Organizing Your Terragen Project - Revision history

JavaJones: Headings and ToC

2020-01-11T02:05:36Z

Headings and ToC

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:05, 11 January 2020
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	When you start a new Terragen project the Node Network pane is laid out nice and orderly, but by the time you get to the end of a project it can look like a spider’s web, with all the connection lines crisscrossing each other. In this article we’ll look at the many ways Terragen can help us to keep our project organized.		When you start a new Terragen project the Node Network pane is laid out nice and orderly, but by the time you get to the end of a project it can look like a spider’s web, with all the connection lines crisscrossing each other. In this article we’ll look at the many ways Terragen can help us to keep our project organized.

	~~'''~~Organizing with Groups~~'''~~		==== Organizing with Groups ====

	Let’s start with Terragen’s ability to group nodes together and create the bookmarks that appear along the left side of the Node Network pane. By default Terragen already has some nodes grouped together, like the Terrain and Atmosphere groups.		Let’s start with Terragen’s ability to group nodes together and create the bookmarks that appear along the left side of the Node Network pane. By default Terragen already has some nodes grouped together, like the Terrain and Atmosphere groups.
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	~~'''~~Organizing with Null Shaders~~'''~~		=== Organizing with Null Shaders ===

	Another technique for organizing and keeping the Node Network clear of connection wires and visual clutter is to create or place commonly accessed nodes within one or more Null Shader nodes. To demonstrate this, add a Simple Shape Shader node to the scene. When we try and assign the Simple Shape Shader as a mask for the Base Colour shader, the shader shows up alphabetically at the end of the Node List unless we were to rename it. This list can grow quite long by the end of a shot, and once we assign it as the Base Colour mask, the connection wire stretches across the Node Network, which can add visual clutter to a complex scene.		Another technique for organizing and keeping the Node Network clear of connection wires and visual clutter is to create or place commonly accessed nodes within one or more Null Shader nodes. To demonstrate this, add a Simple Shape Shader node to the scene. When we try and assign the Simple Shape Shader as a mask for the Base Colour shader, the shader shows up alphabetically at the end of the Node List unless we were to rename it. This list can grow quite long by the end of a shot, and once we assign it as the Base Colour mask, the connection wire stretches across the Node Network, which can add visual clutter to a complex scene.
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	~~'''~~Organizing with Clip Files~~'''~~		=== Organizing with Clip Files ===

	Another big time saver is to save common node setups as Clip files. These can be recalled at a later date and loaded into any Terragen project. Select a group of nodes and right-click, then choose "Save Nodes as Clip File".		Another big time saver is to save common node setups as Clip files. These can be recalled at a later date and loaded into any Terragen project. Select a group of nodes and right-click, then choose "Save Nodes as Clip File".
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	~~'''~~Organizing with Notes~~'''~~		=== Organizing with Notes ===

	In the content files included with these tutorials, we make extensive use of the Note node to document what we’ve done. You can quickly add a Note node using the Quick Node Palette, or right-clicking in the Node Network pane and choosing "Create Other -> Note".		In the content files included with these tutorials, we make extensive use of the Note node to document what we’ve done. You can quickly add a Note node using the Quick Node Palette, or right-clicking in the Node Network pane and choosing "Create Other -> Note".
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	~~'''~~Organizing with Project Settings~~'''~~		=== Organizing with Project Settings ===

	The final organizational tip is to use the Project Settings button at the bottom left of the Terragen project. Here you can add comments and authorship information.		The final organizational tip is to use the Project Settings button at the bottom left of the Terragen project. Here you can add comments and authorship information.

Matt: Matt moved page Organizing your Terragen Project to Organizing Your Terragen Project: Capitalizing the word Your

2019-08-10T04:17:12Z

Matt moved page Organizing your Terragen Project to Organizing Your Terragen Project: Capitalizing the word Your

← Older revision	Revision as of 04:17, 10 August 2019
(No difference)

Matt: Matt moved page Organizing your Terragen project to Organizing your Terragen Project: Capitalize the word Project

2019-08-10T04:11:14Z

Matt moved page Organizing your Terragen project to Organizing your Terragen Project: Capitalize the word Project

← Older revision	Revision as of 04:11, 10 August 2019
(No difference)

Redmaw: Uploaded .zip file containing tutorial content and added link

2019-07-24T03:47:12Z

Uploaded .zip file containing tutorial content and added link

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:47, 24 July 2019
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	You can download ~~an example~~ Terragen file to further explore these organizational tips and tricks.		You can download a Terragen Project file for this tutorial to further explore these organizational tips and tricks.
			[[Media:Tutorial_OrganizingYourTerragenProject.zip]]

Redmaw: fixed typo

2019-07-24T02:28:19Z

fixed typo

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:28, 24 July 2019
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	You can download ~~and~~ example Terragen file to further explore these organizational tips and tricks.		You can download an example Terragen file to further explore these organizational tips and tricks.

