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UltraScenery - new(er) territory [Commercial]

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  • Widdershins StudioWiddershins Studio Posts: 556

    Does Ultrascenery 2 have any built in lighting?

    I am playing around with it currently and slowly figuring things out. There does not seem to be any documentation.

    If I have to buy some nice outdoor lights for the countryside, does anyone have any recommendations? I guess I need HDR and some kind of sky dome.

    Thanks :)

  • barbultbarbult Posts: 26,156
    edited July 4

    Widdershins Studio said:

    Does Ultrascenery 2 have any built in lighting?

    I am playing around with it currently and slowly figuring things out. There does not seem to be any documentation.

    If I have to buy some nice outdoor lights for the countryside, does anyone have any recommendations? I guess I need HDR and some kind of sky dome.

    Thanks :)

    UltraScenery2 comes with lighting and documentation. Daz has just made it a little hard to find.

    Lighting: The lighting is a Sun-Sky Iray Render Preset called USC2 Late Morning. It is excellent for lighting your landscape, You can find it in your Content Library in the Products section under the UltraScenery2 product in the Render presets subfolder. You can find it in Smart Content in the Products View, in the UltraScenery2 - Realistic Landscape System product in the category Render-Settings.

    Documentation: You can access the plugin Readme file and Reference Guide PDF file from inside Daz Studio by pressing the F1 key to open the Help pane. In the Help pane, expand the Plugins section (because UltraScenery2 is a plugin) and scroll down to UltraScenery2 - Realistic Landscape System. Then expand UltraScenery2 - Realistic Landscape System to see the Read Me and Documentation links. The Documentation will open in your OS selected default PDF viewer. Alternatively, outside of Daz Studio, you can just navigate to the folder containing the PDF documentation (aka the Reference Guide). You will find it (in Windows, I don't know about Mac) in C:\Program Files\DAZ 3D\DAZStudio4\docs\Plugins\UltraScenery2. The file name is UltraScenery2 Reference Guide.pdf. 

    Screenshot 2025-07-04 151232 USC2 lighting - Smart Content.jpg
    582 x 379 - 41K
    Screenshot 2025-07-04 152559 USC2 plugin documentation 0 Help pane.jpg
    697 x 887 - 80K
    Post edited by barbult on
  • Widdershins StudioWiddershins Studio Posts: 556

    Thank you very much!

    All now located :)

  • Widdershins StudioWiddershins Studio Posts: 556
    edited July 5

    Does anyone else get what appears to be missing textures?

    These are Reeds and some are grey and I assume missing a texture. Is there any way to fix this please?

    This is with the Ecology Preset Oaks 01.

     

    Screenshot 2025-07-05 135929.png
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    missing-textures.png
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    Post edited by Widdershins Studio on
  • Widdershins StudioWiddershins Studio Posts: 556
    edited July 5

    Similarly in Oaks 2 some of the Reeds have no texture.

     

    Screenshot 2025-07-05 140528.png
    2336 x 1334 - 3M
    Post edited by Widdershins Studio on
  • ArtiniArtini Posts: 10,283
    edited July 5

    My trial with:

    USC2 terrain: USC2 Marina 01
    Render Preset: customized USC2 Late Morning

    Unfortunately such render preset uses Environment Mode: Sun-Sky Only,
    so it is a little hard for me to choose a desired sun location,
    that can light both the face of the character and environment in a way I like.
    I also miss the clouds.
    For preview of the scenes is ok, but for final render I prefer the other lighting solutions.

     

     

    USC2LateMorning01.jpg
    1920 x 1080 - 342K
    Post edited by Artini on
  • ArtiniArtini Posts: 10,283
    edited July 5

    The previous scene redered with:
    https://www.daz3d.com/dramatic-sky-8k-hdris-and-haze-utilities

    Also added a mesh light for enlighten the face.

    DramaticSky01.jpg
    1920 x 1080 - 448K
    Post edited by Artini on
  • barbultbarbult Posts: 26,156
    edited July 5

    Widdershins Studio said:

    Does anyone else get what appears to be missing textures?

