Terragen

Infobox Software
name = Terragen



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developer = Planetside Software
released =
latest release version = 0.9.43
latest release date = September 7, 2005
latest preview version = 1.9.99.1
latest preview date = July 31, 2008
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operating system = Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X
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genre = 3D computer graphics
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website = [http://www.planetside.co.uk/terragen/ www.planetside.co.uk/terragen/]

Terragen is a freeware scenery generator program for Microsoft Windows and Apple Macintosh developed and published by Planetside Software. It can be used to create renderings and animations of landscapes.

It is popular among amateur artists, which can be attributed to it being freeware, its intuitive interface, and its capability to create photorealistic landscapes when used skillfully. It can also use DEM files, and other graphic surface maps for rendering.

A commercial version of the software is also available and is capable of creating larger terrains, renders with higher image resolution, larger terrain files, and better post-render anti-aliasing than the freeware version. A Terragen image appeared on the April 16, 2001 cover of "Newsweek", and Terragen was used for animations in Brandy Norwood's "What About Us?" music video. It has also been used by numerous artists such as Joan Fontcuberta ("Orogenesis" series) [ [http://www.icp.org/site/c.dnJGKJNsFqG/b.2041581/k.A837/Joan_Fontcuberta.htm Joan Fontcuberta.] New York: International Center of Photography. Retrieved 10 July 2008.] and the French photographer Mathieu Bernard-Reymond ("Vous êtes ici" series and "Pôle" series).

The terrain is generated from a two-dimensional heightmap. The program contains facilities for importing and exporting heightmaps to images, for use in other programs.

Terragen can also be used to create skyboxes for 3D video games. The game Serious Sam is a prime example.

Terragen 2

Terragen 2 [ [http://doi.acm.org/10.1145/1186223.1186235 M. Larsson, M. Wrenninge, and D. Roble, "Inter-frame caching for high quality terrain rendering", "ACM SIGGRAPH 2004 Sketches", p. 9 (2004);] [http://doi.acm.org/10.1145/1186223.1186236 M. Fairclough, M. Wrenninge, and M. Larsson, "Robust rendering of high resolution terrain", "ACM SIGGRAPH 2004 Sketches", p. 10 (2004).] ] , with vastly enhanced features, was slated for its first public release at the end of January 2006. The Preview was finally released on December 15, 2006. [ [http://www.planetside.co.uk/terragen/tg2/tg2faq.shtml#faq16 Terragen 2 FAQ ] ] In December 2007, it was announced that the "Deep Edition" would be available for purchase on February 15, 2008. [ [http://forums.planetside.co.uk/index.php?topic=2940 Terragen 2 Release Date Announcement ] ] However, on 4 January 2008 it was announced that the beta release had been delayed, with potential similar delays to the final release. [ [http://forums.planetside.co.uk/index.php?topic=3063.0 Beta release delayed ] ]

The Terragen 2 feature list includes:

* Procedural terrains of "infinite" detail
* Displacement mapping
* Full object support for vegetation, etc.
* Object instancing support, allowing the rendering of "millions" of trees, boulders, etc.
* A planetary atmosphere and scene model
* Capability to have multiple planets in a scene
* Volumetric clouds
* Motion blur

"Engen", an internal version of Terragen 2 by Digital Domain, was used to render Earth terrain scenes in the film Stealth and planetary scenes in "Star Trek Nemesis" [ [http://www.planetside.co.uk/terragen/tg2/index.shtml] ] .

See also

* VistaPro

References

External links

* [http://www.planetside.co.uk/terragen/ Terragen website]
*dmoz|Computers/Software/Graphics/3D/Rendering_and_Modelling/Terragen|Terragen