In my tutorial on terrain mapping (http://www.mike.kennelly.dsl.pipex.com/ ... ghtmap.htm
) I mentioned using 3D sofware like Bryce, or Vue D'Esprit, to model terrain.
Bryce is interesting because it has tools for changing the height of, eroding, and manipulating a greyscale terrain map in various ways (e.g. random fractal generation).
If you're in the UK, you might like to know that the current issue of Computer Shopper (Mar 2007 edition) has Bryce 5, full version, on the cover disk. It does require you to create a free login at http://www.daz3d.com/i.x/software/bryce, and register the software at http://www.daz3d.com/i.x/software/bryce/-/breg/? though. I've done this and it seems to work.
Alternatively 3D World magazine (http://www.3dworldmag.com/page/3dworld? ... sue_88_now) also has it.
It looks as if you can download the free version from http://www.download.com/Bryce/3000-6677_4-10590029.html but I haven't tested that download.
I'll post a screenshot in a short while...
3D Terrain modelling - Bryce 5, free (UK magazine coverdisk)
My brother showed me a 3D tool called K-3D. It's free at:
http://www.k-3d.org/wiki/Main_Page
The needed render engine is noted there and called Aqsis. It's also free. This thing allows you to do animation, which is needed in SMR.
http://www.k-3d.org/wiki/Main_Page
The needed render engine is noted there and called Aqsis. It's also free. This thing allows you to do animation, which is needed in SMR.
I'm correct 97% of the time..... who cares about the other 4%....