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AZ's Guide to Landscaping; It's back!
Topic Started: Nov 21 2009, 05:13 AM (1,084 Views)
Sophie
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I'm always gonna wanna blow your mind

Please post it now! We want to see :D !
Zeta-Designs ~

I show my zoos and projects at Tesara.
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ArticZephyr
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Eighteh fore 84
V.I.P
As you wish! (I can't believe how many people are viewing this!)
XD
__________________________________________

CHAPTER 2: HILLS - PART A: LEVELS AND SUB-LEVELS

Today, we learn about levels and sub-levels of hills. What are levels and sub-levels, you say? Lets find out, shall we?

Levels are created each time you raise the ground once. Sub-levels are made when a bit of ground is raised then flattened. Here are two images showing the levels and sub-levels. There are 3 levels, and 8 sub-levels. Only 6 sub-levels are pictured here, though.

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Here are some ground views.

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Now for biomes. The biome you use depends on the height and climate of the area you are planning to do. If you are making an area that is often cold, boreal, alpine and tundra biomes work best. If you are making a tropical area, use first tropical rainforest, then the user-made montane forest biome.
Here is the layout for the cold biomes;

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As you can see, the top level and top four sub-levels (two pictured) are covered in tundra snow. The middle level and three middle sub-levels have alpine grass, snow and rock. The bottom few levels and sub-levels are covered in boreal grass.
Here is an exhibit I have made using the level and sub-level technique.

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As you can see, it is in the form of a bowl. The insides are raised using the three levels and most of the sub-levels, which were smoothed out. The top of the mountain, as I like to call it, is the third level. If I raise it higher, it would be the eighth sub-level.

Here are some views from the top and bottom of the mountain.

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BOTTOM

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TOP

Now for foliage.

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As you can see in the image above, I have used Edelweiss plants for the alpine region and fringed polygala flowers in the boreal section. I did not put any flora at all at the tundra region; this will be explained in the Foliage chapter. In the image, I have added trees as well, with monkey puzzles scattered between boreal and alpine regions. Pines and other trees are added as well.

As for rocks, I used the tundra rocks, which are quite effective for this area. The finished landscape is a haven for animals like the ibex or highland cow, and such.

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CHAPTER 2: HILLS - PART B: ZOO FENCES

Okay, as most of you know, when making a S&T, a machinima or just making a realistic zoo, the zoo border fence can get in the way.

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And it doesn't look that good either, eh? Even with the zoo wall delete hack, you can still see the roads and parking lots outside.

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But when you make a hill that surrounds your zoo to cover your fence, there are certain things you need to do to make it look realistic and great.

First, raise a small piece of land around the fence you want to cover.

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Then flatten it across the fence. But don't do it straight, instead move it like a snake, wavy and bent. Leave gaps behind the rise.

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Then smooth out the front of the strip of raised land till its hardly noticeable.

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It should look like this from the ground.

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But what about the gap? Okay, raise the already raised ground by 1 sub-level, then flatten and smooth it like before. Voi'la! The result;

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Thanks for reading! Next time, the might of the Waterfalls!

(Thanks for all the great comments!)

((Sponsored by CoolSmilie.Inc B) ))

[I got the Spike Grass and Salt Meadow Cord Grass from the Salt Marsh Biome Pack]


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AZ ~ The Artist in Denial ~ AZ

~deviantART~
~Graphics~
~Primal Park~

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Carnivore
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The King Of Carnivorism, And Cannibalism

Can You Show Us An Example Of The Tropical Levels And Sub Levels Articzephyr?
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By MinxFox


Drangonadopters Dragons:
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XD
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Sophie
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I'm always gonna wanna blow your mind

Awesome tutorial az. I often use that method to get rid of my zoo wall.
Zeta-Designs ~

I show my zoos and projects at Tesara.
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Rick
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Designer

This is great! I can't wait for the Waterfalls!

:IWANTCANDY:
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ArticZephyr
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Eighteh fore 84
V.I.P
Carnivore
Nov 21 2009, 07:13 AM
Can You Show Us An Example Of The Tropical Levels And Sub Levels Articzephyr?