    These are Reeds and some are grey and I assume missing a texture. Is there any way to fix this please?

    This is with the Ecology Preset Oaks 01.

    The reeds are not missing their texture files. Some of the reeds are green and some are more tan by design. Even in your screenshot, you can see subtle texture changes on what you describe as "gray". They are not a solid untextured color. 

    If I have not yet convinced you that they are textured, you can do this:

    1. In the Scene pane "hamburger" menu, select Show Hidden Nodes.
    2. Expand the Biome in the Scene pane.
    3. Expand the Layer Reeds
    4. Expand the Layer Props
    5. Select USC2 Reeds 02 (2)
    6. Open the Surfaces pane.
    7. Look at the texture files assigned to Material_1 and Material_2. Yup, they are there, not missing.
    8. If you don't like the look of those reeds, you can add some green color to the Diffuse Color channel in the Surface pane.

    This is the place to ask questions. Keep experimenting.

    Edit: I added an Oaks 01 reeds render. 

    USC2 Oaks 01 reeds.jpg
    2000 x 1500 - 3M
    Post edited by barbult on
  • Widdershins StudioWiddershins Studio Posts: 556
    edited July 7

    Thanks again :)

    I see, I suppose they are meant to be older reeds, that do tend to grey as they advance. Good that I can chage them if desired though.

    I also bought some of the US1 assets and had some success (although I found that with "Features" in the Classic Content I ran into some missing files).

    But I did get the older content to play with the newer and made this.

    US1-Ecology-Britain-1080-8m30s.jpg
    1920 x 1080 - 326K
    Post edited by Widdershins Studio on
  • ArtiniArtini Posts: 10,283

    Looks nice, @Widdershins Studio, just keep experimenting.

     

  • barbultbarbult Posts: 26,156

    Widdershins Studio said:

    Thanks again :)

    I see, I suppose they are meant to be older reeds, that do tend to grey as they advance. Good that I can chage them if desired though.

    I also bought some of the US1 assets and had some success (although I found that with "Features" in the Classic Content I ran into some missing files).

    But I did get the older content to play with the newer and made this.

    That's lovely! 

  • Widdershins StudioWiddershins Studio Posts: 556

    Thanks both smiley

    This is the best thing I have bought in a while!

  • davesodaveso Posts: 7,742
    edited July 5

    i picked up the new usc2 et... a quick render with Pacific pines classic ecology.. I could not find a way to set the terrain to 64x64, so maybe its why the trees are so thin? its most difficult to remove the docks, etc. one by one, select, delete over and over. must be a better way. My main thing was to have a larger lake that what is usually available. now some ducks or geese.

    pines at the lake.png
    2000 x 1125 - 3M
    Post edited by daveso on
  • alexhcowleyalexhcowley Posts: 2,402

    Widdershins Studio said:

    Thanks again :)

    I see, I suppose they are meant to be older reeds, that do tend to grey as they advance. Good that I can chage them if desired though.

    I also bought some of the US1 assets and had some success (although I found that with "Features" in the Classic Content I ran into some missing files).

    But I did get the older content to play with the newer and made this.

    This is beautiful. You should post it in the gallery, so it gets the widest possible exposure.

    Cheers,

    Alex. 

  • barbultbarbult Posts: 26,156
    edited July 6

    daveso said:

    i picked up the new usc2 et... a quick render with Pacific pines classic ecology.. I could not find a way to set the terrain to 64x64, so maybe its why the trees are so thin? its most difficult to remove the docks, etc. one by one, select, delete over and over. must be a better way. My main thing was to have a larger lake that what is usually available. now some ducks or geese.

    You can easily hide or delete some or all Feature Props by showing hidden nodes and then selecting the Feature Props you don't want and hiding or deleting them. 

    To change the terrain to 64 by 64, you should just change the Width value in the Terrain section of the UltraScenery2 pane. If you change the size of the terrain, Feature Props will not longer be scaled "properly". They are scaled for the originally defines terrain size. If you hide all the Feature Props, that shouldn't be a problem.

