Customising Landscapes - Revision history

Alexwolf at 12:39, 15 March 2012

2012-03-15T12:39:14Z

Gzotti: /* Single Fish-eye Method */ new option (0.10.6)

2011-10-20T17:33:33Z

Single Fish-eye Method: new option (0.10.6)

Gzotti: /* Single Panorama Method */ new options (0.10.6)

2011-10-20T17:30:55Z

Single Panorama Method: new options (0.10.6)

Gzotti: /* Single Fish-eye Method */ new options (0.10.6)

2011-10-20T17:25:17Z

Single Fish-eye Method: new options (0.10.6)

Gzotti: /* landscape.ini [location] section */ Added new (0.11) config variables

2011-10-20T17:08:42Z

landscape.ini [location] section: Added new (0.11) config variables

Gzotti: /* Multiple Image Method */ added entry on "calibrated" flag

2011-10-20T16:46:17Z

Multiple Image Method: added entry on "calibrated" flag

Alexwolf at 16:46, 13 February 2011

2011-02-13T16:46:44Z

Alexwolf: Created page with "It is possible to create your own landscapes for Stellarium. There are three types of landscape: * '''Single Fish-eye Method''' Using a fish-eye panorama image. * '''Single Spher..."

2011-02-13T16:39:41Z

Created page with "It is possible to create your own landscapes for Stellarium. There are three types of landscape: * '''Single Fish-eye Method''' Using a fish-eye panorama image. * '''Single Spher..."

New page

It is possible to create your own landscapes for Stellarium. There are three types of landscape:
* '''Single Fish-eye Method''' Using a fish-eye panorama image.
* '''Single Spherical Method''' Using a spherical panorama image.
* '''Multiple Image Method''' ('''also called “old style” landscapes''') Using a series of images split from a 360° “strip” panorama image + a ground image.

Each landscape has it's own sub-directory in <code><user directory>/landscapes</code> or <code><installation directory>/landscapes</code>. The name of the sub-directory is called the ''landscape ID''. The sub-directory must contain a file called <code>landscape.ini</code> which describes the landscape type, texture filenames and other data. Texture files for a landscape should by put in the same directory as the <code>landscape.ini</code> file, although if they are not found there they will be searched for in the <code>.../textures</code> directory, allowing shared files for common textures such as the fog texture.

For example, the ''Moon'' landscape that is provided with Stellarium has the following files:
.../landscapes/moon/landscape.ini
.../landscapes/moon/apollo17.png

The <code>landscsape.ini</code> file must contain a section called <code>[landscape]</code>, which contains the details necessary to render the landscape (which vary, depending on the type of the landscape).

There is also an optional <code>[location]</code> section which is used to tell Stellarium where the landscape is in the solar system. If the <code>[location]</code> section exists, Stellarium can automatically adjust the location of the observer to match the landscape.

==Single Fish-eye Method==
The ''Trees'' landscape that is provided with Stellarium is an example of the single fish-eye method, and provides a good illustration. The centre of the image is the spot directly above the observer (the zenith). The point below the observer (the nadir) becomes a circle that just touches the edges of the image. The remaining areas of the image (the rounded corners) are not used.

The image file should be saved in PNG format with alpha transparency. Wherever the image is transparent is where Stellarium will render the sky.

The <code>landscape.ini</code> file for a fish-eye type landscape looks like this (this example if for the Trees landscape which comes with Stellarium):
[landscape]
name = Trees
type = fisheye
maptex = trees_512.png
texturefov = 210

Where:
* '''name''' is what appears in the landscape tab of the configuration window.
* '''type''' identifies the method used for this landscape. “fisheye” in this case.
* '''maptex''' is the name of the image file for this landscape.
* '''texturefov''' is the field of view that the image covers in degrees.

==Single Panorama Method==
This method uses a more usual type of panorama - the kind which is produced directly from software such as ''autostitich''. The panorama file should be copied into the <code><config root>/landscapes/<landscape_id></code> directory, and a <code>landscape.ini</code> file created. The ''Moon'' landscape which comes with Stellarium provides a good example of the contents of a landscape.ini file for a spherical type landscape:
[landscape]
name = Moon
type = spherical
maptex = apollo17.png

Where:
* '''name''' is what appears in the landscape tab of the configuration window.
* '''type''' identifies the method used for this landscape. “spherical” in this case.
* '''maptex''' is the name of the image file for this landscape.

