Terragen 2.3 Released With 64 bit Support

Terragen 2.3 is now available and includes a number of important new features. For the first time 64 bit versions are available, allowing for much more complex scenes on systems with more than 4GB of memory and a 64 bit operating system. Other features include a new color picker and node palette. Keep reading for details.

 

The release of version 2.3 marks the introduction of full 64 bit support. Significant changes include:

  • 64 bit support
  • Rendering performance in 64 bit is improved vs. current 32 bit versions
  • New colour picker
  • New node palette
  • Geometry export improvements
  • Object readers support object sequences 
  • New note node
  • UI performance and workflow improvements

 

64 Bit Support

With the addition of full 64 bit support, version 2.3 now allows virtually unlimited scene complexity, scale, and rendering resolution (dependent only on your available system memory). You can literally populate and render 100s of millions of objects, trillions of polygons, make use of gigabyte-sized image maps and terrains, and render images 10s of 1000s of pixels to a side. If you're already running on a 64 bit operating system with more than 4GBs of RAM, your capability with Terragen 2 will improve dramatically with version 2.3.

64-bit-scene-test_inset2.jpg
207,360,000 objects of 412,954 triangles each, 85.6 quadrillion total triangles, rendered with 12GB of RAM
click for larger image

 

In addition to removing the limitations on scene complexity and render resolution, 64 bit also brings performance improvements. In the example scene below, a 64 bit version of the application rendered 16% faster than 32 bit on the same hardware.

st-helens-anim_new1_add-rock_beauty-shot-test13_8192-ter_with-lake9_70fov_old-atmo_beauty-shot2_3h1m44s_small.jpg

 

New colour picker

The 2.3 release features a sophisticated and powerful new colour picker. You can select and modify colors using RGB, HSB, or Greyscale, or select visually from a color wheel. A colour mixer, variations, randomize, and other functions are also included.

colour_picker_merged.jpg

 

New Node Palette

A Node Palette has been added for quick access to nodes in the network views. The palette can display nodes from any category and includes a customizable favorites list. The Node Palette is a huge time saver.

node_palette_merged.jpg

 

Object Reader Geometry Sequence Support

Object readers now support reading of geometry sequences to allow importing of geometry-based animations from other applications. This greatly expands the possibilities for rendering animated scenes in Terragen 2.

 

Geometry sequence generated in Houdini and rendered in Terragen 2

 

Geometry Export Improvements

New options and enhancements to the geometry export capabilities of Terragen 2 allow for easier interoperability with other applications. The main source of geometry holes has been resolved and OBJ has been added as an available export format.

geometry-export-comparison.jpg
 
In the example images above, rendered in Cinema 4D, geometry was originally exported from Terragen 2 using a camera positioned near the bottom of the image. Geometry export is view-dependent and you can see the shape of the camera view in the exported geometry. Note the large missing areas of geometry in the export from 2.2 on the left, which are due to back-face culling.

 

These features, as well as a great many additional fixes and new functionality are included in the full change log.

 

How To Get It

The 2.3 release is available free of charge for licensed users of Terragen 2 as of Wednesday, April 20th, 2011. If you are a licensed user, please use the built-in Check For Update feature to access the new version.