    I think I understand your reason for wanting to reduce the size to 64x64 for the Classic Ecology, but keep in mind that if you do so, you won't have the large water expanse any more. The whole terrain will be no larger than a 64x64 USC1 feature. Maybe you would do better to just use one of the USC1 Features like the TA Coast 02 estuary. Just a thought.

    Screenshot 2025-07-06 023742.jpg
    708 x 943 - 89K
    Post edited by barbult on
  • Widdershins StudioWiddershins Studio Posts: 556

    alexhcowley said:

    Widdershins Studio said:

    Thanks again :)

    I see, I suppose they are meant to be older reeds, that do tend to grey as they advance. Good that I can chage them if desired though.

    I also bought some of the US1 assets and had some success (although I found that with "Features" in the Classic Content I ran into some missing files).

    But I did get the older content to play with the newer and made this.

    This is beautiful. You should post it in the gallery, so it gets the widest possible exposure.

    Cheers,

    Alex. 

    Hi Alex,

    Thanks! I had forgotten about the gallery, I have now added it:

    https://www.daz3d.com/gallery/user/5479149401538560#image=1373478

    Cheers :)

    Rog. 

  • barbultbarbult Posts: 26,156
    edited July 6

    This is UltraScenery2 with Classic Feature TA Coast 02 (estuary) and Classic Ecology PNW 02. I instanced the Water node 4 times and placed the instances in a horizontal row behind the existing Water node, to have more water between the foreground and the horizon. The background is a photograph of the sky. I added Matte fog and some Bloom to better blend the water edge to the sky for the horizon. The small fishing boat was added and scaled down to make it look distant, to enhance the apparent horizon distance. In the end, I brightened it a bit in Photoshop.

    USC2 PNW 02 TA Coast 02 Instanced Water Bloom Matte Fog.jpg
    2000 x 1125 - 2M
    Post edited by barbult on
  • algovincianalgovincian Posts: 2,664

    barbult said:

    This is UltraScenery2 with Classic Feature TA Coast 02 (estuary) and Classic Ecology PNW 02. I instanced the Water node 4 times and placed the instances in a horizontal row behind the existing Water node, to have more water between the foreground and the horizon. The background is a photograph of the sky. I added Matte fog and some Bloom to better blend the water edge to the sky for the horizon. The small fishing boat was added and scaled down to make it look distant, to enhance the apparent horizon distance. In the end, I brightened it a bit in Photoshop.

    Beautiful image, @Barbult - great job!

    - Greg 

  • alexhcowleyalexhcowley Posts: 2,402

    barbult said:

    This is UltraScenery2 with Classic Feature TA Coast 02 (estuary) and Classic Ecology PNW 02. I instanced the Water node 4 times and placed the instances in a horizontal row behind the existing Water node, to have more water between the foreground and the horizon. The background is a photograph of the sky. I added Matte fog and some Bloom to better blend the water edge to the sky for the horizon. The small fishing boat was added and scaled down to make it look distant, to enhance the apparent horizon distance. In the end, I brightened it a bit in Photoshop.

    Barbult,

    Another beautiful image. I particularly like the way the sea and the sky are blended together, without a hard line.

    Cheers,

    Alex. 

  • barbultbarbult Posts: 26,156

    algovincian said:

    barbult said:

    This is UltraScenery2 with Classic Feature TA Coast 02 (estuary) and Classic Ecology PNW 02. I instanced the Water node 4 times and placed the instances in a horizontal row behind the existing Water node, to have more water between the foreground and the horizon. The background is a photograph of the sky. I added Matte fog and some Bloom to better blend the water edge to the sky for the horizon. The small fishing boat was added and scaled down to make it look distant, to enhance the apparent horizon distance. In the end, I brightened it a bit in Photoshop.

    Beautiful image, @Barbult - great job!

    - Greg 

    Thank you, Greg. How are you doing? I haven't seen you around the forum much. 

