Topic: ****Create a Background****

[mattmcg]

Hi

 I was wondering if there is a way to create a background in Lumion so your model looks like its in a real location and not floating in space. For instance I am creating a masterplanned community but want to include context such as real life surroundings for the project - topography, roads, lakes, buildings. The easiest way I could see doing this is photographing panoramics of the location and somehow using that as the background in Lumion.

Any chance Lumion can do that? any other technique or process people use to do this? My problem for example includes for bird's eye fly overs you would be able to see for miles past this project, I dont see anyone modeling that much outside area besides I think my computer would explode trying to render that.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Matt

[peterm]

You can use a backdrop plane, backdrop semi-hemisphere or cut semi-hemisphere so that sky and sun etc are Lumions'.

Users do use this technique, apply the photographs as textures to the backdrop and you have your distance surroundings as real surroundings.

Users also use Google maps for real terrain, lots of examples in the videos submitted to Finished Projects.  Some of how to go about doing that is in the Commercial Section of the forum from members.

For modelling outer areas, it's the time required to create similar models, and then the texturing.  If the models and textures are kept real simple, its not a problem for Lumion to handle.

Your scene construction requirements will definitely depend on what views your camera is going to take.  So planning those views and camera paths as early on as possible will help define the need for simple backdrops and where true 3D models are required.