Um, sorry, but I won't do that. But you can learn it easily, it's fairly simple.

Same as with the cold biomes, just first few levels are T.Rainforest, then the rest are Montane Forest. ;)


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AZ ~ The Artist in Denial ~ AZ

~deviantART~
~Graphics~
~Primal Park~

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Iben
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Artic, this looks amazing, but it was just simple copy and pasting ! XD

When are you going to post a new update ? XD
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Join the ultimate S&T Experience now !
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Carnivore
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The King Of Carnivorism, And Cannibalism

Oh, That's Ok, AZ. I Really Never Thought You'd Actually Do That. :unsure: <_< :HUGGLES:
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By MinxFox


Drangonadopters Dragons:
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XD
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ArticZephyr
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Eighteh fore 84
V.I.P
Iben
Nov 21 2009, 07:30 AM
Artic, this looks amazing, but it was just simple copy and pasting ! XD

When are you going to post a new update ? XD

Maybe in the week after next, 'cuz next week I'll be on vacation XD

@Cartnivore - Do what? And what's with the random smilies?


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AZ ~ The Artist in Denial ~ AZ

~deviantART~
~Graphics~
~Primal Park~

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Tainninho
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formally known as tom ;)
V.I.P
LOLNO I saw it at caldera, butI'd forgotten most of it, I don't have a very good memory.
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Carnivore
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The King Of Carnivorism, And Cannibalism

articzephyr
Nov 21 2009, 07:34 AM


@Cartnivore - Do what? And what's with the random smilies?

Show Me Sub Levels And Levels Using Tropical Biomes [I Just Can't Help Smilies On This Site]
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By MinxFox


Drangonadopters Dragons:
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XD
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The Lone Master
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Broken, Beat & Scarred

Oh yeah, I remember this.
This was so helpful in making good S&T's. :)
Light thinks it travels faster than anything but it is wrong. No matter how fast light travels, it finds the darkness has always got there first, and is waiting for it.
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If you want a banner like mine, then click on the banner to visit my graphics thread.
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Itsgoose2u
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You're breaking in

i missed this its so awesome i used the river one a few times :D
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·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•٠·
Qbrushes | Font Space | Obsidian Dawn | Free Brushes | DaFont
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ilikemilk
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I never knew about sub levels and main levels before i saw this at CU, but it is a really helpfull guide; especially for begginers. Fantastic job :)
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Thanks to 20Pops09 for the awesome avatar and banner!
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ArticZephyr
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Eighteh fore 84
V.I.P
Update!

CHAPTER 3: WATER FOWLS...er, I mean WATERFALLS

Okay, I won't tell you how to make waterfalls, since I believe everyone knows how to do that, but I will show you some neat tricks you can use to create amazing waterfall scenes.

Downloads needed :-

Sophie-
No Grid Hack
Rocks Don't Flatten Ground Hack


Nemo-
Salt Meadow Cord Grass
Spike Grass


ShenTirag-
Moorland Biome Rocks

Roe Deer Pack-
Stubs

EA or MM-
Water Depth

***

Here is a scene I whipped up, just take a long look at it. See what I added?

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More, close-up, views.>

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^See the rock wall/platform effect?

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^See the fallen log perching on the rocks? And the plants and rocks jutting out of the falls? And under the tree, there are stubs, which give a 'root' effect.

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^The plants are placed, so that just one can cover the whole stretch of the waterfall. Note the rock wall.

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^Another view of rock wall.

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^Can you see how the back and sides of the waterfall have been smoothed?

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^This time, the plants are at the side, rather than on the falls. The stubs are very useful, as the algae on them looks like it originated from the water.

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^Another view of the same part of the falls.

And we're done! Here are some extra shots;

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^Overview

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^Adding a couple of mist generators never hurt! ^_^

Thanks! :fishyduhspaz:


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AZ ~ The Artist in Denial ~ AZ

~deviantART~
~Graphics~
~Primal Park~

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