Digital Landscapes, Seascapes, Cloudscapes, Sunsets etc.
All about landscapes, seascapes, cloudscapes, sunsets, sunrises, etc. in the digital domain, and anything related to those topics.
Creating Digital Landscapes
The three ways to create digital landscapes, seascapes, cloudscapes, sunsets etc.
The three main ways to create digital lanscapes etc. are . . .
1) 3D modelling software
2) drawing in the digital domain
3) digitally processing existing landscape images.
1) 3D modelling software. This is the most common way to create digital landscapes and seascapes . . . software enables the user to place and edit landscape features such as mountains, water, clouds, etc. into the scene, and change the position and color of the sun and other lighting, and render the results.
There are a variety of different software packages which enable 3D modelled landcapes, from relatively inexpensive and easy-to-use software such as Bryce, all the way up to expensive modelling software (such as Softimage which was used to create the dinosaurs in "Jurassic Park") which can take a year to learn how to use.
I use Bryce, because it's relatively quick and easy to create great landscapes, and also one can edit in great detail. See below for some of my Digital Landscapes created in Bryce.
2) drawing in the digital domain. It is possible to use software such as Photoshop to draw digitally by hand. One might think that a mouse is not a great tool for doing this . . . a much better option is to use one of the specially designed digital drawing tablets, which use a pen-like drawing tool which is pressure-sensitive.
3) digitally processing existing landscape images. Software like Photoshop is designed so that the user can process photographs and other images such as paintings or drawings. The processing can range from very subtle changes such as color and brightness, to radical extreme alterations.
Many people use digital cameras now (see this great lens on how to choose a digital SLR camera), so images can be imported easily into a computer and processed using software. The main disadvantage of consumer digital cameras is that the resolution of the images allows high quality printing only up to a few inches in size.
Compare this to even a 35mm film image, which has a resolution of about 200Mb . . . a consumer digital camera typically results in a resolution under 20Mb today, although this will continue to improve. So, for large size, high resolution images, even a 35 mm SLR camera is more than ten times better than a consumer digital SLR, although professional digital SLR's are available with resolution up to 60Mb.
But for a landscape photographer who wants to print large, a film camera (even 35mm) is a better, and more cost effective, option because with landscape photography one usually chooses the shot carefully so doesn't need to take lots of shots in the hope of getting one god one as photographers do for manyother styles, so the digital advantage of muh lower cost per shot, is much less relevant for landscape photography.
The best quality film to use is slide film which is then drum scanned at very high quality. Of course, for landscapes, professional photographers often use large-format cameras (such as 6 by 4 inches), which offer far more resolution.
For artwork other than photography, most art can be scanned. But for high quality results, a consumer scanner is not acceptable . . . a high-quality scanner costs around 60,000 dollars currently. To get artwork scanned at this quality, contact a giclee print company, who will usually have top-quality scanners as well.
Giclee printing is the best choice for museum-quality printing up to large sizes.
The above methods of digital landscape creation are often combined. For example, one mgiht create a digital seascape in a 3D modelling software, then add an element from a photograph or drawing, then process the image further. Another example would be drawing a landscape digitally and including elements from photographs and 3D modelling software.
1) 3D modelling software
2) drawing in the digital domain
3) digitally processing existing landscape images.
1) 3D modelling software. This is the most common way to create digital landscapes and seascapes . . . software enables the user to place and edit landscape features such as mountains, water, clouds, etc. into the scene, and change the position and color of the sun and other lighting, and render the results.
There are a variety of different software packages which enable 3D modelled landcapes, from relatively inexpensive and easy-to-use software such as Bryce, all the way up to expensive modelling software (such as Softimage which was used to create the dinosaurs in "Jurassic Park") which can take a year to learn how to use.
I use Bryce, because it's relatively quick and easy to create great landscapes, and also one can edit in great detail. See below for some of my Digital Landscapes created in Bryce.
2) drawing in the digital domain. It is possible to use software such as Photoshop to draw digitally by hand. One might think that a mouse is not a great tool for doing this . . . a much better option is to use one of the specially designed digital drawing tablets, which use a pen-like drawing tool which is pressure-sensitive.
