I'm trying to make a 3d version of a logo using brycian lattice, it works great for flat embossed surfaces, but in this case i want my logo to be a bit curved. Simple I thought, I just fill in the shapes with a gradient and there ya go!

Turns out i thought too simple.. Bryce's terrain editor is 16bits per channel and my gradients only 8 bits. As a result i get some nasty steps in my logo's displacement which looks totally uncool.

So my question is. How do you create all them smooth surfaces u make? Your terrain editor thingies dont have those steps i get... I've tried setting the terrain res and displacement map size to 4096x4096 pixels, but that doesnt solve it. I cant seem to apply gradients to 16bit channels either though in ps7... Do u have a solution to this maybe?

ok.so now i upgraded to photoshop CS2, and i can make 16-bit gradients! yay!

only one problem left... how do i get bryce to open my 16 bit channeled file now? It wont open 16-bit RGB tif files, it wont open 16 bit greyscale tif files either... I read a tutorial that said to save as PBM or something like that, but theres nothing even remotely like that in my file format list when i try to save this thing in photoshop... argh.

Anyone know how to export a 16-bits per channel heightmap to a format that bryce can actually open?

Rayraz.....Do a search for "Tiffer", Bryce freestuff.  It converts tifs to .pgm!

runs to the freestuff section with a big grin on his face :biggrin:

"Sorry, but no files match your search" :sad:

will search the forum for tiffer though...

lotsa dead links so far..

Try Tiffer2.....I think that was the last version.
If you still have probs, let me know,I'll send you it!

Ray, send me your mail address. I've got the latest version, tiffer 5 (that is, 015). Unless bikermouse reads this. :biggrin:

rayraz.rv@hccnet.nl

Thanx! :biggrin:

Sorry, I was asleep and then at work.

Yup, a 2D editor that will make 16-bit grayscale images and tiffer is obviously what ya need.

I have found that may also still need to blur my final image in Photoshop by 1 or 2 pixels, before taking it into Bryce.

I've been meaning to put Tiffer back up  perhaps its time  . .  blur by two pixels?  . 

When I make a "terrain" in Photoshop, I almost always make them with selection fills. (as I build a lot of "parts" instead of mountians).

I don't feather those selections, as I am usually attempting to be mad scientist precise. But, later when finished, those edges need a little blur to just subtly get rid of the harder edges (which is the look I go for ,as most edges of any real world object are not truly hard/sharp...also a little tiny bit of roundness to edges will pick up on reflections and specularity, which tricks in a little more realism)

I also usually originally work in 2048 x 2048, so a pixel or two of blur isn't that huge of a difference.

But, if I know I'm building something with a lot of little terrain parts I will start at 512 or 256 if possible, and then my fave blur amount is 0.3

http://www.angelfire.com/droid/bikermouse

it's on page 2 - please go to page 1 first the ads are how they pay for the site.

Tiffer version 5 - wasn't there a version 6 or am i trying to be a legend in my own mind again.

Kat was trying to get my attention the whole time so no fancy graphics or backgrounds.

enjoy,

-TJ