Redmaw: Added link to Terragen Guide Working with Clip Files

2019-07-24T02:23:38Z

Added link to Terragen Guide Working with Clip Files

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:23, 24 July 2019
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	The easiest way to create a group is to select some nodes and press "~~CTL~~+G"~~. The selected nodes are now grouped together~~. You could do the same thing by selecting the nodes to be grouped and choosing "Edit > Group" from the Main Menu.		The easiest way to create a group is to select some nodes and press "Ctl+G". You could do the same thing by selecting the nodes to be grouped and choosing "Edit > Group" from the Main Menu.

	[[File:Tutorial Organize Groups EditGroup.PNG\|none\|619px\|Main Menu Edit Groups]]		[[File:Tutorial Organize Groups EditGroup.PNG\|none\|619px\|Main Menu Edit Groups]]
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	[[File:Tutorial Organize Clip Insert.PNG\|none\|800px\|Clip File dialog pane]]		[[File:Tutorial Organize Clip Insert.PNG\|none\|800px\|Clip File dialog pane]]

	You can even copy and paste nodes between Terragen projects, or to and from text files and emails, which can be useful for sharing small clips.
			You can even copy and paste nodes between Terragen projects, or to and from text files and emails, which can be useful for sharing small clips. For more information about using Clip Files, please see the Terragen Guide [[Working with Clip Files]].

Matt: Images whose width is less than 800 pixels now display at 1:1

2019-07-23T07:08:36Z

Images whose width is less than 800 pixels now display at 1:1

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:08, 23 July 2019
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	The easiest way to create a group is to select some nodes and press "CTL+G". The selected nodes are now grouped together. You could do the same thing by selecting the nodes to be grouped and choosing "Edit > Group" from the Main Menu.		The easiest way to create a group is to select some nodes and press "CTL+G". The selected nodes are now grouped together. You could do the same thing by selecting the nodes to be grouped and choosing "Edit > Group" from the Main Menu.

	[[File:Tutorial Organize Groups EditGroup.PNG\|none\|~~800px~~\|Main Menu Edit Groups]]		[[File:Tutorial Organize Groups EditGroup.PNG\|none\|619px\|Main Menu Edit Groups]]


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	Now you can drag the nodes you want to be grouped together into the empty group. At this point, you should select the group and move it around a bit, to make sure all the nodes are constrained within the group. If a node has not been included in the group, it should show up having a white border line around it. Once a group is created a bookmark will appear on the left side of the Node Network pane. Clicking on the bookmark will center the group in the Node Network pane.		Now you can drag the nodes you want to be grouped together into the empty group. At this point, you should select the group and move it around a bit, to make sure all the nodes are constrained within the group. If a node has not been included in the group, it should show up having a white border line around it. Once a group is created a bookmark will appear on the left side of the Node Network pane. Clicking on the bookmark will center the group in the Node Network pane.

	[[File:Tutorial Organize Groups HighlightGroupBookmark.PNG\|none\|~~800px~~\|Group assigned as bookmark]]		[[File:Tutorial Organize Groups HighlightGroupBookmark.PNG\|none\|684px\|Group assigned as bookmark]]

Matt: Set all image widths to 800px

2019-07-23T06:53:49Z

Set all image widths to 800px

Matt: Edited opening paragraph

2019-07-23T06:41:30Z

Edited opening paragraph

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:41, 23 July 2019
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	When you start a new Terragen project the Node Network pane is laid out nice and orderly, but ~~if you’re like me,~~ by the time you get to the end of ~~the~~ project it can look like a spider’s web, with all the connection lines crisscrossing each other. In this ~~issue of Tips and Tricks~~ we’ll look at the many ways Terragen can help us to keep our project organized.		When you start a new Terragen project the Node Network pane is laid out nice and orderly, but by the time you get to the end of a project it can look like a spider’s web, with all the connection lines crisscrossing each other. In this article we’ll look at the many ways Terragen can help us to keep our project organized.

	'''Organizing with Groups'''		'''Organizing with Groups'''

Redmaw: Added pictures for Notes and Project Settings

2019-07-23T04:03:36Z

Added pictures for Notes and Project Settings

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:03, 23 July 2019
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	You can even copy and paste nodes between Terragen projects, or to and from text files and emails, which can be useful for sharing small clips.		You can even copy and paste nodes between Terragen projects, or to and from text files and emails, which can be useful for sharing small clips.

