At its most basic, we need to nicely blend each possible material (silicate and water) with each of their possible phases (solid, liquid, and gas), as determined by elevation and temperature data. Visually representing this data is another tricky process. So accurate data becomes much less useful if it’s not accurately represented in the planet visuals. The 2D data map that simply color-codes the data looks neat, but the first thing you see, and the thing most people want to look at, is the planet itself. We talked before about the importance of getting the data right, but that’s really just the first step toward Grids as an accurate and interactive feature. Right now, our graphics developer, Georg, is working on the first part, rendering the data accurately.
We can divide this visual component again into two separate challenges: 1) rendering the data accurately and 2) making it look good with visual magic. In this update, we’ll focus on the third primary component of this feature: the visuals. In our last update, we talked about getting the new technical framework set up and working on the scientific-data side of Grids.
Anything discussed or shown may not be representative of the final release state of Surface Grids. Keep in mind this is a development log for a work-in-progress feature. It also makes it possible to add tools like the laser, which is essentially just a fun way of heating up localized areas of a surface. In effect, it allows for more detailed and accurate surface simulation and more dynamic and interactive surface visuals.
It’s a feature we’re developing for Universe Sandbox that makes it possible to simulate values locally across the surface of an object. If you haven’t seen them yet, check out Dev Update #1 and Dev Update #2.Ī primer on Surface Grids for anyone not familiar: Here’s our round three update on the development status of Surface Grids and Lasers. Image: Early work on visualizing Grids data on a partially molten Earth, pre-beautification.
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