Landscaping 3ds max. Landscape design: which program to choose

This is a tutorial on creating terrain in 3ds Max. I'll show you how to create a desert landscape, but with this method you can create absolutely any landscape in 3d Max.

I'm going to use the standard 3D-Max commands to create a nice realistic ground without even using any plugins or bitmaps.

Final landscape render in 3d max.

Create a 500 x 500 width and length plane with 50 length and width segments.

Open the Material Editor and click on the box next to the Diffuse slot, select the Smoke procedural map and set the values ​​as shown in the image below.

From the list of modifiers, apply a Displace modifier and set its durability to 180, then click on the None button on the Map menu, check the Mtl Editor option, and select a diffuse color map.

Now you can see what the plan looks like with the Displace modifier.

If you have powerful computer you can add more segments. Let's see what it looks like after increasing to 200 segments.

Now create a new material and click on the box next to the Diffuse slot and select the mix type. In the mix material, set the color to R: 40 G: 15 B: 0 and the second color to R: 255 G: 200 B: 100 and apply to the plane in the viewport.

Now click on the None button, command Mix Amount and select the falloff map type. Set the Falloff direction on the Z-Axis, add a point and make it as shown in the image.

Here is what you should have after that.

Drag the diffuse map into the Bump slot.

In the Color -1 slot, add a Noise map and set the values ​​as shown in the image.

Similarly, in the Color -2 slot, select the noise map and set its value to match the image shown below, and also set the Bump value to 60.

press the F9 key to see the result.

Creating a landscape in 3d max

Recently, I had to read a few tutorials on the topic of building terrain in 3ds Max. I remember that at that time I was surprised by the inability of the built-in 3ds Max tools to quickly and clearly create an imitation of the earth's firmament, there were always some inconveniences. Therefore, I decided to revise the main methods of terrain modeling and bring out the most convenient in terms of creation and further editing. And, of course, if you need to get exact model of the real earth's surface, in any case, it will be necessary to take horizontal heights as on a geographical map as a basis.

A set of splines-horizontals for building relief

1. Composite object Terrain

Terrain surface: left unsmoothed, right after Turbo Smooth

The first and most obvious way, which, unfortunately, does not give the most best result. The surface is built on the basis of a set of horizontal splines, and the distance between the vertices directly affects the shape of the surface. Most often, the mesh turns out to be too rough, and the switches built into the Terrain parameters give too little effect, so you have to add vertices to the original splines manually or using the Normalize Spline modifier.

2. Plugin Populate:Terrain

The result of the Populate: Terrain plugin in 3ds Max

Similar to the previous method, it builds a relief based on a set of horizontal splines, but at the output we get an ideal quadrangular mesh, which is easy to edit in the next steps. The resulting object is a spline with an EditPoly modifier superimposed on top (displayed as Populate:Terrain on the stack). The plugin is designed for versions of Autodesk 3ds Max from 2010 to 2012 (32 and 64 bit) and is absolutely free for commercial use. You can download Populate:Terrain from the official website of the developers.

3. Displace modifier.

Surface from plane with Displace modifier and Noise map

The surface is built on the basis of the Plane object, divided into the required number of segments, to which the Displace modifier is applied with a black and white texture based on the height map. The method is good with a regular quadrangular grid, the density of which is easy to change, but it is bad by the very need to draw a texture somewhere in Photoshop. To obtain an accurate relief, you will have to draw an accurate map by calculating the required shade of gray for each horizontal.

4. Paint Deformation in Edit Poly

Surface derived from Plane using Paint Deform

Convert the plane to a polygonal mesh and draw the desired relief with the mouse (Push/Pull button in the Paint Deformation rollout on the command panel). The method is ideal for quickly drawing almost arbitrary surfaces, since you can draw mountains and valleys right in the viewport. In the same section, you can write other similar ways to create an arbitrary relief from a plane: using the Noise modifier, Wave ...

5. Surface modifier from splines.

Surface relief example by splines

Stages of work in this way: we collect horizontal splines into one spline object, apply the CrossSection modifier, the Surface modifier - we get a smooth surface. The complexity of this method lies in the need to achieve the same number of vertices on the contours - an absolutely unrealistic requirement on complex surfaces.

