Hallo everybody,
I'm a Vue 10 user (on Mac Os Leopard) and I was going to recreate some original territories (of the world) utilizing DEM file and/or Geo map (topological maps or image took from Google Maps (SAT).

I met many problems...
DEM file we need must to be in hight quality and we can find freely only the USGS DEM file just for US territories (DEM quality 30 mt 1 arc second end 10 mt 1/3 arc second) . For other world territories are not avaiable Hight quality DEM file (you can find 90 mt an over DEM file...) and therefore you can recreate in Vue a decent terrain with these file...
The questions about DEM file therefore are these:
if and as we can improve in VUE the DEM file of low quality (great of 1 or 1 / arc second) directly imported in Vue as DEM file or as geotiff?

About create a Map to import in Vue (Terrain Editor/Picture/Import terrain data) I don't know if is better to prepare these map (in Photoshop) in gray-scale 16 bit OR in RGB 16 bit. At the same time, I don't know if is a good idea bring these maps directly from Google Maps (Satellite) OR from from Google Maps (Relief) to create in Photoshop a greyscale o B&W maps to import in VUE.

In general I'm very interest to this argument and I hope there'll somebody who can help me and talking about these fascinating techniques.

Many thanks!

Best way to import a DEM file in Vue: Import object dialog. It will retain the original scale of the map. DRawback: low res

Best way to enhance a DEM in Vue: use a proc terrain and use the dem as your altitude production function, and add a fractal to blend with the dem. Drawback: accuracy of the terrain is lost, since the fractal adds procedural detail, DEM must be at least 16bit.

To create a map in PS for Vue, use 16bit greyscale minimum.

Many thanks Bruno,

I'm going to try you suggestions! I hope we can still talk about this process.

Ciao!

And the best way to enhance a greyscal 16 bit map? Maybe use a standard terain, Edit Object/ Picture and import map from here and than convert terrain in procedural and edit it?

Many thanks!

Quote - Best way to import a DEM file in Vue: Import object dialog. It will retain the original scale of the map. DRawback: low res

Best way to enhance a DEM in Vue: use a proc terrain and use the dem as your altitude production function, and add a fractal to blend with the dem. Drawback: accuracy of the terrain is lost, since the fractal adds procedural detail, DEM must be at least 16bit.

Sorry Bruno but something is strange for me.

I didn't understand if I have to import DEm directly (Import object dialog) or if I have to create a procedural, turn to Terrain Editor, smooth completely terrain and than use " the dem as your altitude production function..." as you suggested.

Can you please explain it?

Many thx!

Best way to import is use the Imort object dialog: this is the satndard process to import a dem file that wll have the "real" scale, read directly from within the dem file. You can still edit it later in the terrain editor (it is a standard terrain then).

To use the dem file as a 16bit image, you need to load first a procedural terrain, and in the function editor, use the dem in an image map node that will be used for altitude production.

These are 2 different methods. First will create an object based on the dem file tnat will be editable in the terrain editor, at the right X, Y and Z size.

2nd method will allow to combine the dem file with a fractal to create the terrain. It will then be less accurate than first method because the fractal will also be used to create altitudes, but it will look better, sinxe the fractal will addd almost infinite detail to the terrain.

There is no best practise when it comes to DEM files.  It's all very iffy what works and what doesn't.

Hallo everybody,

it seems to understand that - maybe not best practise but good practise - is doesn't use DEM file but a Greyscale Map on procedural (also to have notmillions polygons...!): Procedural+Greyscale Map +... adding Mask with Brush ti define better terrain, and so on...

But if i Import a DEM file with Import Object than I  also can convert it in e procedural... and imporve quality... hard to understand the differences...

Many thx!

Heighfield (standard) terrains are polygon based. The more polygons, the more definition. If you use a dem file to create the heightmap, there can only be as much detail as there is inside the file, but the polygon count is also a limitation, eg, if you have a very defined dem file, but use it on a 256x256 polys terrain, a lot of detail will be lost. Hnece the use of the import object dialog, that will not only create a terrain at the right scale, but also at the right definition.

Procedural terrains are not polygon based, though they are "baked" to polygons at render time. Their geometry is based on the fractal function that is used to create them, and the distance the terrain is seen from the camera. The closer to the camera, the smaller the details. If you use a dem file to create the altitude of a proc terrain, the definition is fixed by the dem file. The dem, when used for altitude production function is translated into a greyscale map, just the same as for a standard terrain. So combining the dem file with a fractal node will add the extra details that the dem file will lack. But then of course, the terrain will not exactly match the dem file.

Well Bruno,

now it is everything clearest, nevertheless I stay with some doubts...

for what you said, better should be to utilize DEM file directly in FICTION EDITOR - utilizing IMAGE MAP NODE - applying it a procedural terrain.

But the DEM file nust be a HQ DEM file , as 1 arc second or better 1/3 arc second (30mt or 10mt).

If you HAVE NOT this HQ DEM files (as far as I know, just USGS file are avaiable in this quality...) you can try to build a greymap scale 16 bit from a geo or topographic maps, or also from satellite screenshoot toke in Google Earth (o Google Maps).

Is that right?

Many thanks|

"If you HAVE NOT this HQ DEM files (as far as I know, just USGS file are avaiable in this quality...) you can try to build a greymap scale 16 bit from a geo or topographic maps, or also from satellite screenshoot toke in Google Earth (o Google Maps).
Is that right?"

Yep, perfectly right.

Okay BRuno, many many thank! Now is all really clearer.

I hope we cuold talk more about Vue!

Ciao!

I love talking about Vue!

Hi bruno,

I' forgotten just an other question...

if you use a original DEM imported in VUE on a procedural terrain, via FUCTION EDITOR/ - IMAGE MAP NODE, resolution and dimension are the same of a DEM file?

In the same time I ask you what do you think is a good resolution for the second way to make a terrain - i.e. building in Photoshop a greymap scale 16 bit from a geo or topographic maps, or also from satellite screenshoot toke in Google Earth (o Google Maps) - cause we have to decide these parameter when we trasform our geo maps in a grayscale Map in photoshop...

Many thanks!

No, the terrain will not have the original file's dimensions, it'll be square. As for your second question, I really don't know. Guess it'll depend on the resolution of the original file.

Vue has a 40964096 resolution and therefore could be a good idea to create a 40964096 greyscale 16bit map in Photoshop and of course import, try to capture/scan a geo map or Sat map at the same resolution.

What do you think?

THX!

Sure 4096 is the best resolution, but a 4096 standard terrain will slow down your workflow depending on your machine. If this 4096 map i used on a proc terrain, no problem.

Procedural, of course...!