Increased Terrain Resolution
Maxwell Graf
This is a request for an optional setting within the region/estate tab in the viewer to increase the terrain resolution per meter. From what I can find, the max polygon resolution of SL terrain is 2 triangles per square meter (A vertex every meter, 257 vertices in each direction) and has remained so since 2004. The option to increase this even slightly (X2=4 tris per meter) would make a tremendous difference in the terraforming capabilities. I suggest this as a regional
option
for official and 3rd party viewers, rather than standardizing it across the whole grid or trying to implement it for sub-region/parcel level, browser or mobile, as it seems like that would be the least impactful method on performance across all delivery methods.Additionally, this could coincide with PBR terrain implementation; Adding this to features such as tri-planar mapping, possibly height and/or occlusion mapping would modernize the seriously out of date terrain quality within SL.
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Jenna Felton
The idea is very good, but I can see that a complex terrain could increase the viewer and/or server lag and some regions model terrains with mesh (necessary when you want horizontal caves) so that inventing it everywhere is not a good idea. But it was mentioned so.
I would suggest instead to add multiple (maybe four) levels of resolution which the estate or region manager would tick and they will then update in sync. You would just select the resolution level you want edit and the others will follow.
This way when the region only uses mesh terrain, they can activate a resolution of one vertex per 4 meters or even rougher, if desirable and reduce so the load on the viewer and region. And who want can use the terrain levels of 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 pixels per meter.
The viewer could also use the (available) rougher terrain resolution for distant areas and finer one for the near areas the same way it displays mesh LOD levels.
Stroker Serpentine
This is a great idea! Terrain has always been an afterthought. Let's do this!
Maxwell Graf
Someone brought up an excellent point: The content in SL has advanced over time to such a degree of complexity, build method and quality that it is often a stark contrast to the terrain it is sitting on, the creation of which has remained relatively unchanged since 2004. It's to the point where you can see areas where mesh terrain sections have been imported in order for that difference to be less noticeable. That has a negative impact on creating, resources and performance when plenty of proven tools/methods are available that could make it an inherent part of the system.
Tiridates Mikadze
This is a sensible and very desirable addition to the other improvements to graphical quality, and I know I would be delighted to make use of a better, or at least higher terrain resolution.
Maxwell Graf
PS - this is not a request to increase the size of a region above 256mx256m, which has been tossed around for many years in various forms, but a finer resolution with each meter simply for the sake of improvements in terraforming and visual quality.