GenesisIIv3.1.0

Besides rendering and graphic capabilities, GenesisII also incorporates a wide range of tools to support landscape modeling and related tasks, such as VRML modeling and terrain editing.

GenesisII describes a landscape surface using a landscape grid. This is a regular grid of heights that can either be generated by GenesisII or imported from another source, such as a digital elevation model (DEM) file. GenesisII draws this grid in 3D to generate the landscape image. Two rendering types are available: overlay rendering, which draws an image on top of the surface; and fractal rendering, which generates artificial surface detail.

GenesisII understands how landscapes are formed, and attempts to generate the details of the fractal surface in realistic manner. It also has an understanding of ecosystems and places vegetation with regard to surface features. Realistic images can be generated in a few mouse clicks using a landscape grid and the program defaults.

GenesisII uses the concept of terrains to control the details of landscape surfaces. Any number of terrains can be defined, each of which has specific characteristics for such items as surface texture, vegetation, and 3D objects. Terrains are mapped onto the landscape surface using shapes such as polygons and lines. Any number of shapes can be defined for each terrain, and each shape can be of any size and complexity.

In addition to the landscape surface and contents, a range of other factors control how the landscape looks in the rendered image. Atmosphere, clouds, and water can all be controlled in detail, as well as camera and target placement.