I'm finally getting the hang of surface maps, but I'd like some constructive criticism on this piece. My biggest problem with it seems to be the texture of the mountains in the background, particularly the steeper ones on the right, but I can't seem to find the right colours for them...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hmm... interesting peice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'll just start with complaints first, than move on to good coments, and then how to fix :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

onto complaints:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-Some of the mountains seem a bit too "pointy" it makes them seem very unrealistic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- The texture , as you said, needs work. I'll tell you about that in a second.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- The sky is somewhat basic, this is more neutral though, because it doesn't take away from the peice, but it doesn't quite add to it as well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- The scene seems kind of bland. Like, nothing interesting is going on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

onto good stuff....:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- The basic texture works. So i mean, its not a horible texture, but it could be much better.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- Some of the mountains in the back do look preaty good.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now... some tips:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-For the surface map, try playing with the altitude/slope controls. What i usualy like to do is get a very dirt-like color, and just set it do no limit for slope and no limit for hight. Dirt should almost always be your "base" color, well unless for some peices if you want a light/dark grey being a rock base, i haven't done many of those though.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anyways, than control your grass good. make sure that it can still rest ontop of your mountains, but limit it's slope some so that you get a very realistic kind of view of it. Experiment with this, along with color and you should get it set.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- if you haven't yet, get world machine :) http://www.world-machine.com (if thats not it just google it...) Its great for making terrains. also, try and avoid huge sloped mountains like what you have for a few of them here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-as a final note, always try and make sure your scene is interesting to look at. Even if it has a slightly less realistic apeal to it, if it drags attention to the person thats good. And if keeps their attention thats even better. Right now this is plain, and alot of people would prefere a cool looking explosion, or on a smaller note, maybe some rays, or some cool atmosphere affects going on :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anyways... thats all i have for you now. Hopefully this helped O.o

Not bad.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nad covered most of it, but I don't see why I can't get a word in.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To back up what Nad said: Some mountains are good, some are far too pointy. Also, add some perlin noise or one of those settings on a moderate size level on the 'generate features on existing features terrain' to add some contrast in the flatness of the flat area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The surface map: It's not bad. After you take that step I mentioned for the terrain, work on the slope settings for the surace map to make it more interesting. Also, learn to use the child layer options; keep in mind, do not place the child layer in the same place as the parent layer. (different altitudes, levels, colors, etc.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Even add some water if you want. It looks like a low valley, and water accumulates in low valleys.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The atmosphere: It's just plain... plain. Get some interesting lighting in there... and with those kinds of mountains you should also get some light rays going. Play with the clouds and sun color.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Camera view: Maybe lift it off the ground a bit.. work with it and the lighting to make things interesting. Get a focus point in there, not just looking at a random valley.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In general, it's not bad, but there is room for improvements. I'd say more but Nad covered the basics of it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

~Cal