each package features an option for making a black-and-white (256 gradations of gray) image containing depth information, which makes it possible to use them as masks. For animation, however, such an option is practically useless. You cannot synchronize the camera position — neither package allows 3DS camera import, nor do they allow the export of their own cameras in a common format.

You can download demo-versions of the packages for free from these websites: http://www.corel.com and http://www.e-onsoftware.com.

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