	Organizing with Notes
			'''Organizing with Notes'''

	In the content files included with these tutorials, we make extensive use of the Note node to document what we’ve done. You can quickly add a Note node using the Quick Node Palette, or right-clicking in the Node Network pane and choosing "Create Other -> Note".		In the content files included with these tutorials, we make extensive use of the Note node to document what we’ve done. You can quickly add a Note node using the Quick Node Palette, or right-clicking in the Node Network pane and choosing "Create Other -> Note".

	~~PIC 13~~		[[File:Tutorial Organize Note CreateOtherNote.PNG\|none\|thumb\|Right-click Create Other Note]]


	The dialogue window allows you to rename the Note node as desired, and type your comments in the empty area. You can also change the color and size of the text as needed. This is a great way to remind yourself what you were doing, or leave notes for other artists working on the shot.		The dialogue window allows you to rename the Note node as desired, and type your comments in the empty area. You can also change the color and size of the text as needed. This is a great way to remind yourself what you were doing, or leave notes for other artists working on the shot.

	~~PIC 14~~		[[File:Tutorial Organize Note Dialog.PNG\|none\|thumb\|Note dialog pane]]


	Organizing with Project Settings		'''Organizing with Project Settings'''

	The final organizational tip is to use the Project Settings button at the bottom left of the Terragen project. Here you can add comments and authorship information.		The final organizational tip is to use the Project Settings button at the bottom left of the Terragen project. Here you can add comments and authorship information.

	~~PIC 15~~		[[File:Tutorial Organize ProjectSettings.PNG\|none\|thumb\|Project Settings dialog pane]]


	You can download and example Terragen file to further explore these organizational tips and tricks.		You can download and example Terragen file to further explore these organizational tips and tricks.

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:53, 23 July 2019
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	Let’s start with Terragen’s ability to group nodes together and create the bookmarks that appear along the left side of the Node Network pane. By default Terragen already has some nodes grouped together, like the Terrain and Atmosphere groups.		Let’s start with Terragen’s ability to group nodes together and create the bookmarks that appear along the left side of the Node Network pane. By default Terragen already has some nodes grouped together, like the Terrain and Atmosphere groups.

	[[File:Tutorial Organize Groups Defined.PNG\|none\|~~thumb~~\|Bookmarks and Groups]]		[[File:Tutorial Organize Groups Defined.PNG\|none\|800px\|Bookmarks and Groups]]


	The easiest way to create a group is to select some nodes and press "CTL+G". The selected nodes are now grouped together. You could do the same thing by selecting the nodes to be grouped and choosing "Edit > Group" from the Main Menu.		The easiest way to create a group is to select some nodes and press "CTL+G". The selected nodes are now grouped together. You could do the same thing by selecting the nodes to be grouped and choosing "Edit > Group" from the Main Menu.

	[[File:Tutorial Organize Groups EditGroup.PNG\|none\|~~thumb~~\|Main Menu Edit Groups]]		[[File:Tutorial Organize Groups EditGroup.PNG\|none\|800px\|Main Menu Edit Groups]]


	You can create an empty group by right clicking in the Node Network pane and selecting "Create Other > Group".		You can create an empty group by right clicking in the Node Network pane and selecting "Create Other > Group".

	[[File:Tutorial Organize Groups CreateOtherGroup.PNG\|none\|~~thumb~~\|Right-click Create Other Group]]		[[File:Tutorial Organize Groups CreateOtherGroup.PNG\|none\|800px\|Right-click Create Other Group]]


	Alternatively, when the Node Network pane is active, press "N" or "Tab" to bring up the Quick Node Palette and start typing the word "group", then double click on the word "Group" from the Node List. If the word "Group" is already highlighted in the Node List then you can simply press "Enter".		Alternatively, when the Node Network pane is active, press "N" or "Tab" to bring up the Quick Node Palette and start typing the word "group", then double click on the word "Group" from the Node List. If the word "Group" is already highlighted in the Node List then you can simply press "Enter".

