How to Create and Edit a Terrain in Vue 6

Vue 6 is software used primarily to create 3d landscapes. It comes in two versions, Infinite and xStream. Given its capabilities, it's a fairly inexpensive piece of software, especially when you compare it to something like Maya or XSI. In this tutorial, we will look at Vue's ability to create and edit 3d terrains which can then be used as a part of 3d environments which the user can then render out as either 2d images (which can be used directly or reworked in a 2d image editor such as Photoshop), or animation files (which can then be edited in video editing software such as Adobe Premiere Pro, or Avid, or AfterEffects).

When you want to create a new terrain in Vue, first open the program. Then click on the icon highlighted in image one. The program will automatically create a terrain of random appearance, such as the one seen in image one. This is an important point to remember; each terrain Vue 6 creates for you when you use this function is unique, like a snowflake. But of course, it may be that you are not satisfied with what the program provides. This is no problem. One way you can make changes to the terrain is to click on one of the views (as seen in image two, I'll used the side view). You will notice that there are a few symbols on the screen by the terrain. The letters control transformations, but are beyond the scope of this tutorial. Here we will stick to the three symbols highlighted. The plus symbol, when clicked on, allows you to move the terrain up and down or side to side. The symbol below this allows you to rotate the terrain. The symbol below that lets you scale the terrain up and down in size.

As you will quickly realize though, these tools are very limited in what they can accomplish. To do more than this and achieve a greater control over the end result, you will need to be able to change the fundamental shape of the terrain, not just its proportions. To do this, as shown in image three, go to the object menu and click edit object. As seen in image four, you will be presented with a panel that has wide array of options for editing your terrain. In the center is your terrain, which you can right click and rotate as you work on it. To the left are a series of icons that will automatically transform your terrain into something else, from mountains to peaks to icebergs. At the top are controls for undoing, zooming in or out, resizing terrain resolutions, and adding functions. On the right you will find controls that will allow you to directly sculpt the shape of the terrain using brushes that you can customize. These brushes take some practice, but with some effort, you can produce truly amazing results