You can pick up some more exotic ways, model with nurbs, polygons and much more, but I think that the Populate:Terrain plugin gives the best result in terms of speed-quality. The final surface is easily edited, remarkably smoothed, while ready-made contours from the topographic base in AutoCAD can be taken as a basis, which guarantees the accuracy of constructions.

What computer program to choose for landscape design and design, so that you can implement and test your ideas in it, so that there is a decent 3D visualization? Such a question arises as soon as there is a desire or need to take a computer as an assistant.
In this article, I will try to give general information O popular programs used by landscape designers, and what to choose is up to you, based on your capabilities and needs.
Computer programs used for landscape design can be divided into three groups:

• 1) drawing programs;
• 2) programs for 3D visualization of landscape projects;
• 3) programs for 3D modeling and graphics

Drawing programs

This group includes such programs popular among architects and designers as AutoCAD and ArchiCAD.
These are very good and rather difficult to learn drawing packages designed for the design of architectural structures and solutions. In landscape design, they are used to draw general plans and dendroplans, layout plans and irrigation plans, path and drainage networks. Their disadvantage, from the point of view of landscape design, is the lack of plant libraries. The view of plants in 3D mode is very conditional. The visual quality is poor. Knowledge of these packages is highly welcome in large architectural and landscape companies. There are quite a few courses that teach how to work in these programs.

Programs for 3D visualization of landscape design

These programs were created specifically for landscape design and design. They are designed for 3D visualization of projects. The created project or its fragment can be immediately seen in 3D form. At the same time, the drawing part of such programs is often significantly inferior to programs from the first group. As a rule, these are not difficult or not very difficult programs to learn. Among the programs of this group there are quite primitive (for example, FloorPlan Landscape, Expert Landscape Design 3D, Complete Landscape Designer, X-Designer and others) and good, powerful packages, such as, for example, Punch Home & Landscape Design from Panch and Realtime Landscaping Architect by Idea Spectrum. In these last two programs, good 3D visualization, a large number of settings, texture fills for all designed elements, large libraries of objects.

Opportunities good computer programs for visualization, they are approximately the same: the presence of libraries of plants and architectural forms, modes of shadows, growths, changes according to the seasons, the possibility of creating relief and various special editors. A common drawback of most of the programs of this group, presented on Russian market, is that they are not translated (the interface, description of programs, explanations are all in English) and the fact that the range of plants presented in these programs is basically not suitable for our climate.
- one of the best programs for 3D visualization of landscape projects. Its huge advantage over the best foreign programs is the Russian interface and a unique seventeen thousand plant encyclopedia, more than half of which grow in Russia and the former USSR. And, of course, the ability to add textures, 3D models, plants and photos to the program.

Programs for 3D modeling and graphics

There is a whole group of programs such as Photoshop, Google SketchUp, CorelDrow, 3D MAX and some others that are often offered to students who want to learn computer design landscape design. These programs were not created specifically for landscape design and do not take into account its specifics. Many of them are difficult to self-study. But, if you have mastered these programs well, you have accumulated experience and have everything you need: ready-made objects, trees, houses, scenes created before, etc., then you can create a beautiful project quite quickly.

Adobe Photoshop and CorelDrow Graphics
This graphic editor, (raster and vector, respectively) intended for layout (CorelDrow) and editing graphic information such as magazine illustrations, photographs, slides, etc. (Photoshop). These are programs of medium complexity, very popular and there are many textbooks and courses teaching how to work in them.
CorelDrow often used to create landing drawings, diagrams, master plans. Decent vector drawings are obtained.
photoshop some landscape designers use it like this: a client's site is photographed and objects, plants, houses cut out from other photos are placed on this photo in the editor. Either an application, or a collage ... The result, in my opinion, is not very good, although there is a lot of "fuss".

