Understanding the terraformer
by Rodney (OldRod) Burns · in Torque Game Engine · 11/28/2001 (6:52 am) · 3 replies
Can someone explain to me the graphs in the terraformer and how they work?
For instance, when I select "Apply by height" on a given material I get presented with a line graph with 5 or 6 control points. I can fiddle with them for quite a while and sometimes get the texture applied where I want, but it's a trial and error thing. I have no idea what I'm actually doing.
I've seen some tutorials for mapping with Tribes2, but they never really explain what the control points are doing, and how moving them affects placement of the texture.
Does anyone have a quick explanation of these? There are similar control points in other texture application options as well.
Also, when I apply several materials and then save the level, when I come back to it later, those materials don't show up in the terraformer. Do I have to re-apply them in the same manner I did earlier if I want to make any changes to even just one texture?
For instance, when I select "Apply by height" on a given material I get presented with a line graph with 5 or 6 control points. I can fiddle with them for quite a while and sometimes get the texture applied where I want, but it's a trial and error thing. I have no idea what I'm actually doing.
I've seen some tutorials for mapping with Tribes2, but they never really explain what the control points are doing, and how moving them affects placement of the texture.
Does anyone have a quick explanation of these? There are similar control points in other texture application options as well.
Also, when I apply several materials and then save the level, when I come back to it later, those materials don't show up in the terraformer. Do I have to re-apply them in the same manner I did earlier if I want to make any changes to even just one texture?
#2
Your page is where I've learned most of what I know to this point (that and lots of trial/error) and I appreciate all the work you put into that tutorial. But even you admitted on your page that you didn't understand the control dots :)
As you drag the dots up and down, the overhead view changes. I'm guessing (from my experimentation) that any places in the overhead view that are white seem to be the areas that get the texture when you apply it (subject to fractal randomness). Areas that are black don't. Am I understanding that right?
11/28/2001 (1:40 pm)
Zear, Your page is where I've learned most of what I know to this point (that and lots of trial/error) and I appreciate all the work you put into that tutorial. But even you admitted on your page that you didn't understand the control dots :)
As you drag the dots up and down, the overhead view changes. I'm guessing (from my experimentation) that any places in the overhead view that are white seem to be the areas that get the texture when you apply it (subject to fractal randomness). Areas that are black don't. Am I understanding that right?
#3
11/28/2001 (3:57 pm)
That's pretty much it. 
Torque Owner Tim "Zear" Hammock
Look here. If you still have questions after that, I'll take a shot at them.