DeleD Community Edition

[AWM Mars]

Terrain Editor:

http://nemesis.thewavelength.net/index.php?p=9

Its easy to use, has a full featured export list. Worth a go for free. I liked it.
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[Lascar]

Thanks for posting the details.
Seems a nice small programme that actually works (had a short play with it already).
The last small free terrain editor I had on my XP computer won't work on the my new Windows7 one (it's the same story for about half my old software) but this one does
Much appreciated
.

[AWM Mars]

Seems Windows 7 inherited the same crap generated by Vista the first time round, backward compatibility is random whether it works or not. I lost a lot of good programmes back then, I wont be upgrading soon.

I'm using XP, its sound, robust, still supported and works more than Vista. My Vista machine, only gets fired up if I want to create some machinima, mainly because Sony decided that if my HD breaks, or I upgrade anything, I have to email their support, go through millions of hoops, to reactivate my software. I'm not forking out another $500.
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[AWM Mars]

If you like the one above for its simplicity, but power... you may also like this one http://www.earthsculptor.com/ this also does terrain painting for texture mapping, using brushes

It says the demo is locked at producing 512x512 terrain textures, but I exported much bigger without issue or watermarks. When you install the demo, you are given a couple of choices (smart move), time limited full version, or a free version with limited functions. I tried the free version install, and did not find any limitations
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[Lascar]

Thanks for the second post - I will check out Earthsculptor.

I have been trying out Nem's terrain editor.
All OK (exports the mesh fine, obj file, and imports into DeleD) but I can't get the textures to work at all.
Something to do with WAD files, which I don't understand.
I will give it a go for a while, in the end I will either figure it out or give up

AWM Mars posted:
.... I'm using XP, its sound, robust, still supported and works more than Vista ....

Yes, I found XP to be the best yet. Vista seems OK on the laptop but then I don't use it all the time.
The new computer came with Windows7 and I don't like it because of the software compatibility problems
I think Microsoft have shot themselves in the foot this time as it's making people like me consider alternative software and possibly even a different operating systems.
After-all if half my existing software won't work on the new windows why bother sticking with windows at all.
It's made me think.
.

[Lascar]

Having read some of the forum posts for Earthsculptor it seems this may also be an abandoned programme - last update posted was Oct 07.

Just found a tutorial for it (manual is just a manual).
If anyone else wants to download the tutorial I found it at (it's big 90mb) :
http://depositfiles.com/en/files/8f8jfrdsj

The above files are flv format and there's a free player at;
http://applian.com/flvplayer/download_flv_player.php

The tutorials are also available on-line at;
http://www.reallusion.com/iclone/icnb_tutorial.asp

There is also some tutorials on YouTube;
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=EarthSculptor&aq=f
.

[AWM Mars]

Yes, thats right, its potentially a dead programme. However, it exports to a lot of different formats, I found using the built in UV mapper paint brush, I could layer the textures by height first, then use the single polygon brush to blend in some premade border textures, rotating, scaling to suit.
When you export as a OBJ, the texture file (mts or mtx, cant remember which) isnt created, but when brought into DeleD, open the materials editor, open the top menu for the OBJ model, and click each texture (thery are all black), then create a layer for each one, dropping in the texture from your lower menu, and check it Active, or Replace. Check the first layer Inactive, then it will swap all the mapped textures back for you The important thing is, all the UV mapping is intact.

With Earth Sculptor, you can export just the terrains, and or textures. The website says the free version is limited to 512x512 terrains and textures, but I had no problem exporting 2048x2048, and could probably have exported larger.
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[Lascar]

The tutorials show Earth Sculptor to be a powerful programme.
At least it has the ability to save, Freeword would not, so that's a good start.
Thanks for the advice about overcoming the texture problems, I will keep it in mind when I have something to export

Edit / Update:
Having experimented with Earth Sculptor, last night, I can see that the important factor is keeping control.
I produced some very nice terrains but they had way too many polygons for any practicable game use.
I'm sure (with time) one will develop an eye for what's right and what's OTT
It's a fun programme all the same
.

[harper]

Too many poly's - that is my problem to leave Freeworld3D's terrain and convert to a ordinary mesh. No one will handle a 100x100-poly. For a good terrain the terrain must be handled as something special. Terrain-editors, and most engines makes a difference between a house and the terrain.
Tiling textures, multiple alpha-channels, LOD and more is a must for terrains, so you cannot replace it with a normal 3D-model. If i am wrong, please show me examples of a good terrain using no special features.

[AWM Mars]

I have found xNormal to be quite useful in gaining reasonable quality over polycount. It works by using the coralation between a high poly and a low poly versions of your mesh, to create a material that makes the quality, that is then used with the lowpoly version in your platform/project.

http://www.xnormal.net/1.aspx
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Politeness is priceless when received, cost nothing to own or give, yet some cannot afford.

Checkout:
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