Re: [Algorithms] Tangential Curvature of terrain

[Klaus H. <k_h...@os...>]

Here are few images that hopefully explain the effect I'd like to achieve
(just in case that I speak Klingon :).

The three images show exactly two non-living ecosystems, namely sand and
rock.

ECO1.JPG:
http://www.thecore.de/TheCore/eco1.jpg

In this image the distribution of the ecosystems is based on elevation only.
Looks ugly :)

ECO2.JPG
http://www.thecore.de/TheCore/eco2.jpg

This image adds some pseudo-tangential-curvature effect. Well, it's not
really a tangential curvature effect, but rather a hack, and that's why the
image doesn't look as good as it could. Anyway, the image shows, that rock
tends to prefer convex up areas, whereas sand tends to prefer concave down
areas. This basically is as if the wind blew the sand from the convex up
areas and collects it in concave down ares.

ECO3.JPG
http://www.thecore.de/TheCore/eco3.jpg

This is for interested people only... It adds eleveation skewing to
ECO2.JPG. It basically simulates a certain wind direction. Note, how the
sand prefers the east side of the hills and moutains.

Also note, that there are only two colors (lit colors) in these images. This
should give you some idea of the power of such algorithms. Look at the big
picture with more than two ecosystems, and actual ecosystem base texture
(images).

Niki