Triplanar Map for a Landscape

[MSchrewe]

Hello! I've read a few times that the triplanar map can be very useful for texturing landscape heights but couldn't find a proper node setup for this case.
I kinda achieved what I want but I'd like to change the heights (how much the green or the yellowish texture is applied), if thats possible. And I don't really understand why the third map (with the small plants) is placed where it is.
The left mesh on my image (TriplanarMapMeshes.png) is the actual landscape I try to texture and the right one is for testing purposes with exaggerated heights. As you can see, the actual landscape has barely any yellowish or the plant texture areas visible.
I'd be happy for any suggestions, thanks!

[TomG]

The triplanar is not related to landscape HEIGHTS, but the angle of the surface, allowing you to texture "flat ground" differently from "steep ground".

Triplanar works by taking a cubic projection, and projecting a different texture from above, from the left, and from in front. "From above" will refer to flat areas of the landscape, and "from the left" and "from in front" will refer to more vertical areas (both of those should be the same texture for a landscape, since both represent "more vertical", just facing in different directions which wouldn't really have a difference in most landscapes).

If you want to start changing textures via height, you'd have to look at building up some nodes that also include the CoronaDistance map, using a flat plane as the "distance from" object.

[clemens_at]

Also take a look at the Data Channel Modifier: https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/3ds-max/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2017/ENU/3DSMax/files/GUID-99C5FAEC-993A-404F-BB09-B52C30679564-htm.html

[MSchrewe]

The triplanar is not related to landscape HEIGHTS, but the angle of the surface, allowing you to texture "flat ground" differently from "steep ground".

Triplanar works by taking a cubic projection, and projecting a different texture from above, from the left, and from in front. "From above" will refer to flat areas of the landscape, and "from the left" and "from in front" will refer to more vertical areas (both of those should be the same texture for a landscape, since both represent "more vertical", just facing in different directions which wouldn't really have a difference in most landscapes).

If you want to start changing textures via height, you'd have to look at building up some nodes that also include the CoronaDistance map, using a flat plane as the "distance from" object.

Hi Tom! Thanks for your reply and your explanation!

I saw this image from an older Corona 1.6 release post (see "TriplanarCorona.png"). It looks amazing but I'm unsure how I can achieve my landscape to look similar to that. There are all these little inbetween steps in the image. 

I'm very new to Distance or Triplanar Maps. Could you show me a node setup for what you suggested with the heights?
This is what I have now (see "CurrentLandscape.png") but I can't seem to get my texture to display into the "white fog" area, that the distance map created.

But maybe there is even a better way to texture landscape heights?
I tried it before with a gradient ramp but couldn't get it mapped correctly.

[MSchrewe]

Also take a look at the Data Channel Modifier: https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/3ds-max/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2017/ENU/3DSMax/files/GUID-99C5FAEC-993A-404F-BB09-B52C30679564-htm.html

Thank you Clemens, I'll have a look at it!

[maru]

There is really nothing special here. Just note that it depends a lot on the shape of your terrain - such as steepness of the walls and amount of flat surface.
Max scene attached in Max 2017 format (used Corona 6 daily build, hope it works fine).

[MSchrewe]

There is really nothing special here. Just note that it depends a lot on the shape of your terrain - such as steepness of the walls and amount of flat surface.
Max scene attached in Max 2017 format (used Corona 6 daily build, hope it works fine).

Thank you Maru, that helped me!
I'd still like to find out if it's possible to add more "layers" than two (green/rock) but that's for another time. Thanks!

[maru]

Corona Layered Material? :)

[sprayer]

You can use gradient ramp map