Planetside Software Forums

General => User-contributed Tutorials => Topic started by: mayda on January 26, 2007, 09:14:50 AM

Title: My way to get stars! (short version)
Post by: mayda on January 26, 2007, 09:14:50 AM
this is a quick, short and clear tutorial of the previous post:
sorry, i've found the time to rewrite all just today...

http://forums.planetside.co.uk/index.php?topic=444.0

1st step:
first of all you've to put the attatched "stars.jpg" files into your folder c:/ ....
this is a starfield that i've generated using glitterato (a photoshop plugin, youi may download it for free... it's a limited time demo)
http://www.flamingpear.com/download.html

2nd step, we want to add this starfield to the sky.
Go in the object panel, select your background, than the surface shader tab.
Into this you've to create a new shader, a new "default shader" where now there's a background shader.

Go into it and set the stars.jpg as a background for diffuse colour and for luminosity.
Set the luminosity value at higher value if you want to make stars visible by day.

(http://forums.planetside.co.uk/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=444.0;attach=872;image)

movin' your camera you may obtain something like this

(http://forums.planetside.co.uk/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=444.0;attach=876;image)
tgd file here> http://forums.planetside.co.uk/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=444.0;attach=876 (http://forums.planetside.co.uk/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=444.0;attach=876)

and now the best touch!
simply add a cirrus layer and put a planet for half before your sun (visible disk checked and increase the radius of it).
all that fabulous colours are generated by tgd...


(http://forums.planetside.co.uk/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=444.0;attach=879;image)
tgd file here> http://forums.planetside.co.uk/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=444.0;attach=879 (http://forums.planetside.co.uk/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=444.0;attach=879)

thant's all!
hope that this tut will be better of  the previous version....
have a good day!
Mayda

www.MaydaPhoto.com
Title: Re: My way to get stars! (short version)
Post by: Dark Fire on January 27, 2007, 08:11:03 AM
This tutorial is much clearer than the previous version. Thanks!
Title: Re: My way to get stars! (short version)
Post by: Superza on January 28, 2007, 05:09:27 PM
Great Stuff May!
:)
Title: Re: My way to get stars! (short version)
Post by: littlecannon on January 28, 2007, 05:14:56 PM
Those colours are amazing... Thanks for the tut.
Title: Re: My way to get stars! (short version)
Post by: semaj on March 07, 2007, 08:12:43 AM
Nice tutorial. Very helpful
Title: Re: My way to get stars! (short version)
Post by: aurora on November 07, 2007, 01:56:43 PM
OK I'm lost. I'm currently using version 1.9.04.1
I go into my Objects->background->shaders tab then in the Surface Shader selection do I select to 'Assign' a shader, create a new one and which of them. I tried adding a new image map shader bt its not working at all for me.
Title: Re: My way to get stars! (short version)
Post by: squirreltape on June 27, 2008, 03:46:35 PM
Aurora... it has to be a default shader.
Double-click the grey 'background' node to bring up it's own properties window.  In the 'surface shaders' tab,click the grey square to the right of the surface shader box.  'Create new shader' / 'other surface shader' / 'Default shader'.  This replaces the original background shader.  Click the grey box again and select 'Go to "Default shader (n)" ' where you can load up your images by selecting the folder icon to the right of 'Colour image' and 'Luminosity image' in the 'Colour' tab.  Very simple walkthrough.
The tutorial is fantastic, thankyou.
Title: Re: My way to get stars! (short version)
Post by: jamd315 on March 03, 2017, 07:59:31 PM
More than 10 years later, and this is still useful.  Thanks for an easy way to get stars!
Title: Re: My way to get stars! (short version)
Post by: TkGhoul on March 29, 2018, 02:44:11 AM
Quote from: jamd315 on March 03, 2017, 07:59:31 PM
More than 10 years later, and this is still useful.  Thanks for an easy way to get stars!
Title: Re: My way to get stars! (short version)
Post by: TkGhoul on March 29, 2018, 02:44:41 AM
Quote from: TkGhoul on March 29, 2018, 02:44:11 AM
Quote from: jamd315 on March 03, 2017, 07:59:31 PM
More than 10 years later, and this is still useful.  Thanks for an easy way to get stars!
I have the same idea with you.
Title: Re: My way to get stars! (short version)
Post by: luvsmuzik on March 29, 2018, 02:09:53 PM
Yeah too bad when Microsoft reset my old computer loaded with win10, it wiped out my paint program with all my8bf filters including glitterato. I can reinstall all of this since I have a few software CDs, but I suppose the drivers won't work. >:(

I stand corrected on this. I just get an error message: failed to update system blah blah blah try regedit (as if I know what that means) If it involves opening "the black screen" I need step by step.

