I am currenlty trying to import .dems from USGS into Vue and having some problems.  I am testing vue out so I am using the trial version, if that has anything to do with what's going on.  I doubt it because the terrain doe import.  Anyway, I gathered terrain data from the USGS Seamless viewer as geotiffs, and used 3dem to convert the terrain data to .dem  Then I imported that into vue.  I used this tutorial

http://www.cornucopia3d.com/pub/tutorial/USGS_SDDS%20Tutorial.pdf

Problem is the terrain looks great in 3dem and looks like long striations in vue, which I have no idea where it's getting that.  The terrain is low lying, a lot of water with gradual hills around it, I was hoping to scale it all up to make it more dramatic. Anyway, hope these images help and someone has an idea. Above is the image from 3dem. 

Sidenote, I just tried the process with the same terrain data as the tutorial and I get the exact same result!! Just longer striations with higher altitudes for them.  Really frustrating. Help!! 

Sidenote, I just tried the process with the same terrain data as the tutorial and I get the exact same result!! Just longer striations with higher altitudes for them.  Really frustrating. Help!! 

How are you actually placing your dem image?

Any chance you could post the dem somwhere so we can download it and see what we get when we try it?

oops tried to post it there.  Let's try again

It's my bed time here, hurry up..LOL.

Here it is... hopefully it works...

Nope, nothing there friend..:-)

well i tried zipping the file up and using the attach file prompt but no go.  I am new to renderosity, what am I missing here?  I feel like an idiot

You can only upload small files to the forums, it might be better if you send it in an e-mail. I'll send you my e-mail addy in a PM and you can send it over. I'm off to bed now though so it wouldn't be until tomorrow before I look at it. Maybe someone else will help before then.

Sending you a PM now.

Cool I appreciate it..coming your way

Can I ask what steps you are doing when adding it to your terrain?

That looks nice... That's what I'm supposed to get!  I just do a File> import object > and accept the default settings vue has.  Then it imports and looks like a box with those vertical striations.  Is there a different way?  Did oyu convert the terrain to anything?

Ok, you're doing it wrong, sorry...

Here's what you need to do:

Load a terrain, right click on the terrain and pick "edit object"

Then click on the "reset terrain" button on the left hand side of the terrain editor.

Lower down, you should see an icon for loading a picture, click on that and navigate to your DEM file and load it.

Click OK and you're done, you should see the same as mine.

hmmm, well I loaded a standard height field terrain.  Right clicked it, hit edit object to take me to the terrain editor. Then I Reset all painting and sculpting and cliked on the picture icon and loaded the combined dem file to no avail!  Man really  frustrating.  What did I miss?

What happened when you clicked Ok to load the picture then?

I can't see that you missed anything, you should have had the same result as I had above.

Once you've laoded the image, the terrain should be as the image.

Can you tell me how you loaded the image then?

Here is what i get at the point you're at above.

I'm at a loss to explain why that is happening, you should be getting what I'm getting, weird.

I don't know what else to suggest at this point..Sorry.

I could maybe make the terrain for you and save it and send it to you if that's any good, let me know what size terrain you'd want if you want to do that.

Yeah the preview says it all..My preview still shows those long striations for some reason?  I don't get it.  Could this be the trial version?  Also, while I am at it with questions, if you load a dem this way into an already existing standard heightfield terrain is the sizing still correct? 

I tried one last thing too.  So the combined .dem is made from 4 separate dem files and stiched together in 3dem.  I tried loading each individual dem into vue and it worked, however, then I am left with 4 separate terrains to edit when I need to edit it as one.  Anyway to combine them to make it one, almost like a "join command.?"  If this doesn't work I am tempeted to send you the terrain I need, this was the test terrain so to speak to try this method out.  The terrain I am in need of is a different part. 

I'm not sure, it could be I guess. Sizing is usally to scale AFAIK, I don't use DEM's that much, only if I'm doing some work for clients.

the offer is there if you need it, just send me a PM with your e-mail addy and we'll sort it out, I accidentally deleted it yesterday..LOL.

Well I am hoping it is just the trail version as I am trying to convince my work to get vue.  To convince  though I'd like to show them this terrain.  Do you know how to combine the dems in vue to edit them as one terrain?  Since they import as  different ones, and 4 different layers? Btw, I appreciate all the help!

Nope, never tried it..sorry.

The only solution I can offer you is to make the terrain for you if you send me the DEM.

As to convincing your work, hit them with the fact that ILM uses it and that it's been used in such films as Pirates of the Caribbean.

Here'a a link to all the movies that have used Vue in their creation, show this to your bosses, if they're not impressed they must be mad...

http://www.e-onsoftware.com/showcase/spotlights/

haha, will do!  I just emailed you the dem file I am trying to work with, so heads up!  Thanks!

I've just sent you the Vob, if there's a problem let me know..