"picture frame" lie flat or tilted on the terrain?

[Doug.S]

The concept of billboards and pictures (on a wall, framed etc.) or using a mirror with a .jpg image (frame-less picture) works very well.

So in my current project I needed some plants and rocks on the terrain (sometimes with a small slope/plateau). I started with some great textured rocks imported from .skp files free on Google warehouse....but soon learned they had too much detail (too many vertexes/facets) and slowed TFP16 way down on an otherwise fast PC (TFP 32bit limits don't help). I'm re-topologizing some to reduce their complexity...making good progress for individual large rocks.

So now resorting to billboards...but they have two big limits: positioning does not always work for some views (example, next to another object) or a picture with the right angle of view, to make it look like its on the ground, is not available...tho this can be fixed sometimes in Photoshop by warp/skew/etc.) Shadows and brightness/shadow/darkness of .bmp images are also sometimes a problem.

So my next brilliant idea was to put a "transparent" (magenta) image on a flat plane set angled on the ground...but members, 3D "cube" and picture frames don't allow for x,y,z orientation....and .bmp files did not apply well.....

so that is my question...
Anyone done this (in effect a picture frame or billboard "on" the terrain) and know how best to do so? 

I did not yet try a landscape/terrain pad/walkway/path.  And just now think maybe a mirror will work...will keep looking/trying. Ah just also thought of a rug?

But maybe Allan and his magic use of walls and floors has an idea/solution?

I can make the .bmp (magenta for transparency) images OK....just want to try them applied to some flat plane on the terrain with ability to align to the terrain non-horizontal surface.

Another alternative I'm working on is a shallow curved surface (like a small flat mound) using a .3ds (like a convex mirror lying on the ground) and applying a .jpg texture....but the limitation is to match the image size/shape to the mound size/shape...can be done but specific for every object....less flexible??

Any ideas welcomed.

see attached for example of moss (billboard)...works OK in the open area.

[Allan Chesney]

Hi Doug,

You can apply a single image to the Fill which will hug the terrain but the transparent sections become trransparent. They need to nbe filled with the Terrain texture.

Otherwise apply a photoboard to one surface of the Custom Member (Interior Accessories - Decorative) as it can be rotated to any angle. Set the other surfaces to Transparent (set a texture to BMP Image called "Null")  or you can end up with lines around it from the thin edges and have to move all surfaces to positon/size correctly.  Easier just to do one surface.  Getting the right angles without shadows will be the only problem.

Allan

[Doug.S]

Thanks, will give it try soon....going on a short vacation

EDIT:
(reminder: what I'm doing is putting plants and stones (texture map) on a "flat" (angled) soil surface which is on a terrain that has plateaus)

For me I've found that the "pad" (terrain toolbar) works best. I chose a 2" pad, changed materials to suit (made my own from photos; .jpg OK if no need for transparency), reduced pad thickness to suit...around .25" to 1.5" depending on the item in use and the terrain slope.

Another "learned" item is to plan well ahead for how many "handles/points/curves" needed for the shape as I could not find a way to add/delete points (either small filled dark blue or clear squares for move or curve)...too few and not enough adjustment, too many gets cumbersome...but too many better than too few). Of course you can add more shapes as needed. And smaller shapes lie on the surface better than long shapes.

Using "soil" fill with my own texture applied worked but was not always fully on "top" of the other soil already on the terrain...they really want to share the same space and yield a muddled texture like having two ceilings inserted in same room at same height.  Makes sense, but no ability to adjust elevation or thickness makes "layering" not useful....and as you pointed out, transparency will make a "hole" in the terrain.

Not tried photoboard on custom member; no need as pads doing the job OK....but it is another option if needed.