3) digitally processing existing landscape images. Software like Photoshop is designed so that the user can process photographs and other images such as paintings or drawings. The processing can range from very subtle changes such as color and brightness, to radical extreme alterations.
Many people use digital cameras now (see this great lens on how to choose a digital SLR camera), so images can be imported easily into a computer and processed using software. The main disadvantage of consumer digital cameras is that the resolution of the images allows high quality printing only up to a few inches in size.
Compare this to even a 35mm film image, which has a resolution of about 200Mb . . . a consumer digital camera typically results in a resolution under 20Mb today, although this will continue to improve. So, for large size, high resolution images, even a 35 mm SLR camera is more than ten times better than a consumer digital SLR, although professional digital SLR's are available with resolution up to 60Mb.
But for a landscape photographer who wants to print large, a film camera (even 35mm) is a better, and more cost effective, option because with landscape photography one usually chooses the shot carefully so doesn't need to take lots of shots in the hope of getting one god one as photographers do for manyother styles, so the digital advantage of muh lower cost per shot, is much less relevant for landscape photography.
The best quality film to use is slide film which is then drum scanned at very high quality. Of course, for landscapes, professional photographers often use large-format cameras (such as 6 by 4 inches), which offer far more resolution.
For artwork other than photography, most art can be scanned. But for high quality results, a consumer scanner is not acceptable . . . a high-quality scanner costs around 60,000 dollars currently. To get artwork scanned at this quality, contact a giclee print company, who will usually have top-quality scanners as well.
Giclee printing is the best choice for museum-quality printing up to large sizes.
The above methods of digital landscape creation are often combined. For example, one mgiht create a digital seascape in a 3D modelling software, then add an element from a photograph or drawing, then process the image further. Another example would be drawing a landscape digitally and including elements from photographs and 3D modelling software.
My own digital landscapes/seascapes
Some of my favourites
All the following digital landscapes/seascapes were created in Bryce, and processed in Photoshop . . .
Island sunset 3 :- Postcard by James_Falconer. color postcard printing by zazzle.com
Buy as gicleeprint from ImageKind, from $9.49
Stunning dramatic sunset over a calm sea, bright burnished golds glowing briefly in the deep darkness of the comming night.
Misty valleys 2 (postcard) by James_Falconer. See other Digital art Postcards
buy as giclee print from ImageKind, from $9.49
The glowing golden sun illuminates mists and low clouds over a peaceful northern mountain lake creating a powerfully evocative atmosphere full of damp mists and the warmth of the sun in the cool air.
Sunset rocks 2 by James_Falconer. Browse more Digital art Postcards
The last glow of the falling red sun reflects on the gentle waves and delicate puffy clouds, seem between two mountain islands.
Red oak sunset by James_Falconer. postcard printing by Zazzle
Buy as giclee from ImageKind, from $9.49
A great oak stands proud against the glory of the warm sunset, the illuminated misty expanses of distant hills in the gently rolling landscape.
Long sky 2 by James_Falconer. Get your postcard printing done with zazzle
Buy as giclee from Imagekind, from $9.49
Distant islands in the gentle ocean, against the glowing horizon and misty panoramic vistas in the calm of evening serenity.
Dramatic Sunset by James_Falconer. View other Digital art Postcards
Buy as giclee print from ImageKind, from $9.49
A dramatic tropical sunset and gorgeous whispy clouds reflect of the gently rippled ocean.
Tall sky 1 by James_Falconer. Create a Full color post card with zazzle
The bright moon in the distant mists reflect on the gentls ripples of a calm sea in the atmospheric serenity of still darkness.
For more of my digital landscape/seascapes . . . James_Falconer.
Island sunset 3 :- Postcard by James_Falconer. color postcard printing by zazzle.com
Buy as gicleeprint from ImageKind, from $9.49
Stunning dramatic sunset over a calm sea, bright burnished golds glowing briefly in the deep darkness of the comming night.
Misty valleys 2 (postcard) by James_Falconer. See other Digital art Postcards
buy as giclee print from ImageKind, from $9.49
The glowing golden sun illuminates mists and low clouds over a peaceful northern mountain lake creating a powerfully evocative atmosphere full of damp mists and the warmth of the sun in the cool air.
