Digital Art Zone

Me like!
Good on Skyboxes, I must check if I can render sky boxes in Vue, it can render skydomes...

Thanks for the added comments

Machieltje - 13 December 2012 04:00 AM

Ok, so I like the look of this and I could probably put this to good use especially since there are very few outdoor terrains available but after having the mesh show up in several sky domes allready I have to ask: How does a sky box deal with different camara angles specifically in combination with UE2. ( little point in subDing a cube....)

Tbh., I don`t really understand the question. But that shall not keep me from trying to answer
-Skybox & camera angles:
Best take a look at the video link on the first post, especially the vid for "Mountain Trail" gives a good look at the skybox.
Compared to skydomes there are quite some differences. The most obvious one is that a skydome only coveres the upper part of a scene, whereas a skybox covers the whole scene.
Skydomes can have distortions on / towards the top, skyboxes can have distortions on the edges. I have to admit that you can see that on the Winter skybox (e.g. first render I posted here) if you pay attention, on others (like on the next set, Mountain Trail) it is barely noticeable.
I don`t know what you mean by saying "mesh shows up on some skydomes", but I`d guess you mean shadows. That should not be the case with skydomes or skyboxes, as long as the surfaces are set up properly.
UE2...I gave it a quick test run, didn`t notice any problems. I`d still recommend to use the light included with the sets though.

Totte - 13 December 2012 04:00 AM

...I must check if I can render sky boxes in Vue, it can render skydomes

I don`t have Vue so I can`t give you a 100% answer, but technically there is little difference between skydomes and skyboxes (surface setup), so I think it should work.

He is talking about the mesh / grid lines showing up when using UberEnvironment:
http://www.daz3d.com/forums/viewthread/6814/P60/#95823

Cube is an option in Vue (I just had to check), now I need to figure out a way to put "land" there too

I've had trouble with the mesh in other items I've bought. You can try increasing shadow bias on the surface of your item to see if this will solve it. It did for me with Planet Alpine. PS, it can mess up your shadows... But it took the lines away...

Flipmode - 13 December 2012 08:43 AM

Thanks for the added comments

Machieltje - 13 December 2012 04:00 AM

Ok, so I like the look of this and I could probably put this to good use especially since there are very few outdoor terrains available but after having the mesh show up in several sky domes allready I have to ask: How does a sky box deal with different camara angles specifically in combination with UE2. ( little point in subDing a cube....)

Tbh., I don`t really understand the question. But that shall not keep me from trying to answer
-Skybox & camera angles:
Best take a look at the video link on the first post, especially the vid for "Mountain Trail" gives a good look at the skybox.
Compared to skydomes there are quite some differences. The most obvious one is that a skydome only coveres the upper part of a scene, whereas a skybox covers the whole scene.
Skydomes can have distortions on / towards the top, skyboxes can have distortions on the edges. I have to admit that you can see that on the Winter skybox (e.g. first render I posted here) if you pay attention, on others (like on the next set, Mountain Trail) it is barely noticeable.
I don`t know what you mean by saying "mesh shows up on some skydomes", but I`d guess you mean shadows. That should not be the case with skydomes or skyboxes, as long as the surfaces are set up properly.
UE2...I gave it a quick test run, didn`t notice any problems. I`d still recommend to use the light included with the sets though.

Totte - 13 December 2012 04:00 AM

...I must check if I can render sky boxes in Vue, it can render skydomes

I don`t have Vue so I can`t give you a 100% answer, but technically there is little difference between skydomes and skyboxes (surface setup), so I think it should work.

Well without understanding the question you still managed to answer most of it :D The distortion you mentioned was one thing I was a bit concerned about. What I meant with the mesh thingy is the gridlines other posters here have allready mentioned.

btw I always at least try the included lights and in some cases even use them I'm just picky when it comes to light and rarely satisfied even with the sollutions I come up with myself

Doh, that`s what you were on about! Funny I didn`t realize that, I actually filed a bug report on the issue about a year ago
Well, that problem can come up with any lighting, UE2 or not, it seems to be some sort of bug with DS lighting.

I didn`t see any of it on the Easy Environment sets with my default lightings.
I didn`t see it on the quick UE2 test run I did before either ( https://dl.dropbox.com/u/38361004/Screenshots/WinterUE2.jpg ), but now that I know what to look for, I can see a tiny bit of it on the terrain, the skybox seems 100% clean.

As for non-UE2 lighting, my "trick" to avoid it is using a proper set of directional lights for ambience. The EE sets are built that way, with one sunlight and 3 ambient lights. It goes well with landscapes imo.
I believe when using UE2 it`s more or less a gamble.

Anyway, good thing you care a lot about good lighting, imo it can easily make or break a render.

On a sidenote, the promo renders are 100% untouched, there is not even any brightness or contrast correction, so the lighting you see there is exactly what you`d get for Poser & DS.

On another sidenote, "Winter" got released, they just hide it well...
Link: Winter Daz Store

Is there an image showing the actual geometry, without the skybox? I'm having trouble sorting out which is which from the renders.

Richard Haseltine - 13 December 2012 01:43 PM

Is there an image showing the actual geometry, without the skybox? I'm having trouble sorting out which is which from the renders.

Hehe, that`s the most pleasant thing to read...after all that`s basicly the idea of the sets

Here`s a quick wireframe from DS >
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/38361004/Screenshots/WinterWire.jpg

Thanks, that makes it clear - I thought the ground probably stretched that far but wasn't sure.

Bought the set today it is awesome. I needed a good snow landscape. Also changed the color a bit and created a halfway decent desert. I know that wasn't what it was intended for I just can't help myself sometimes. Thanks again looking forward to more seasons.

Thanks for posting feedback JK0011, glad you like it!
About turning it into a desert, cool idea but ...patience young jedi, there`s something coming

Flipmode - 13 December 2012 06:54 PM

Thanks for posting feedback JK0011, glad you like it!
About turning it into a desert, cool idea but ...patience young jedi, there`s something coming

You are most welcome...

OK I am now intrigued however I shall practice patience Obi-Wan....

Bought it as soon as I saw it.

What I'm really after is a green scene - general countryside walking path, etc. I'm going to play with the colours as JK0011 did, see what I can make (although I presume something like this is also coming, Flipmode!)

Are the forthcoming sets completely different environments, or texture packs for this one (or a mixture)?

canberra_boy - 13 December 2012 08:09 PM

What I'm really after is a green scene - general countryside walking path, etc. I'm going to play with the colours as JK0011 did, see what I can make (although I presume something like this is also coming, Flipmode!)

Dittoing this!

The set looks great. Will grab it in the next day or two