The program does now work with my old filters after re entering path to plugin filters. Now to see if it will open with new paths, which were the old paths....but gone from program preferences after reset.
Title: Re: My way to get stars! (short version)
Post by: DannyG on September 13, 2018, 09:07:44 AM
If you search hard enough there is a simple application by TG artist Gionni called SpaceUp. This old (2005) but super useful app makes custom star png patterns if you want to go that route, however I would Search for moodflows procedural starfield & nebula to get a procedural starfield here in the forums
Title: Re: My way to get stars! (short version)
Post by: WAS on September 13, 2018, 02:02:39 PM
Photoshop/gimp grain (gaussian -  monochromatic) and levels for the win.... So easy to make stars its not even funny, can do it in any image manipulation software, and have full control. Hundreds of tutorials.

The issue I have with images in TG, is it's quite easy to spot a loaded image in a scene compared to procedural assets. It's like the beautification processes don't apply right to them or something. They always come out"Richer" than the environment imo. Even textures, hence the need to diffuse a lot.

When people use sky-boxes in TG they pop through the sky too hard and become noticeable as a image. Maybe just me, I do tend to notice a lot more subtleties around here sometimes.

I could do a tutorial if people want? It really is super duper easy (example map below)
Title: Re: My way to get stars! (short version)
Post by: WAS on September 13, 2018, 03:23:49 PM
I also just quickly made these two generators in Photoshop. Just load the actions into your photoshop, create a new document, and generate (play) Stars A or B.

Subsequently this allows you to see every action I took broken down. :)

Feel free to use the preview JPEGs if you want as well.



Title: Re: My way to get stars! (short version)
Post by: RichTwo on October 20, 2018, 01:55:33 PM
Quote from: WASasquatch on September 13, 2018, 03:23:49 PM
I also just quickly made these two generators in Photoshop. Just load the actions into your photoshop, create a new document, and generate (play) Stars A or B.

Subsequently this allows you to see every action I took broken down. :)

Feel free to use the preview JPEGs if you want as well.

I have an ancient (circa year 2000) yet still useful version of Photoshop, and I cannot find a way to open the file through a new project or applying filters.  Maybe because I have a severely outdated version?  No big deal anyway.  I can take a starfield image and jazz it up quite a bit.
Title: Re: My way to get stars! (short version)
Post by: WAS on October 20, 2018, 01:59:13 PM
Quote from: Rich2 on October 20, 2018, 01:55:33 PM
Quote from: WASasquatch on September 13, 2018, 03:23:49 PM
I also just quickly made these two generators in Photoshop. Just load the actions into your photoshop, create a new document, and generate (play) Stars A or B.

Subsequently this allows you to see every action I took broken down. :)

Feel free to use the preview JPEGs if you want as well.

I have an ancient (circa year 2000) yet still useful version of Photoshop, and I cannot find a way to open the file through a new project or applying filters.  Maybe because I have a severely outdated version?  No big deal anyway.  I can take a starfield image and jazz it up quite a bit.

Would that be Photoshop CS or 6? I own both and could try and fish them out to remake it. Know they both have guassian blur and noise filters.
Title: Re: My way to get stars! (short version)
Post by: RichTwo on October 20, 2018, 02:30:31 PM
Quote from: WASasquatch on October 20, 2018, 01:59:13 PM
Quote from: Rich2 on October 20, 2018, 01:55:33 PM
Quote from: WASasquatch on September 13, 2018, 03:23:49 PM
I also just quickly made these two generators in Photoshop. Just load the actions into your photoshop, create a new document, and generate (play) Stars A or B.

Subsequently this allows you to see every action I took broken down. :)

Feel free to use the preview JPEGs if you want as well.

I have an ancient (circa year 2000) yet still useful version of Photoshop, and I cannot find a way to open the file through a new project or applying filters.  Maybe because I have a severely outdated version?  No big deal anyway.  I can take a starfield image and jazz it up quite a bit.

