Topic: Workflow for terrain visualization?

[Michael Betke]

I need to do a 1,7km large terrain viz with a mix of several terrain texture like cobble, tar, greenery and other stuff.

It's based on a real place. Since it's the first project I use Lumion I wonder whats the best approach would is for creating my terrain model? 

 

At the moment I have a 3d model in and it exports nice with all the buildings on it. But I have no idea how I can make smooth blends on my terrain between terrain materials. 

On the other hand I could use the terrain tools in lumion for the ground texturing but it seems to be limited to 5 textures which is not enought. Around 8-10 different terrain textures would be great to have.

 

So what is the best way to get my roads, sidewalks, lakes and river in lumion? Model all in 3d and export? I think the blending of materials is a bit difficult. I appreciate hints and suggestions.

[Gabriel]

I would use the 4 terrains from lumion for rough terrain, water, river from lumion and model and texture for the rest (roads, sidewalks, etc)

[Morten]

Hi Michael,

Unfortunately it's not possible to add your own textures to the landscape in Lumion and you can't make your own texture collection from the existing types; both are in fact on the wish list but this doesn't help you right now.

So going forward, it really depends on how much time you have…

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1) If you have very little time and the client isn't obsessed with details, you could use your own terrain mesh from 3DS Max and apply a satellite image to the whole area (to provide the correct overall colours) combined with a generic detail texture for close-ups. Just add a detail texture to the Self-illumination slot in 3DS Max – UVWMap -> Map channel 2 – and convert it to a Lightmap material in Lumion.

 I realise that this approach may not be an option right now as one of your other posts indicate that you still seem to be having trouble loading 4096x4096 textures, but I can confirm that we have previously imported a 2124x2124m terrain from the US Geological Survey. It came with a 4096x4096 satellite image + a detail texture and it works without problems in Lumion.

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2) If you've got more time on your hands, you could split your terrain model into sections in 3DS Max, e.g. road segments, cobblestone, beach, meadow, marshland etc. Import the objects as usual but make sure you select all the imported parts of the terrain (including roads etc) followed by the Align command (in the Modify Object menu). This ensures that all the selected objects are sharing the same pivot point. If there's a particular landscape type that would benefit from blending terrain textures (e.g. the area that you focus the most on in the scene) pick a suitable Landscape shader set, and apply a Landscape material to this part of your model, so you can paint it just like you would if you were using the Lumion terrain. As for the remaining parts of the terrain, you can perhaps use a mixture of Lumion materials and the satellite texture + 1 detail texture? There's a fair number of asphalt textures as well as other ground textures in the Material Library that may come in handy.

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[tug]

Hi Morten and Ferry

 

I also need a bigger landscape template where put my urban models.

 

In other hand it would be nice have an generical urban environment template where can introduce buidings or medium urban planning.

 

Did you tested or worked with pixelactive programs? there are some features to create landscaping easy and intuitive as Lumion can do, take a look for creating roads, bridges...