Terrain from Heightmaps

[zumwalt]

I have something now that I can generate heightmaps from both coherent-noise and perlin noise then save to bmp files, everything from grid type terrain to planetary level terrain to apply to spheres, so now I want to take those images and apply them as the heightmap, lets just say 1sq mile size grid objects then save the generated terrain result including applying the colored version of texture to the generated terrain as a prefab.

 

Needs smoothing levels for the terrain so it doesn't look so, how do we say, choppy?

Then I can simply save all of these out to a folder for my array of terrain objects and load only what I need when I need it.

[Rastar]

From your description, I am not completely sure what you already have and what you still need. Anyway, to my understanding the current status/workflow for terrain in Leadwerks 3 is as follows:

1. There currently is no heightmap-based terrain feature in Leadwerks 3, it is on the roadmap for version 3.0, though. Right now you would have to convert your terrain to a mesh and use that. Terrain generation tools like World Machine can export the heightfield as a mesh. afecelis has created a nice tutorial (http://www.leadwerks.com/werkspace/topic/6555-tutorial-blender-for-leadwerkers-and-other-3d-buffs/page__st__20#entry55569 , #09) for working with heightmaps in Blender.
   
2. You can save several tiles of your terrain grid in your model folder and load them on demand. Expect to have some issues (cracks etc) along the borders, though, especially if you've converted heightmap tiles to meshes. It's not easy to make seamless tiling.
   
3. What kind of choppiness are you experiencing? Is your heightmap resolution low? You could then maybe use normalmaps to give them a smoother appearance. If your noise generators produce choppy terrains you'll have to play with their parameters, or again you might think about using a terrain generator like World Machine, Grome or L3DT, they have for example realistic erosion functions that can also smooth the heightfield.
   

[karmacomposer]

If I import a terrain mesh in Leadwerks 3, is it deformable?

 

Mike