3ds MAX, 3D Studio VIZ, Blender
Programs are not designed specifically for landscape design, these are universal products of 3-dimensional modeling. 3D Studio VIZ has a tree editor with customizable options for creating various models trees, there are building blanks: windows, doors, stairs. But it is more convenient to use 3ds MAX. This is a highly professional product for creating various 3D scenes, objects, specials. effects and animations. It has a large number of plugins that significantly expand standard features programs and containing additional modeling tools. Difficult program to learn. It takes a lot of knowledge and time to create and visualize a project. Time to search for objects (trees, bushes, houses), time to bring them to mind, time to develop your own objects and, finally, time to render. This is a lot of work and not for everyone. But, I repeat, if you have mastered this program well and have accumulated libraries of objects, then the result will be impressive: the visualization of the scene is extremely photo realistic.
Blender can be conditionally called free analogue 3ds Max. This professional program to create a three-dimensional computer graphics, animation, video editing with sound and interactive games. Currently, the most popular among developers among free 3D editors. It has a reputation for being a difficult program to learn.

Google SketchUp
This is a non-professional, uncomplicated and easy-to-use program for modeling simple 3D objects, predominantly architectural. It was not created specifically for landscape design. It is possible to add the surface of the earth to the model and adjust its shape - relief. There is a shadow mode at any time of the day. It does not have an encyclopedia and plant libraries. But there is a wide variety of different ready-made 3D plant models in Google's public online collections.

Daz Bryce
The program is intended mainly for creating and visualizing the most complex real and fantastic 3D landscapes. This is for big professionals. There is the possibility of complex overlays of fog and haze effects. In Bryce, you can control haze, clouds, sunlight, rock, rock and water modeling, large libraries of materials and environmental characteristics, a wide range of rendering options.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I will share my observations: from many conversations with visitors to landscape design exhibitions, I was convinced that people try to make projects on a computer in what they can (even in Exsell!), Often spending an insane amount of time and effort on it. But those of them who are professionally and successfully engaged in landscape design on a computer, as a rule, uses several programs in its work, most often a combination of drawing (AutoCad / ArchiCad) + programs for 3D visualization (Our Garden / Punch! / Realtime). Those who make very expensive projects, participate in competitions, often use a combination of programs (AutoCad / ArchiCad) + 3ds MAX.
Well, for those who “design” for themselves and their friends, who carry out small projects, only one 3D visualization software, such as Our Garden Ruby or Crystal.

Luminosity height map (click image to enlarge)

To further customize the shape of the ground surface, I applied a modifier FFD from the 3ds max tools for quick general modification. For more detailed deformation, I applied a modifier EditPoly(Editable polygon) and then I used the brush to paint the details.

In order to fit it all together, at the end of all these small modifications in the modifier stack, I added the modifier Relax(Relax).

Ground plane after all adjustments

Making a gravel path

After the ground terrain shape that suited me was created, I saved a copy of the modifier stack before the collapse, just in case, as a backup of the 3ds max scene. Then I converted it all to Editable Poly(Editable polygon). This was done so that I could detach the polygons that make up the gravel path. It also gave me leeway to increase the polygon count, paint small terrain details, and tweak other UVW maps separately. In addition, I got the opportunity, if necessary, to apply the Displacement modifier to small areas of the environment.

Creating steps

Now that the gravel path is ready, I started creating the stairs. The steps were made from a chamfered box that had a modifier applied to it. noise(noise) with different settings and then replicated as Instance(instances). Also, I added a few spheres that will act as large piles of leaves. Again, the FFD modifier was applied to these spheres.

Stair area

General view of the gravel path

Gravel path merged with the terrain

Creation of stones

Creating small stones in 3d max was pretty easy. I started with simple spheres and applied the Noise modifier to them. Then I applied a FFD modifier (yes, again) to drastically change the overall shape, making them look like rocks. I made 12 copies of different sizes and with different settings noise. When their appearance became as it should be, I created for each stone VRay proxies so that you can scatter them along the road. I also created some variants of diffuse maps, just to diversify their appearance a bit.

From sphere to stone

The Advanced Painter script for 3d max was used to paint/scatter various objects on the ground. I loaded the objects I wanted to draw on the ground into the list, selected the ground area as the drawing surface - and started drawing!

