Here’s an overview how I create landscapes.
First I create the terrain height field, using fractal nodes and landscape sculpting tools (click on the images to enlarge).
The result can be exported as greyscale height field map for the terrain geometry displacement. The bright / white parts of the image will raise the terrain / make it higher.
Additional maps can be exported, for example for flow, deposit, wear, color. These maps can be used as masks for texturing.
When required I model or additional objects in a 3D application:
Now I create the atmosphere, clouds and other environmental objects:
The terrain geometry is created based on the greyscale height field / displacement map I created before and/or procedural fractal calculations.
For the materials I use various texturing methods using nodes, layers, masks and procedurals. This takes many hours of work.
Adjusting lighting, camera, environment, foliage and render settings:
Rendering!