Sunset rocks 2 by James_Falconer. Browse more Digital art Postcards
The last glow of the falling red sun reflects on the gentle waves and delicate puffy clouds, seem between two mountain islands.
Red oak sunset by James_Falconer. postcard printing by Zazzle
Buy as giclee from ImageKind, from $9.49
A great oak stands proud against the glory of the warm sunset, the illuminated misty expanses of distant hills in the gently rolling landscape.
Long sky 2 by James_Falconer. Get your postcard printing done with zazzle
Buy as giclee from Imagekind, from $9.49
Distant islands in the gentle ocean, against the glowing horizon and misty panoramic vistas in the calm of evening serenity.
Dramatic Sunset by James_Falconer. View other Digital art Postcards
Buy as giclee print from ImageKind, from $9.49
A dramatic tropical sunset and gorgeous whispy clouds reflect of the gently rippled ocean.
Tall sky 1 by James_Falconer. Create a Full color post card with zazzle
The bright moon in the distant mists reflect on the gentls ripples of a calm sea in the atmospheric serenity of still darkness.
For more of my digital landscape/seascapes . . . James_Falconer.
My favourite Digital Landscapes/Seascapes
(not my own)
Horizons II by Alex Nolasco, Buy at AllPosters.com
Stunningly gorgeous spacescape, the glow of the atmosphere on the horizon, the large moon, the rocky inhospitable terrain . . . extremely atmospheric.
Clouds by Emailandthings, Buy at AllPosters.com
tranquil land with rocky peaks appearing above the thick fogs, the bright sun highlighting delicate cloud formations, the large moon hanging overhead, the distant orange clouds . . . a very evocative atmosphere.
WINTER PARK by matasabu, buy from ImageKind
Amazing science-fiction/fantasy creation, with a large tree-like structure giving birth to cotton-wool-ball-clouds, cold winter lanscape, and small cycling figure . . . very real, very unearthly.
Helios by firesuite. View other Digital Posters
A fascinating seascape, with gently colored pastel sky lighting the ocean and the sun reflecting on the tips of the waves. Extraordinary atmosphere.
Viking ship by Corey Ford. Buy at AllPosters.com
Striking viking longboat on a gently rippled glowing bright blue ocean under a heavy clouded sky . . . powerfully dramatic and evocative of distant ocean expeditions in the distant past, sailing off to exlore and settle strange new lands.
Glacial Landscape by flyingdiscs. See more posters at zazzle
A stark, desolate rocky landscape . . . hazy distances and large moon hanging overhead . . . a harsh and hostile environment, but all the more beautiful for its desolation.
Bryce
My choice of 3D modelling software for digital landscapes
I love Bryce!! It produces really great digital landscapes, seascapes, cloudscapes etc. is really easy to learn yet can be edited in great detail, and is well-written software.
To make a landscape in Bryce, add mountains and edit their shape and material (very easy to do) and move them around, choose a sky from the great presets (and/or make very detailed changes yourself), put the sun where you want it, maybe add some water (from one of the editable great water presets) and render it. Keep making adjustments until you get one you like. It's that easy!!
You can add very realistic clouds, mists, and fogs (see my examples below), other objects, other lighting sources, sun, moon, stars, imported 3D objects, images either on flat areas, or mapped into objects . . . there's vast ranges of possibilities.
You can render as big as you want (although really big images will take a while . . . I usually set them going overnight).
Plus, you can make great video . . . it's easy to get the camera to fly through your landscape, or keep the camera still and animate the clouds, or get the sun moving accross the sky . . . it's all easy with Bryce, and the results can be really great!
The version I used for my images below, you can buy for less than $20 (at the time of writing) from Amazon, or get a newer version for not much more . . .
. . . Bryce 4, from $18.98
. . . Bryce 5, from $80.00
Bryce 6, from $99.75
To make a landscape in Bryce, add mountains and edit their shape and material (very easy to do) and move them around, choose a sky from the great presets (and/or make very detailed changes yourself), put the sun where you want it, maybe add some water (from one of the editable great water presets) and render it. Keep making adjustments until you get one you like. It's that easy!!