	[[File:Tutorial Organize Groups QuickNodePaletteGroup.PNG\|none\|~~thumb~~\|N or Tab key for Quick Node Palette]]		[[File:Tutorial Organize Groups QuickNodePaletteGroup.PNG\|none\|800px\|N or Tab key for Quick Node Palette]]


	Now you can drag the nodes you want to be grouped together into the empty group. At this point, you should select the group and move it around a bit, to make sure all the nodes are constrained within the group. If a node has not been included in the group, it should show up having a white border line around it. Once a group is created a bookmark will appear on the left side of the Node Network pane. Clicking on the bookmark will center the group in the Node Network pane.		Now you can drag the nodes you want to be grouped together into the empty group. At this point, you should select the group and move it around a bit, to make sure all the nodes are constrained within the group. If a node has not been included in the group, it should show up having a white border line around it. Once a group is created a bookmark will appear on the left side of the Node Network pane. Clicking on the bookmark will center the group in the Node Network pane.

	[[File:Tutorial Organize Groups HighlightGroupBookmark.PNG\|none\|~~thumb~~\|Group assigned as bookmark]]		[[File:Tutorial Organize Groups HighlightGroupBookmark.PNG\|none\|800px\|Group assigned as bookmark]]


	You can change the name of the group by double clicking on the group node and typing a new name, and change the color of the group by clicking on the color icon and choosing a different color. The Special Group parameter should always be set to "No" for user defined groups, because Terragen uses this parameter internally to identify the default groups of a scene. When the Global Bookmark parameter is checked the bookmark will show up on the left in all Node Network panes, but when unchecked will only show up in the local Node Network pane that it resides in. For example, adding a group within an object’s internal shader network and leaving the Global Bookmark parameter unchecked will only allow the bookmark to show up in the node's internal shader network, but when checked will show the bookmark in all the Node Network panes.		You can change the name of the group by double clicking on the group node and typing a new name, and change the color of the group by clicking on the color icon and choosing a different color. The Special Group parameter should always be set to "No" for user defined groups, because Terragen uses this parameter internally to identify the default groups of a scene. When the Global Bookmark parameter is checked the bookmark will show up on the left in all Node Network panes, but when unchecked will only show up in the local Node Network pane that it resides in. For example, adding a group within an object’s internal shader network and leaving the Global Bookmark parameter unchecked will only allow the bookmark to show up in the node's internal shader network, but when checked will show the bookmark in all the Node Network panes.

	[[File:Tutorial Organize Groups GroupDialog.PNG\|none\|~~thumb~~\|Group node dialog pane]]		[[File:Tutorial Organize Groups GroupDialog.PNG\|none\|800px\|Group node dialog pane]]


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	Another technique for organizing and keeping the Node Network clear of connection wires and visual clutter is to create or place commonly accessed nodes within one or more Null Shader nodes. To demonstrate this, add a Simple Shape Shader node to the scene. When we try and assign the Simple Shape Shader as a mask for the Base Colour shader, the shader shows up alphabetically at the end of the Node List unless we were to rename it. This list can grow quite long by the end of a shot, and once we assign it as the Base Colour mask, the connection wire stretches across the Node Network, which can add visual clutter to a complex scene.		Another technique for organizing and keeping the Node Network clear of connection wires and visual clutter is to create or place commonly accessed nodes within one or more Null Shader nodes. To demonstrate this, add a Simple Shape Shader node to the scene. When we try and assign the Simple Shape Shader as a mask for the Base Colour shader, the shader shows up alphabetically at the end of the Node List unless we were to rename it. This list can grow quite long by the end of a shot, and once we assign it as the Base Colour mask, the connection wire stretches across the Node Network, which can add visual clutter to a complex scene.

	[[File:Tutorial Organize Nullshader AssignMask.PNG\|none\|~~thumb~~\|Right-click Assign Shader]]		[[File:Tutorial Organize Nullshader AssignMask.PNG\|none\|800px\|Right-click Assign Shader]]


	One way around this is to add a Null Shader node to the scene and rename it to something like "0_Masks", so it will show up at the top of the Node List. Right-click on the Null Shader node to open its internal network, then create the Simple Shape Shader node there. Alternatively, you could Cut and Paste an existing node into the Null Shader node’s internal network, but you would then have to reassign the mask wherever it had been used. When we exit the internal node view and assign the Simple Shape Shader as the mask for the Base Colour, we can find it at the top of the Node List under the heading 0_Masks.		One way around this is to add a Null Shader node to the scene and rename it to something like "0_Masks", so it will show up at the top of the Node List. Right-click on the Null Shader node to open its internal network, then create the Simple Shape Shader node there. Alternatively, you could Cut and Paste an existing node into the Null Shader node’s internal network, but you would then have to reassign the mask wherever it had been used. When we exit the internal node view and assign the Simple Shape Shader as the mask for the Base Colour, we can find it at the top of the Node List under the heading 0_Masks.

