Attached Link: http://www.planetside.co.uk/terragen/tg2/tech_preview.shtml

It's NOT the full or FINAL version..sort of like a working demo to keep Terragen Fans STOKED-UP, I think... also..it is NOT easy to use if you are familiar with the current version- it's NODE BASED and somewhat TECHIE...but Planetside says that a more user friendly version will be released later...

As usual- the realism is INCREDIBLE!, heh!...you can also download some FREE XFrog Plants for it as well...here's part of the Terragen 2 Release info...

Terragen™ 2 Technology Preview is the first public release of Planetside Software's new, cutting edge landscape visualisation software. The Technology Preview is now available for both Windows and Mac OS X 10.4.x. See below for details on obtaining your free copy.

TG2 Technology Preview features an advanced hybrid micropolygon renderer with powerful multi-angle displacement capabilities. It has a versatile procedural engine that can be utilised to apply subpixel-level detail to almost any aspect of a scene. Terragen 2 is capable of rendering billions of polygons in a single scene. Please visit the Terragen 2 page for more information on the capabilities of Terragen 2.

Terragen 2 Technology Preview is available both as a free download and as a pre-purchase option for Terragen 2. The free version may only be used for non-commercial purposes and is limited in the following ways:

Render Size Maximum: 800x600
Render Detail Maximum: 1.0
Antialiasing Maximum: 3
Number of Rendered Populations: 3
Animation: Not available

You may purchase a commercial license for the Technology Preview which will remove these feature restrictions and allow you access to more frequent development releases of Terragen 2. You will also be entitled to a free upgrade to a final release of Terragen 2 when development is completed. Please see our Terragen 2 purchase page for details on pricing and purchase options.

Please note that the Technology Preview release is aimed mainly at high end users. It has a powerful and flexible graphical node/graph editor which is used for creating networks of shaders and scene elements. The Technology Preview features a number of high level shaders which create more complex scene elements, such as clouds or rocks, as well as a low level function node system which allows you to create shaders from "first principles", using functions and methods that will be familiar to shader writers. The node editor can be used to unlock the full power of the TG2 rendering engine.

http://www.planetside.co.uk/terragen/tg2/tech_preview.shtml

Attached Link: http://www.planetside.co.uk/gallery/v/tg2gallery/?g2_page=1

Downloaded it, and so far, I'm complelety lost! Have to give the pdf a serious reading.
The interface is terrible.

Indeed...it would give Blender a run for the Confusing UI of the Year...it is Node based so all you Vue5I and Vue6I folks , ought to be able to work it out but it's making me insane as it's the first run in I've had with Nodes. They say this release is aimed at the HighEnd User...guess my butt's too low slung...heh heh heh....Also it depends a lot on Hot keys combined with mouse clicks so makes my tablet laess than useful...another Blender comparison....and you'll never animate in it unless you buy it...that's sorta crummy....

Made me fall in love with the Vue interface all over again

Lin

Quote - and you'll never animate in it unless you buy it...that's sorta crummy....

**

... and the free version of Vue Infinite is where?** :huh:

Ditto Lin - I downloaded it but have not installed it and based on what I've been reading I won't be LOL.  I never used T1 anyway which I had & registered - the interface & myself just didn't quite fit ;) in addition, to not being able to import anything. To each his own :)

Don't get me wrong...I ain't slaggin them, they've done a fantastic job of moving to the "high end" of the market and from what I've heard, the price sounds affordable even to me. And now you can import xfrog, lwo, .obj, maybe some others so it has way increased functionality for me, an Imagine3D modeller...I can export .lwo so that gets me in the door. I'm just grumbling about the learning curve for an old fart [58] like me...it is a wee bit harder it seems..switching steams in mid horse...

Once you get past the initial "Whoa!" when you see the node interface its actually not that steep a curve. You can create some very good renders without having to go too deep into the nodes and functions. You can build up the surface shader layers much like you did with TG 0.9.xx with the added functionality of a much better distribution system and various projection modes for the bitmap textures. Then on top of that you can add multiple populations, enabling you to add grass and trees, in quite remarkable numbers too.