  • paulawp (marahzen)paulawp (marahzen) Posts: 1,711
    edited July 6

    I'vbe been remiss in playing with Ultrascenery lately. Here's an initial easy try with one of the Marinas and Moorings items. This particular render has a USC2 object with the Junction in the foreground, then USC and USXT objects in the background. On both of the USC/USC2 objects I used the old Pacific Northwest 04 ecology because on a hot summer day, I just immediately think of this beautiful, though dying, grass.

    A guy rafting travels expediently to beat an incoming thunderstorm.

     

    BeatingTheStorm.jpg
    2000 x 1504 - 2M
    Post edited by paulawp (marahzen) on
  • barbultbarbult Posts: 26,156

    alexhcowley said:

    barbult said:

    This is UltraScenery2 with Classic Feature TA Coast 02 (estuary) and Classic Ecology PNW 02. I instanced the Water node 4 times and placed the instances in a horizontal row behind the existing Water node, to have more water between the foreground and the horizon. The background is a photograph of the sky. I added Matte fog and some Bloom to better blend the water edge to the sky for the horizon. The small fishing boat was added and scaled down to make it look distant, to enhance the apparent horizon distance. In the end, I brightened it a bit in Photoshop.

    Barbult,

    Another beautiful image. I particularly like the way the sea and the sky are blended together, without a hard line.

    Cheers,

    Alex. 

    Thanks, Alex. I worked hard on the sea/sky blend. 

  • barbultbarbult Posts: 26,156

    paulawp (marahzen) said:

    I'vbe been remiss in playing with Ultrascenery lately. Here's an initial easy try with one of the Marinas and Moorings items. This particular render has a USC2 object with the Junction in the foreground, then USC and USXT objects in the background. On both of the USC/USC2 objects I used the old Pacific Northwest 04 ecology because on a hot summer day, I just immediately think of this beautiful, though dying, grass.

    A guy rafting travels expediently to beat an incoming thunderstorm.

     

    Wow, you have a whole story to go with the nice render. 

  • davesodaveso Posts: 7,742

    barbult said:

    daveso said:

    i picked up the new usc2 et... a quick render with Pacific pines classic ecology.. I could not find a way to set the terrain to 64x64, so maybe its why the trees are so thin? its most difficult to remove the docks, etc. one by one, select, delete over and over. must be a better way. My main thing was to have a larger lake that what is usually available. now some ducks or geese.

    You can easily hide or delete some or all Feature Props by showing hidden nodes and then selecting the Feature Props you don't want and hiding or deleting them. 

    To change the terrain to 64 by 64, you should just change the Width value in the Terrain section of the UltraScenery2 pane. If you change the size of the terrain, Feature Props will not longer be scaled "properly". They are scaled for the originally defines terrain size. If you hide all the Feature Props, that shouldn't be a problem.

    I think I understand your reason for wanting to reduce the size to 64x64 for the Classic Ecology, but keep in mind that if you do so, you won't have the large water expanse any more. The whole terrain will be no larger than a 64x64 USC1 feature. Maybe you would do better to just use one of the USC1 Features like the TA Coast 02 estuary. Just a thought.

    thanks. You seem to always have the answers laugh 

  • davesodaveso Posts: 7,742

    barbult said:

    This is UltraScenery2 with Classic Feature TA Coast 02 (estuary) and Classic Ecology PNW 02. I instanced the Water node 4 times and placed the instances in a horizontal row behind the existing Water node, to have more water between the foreground and the horizon. The background is a photograph of the sky. I added Matte fog and some Bloom to better blend the water edge to the sky for the horizon. The small fishing boat was added and scaled down to make it look distant, to enhance the apparent horizon distance. In the end, I brightened it a bit in Photoshop.

    wow...beautiful. I'll have to look at the TA terrain for sure.  I love your technique with the water. You have developed a great understanding and talent with Ultrascenery.  

