landscape modeling

imk

Hi, i am in the process of creating a 3d movie. I am wondering which will be the better and less time consuming way to model a landscape.

1. Using zbrush and create a displacement map
or
2. Actual modeling of the landscape in 3d software

thanks

Obscura

Hi
The fastest way is to use only the target engine's own terrain tool. But this wouldn't give that nice result that displacement map would.
Timesaver solution -> target engine's own terrain tool
Nice, realistic result -> Zbrush, World Machine
The timesaver solution is good if the stylized result is ok to you.

fearian

It depends on the scale of the terrain, but if it's large scale, mountains and valleys, background stuff, I suggest world machine. There are a bunch of great threads on Polycount featuring it.

On a smaller scale for a local scene, ie, cliffs, woods, paths, Try sculpting terrain in zbrush and breaking it appart for use.