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My First Terrain

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Stare Cat

Stare Cat

Stare Cat

Level 5
Joined
May 13, 2013
Messages
165
I'm an aspiring newbie terrainer, and this is my very first terrain, I'd like some inputs on my work so I can improve and be better at this.
tEuD8Po.jpg

Ha873dL.jpg

4NjAWpF.jpg
 
Last edited:
Hate saying it, but this is as bad as bad terrains come.
- What terrain art is concerned.

For starters, your camera is too close to the ground, no matter how highly high
super resolution mega tiles you're using, ground tiles ALWAYS look horrible when
viewed up close, and yours is standard Wc3 tiles >.>

Elevation and doodad placement is doable for what you have, with a few abnormalities.
When ONLY using standard Wc3 doodads, which I'd advice against, you might reconsider
putting tree-doodads that close to the camera. The one on the right and the one on the left
has their "leafs" so close to the camera they really look like... Something really horrible.
I also see you're not using any form for fog in this terrain, using fog usually raises the
quality of your terrain significantly, when done correctly. Go to
"Scenario > Map Options > Tick the "Use Terrain Fog" box" and then start fooling around
with various colors and depths. You can also fool around with different sky models by going
"Scenario > Map Preferences > Sky Display."
- My only advice on that front is think nature, and reality. The fog and the sky should never
contrast one another,
and the fog should never look too unnatural,
you wouldn't find sun-flower yellow fog in nature,
would you? >.>

Now comes that part where I'll tell you that you shouldn't use units in your terrains before
you've had at least a years experience in terraining, or the equivalent of a year's experience -
If you happen to learn faster than the standard curve. And I'd also advice you to look up the
UTM, download the map and start using it's resources when making terrains.

All said and done, I'm loving to see there's aspiring terrainers still.
- In these dying days. Keep them terrains coming!
 
For a newbie as you said, your terrain in my own perspective looks really good. You putted the doodads very well and also the way you mix the tiles are good but now on to some points I lwill give you suggestions:

-Terrain will be better if you put some more forest like doodads as I can see it is a forest.... maybe add some wooden logs and also rocks. Remember terrains like this should never miss a rock doodad.

-Add a custom fog for it, it will look better and somehow more realistic. Go to Scenario and Map Options then tick the Custom Fog and choose the color you want the fog to have. But for the fog to show, you will have mess with its Z Start, End and Density.

-If you are using a UTM, maybe you should add some decorations to the skies like putting some clouds and sun if you aim for more realistic look to your terrain. Do imagine the environment in our world and you can make a greater terrain.

So far, you are in the right path and your terrain looks good for a starter. Keep striving and practicing. +3 REP!
 
Hell_Master said:
Looks really good but I did suggest you to use fogs because it makes the quality of your terrain better and also one more tip, dont raise the ground too much as it will produce a ugly result like that spikey ground in your terrain.... I suggest use the Smooth Tool to make it not spikey.
Click to expand...

Ha873dL.jpg

Changes made
close enuff?
 
Stryderzero said:
Now try using skins and imported models:thumbs_up:
Click to expand...
I had a shot at using UTM and made a Barren- Orc Fortress kind of terrain.
Problem is
I accidentally spawned an Ice Trap (Those things that shoot Ice) and found out it was corrupted.
It worked fine before but now it's corrupted. Is there anyway to fix this?
 
Oh yes, the art of special effects are just so beautiful. I will have to agree with MasterTrainer. You should better learn to put Special Effects in Terrain and it will look better and beautiful. It will give more details into the terrain itself!
 
Updated with a new terrain picture
AKqa0XK.png


Notes: I can no longer edit my first terrain since it shows
-Main map file could not be opened
 
Stare Cat said:
Updated with a new terrain picture
AKqa0XK.png


Notes: I can no longer edit my first terrain since it shows
-Main map file could not be opened
Click to expand...

I think you have better terrains. This just looks so bright and also based from the little things I can see, there is not enough detailing of the terrain is done.

Add more doodads and such and also mix tiles, it will give you better results. Most of all, tone down your Fog effect, it is just too bright.
 
Hell_Master said:
I think you have better terrains. This just looks so bright and also based from the little things I can see, there is not enough detailing of the terrain is done.

Add more doodads and such and also mix tiles, it will give you better results. Most of all, tone down your Fog effect, it is just too bright.
Click to expand...

How about now?
H7hfqOV.jpg
 
Stare Cat said:
How about now?
dpKi9Ff.jpg
Click to expand...

Protip: NEVER use blizzard trees when doing terrain art, not even if you like them. They're just absolutely fucking horrible.

About the terrain, it's way too intense, I feel like I need to grab my shades when looking at it, on that notion... Where is my shades..? >.>
- That's rhetorical.

Basically, lessen the intensity of the fog on the ground and make the clouds a tad more transparent, that's done by lowering the tinting values. (Something like 100/100/100 might work, maybe even less.)

Next tip: While sure the units don't look completely horrible, and to a certain degree silhouetted, be cautious with units in your terrains, I'd say don't use units at all till you've terrained some months and start feeling comfortable as a terrainer, but apparently there's been an abnormal lure to use units in terrains as of late.
- Unit quality RARELY match doodad quality.

Now, about that tree you evaporated, don't just remove it, find a better looking tree and replace it, you're terrain could do with a really nice dead tree there. I also move that you push the fog a tad backwards together with the units, make them less apparent and make an effort to completely silhouette them. I also suggest you remove the rock closest to the camera and use the raise tool on the right side instead of blizzard cliffs.

Protip nr.2: Don't use blizzard cliffs, they look plain out ugly and have stretched textures.

Another layer or two of mountains in the background wouldn't hurt either, and again, don't use blizzard cliffs to make them, use the elevation tool.
It also does seem like you're still using exclusively wc3 models, I believe I suggested you download the UTM and start exploring the vastness of imports there that better helps the overall quality of your terrains.

Those are my suggestions, take them or leave them.
 
I liked the first one a lot more. It had a good angle and something unique to it. The second one is ok, but lacks for... story? I don't know how to describe it, but the first one gives me a sense of something happening, while the second version(s) are simply terrains.
 
Really like the motive and angle of it all.

Anyways that moon is so totally wrong. it's completely wrong with that lighting and atmosphere. you could try some pale blue clouds in addition to the white. it wasn't wrong to go darker but I don't think you should drop the whiteness and colder colors so completely.

Also I don't think you should replace the blizzard cliffs with the raise tool, but rather use some nice set of rocks that you could fit in a glacial environment. I don't think felsen actually, probably some of those texture sets from xgm.

Oh and really those torches suuuuuck and should be replaced right now.
 
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