You can change the settings to suit your needs as you progress through the drawing process. The Advanced Painter script is very powerful... It has become an integral part of my daily work.

stone painting

Advanced Paint Script Settings

The stones are scattered

Creation of firewood

To create firewood, an internal 3D Max physics simulation system was used - Reactor. I've never used a reactor before, but it turned out to be pretty easy. First I modeled the pieces of firewood. I created three shapes and then copied them several times.

Logs

Then I created a plane and added to the scene Rigid Body Collection(Collection of solid bodies), and added this plane and firewood to the list of its solid bodies. Setting the physical properties of objects was done in the properties menu of solid bodies.

Reactor settings for logs (left) and plane (right)

Setting up physics to simulate falling wood

Most of the settings have been left at their default values, with only a few changes. Col. tolerance(Error in collisions). Now start the window preview(Preview). Now you can play the physics simulation until you are satisfied with the result, or you can reset and tweak some of the physics parameters to your liking. When the objects got into the Reactor the way I liked, I updated their position in 3d max. Then I manually touched up some of the logs as a final touch.

Before and after simulation with the Havoc engine

Log placement done

Making grass

The grass was created based on the tutorial Creating Grass VRay. Here I will not dwell on its creation, I only advise you to read this tutorial on creating grass.

After the grass patches were sampled, I repeated the same procedure as with the gravel. I loaded them into the Advanced Painter script and painted the ground with them.

Grass after painting

Making leaves

Now that all the grass is in place, I created 4 different leaves. They were created from simple planes using modifiers Bend(fold) and noise(Noise) in various variations.

various leaves

Then I drew some smaller piles of leaves.

Who wouldn't want to be a designer upper class? Perhaps, many would agree to visit such a role. But is everything as simple as it seems at first glance? Is it really enough to get photoshop tutorials, master them, and become a pro? No. Everything is much more complicated. Like any other profession, the role of a designer requires experience, perseverance, talent and hard work. And some free lessons photoshop doesn't help much. In this case, a more systematic approach is needed. So, for example, few people know about the differences between certain versions of Photoshop. So, for example, the photoshop cs3 lessons differ from the material prepared for later versions of the software. It is worth highlighting the photoshop video tutorials, which are still much more informative than the text versions. Perhaps a fairly understandable situation develops if we start talking about 3d video lessons. On the one hand, it is quite difficult to imagine a text course on such a complex 3D graphics. On the other hand, 3d lessons are very diverse, including text variations. Here you can also cite as an example photoshop lessons in Russian, which are available in abundance. Well, the last aspect is corel lessons.

Considering photoshop lessons, enough interesting offers. So, for example, while surfing the Internet, you often come across offers of paid courses in one place or another. Is it worth buying this? Our answer is no. For a beginner, it will be enough to pick up free photoshop lessons, having mastered which you can think about something more serious. It is worth noting the photoshop cs4 lessons that have become the most popular in a short period of time. And it is the video tutorials of photoshop, thanks to which a number of points and subtleties become immediately clear. Although this statement does not always work, since not all video lessons are actually good. Especially if we are talking about photoshop lessons in Russian, which in any case are less on the network than in English. As for the graphics, then 3d lessons come to the rescue. Another important aspect in the study of these very lessons is the format. After all, it is 3d video lessons that allow you to better understand this or that material. Let's not forget the corel lessons, which are becoming more accessible every day. Thus, the teaching materials that have become common, called lessons, are gaining popularity.

Summing up, it is worth noting once again the educational materials that are gaining their popularity. These are called lessons. So, for example, on this moment just a cloud of various materials is available on the network, including photoshop lessons. In person, these are either translated from English or Russian editions. So, for example, you can get photoshop cs5 tutorials literally on any web site dedicated to design in one way or another. As a rule, photoshop video tutorials are exemplary. It is worth noting that not all photoshop lessons in Russian are actually a reference product. This is due to the huge amount of material available. In principle, this includes free photoshop lessons. As for the graphics, here you can find a lot of interesting things. So, for example, 3d lessons, although they do not have the same popularity as photoshop lessons, they also have a good distribution. Namely, 3d video tutorials in this area are of the highest quality. Do not forget also about the educational material called corel lessons. And even in this area you will find a lot of interesting things.