World Machine, the procedural terrain generation tool with over two decades of history, has released version 4059. The software, used in games and visual effects, allows creating landscapes through nodes and simulating erosion, snow, or water. The update focuses on the 3D viewport, adding HDR lighting and ambient fog for a more realistic preview.
Technical novelties: HDR lighting and improved workflows 🛠️
Version 4059 introduces a revamped viewport with support for HDR lighting and ambient fog, allowing terrain evaluation under more precise lighting conditions. Common workflows have been optimized, speeding up repetitive tasks. The software generates PBR textures and exports meshes in formats such as glTF or OBJ, as well as 2D textures in EXR, PNG, or TIFF, compatible with 3ds Max, Blender, Cinema 4D, Maya, Unity, and Unreal Engine.
Now with fog so you don't see how bad your terrain turned out 🌫️
The new ambient fog is not only technical: it is also a bonus for those who prefer to hide the edges of their hastily generated mountains. Because, let's be honest, sometimes a procedural landscape looks better wrapped in mist than exposed in broad daylight. That said, HDR lighting will at least make your mistakes look more professional before exporting them to Blender.