Issues with 3d terrains

[Jykke]

For some reason it's very hard to get the camera angles etc. just right so the terrain is usable as a map. Sometimes the top view doesn't work and you have to tilt the camera angle to get the mountain shape to show. The problem here is how to make a 3d mountain that has the shape feel to it, and still be able to have that overview type of map.

Just to demonstrate it (or atleast trying to demonstrate), I've rendered few images of the same terrain from couple of different angles.

First one is the side view (mountain profile)
Second one is the top view
Third one is the tilted view

Any thoughts on this issue? :S

[Jykke]

Oh, and I must post the lyrics of the song I listened while doing this

Amorphis - Skyforger

Inside this nonexistence
I know very clearly
The directions, all the points
Of every potential quarter

I forge my wisdom
Into an arc surrounding all
I forge my heartbeat
To a dome all heavens wide

I know the sun and the moon
The names of stars
Their movement and purpose
I mark the place of polaris on these impossible heights

I forge the horizons
I craft them for flowing blood
I forge the places
Precise for silver, precise for gold

In solitude, I measure out
The range of barren lands
I drain unto the nothingness
The intersecting curves
I look at all directions
I look at one clear point
I see them all come together
I see into the heart

This here is my place, it is my work
I was made the maker of the sky

I am the maker of the sky
I am the forger of the arc

[Coyotemax]

top isn't bad, but I kind of like the 3rd one. it's enough of an angle you can see the mountain shape and the shadow brings it out, but not so low you can't see things in behind it, as a proper map if that's the steepest it gets, you wouldn't find much in the way of mappable features on that section anyhow (unless you're mapping out ski areas, then i'd go for the first view anyhow)

[Jykke]

yeah, tilting the camera makes it look better, though it brings the issues of perspective. Isolike perspective might solve almost all the issues, but I'm not totally sure how to get it work with vue.. Maybe zooming the camera all the way back might produce this kind of effect?

[Steel General]

They are all neat images.

I know little to nothing about 3d terrain programs, but I think the problem with the second one is more of a lighting issue than anything else. *shrugs*

[Jykke]

They are all neat images.

I know little to nothing about 3d terrain programs, but I think the problem with the second one is more of a lighting issue than anything else. *shrugs*

Thanks for the input I'll look into it and maybe even solve the issue. The problem with the lighting is that if it is adjusted in the wrong way, then the mountain might get flattened, or it just might look odd. Well, I hope I find just the right settings.. then I'll be able to do a whole map based on the results.

[Greason Wolfe]

One thing you might try, and this is what I do with some of my Terragen renders, is pull the camera waaaaay back then, set my target as dead center of the map while the camera position is slightly south of dead center. This still gives a fairly good "top-down" view, but also adds just a tiny bit of isometric view as well, but, usually, not too much to grossly hide things.

As I don't know anything about Vue, I'm not sure if this is a possibility for you or not, but when I have my settings right, I've got a bit of space to work with as far as cropping things out to be nice and square.

GW

[Jykke]

same terrain, no trees, and a viewpoint similar to Greason Wolfe suggested.

[Ascension]

I think that you've got it there. Looks pretty good.

[Jykke]

I think that you've got it there. Looks pretty good.

I hope this is it . It might be fun to be able to use this in an actual map. Thanks for the feedback!

Oh, and here's a final render with some trees (actually if I render the whole scene, there would be ~900 000 of them).

If there is more suggestions etc, I'll hear them gladly!