You can add very realistic clouds, mists, and fogs (see my examples below), other objects, other lighting sources, sun, moon, stars, imported 3D objects, images either on flat areas, or mapped into objects . . . there's vast ranges of possibilities.
You can render as big as you want (although really big images will take a while . . . I usually set them going overnight).
Plus, you can make great video . . . it's easy to get the camera to fly through your landscape, or keep the camera still and animate the clouds, or get the sun moving accross the sky . . . it's all easy with Bryce, and the results can be really great!
The version I used for my images below, you can buy for less than $20 (at the time of writing) from Amazon, or get a newer version for not much more . . .
. . . Bryce 4, from $18.98
. . . Bryce 5, from $80.00
Bryce 6, from $99.75
Photoshop
THE choice for image editing.
You've probably heard of Photoshop . . . its by far the best known image editing software and for very good reason . . . it's the BEST :)
I am still using version 6 . . .
Adobe Photoshop 6.0 [OLD VERSION], used and new from $195.00
Adobe Photoshop 7.0 [OLD VERSION], 5 Used & new from $350.00
I am still using version 6 . . .
Adobe Photoshop 6.0 [OLD VERSION], used and new from $195.00
Adobe Photoshop 7.0 [OLD VERSION], 5 Used & new from $350.00
Pen Tablets . . . for digital drawing/editing
A mouse is not much good for drawing and editing digitally . . . these pen tablets are what you need.
It's easier to draw with a pen than a mouse, right? Well now you can have the best of both worlds . . . pen tablets . . . so you can draw with a pressure-sensitive pen and get the results digitally (use with Photoshop or similar software).
Not just for drawing . . . for editing images in Photoshop (etc), a pen tablet offers far better control than a mouse . .
Wacom Intuos4 Medium Pen Tablet, less than $369.00, Add to cart to see price
Wacom Intuos4 Large Pen Tablet, less than $499.00, Add to cart to see price
Genius G-Pen 4-by-5.5-Inch Tablet with Cordless Pen, Used & new from $34.28
Not just for drawing . . . for editing images in Photoshop (etc), a pen tablet offers far better control than a mouse . .
Wacom Intuos4 Medium Pen Tablet, less than $369.00, Add to cart to see price
Wacom Intuos4 Large Pen Tablet, less than $499.00, Add to cart to see price
Genius G-Pen 4-by-5.5-Inch Tablet with Cordless Pen, Used & new from $34.28
Books on Digital Landscape art.
The finest digital art books in the known universe! . . . some of them are digital landscape art (such as "d'artiste Matte Painting" 1 and 2), some character modelling etc. but all of them are so good, you should have a look! Ballistic Publishing
How to sell your digital landscape art.
yes YOU can make money from creating digital art . . . it's easy and free to start.
The digital landscape images on this lens are all available for sale. You can sell your digital art too . . . there are websites you can join for FREE and sell your digital art on various products . . . these are sometimes called Print On Demand (POD) sites.
Zazzle is a great site which you can join completely free, and easily put your digital art on many different products, and sell it.
CafePress is another similar site.
ImageKind is a site which creates museum-quality from your artwork, using the giclee process. It's free to start, or a small yearly fee once you want more advanced features.
Zazzle is a great site which you can join completely free, and easily put your digital art on many different products, and sell it.
CafePress is another similar site.
ImageKind is a site which creates museum-quality from your artwork, using the giclee process. It's free to start, or a small yearly fee once you want more advanced features.
Relevant links . . .
other stuff you might like . . .
Digital Landscape art
Tones of Silence. A collection of digital paintings embracing the emotions, feelings, sentiments and passion within my artwork. Beautiful!!
CoolShowCase Digital Landscapes Some beautiful digital landscape art!
Digital Landscape Art by A.Gambert A nice selection of digital landscape art.
Creating Digital Landscapes A lens on making digital landscapes, with software suggestions and examples.
Calyxa's Curios - Digital Landscapes lens on digital landscapes . . . some examples, software suggestions, books etc.
Digital art
Many can make digital art now - including you! Forums, blogs, videos, softeare etc. for digital art, and places to sell it etc.
