How do I blend my terrain with the background/sky?

[Messe De]

I've seen a lot of renders which have a flat plain that stretches off into the distance and you can't see where it ends because it seems to 'blend'into the background or sky. I've tried myself but I can't figure it out. Can anyone please please tell me how to do this?

[lillypusher]

using??


i'd imagine it's all the smae, no matter what software, but i'm making this answer max-specific. because i use max. duh.

have u got your background ready? lets use the standard enivorment (render >> enviroment), make the map a gradient, stick that in a material slot - just drag it into an empty slot and make it an instant, and make it sky like - various shades of blue.

if u stick a smoke material in a gradient colour slot, u can make pretty good clouds.

the ground is a plane, or circle, or whatever. lets take a circle. stick a UVW map on it. assign a material.

the material - apart from any ground/sand/rocks/bump u want to assign - needs a gradient map in the opacity slot. make the gradient radial, and watch the ground gently fade into the horizon.


hope that helps u.

if anything here isn't clear, ask again.

no animals were harmed during the making of this post.

well, just one. and bunny rabbits don't count.

[Messe De]

yeah it is using max. thanks alot, I think that helped!

[Messe De]

errr... on second thoughts, that didn't seem to work to well. I the ground plain blends with the background and now the whole environment doesn't really have any "volume" sort of. I only have a whitish grey plain that I want to stretch off into the distance but not see where it ends. Can I achieve this the same way doing what you said?

[lillypusher]

....

i'm not sure what scene u're trying to make - a screen shot with your problems pointed out would help.

[Messe De]

Aha! not to worry, I figured it out. sorry, I wasn't following your instructions properly. Thanks for the help

[lillypusher]

no problem.


and now, for some serious nap time.

well, serious as in 3 hours before i get up, but u can't complain. well, u can, but no one pays any attention.
</exhaustion>