I use Vue, Terragen 0.9.xx & TG2 plus Carrara pro and after a bit of practice the interface of TG2 is no more difficult than any of the others. A nice function is that you can project masks through the camera so you can limit populations to what you can actually see, thus cutting down considerably on the number of instances required. Speed wise, the render engine is yet to be optimized and made multi-threaded but both of those will be done prior to release of the final versions.

Trying to decide, Vue 6E + ecosystems and botanica or TG2? Which should I get me for Christmas?

...as much as T2 promises to be a FANTASTIC landscape program in its eventual final release- (it's just a working demo right now)-- you would be better off getting Vue, I think, at this time...

Unfortunately Planetside seems to have a very LONG timeline for releasing their new versions (like YEARS)- so I wouldn't expect to see a real user-friendly version of T2 until at LEAST next year at this time...

Weird. Another Steve Taylor. 

As the song goes, "...That's my name too!"

But I'm the original (LOL)

I agree with Veritas, if you want a full on, all bells and whistles landscape program now, then Vue 6 esprit plus the modules is the way to go. What my advice will be in 12 months though, I don't know, as TG2 final is due next year and with an optimized renderer, multi-threading and the rest of the goodies then it will be a much more difficult choice.

I would agree with what others have said here...purchase what you know what you will get, rather than what you might get at a later date.
TG2 looks powerful, but much of it is just theory as far as the user goes. How will TG2 play with other apps, what features will the animation/timeline have, will you be able to render out multi-pass images, will the interface change, will there be material previews, will it be faster at final release (while working within it and rendering), what features will the render nodes have (i.e. just animation, or stills as well)...? There are so many question to be answered, but as they say - "better the devil you know, than the devil you don't".

The price of TG2 is competitive, but it's only worth the money if it does what you want it to do.

Cheers

The interface is....insane! No kind of any logic there like in Bryce/Vue; think if they've learned their interface lesson and "Brycelised" it as Vue did.
The quality of render is mind-boggling though; I've never seen such beautiful digital clouds anywhere...it's a pity that they don't want to create a user friendly interface. :-(

Attileus...I would have to disagree with you, I'm afraid. Vue's interface has never changed and is certainly nothing like Bryce...in fact, for me personally, Bryce's interface makes no "work flow" sense to me.
For the power in TG2, I can see where it's interface makes sense, even if it lacks the features that I would wish for in its final release.

GUI's should be flexible...Bryce's certainly isn't, Vue's isn't (although better than it was, but still has a long way to go), TG2 has plenty to do yet, but it may work for its features.
A flexible interface? - take a look at C4D or Modo...that is how a flexible interface should be...so you can make it as complex or easy as you like. Put windows where you like and where they will be handy...not under numerous mouse clicks.

I'm not saying your comments aren't valid...it's just that we have "grown-up" with different interface styles and prefer different looks ;o)

Cheers

I've used most 3D software and as far as I'm concerned Bryce has probably got the worst interface on the planet, although Mojoworld is a close second. The Interface of TG2 is not finalized and the one you are seeing now is basically allowing you to get to the metal. The final version will be more polished and hopefully bug free. Also, there are other versions than "Deep" planned and these will have a much friendlier, though less powerful and adaptable interface.

The interface is mathematical rather than object oriented.  It takes time to get used to.  Sounds like some have been spoiled by Point, Click, Drag, and Drop.

If Terregen can battle the giants, I believe they will have a better produce down the line for all of us to use. 

I'm not the first one to give a friendly critic concerning GUI of TG2. 
I also find it interesting when people say Bryce has a terrible interface which is totally self explaining...unlike the untouchable TG2 workplace. I still think it's a pity that they didn't copy more from Vue/Bryce so that even spoiled people like me would have the patience to learn the GUI. :-D
Nevertheless, I always admired TG renders; now it looks even more impressive!