Digital Art Digitally processed images.
Digital Art by Ratso. Some nice digital art, including landscapes, software, videos, books.
Digital photography, landscape photography
How to choose a digital SLR camera. The BEST lens on choosing a digital camera . . . real, honest information that so many "review" sites won't tell you.
Landscape and Seascape Photography Beautiful landscape photographs, books, videos, tips.
New Zealand - Photos and more Some really beautiful landscape photographs of New Zealand, plus links, books etc.
Irish Photographic Digital Art Prints from artist Kieran Donnelly beautiful digitally processed landscape photography of Ireland.
Scottish Landscape Photography Some beautiful landscape photographs.
CrypticFragments' Digital Photography Showcase Digital landscape photography Europe and USA examples, and guides etc.
Sierra Mountain and Lake Tahoe Photography Some nice landscape photography.
Nature Photography Landscape and other nature photography subjects . . . lots of examples.
Contemporary Fine Art Nature Photography in Black and White Some beautiful black-and-white photographs, including some landscapes, plus links.
Landscape Photography Using a Polarizer/ Lens on the advantages and disadvantages of using a polarising filter for landscape photography, where to buy one, etc.
Royalty Free Landscape and Seascape Photos Many free photos to use (just link back to them).
Independent Travel Photographers Lens on landscape photography, with many examples, and links to guides etc.
Terraform Photography- Landscape, Black and White, Color, Digital and more! photography, alternative photography processes, books, links etc.
Learning Digital Photography basic info and a book review.
Melanie Johnson's Photos Mythology: A Photographic Study
How to make money selling your photography uesful tips, books, magazines
Landscape Photography 101 - The Step-by-Step Course A review of a landscape photography course.
Tones of Silence. A collection of digital paintings embracing the emotions, feelings, sentiments and passion within my artwork. Beautiful!!
CoolShowCase Digital Landscapes Some beautiful digital landscape art!
Digital Landscape Art by A.Gambert A nice selection of digital landscape art.
Creating Digital Landscapes A lens on making digital landscapes, with software suggestions and examples.
Calyxa's Curios - Digital Landscapes lens on digital landscapes . . . some examples, software suggestions, books etc.
Digital art
Many can make digital art now - including you! Forums, blogs, videos, softeare etc. for digital art, and places to sell it etc.
Digital Art Digitally processed images.
Digital Art by Ratso. Some nice digital art, including landscapes, software, videos, books.
Digital photography, landscape photography
How to choose a digital SLR camera. The BEST lens on choosing a digital camera . . . real, honest information that so many "review" sites won't tell you.
Landscape and Seascape Photography Beautiful landscape photographs, books, videos, tips.
New Zealand - Photos and more Some really beautiful landscape photographs of New Zealand, plus links, books etc.
Irish Photographic Digital Art Prints from artist Kieran Donnelly beautiful digitally processed landscape photography of Ireland.
Scottish Landscape Photography Some beautiful landscape photographs.
CrypticFragments' Digital Photography Showcase Digital landscape photography Europe and USA examples, and guides etc.
Sierra Mountain and Lake Tahoe Photography Some nice landscape photography.
Nature Photography Landscape and other nature photography subjects . . . lots of examples.
Contemporary Fine Art Nature Photography in Black and White Some beautiful black-and-white photographs, including some landscapes, plus links.
Landscape Photography Using a Polarizer/ Lens on the advantages and disadvantages of using a polarising filter for landscape photography, where to buy one, etc.
Royalty Free Landscape and Seascape Photos Many free photos to use (just link back to them).
Independent Travel Photographers Lens on landscape photography, with many examples, and links to guides etc.
Terraform Photography- Landscape, Black and White, Color, Digital and more! photography, alternative photography processes, books, links etc.
Learning Digital Photography basic info and a book review.
Melanie Johnson's Photos Mythology: A Photographic Study
How to make money selling your photography uesful tips, books, magazines
Landscape Photography 101 - The Step-by-Step Course A review of a landscape photography course.
by James-Falconer
I've been a landscape artist for many years, and recently loved creating digital landscapes.
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