Chris Potts

Just wonder...How you make start strach from CAD Site plan turn into 3D model landscape???

which method best way???

I usually this way :-

1) draw outline landscape and then extrude it

2) Render it from top view only ( shadow-off ) and turn into photoshop to paint cover it for path, grass, etc...(seprate road map)

3) save it as material map also copy this and turn into black white for bump material

4) Put landscape material map into 3D Landscape with UV Mapping : Planer

That only way save time speed render and low ploy down....But I know sometime it not good when you see close view i.e. Kerb...

What is you usually ?

Saturn

I would take the topo lines (hopefully you have them) in CAD and convcert them to polylines. Then extrude them how ever many feet they are. Do this for every topo line, and move them accordinly. I usually start with the lowest one and move up. Then import to viz and use the terrain tool. (read the help menu). You can add you textures and maps after that and you should be set.

-Jason

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Jason Matthews

Psychoscorpic

I find a combination approach good:
I don't extrude the contour/topo lines - just move them to the correct altitude in 3D space, and the Terrain Tool works very well. Convert a copy to Mesh.

Pull in 2D site plan component that need to be detailed (Roads, kerbs, ect)
Cookie-cut them into the Terrain Mesh.

Then isolate those poly's in the mesh that need to be extruded (Kerbs, water etc)

Using a Multi-sub material, you can make different elements of the site different colours, and render this for Photoshop detailing.

Best of both worlds.

Geoff