  • barbultbarbult Posts: 26,156

    daveso said:

    barbult said:

    This is UltraScenery2 with Classic Feature TA Coast 02 (estuary) and Classic Ecology PNW 02. I instanced the Water node 4 times and placed the instances in a horizontal row behind the existing Water node, to have more water between the foreground and the horizon. The background is a photograph of the sky. I added Matte fog and some Bloom to better blend the water edge to the sky for the horizon. The small fishing boat was added and scaled down to make it look distant, to enhance the apparent horizon distance. In the end, I brightened it a bit in Photoshop.

    wow...beautiful. I'll have to look at the TA terrain for sure.  I love your technique with the water. You have developed a great understanding and talent with Ultrascenery.  

    Thanks, daveso. I learn mostly by just trying things and by picking up tips from others in the forum, too. I share what I have learned when I can. 

  • ArtiniArtini Posts: 10,283

    barbult said:

    This is UltraScenery2 with Classic Feature TA Coast 02 (estuary) and Classic Ecology PNW 02. I instanced the Water node 4 times and placed the instances in a horizontal row behind the existing Water node, to have more water between the foreground and the horizon. The background is a photograph of the sky. I added Matte fog and some Bloom to better blend the water edge to the sky for the horizon. The small fishing boat was added and scaled down to make it look distant, to enhance the apparent horizon distance. In the end, I brightened it a bit in Photoshop.

    Really beautiful.

    What lights are you used, if I may ask?

     

  • Widdershins StudioWiddershins Studio Posts: 556

    barbult said:

    This is UltraScenery2 with Classic Feature TA Coast 02 (estuary) and Classic Ecology PNW 02. I instanced the Water node 4 times and placed the instances in a horizontal row behind the existing Water node, to have more water between the foreground and the horizon. The background is a photograph of the sky. I added Matte fog and some Bloom to better blend the water edge to the sky for the horizon. The small fishing boat was added and scaled down to make it look distant, to enhance the apparent horizon distance. In the end, I brightened it a bit in Photoshop.

    Wonderful :)

    What do I need to buy to get the "Classic Feature TA Coast 02 (estuary) and Classic Ecology PNW 02" please?

    I really like those ferns! 

  • barbultbarbult Posts: 26,156

    Artini said:

    barbult said:

    This is UltraScenery2 with Classic Feature TA Coast 02 (estuary) and Classic Ecology PNW 02. I instanced the Water node 4 times and placed the instances in a horizontal row behind the existing Water node, to have more water between the foreground and the horizon. The background is a photograph of the sky. I added Matte fog and some Bloom to better blend the water edge to the sky for the horizon. The small fishing boat was added and scaled down to make it look distant, to enhance the apparent horizon distance. In the end, I brightened it a bit in Photoshop.

    Really beautiful.

    What lights are you used, if I may ask?

    That is just Sun-Sky lighting at 8:30 AM with some Matte Fog. No HDRI was used. The background sky is just a photograph in the Environment pane as a backdrop. The fall of the light on the tress and terrain is due to the low angle Sun-Sky light and the position of the trees the light shines through. The render was a little dark, so I brightened it in Photoshop a little.

  • barbultbarbult Posts: 26,156

    Widdershins Studio said:

    barbult said:

    This is UltraScenery2 with Classic Feature TA Coast 02 (estuary) and Classic Ecology PNW 02. I instanced the Water node 4 times and placed the instances in a horizontal row behind the existing Water node, to have more water between the foreground and the horizon. The background is a photograph of the sky. I added Matte fog and some Bloom to better blend the water edge to the sky for the horizon. The small fishing boat was added and scaled down to make it look distant, to enhance the apparent horizon distance. In the end, I brightened it a bit in Photoshop.

    Wonderful :)

    What do I need to buy to get the "Classic Feature TA Coast 02 (estuary) and Classic Ecology PNW 02" please?

    I really like those ferns! 

    Ferns are a staple of many UltraScenery products. The two products I used are:

    Pacific Northwest Botanica - Bundle
    UltraScenery - Landscape Features Volume 1

    The TA stands for TangoAlpha, the creator of the UltraScenery Features Volume 1 product.

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