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Terragen is a freeware scenery generator program for Microsoft Windows and Apple Macintosh developed and published by Planetside Software. It can be used to create renderings and animations of landscapes.

It is popular among amateur artists, which can be attributed to it being freeware, its intuitive interface, and its capability to create photorealistic landscapes when used skillfully. It can also use DEM files, and other graphic surface maps for rendering.

A commercial version of the software is also available and is capable of creating larger terrains, renders with higher image resolution and better post-render anti-aliasing than the freeware version. A Terragen image appeared on the April 16, 2001 cover of Newsweek, and Terragen was used for animations in Brandy Norwood's "What About Us?" music video.

Terragen can also be used to create skyboxes for 3D video games. The game Serious Sam is a prime example.

Terragen 2, with vastly enhanced features, is slated for its first beta release at the end of 2005. The Terragen 2 feature list includes:

• Procedural terrains of "infinite" detail
• Displacement mapping
• Full object support for vegetation, etc.
• Object instancing support, allowing the rendering of "millions" of trees, boulders, etc.
• A planetary atmosphere and scene model
• Capability to have multiple planets in a scene
• Volumetric clouds
• Motion blur

See also

• Bryce, a 3D renderer optimised for scenery generation;
• GenesisIV, a landscape database and 3D renderer orientated towards GIS and Educational use;
• MojoWorld, which generates entire planets;
• Vista, an early scenery generator.

External links

• Official homepage of Terragen
• Information page about Terragen 2

Resources:

• Planetside's official resources page listing plugins, terrain editors, etc.
• Terrasource - Large repository of links to Terragen-related material including plugins, terrain editors, DEM data, tutorials, etc.

Communities:

• Ashundar - Terragen community featuring galleries, forums, file downloads, tutorials, contests, etc.
• TerraNuts - General graphics community focusing on landscapes, including a section on Terragen; features forums, galleries, tutorials, etc.
• TerraDreams - German language Terragen site with galleries, forums, and a popular contest; one of the oldest Terragen sites around.
• 3D Commune - Large graphics community with Terragen-specific galleries and forums.
• Renderosity - Very active graphics community with Terragen-specific galleries, forums and downloads; one of the most active galleries on the Internet.

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