" Creation of 360° Panoramas "

In a few steps:
Make with Terragen your most beautiful Panoramas in 360°.

Before beginning:

First of all you have to create your terrain (Generate Terrain), observe the relief in order to obtain
a open land around the center of the picture.
Help yourself with the method "cols" in the screen "Landscape" that show the relief in color.

Open the "Control Rendering" screen and get a quick prévisualisation.
Define your "Land Surface", "Clouds", "Water", "Sunlight" and "Atmosphere" parameters.

For the creation of a panorama in 360° stay in the "Control Rendering" screen.

Step 1. "Camera Position"               Note: The terrain resolution is 255 x 255pix.

Put the camera in the center in order to obtain the maximum radius (127), that will allow
you to make wide panoramas. You can always put camera elsewhere on your land
but your radius will be shorter and the view field more limited !
In the "Camera Position" boxes, give the following values = 127, y = 127, z = 5, (Adapt the altitude if necessary).
You are now in the exact center of the land. (The small red dot! )

             

 

Step 2.  "Target Position"

Define in the boxes the orientation parameters view seizure.
The picture "T" shows the axis to 0° in yellow. You will have to repeat the operation four times

Table of values "Target Position" : x = 127, y = 255    ou   "head" = 0 x = 255, y = 127    ou   "head" = 90 x = 127, y = 0       ou    "head" = 180 x =  0,   y = 127    ou    "head" = -90

Target Position : x 127, y 255.
Camera Orientation : head = 0.

Picture 2.

Target Position : x 255, y 127.
Camera Orientation : head = 90.

Picture 3.

Target Position : x 127, y 0.
Camera Orientation : head = 180.

Picture 4.

Target Position : x 0, y 127.
Camera Orientation : head =  -90.

Step 3.  "Camera Orientation"

You can also fill in directly the view angle in the "head" box (it's quicker)
The "Target setting" adapts itself automatically, make sure it corresponds with the picture above.

Step 4.  "Camera Settings" A) Determine the camera exposure if necessary. B) The "Zoom value = 1"   (default setting) garanties succes. You can reduce this value to get a wider view field. Proceed step by step to avoid a deformation of the angle wich would make the coupling of your panorama impossible ! N.B: The value must remain the same         for the 4 plans.

Step 5.   "Render Preview"

Step 6.   "Render Image"

Step 7.   "Save"

When your views are ready, make your final render.
Choose values that respect the 4/3 proportions
Ex: 800x600, 640x480, 400x300 etc..

Save and identify your pictures to simplify the assemblage.
With your picture retouching software put your 4 pictures together.

                                                                   
                                                                    This Guide is created and maintained by D.Coppin. the 27 mars 2000 .