Would that be Photoshop CS or 6? I own both and could try and fish them out to remake it. Know they both have guassian blur and noise filters.

Thanks for your response!  I have version 6.0.
Title: Re: My way to get stars! (short version)
Post by: WAS on October 20, 2018, 02:55:39 PM
Quote from: Rich2 on October 20, 2018, 02:30:31 PM
Quote from: WASasquatch on October 20, 2018, 01:59:13 PM
Quote from: Rich2 on October 20, 2018, 01:55:33 PM
Quote from: WASasquatch on September 13, 2018, 03:23:49 PM
I also just quickly made these two generators in Photoshop. Just load the actions into your photoshop, create a new document, and generate (play) Stars A or B.

Subsequently this allows you to see every action I took broken down. :)

Feel free to use the preview JPEGs if you want as well.

I have an ancient (circa year 2000) yet still useful version of Photoshop, and I cannot find a way to open the file through a new project or applying filters.  Maybe because I have a severely outdated version?  No big deal anyway.  I can take a starfield image and jazz it up quite a bit.

Would that be Photoshop CS or 6? I own both and could try and fish them out to remake it. Know they both have guassian blur and noise filters.

Thanks for your response!  I have version 6.0.


Alright, I have been looking and have found my CS, which is version 7.0, it may provide a action that would work in 6.0. Though in retrospect I'm not sure if I remember actions even being part of 6.0. Still looking for my 6.0 disc. I know I had the box and a burned copy that I use for installs (back than I burned copies of everything and saved the original discs. was young and lost a lot of computers/discs so was developing habits)
Title: Re: My way to get stars! (short version)
Post by: WAS on October 20, 2018, 05:04:37 PM
Here rich, try this, it was made in 7.0 and hopefully will import into 6.0.

Once imported, start a new document, blank (transparent background) and than click play on the Stars Legacy
Title: Re: My way to get stars! (short version)
Post by: RichTwo on October 21, 2018, 02:47:57 PM
It took me a little bit of finagling but I got it to work - thanks for your help!
Title: Re: My way to get stars! (short version)
Post by: WAS on October 22, 2018, 12:43:57 AM
I'm glad it worked! That file should work through 5.0 to CC. Unfortunately the noise created in this earlier version has some issues with high resolution, but the levels seem to mask out the anomalies.
Title: Re: My way to get stars! (short version)
Post by: Valri on March 02, 2020, 02:59:15 PM
It sure would be nice if there was a shader made just for creating stars and other celestial backgrounds in Terragen, I wonder just how far one could get by using the power fractal shader inside the background shader to create stars?
Title: Re: My way to get stars! (short version)
Post by: WAS on March 02, 2020, 03:50:11 PM
Quote from: Valri on March 02, 2020, 02:59:15 PMIt sure would be nice if there was a shader made just for creating stars and other celestial backgrounds in Terragen, I wonder just how far one could get by using the power fractal shader inside the background shader to create stars?

I have several shares in this area.

https://planetside.co.uk/forums/index.php/topic,27420.0.html
https://planetside.co.uk/forums/index.php/topic,24435.msg248588/topicseen.html#msg248588

Bonus ones by DandelO
https://planetside.co.uk/forums/index.php/topic,19264.msg188542/topicseen.html#msg188542
https://planetside.co.uk/forums/index.php/topic,8995.msg200765/topicseen.html#msg200765

These should get you well on your way. The 2019 project has some specific ideas shared if you're planning animation.
Title: Re: My way to get stars! (short version)
Post by: Valri on March 02, 2020, 04:18:36 PM
Quote from: WAS on March 02, 2020, 03:50:11 PM
Quote from: Valri on March 02, 2020, 02:59:15 PMIt sure would be nice if there was a shader made just for creating stars and other celestial backgrounds in Terragen, I wonder just how far one could get by using the power fractal shader inside the background shader to create stars?

I have several shares in this area.

https://planetside.co.uk/forums/index.php/topic,27420.0.html
https://planetside.co.uk/forums/index.php/topic,24435.msg248588/topicseen.html#msg248588

Bonus ones by DandelO
https://planetside.co.uk/forums/index.php/topic,19264.msg188542/topicseen.html#msg188542
https://planetside.co.uk/forums/index.php/topic,8995.msg200765/topicseen.html#msg200765

These should get you well on your way. The 2019 project has some specific ideas shared if you're planning animation.
I'll see if these methods work for me!