July 2010 Entry : The Solur Nexedifice of Kharaghan

[Jaxilon]

Now see, that is just pretty dang cool

[Aval Penworth]

Okay, now it makes sense.

I am guessing that your program can view that scene from various angles, is that right?

[Crayons]

Okay, now it makes sense.
I am guessing that your program can view that scene from various angles, is that right?

Absolutely. What it can't actuallly do is render a real isometric view. You can simulate it reasonably well by standing the camera off a long distance and cutting down its angle of view which is what I did in an earlier WIP view.

[Aval Penworth]

So you can make it look more mappy. As impressed as I am by the 3d stuff, I still think it needs to perform the function of a map.

[tilt]

So you can make it look more mappy. As impressed as I am by the 3d stuff, I still think it needs to perform the function of a map.

yes, that's one of my concerns also - making it more than a "pretty picture" - but it is definitly looking nice

[Crayons]

So you can make it look more mappy. As impressed as I am by the 3d stuff, I still think it needs to perform the function of a map.

That's part of the "challenge" for me. However, I've done enough "flat maps" to be confident of the basics, it's more about the issue of the buldings being on a shelf that is problematic. It's likely that I'll need to "slice" this hillock up somewhat for the map views.
I guess the ultimate question is "what is a map?".

[RobA]

Absolutely. What it can't actuallly do is render a real isometric view. You can simulate it reasonably well by standing the camera off a long distance and cutting down its angle of view which is what I did in an earlier WIP view.

I though POV had an isometric modifier for its camera....

(checking...)

Yep - orthographic keyword:

2.3.1.2.2 Orthographic projection

The orthographic camera offers two modes of operation:

The pure orthographic projection. This projection uses parallel camera rays to create an image of the scene. The area of view is determined by the lengths of the right and up vectors. One of these has to be specified, they are not taken from the default camera. If omitted the second method of the camera is used.

If, in a perspective camera, you replace the perspective keyword by orthographic and leave all other parameters the same, you will get an orthographic view with the same image area, i.e. the size of the image is the same. The same can be achieved by adding the angle keyword to an orthographic camera. A value for the angle is optional. So this second mode is active if no up and right are within the camera statement, or when the angle keyword is within the camera statement.

You should be aware though that the visible parts of the scene change when switching from perspective to orthographic view. As long as all objects of interest are near the look_at point they will be still visible if the orthographic camera is used. Objects farther away may get out of view while nearer objects will stay in view.

If objects are too close to the camera location they may disappear. Too close here means, behind the orthographic camera projection plane (the plane that goes through the look_at point).

-Rob A>

[Crayons]

I though POV had an isometric modifier for its camera....

(checking...)

Yep - orthographic keyword:

-Rob A>

Crikey! Thanks Rob! There's me searching Help for "isometric" all this time! Why can't mathematicians just have one word for something! I imagine there's some subtle difference between "orthographic" and "isometric" but... (no explanations please!!!I will consider my life complete without such knowledge!)
I'll give it a go.

[Gamerprinter]

I would say, even if you include multiple views, top down, side view, isometric view, cutaway of the mountain, all in 3D should be fine. Make sure you label structures, include a scale, especially for the top down and provide a compass rose showing direction, you should qualify for being "mappy" enough.

GP

[ravells]

That's lovely work, Crayons! Can't wait to see more of it!