	[[File:Tutorial Organize NullShader AssignMaskList.PNG\|none\|~~thumb~~\|Shader at bottom of list]]		[[File:Tutorial Organize NullShader AssignMaskList.PNG\|none\|800px\|Shader at bottom of list]]


	This can save a lot of time searching for items in the Node List by the time we’re done with the shot, and notice how the connection wire has been replaced by a small arrow to indicate there is an internal connection to the mask input.		This can save a lot of time searching for items in the Node List by the time we’re done with the shot, and notice how the connection wire has been replaced by a small arrow to indicate there is an internal connection to the mask input.

	[[File:Tutorial Organize NullShader InternalArrow.PNG\|none\|~~thumb~~\|Arrow indicates internal connection]]		[[File:Tutorial Organize NullShader InternalArrow.PNG\|none\|800px\|Arrow indicates internal connection]]


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	Another big time saver is to save common node setups as Clip files. These can be recalled at a later date and loaded into any Terragen project. Select a group of nodes and right-click, then choose "Save Nodes as Clip File".		Another big time saver is to save common node setups as Clip files. These can be recalled at a later date and loaded into any Terragen project. Select a group of nodes and right-click, then choose "Save Nodes as Clip File".

	[[File:Tutorial Organize Clip SaveNodesAs.PNG\|none\|~~thumb~~\|Right-click Save Nodes as Clip File]]		[[File:Tutorial Organize Clip SaveNodesAs.PNG\|none\|800px\|Right-click Save Nodes as Clip File]]


	The Create Clip File dialog appears. Enter a description and any tags or connection notes, then save it by clicking on the "Create Clip File" button.		The Create Clip File dialog appears. Enter a description and any tags or connection notes, then save it by clicking on the "Create Clip File" button.

	[[File:Tutorial Organize Clip CreateclipFileDialog.PNG\|none\|~~thumb~~\|Right-click Insert Clip File]]		[[File:Tutorial Organize Clip CreateclipFileDialog.PNG\|none\|800px\|Right-click Insert Clip File]]


	To import the clip file, right-click in the Node Network pane, choose "Insert Clip File" and select the clip file. The saved nodes are imported into your scene and ready to be used.		To import the clip file, right-click in the Node Network pane, choose "Insert Clip File" and select the clip file. The saved nodes are imported into your scene and ready to be used.

	[[File:Tutorial Organize Clip Insert.PNG\|none\|~~thumb~~\|Clip File dialog pane]]		[[File:Tutorial Organize Clip Insert.PNG\|none\|800px\|Clip File dialog pane]]

	You can even copy and paste nodes between Terragen projects, or to and from text files and emails, which can be useful for sharing small clips.		You can even copy and paste nodes between Terragen projects, or to and from text files and emails, which can be useful for sharing small clips.
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	In the content files included with these tutorials, we make extensive use of the Note node to document what we’ve done. You can quickly add a Note node using the Quick Node Palette, or right-clicking in the Node Network pane and choosing "Create Other -> Note".		In the content files included with these tutorials, we make extensive use of the Note node to document what we’ve done. You can quickly add a Note node using the Quick Node Palette, or right-clicking in the Node Network pane and choosing "Create Other -> Note".

	[[File:Tutorial Organize Note CreateOtherNote.PNG\|none\|~~thumb~~\|Right-click Create Other Note]]		[[File:Tutorial Organize Note CreateOtherNote.PNG\|none\|800px\|Right-click Create Other Note]]


	The dialogue window allows you to rename the Note node as desired, and type your comments in the empty area. You can also change the color and size of the text as needed. This is a great way to remind yourself what you were doing, or leave notes for other artists working on the shot.		The dialogue window allows you to rename the Note node as desired, and type your comments in the empty area. You can also change the color and size of the text as needed. This is a great way to remind yourself what you were doing, or leave notes for other artists working on the shot.

	[[File:Tutorial Organize Note Dialog.PNG\|none\|~~thumb~~\|Note dialog pane]]		[[File:Tutorial Organize Note Dialog.PNG\|none\|800px\|Note dialog pane]]


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	The final organizational tip is to use the Project Settings button at the bottom left of the Terragen project. Here you can add comments and authorship information.		The final organizational tip is to use the Project Settings button at the bottom left of the Terragen project. Here you can add comments and authorship information.

	[[File:Tutorial Organize ProjectSettings.PNG\|none\|~~thumb~~\|Project Settings dialog pane]]		[[File:Tutorial Organize ProjectSettings.PNG\|none\|800px\|Project Settings dialog pane]]


	You can download and example Terragen file to further explore these organizational tips and tricks.		You can download and example Terragen file to further explore these organizational tips and tricks.