Forsaken Reality - My software tools

My Software Tools

Carrara 5 pro

This is the latest addition to my toolbox and is proving to be a very capable performer. The program comes complete with a great render engine, modeler, versatile lighting and a superb, tree / node based shader that can create some very complicated surface textures. Although Carrara is a general 3D package, it comes with excellent support for terrains, includes a replication function and has a built in tree generator, so it is also a very capable tool for landscape art.

Vue 5 esprit

When e-on software released version 5 of their software it made the creation of landscape art a whole lot easier and also gave the artist the tools to add a lot more realism, thanks to the much improved rendering and lighting tools plus the introduction of Solidgrowth 2 plants. Until I bought Carrara Vue was my main workhorse and a large number of my wallpapers were created with this software. The Infinite version is more powerful again, with the ability to add tens of thousands of trees, plants and rocks to a scene, its ecosystems have proved to be a major reason to upgrade.

Terragen

Although I had dabbled with 3D programs since as far back as the mid 80's I didn't really get into serious 3D artwork until I found this program. As it stands, Terragen is somewhat limited in its output as it can't add outside objects, so landscapes are devoid of vegetation. However, the program's ability to create realistic vistas is unsurpassed as long as you limit yourself to more distant scenery. The forthcoming release of Terragen 2 will really put this program at the cutting edge of landscape art technology, as it will allow the addition of plants, or indeed any other object.

Mojoworld

When it comes to producing alien worlds, Mojoworld has no peers. Although it is now capable of adding forests, grass, etc. I don't find the output realistic enough to use for ordinary landscape scenes. If, however, you want to create a wild, alien landscape then this is the tool of choice and several wallpaper images in the gallery, such as Shadowatchers, use the displacement features to very good effect. A very useful feature of Mojoworld is the ability to capture parts of the landscape and export them as terrains for use in other programs, many of which can be seen in my Terragen images.

Photoshop CS2

Every single image I create has to go through Photoshop at one point or another, it is in my view the most important tool any CG artist can own. While not able to create 3D rendered images, it is however a complete artist's toolbox in its own right. Basically its an image creation and manipulation program but comes with so many tools, essential to finishing images created in other packages that it is indispensible. One of its most useful features is the ability to work with layers and this means you can build up an image from images rendered in other programs.

Macromedia Studio MX

While not used for creating wallpapers, this is what I use to create and maintain this site. It includes Dreamweaver, which I use when I want to work with WYSIWYG to speed the creation of HTML and also the excellent Homesite, a very powerful text based HTML editor, in fact that is what I am using to create this very page. The package also includes Flash, which I have so far stayed away from, Fireworks, a powerful image editor and Freehand for creating vector graphics.


home page members gallery free wallpaper wallpaper previews subscribe Online Store favorite sites common questions privacy & copyright my Tools Contact Me	My Software Tools Carrara 5 pro This is the latest addition to my toolbox and is proving to be a very capable performer. The program comes complete with a great render engine, modeler, versatile lighting and a superb, tree / node based shader that can create some very complicated surface textures. Although Carrara is a general 3D package, it comes with excellent support for terrains, includes a replication function and has a built in tree generator, so it is also a very capable tool for landscape art. Vue 5 esprit When e-on software released version 5 of their software it made the creation of landscape art a whole lot easier and also gave the artist the tools to add a lot more realism, thanks to the much improved rendering and lighting tools plus the introduction of Solidgrowth 2 plants. Until I bought Carrara Vue was my main workhorse and a large number of my wallpapers were created with this software. The Infinite version is more powerful again, with the ability to add tens of thousands of trees, plants and rocks to a scene, its ecosystems have proved to be a major reason to upgrade. Terragen Although I had dabbled with 3D programs since as far back as the mid 80's I didn't really get into serious 3D artwork until I found this program. As it stands, Terragen is somewhat limited in its output as it can't add outside objects, so landscapes are devoid of vegetation. However, the program's ability to create realistic vistas is unsurpassed as long as you limit yourself to more distant scenery. The forthcoming release of Terragen 2 will really put this program at the cutting edge of landscape art technology, as it will allow the addition of plants, or indeed any other object. Mojoworld When it comes to producing alien worlds, Mojoworld has no peers. Although it is now capable of adding forests, grass, etc. I don't find the output realistic enough to use for ordinary landscape scenes. If, however, you want to create a wild, alien landscape then this is the tool of choice and several wallpaper images in the gallery, such as Shadowatchers, use the displacement features to very good effect. A very useful feature of Mojoworld is the ability to capture parts of the landscape and export them as terrains for use in other programs, many of which can be seen in my Terragen images. Photoshop CS2 Every single image I create has to go through Photoshop at one point or another, it is in my view the most important tool any CG artist can own. While not able to create 3D rendered images, it is however a complete artist's toolbox in its own right. Basically its an image creation and manipulation program but comes with so many tools, essential to finishing images created in other packages that it is indispensible. One of its most useful features is the ability to work with layers and this means you can build up an image from images rendered in other programs. Macromedia Studio MX While not used for creating wallpapers, this is what I use to create and maintain this site. It includes Dreamweaver, which I use when I want to work with WYSIWYG to speed the creation of HTML and also the excellent Homesite, a very powerful text based HTML editor, in fact that is what I am using to create this very page. The package also includes Flash, which I have so far stayed away from, Fireworks, a powerful image editor and Freehand for creating vector graphics.