Advanced Terrain Planning and Construction with Creator Terrain Studio (Advanced Terrain Modeling) - Course Description

This fast paced four day workshop is a hands-on learning experience in which you use unique planning spreadsheets and our Creator Terrain Studio (CTS) product to properly plan and create virtual textures and fully tiled and populated terrains.

This course is a complete methodology for the development of efficient realtime databases that work the first time.

Short lecture sessions and plenty of hands-on time offer useful contexts, tips and tricks you will find immediately valuable in the workplace, and you will take with you the unique class spreadsheets and a very useful model and texture library to help get you started. All aspects of the course are designed to translate theory into practice.

Instructors for this class are active members of our technical training or consulting teams. Our instructors use our products daily for internal and external applications, and offer front line support for our customers. As a result, our instructors are able to pass on through the classroom the latest in tricks of the trade.

The Advanced Terrain Modeling class is based on our Creator Terrain Studio (CTS) products, with additional references to Creator Pro and Vega Prime.

Beginning with the first hour, you will discuss key database and simulation design issues that drive the production of a realtime database, from evaluating IG (runtime) limitations to modeling tricks that will squeeze performance from your feature model and terrain designs.

Introduction
* The importance of focusing on data, not polygons

Database Planning and Model Design for Optimal Results Pixel Depth, Latency, and Texture Memory strategies Designing for efficiency Pixel Range Distance Computations Level Of Detail Strategies Texture Optimization and Use Advanced Modeling Practices for performance   Virtual Texture Generation Important CTS concepts Convert and collect image data into datasets Map projections and images Coverages and coordinate systems for imagery Coordinate conversions through datasets Clipmaps, Virtual textures, and MIPmaps High resolution insets Using wizards to create processes, datasets and the workflow Using Statemaps to control image generation Replacement textures and virtual textures   Model Planning and Control Database model performance Designing for LOD efficiency Switching distance computations for large and small features Model optimizations to reduce runtime problems Texture resolution computations Halo reduction

Generating Terrain Skins Convert and import terrain data into datasets Using wizards to create processes, datasets, and the workflow Controlling terrain processes for optimal results Coverages and coordinate systems for terrain Dataset controls and coordinate conversions Internal 'spreadsheet' computations Culling, LOD, and T-strip or mesh efficiency Terrain tile localization Terrain Triangulation Strategies (Polymesh, Irregular Polymesh) Structure strategies and tiling schemes   Culture Projection Shape files vs. DFD vector data Vector data conversions Culture processes and workflow Culture datasets, coordinate systems and structures Statemaps and culture Post-projection correlation and layering Model Library and library substitution Style File strategy and editing Multiple culture projections for complex data Culture with and without terrain   Database Publishing Metafile creation

This course assumes a reasonable level of practical realtime modeling experience using Creator Pro or other modeling environments. If students have not had experience with these products or realtime modeling, it is strongly recommended they first take one of our Open Enrollment classes in Creator before taking this class.

Interactive lecture and hands-on exercises using Creator Terrain Studio with supportive Excel spreadsheets on Windows 2000 workstations. The emphasis of the class is hands-on experience.

The class is organized into a series of topics explored over four days.

A minimum of three students is required. Because of practical student/workstation ratios, this course is limited to one student per PC, with a recommended limit of eight students per class.

Advanced Terrain Classes are held at our MultiGen-Paradigm Inc. San Jose facility. Tuition is per student (see price list), to be paid before class begins. See registration to register for this class.

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