Note that the name of the section, in this case <code>[moon]</code> must be the landscape ID (i.e. the same as the name of the directory where the <code>landscape.ini</code> file exists).

==Multiple Image Method==
The multiple image method works by having a 360 panorama of the horizon split into a number of smaller “side textures”, and a separate “ground texture”. This has the advantage over the single image method that the detail level of the horizon can be increased further without ending up with a single very large image file. The ground texture can be a lower resolution than the panorama images. Memory usage may be more efficient because there are no unused texture parts like the corners of the texture file in the fish-eye method.

http://www.stellarium.org/wikiimg/UserManual/faq_landscape.png

On the negative side, it is more difficult to create this type of landscape - merging the ground texture with the side textures can prove tricky. The contents of the <code>landscape.ini</code> file for this landscape type is also somewhat more complicated than for other landscape types. Here is the <code>landscape.ini</code> file which describes the Guereins landscape:
[landscape]
name = Guereins
type = old_style
nbsidetex = 8
tex0 = guereins4.png
tex1 = guereins5.png
tex2 = guereins6.png
tex3 = guereins7.png
tex4 = guereins8.png
tex5 = guereins1.png
tex6 = guereins2.png
tex7 = guereins3.png
nbside = 8
side0 = tex0:0:0.005:1:1
side1 = tex1:0:0.005:1:1
side2 = tex2:0:0.005:1:1
side3 = tex3:0:0.005:1:1
side4 = tex4:0:0.005:1:1
side5 = tex5:0:0.005:1:1
side6 = tex6:0:0.005:1:1
side7 = tex7:0:0.005:1:1
groundtex = guereinsb.png
ground = groundtex:0:0:1:1
fogtex = fog.png
fog = fogtex:0:0:1:1
nb_decor_repeat = 1
decor_alt_angle = 40
decor_angle_shift = -22
decor_angle_rotatez = 0
ground_angle_shift = -22
ground_angle_rotatez = 45
fog_alt_angle = 20
fog_angle_shift = -3
draw_ground_first = 1

Where:
* '''name''' is the name that will appear in the landscape tab of the configuration window for this landscape
* '''type''' should be “old_style” for the multiple image method.
* '''nbsidetex''' is the number of side textures for the landscape.
* '''tex0 ... tex<nbsidetex-1>''' are the side texture file names. These should exist in the <code>.../textures/landscapes</code> directory in PNG format.
* '''nbside''' is the number of side textures
* '''side0 ... side<nbside-1>''' are the descriptions of how the side textures should be arranged in the program. Each description contains five fields separated by colon characters (:). The first field is the ID of the texture (e.g. tex0), the remaining fields are the coordinates used to place the texture in the scene.
* '''groundtex''' is the name of the ground texture file.
* '''ground''' is the description of the projection of the ground texture in the scene.
* '''fogtex''' is the name of the texture file for fog in this landscape.
* '''fog''' is the description of the projection of the fog texture in the scene.
* '''nb_decor_repeat''' is the number of times to repeat the side textures in the 360 panorama.
* '''decor_alt_angle''' is the vertical angular size of the textures (i.e. how high they go into the sky).
* '''decor_angle_shift''' vertical angular offset of the scenery textures, at which height are the side textures placed.
* '''decor_angle_rotatez''' angular rotation of the scenery around the vertical axis. This is handy for rotating the landscape so North is in the correct direction.
* '''ground_angle_shift''' vertical angular offset of the ground texture, at which height the ground texture is placed.
* '''ground_angle_rotatez''' angular rotation of the ground texture around the vertical axis. When the sides are rotated, the ground texture may need to me rotated as well to match up with the sides.
* '''fog_alt_angle''' vertical angular size of the fog texture - how fog looks.
* '''fog_angle_shift''' vertical angular offset of the fog texture - at what height is it drawn.
* '''draw_ground_first''' if 1 the ground is drawn in front of the scenery, i.e. the side textures will overlap over the ground texture.

Note that the name of the section, in this case [guereins] must be the landscape ID (i.e. the same as the name of the directory where the <code>landscape.ini</code> file exists).

A step-by-step account of the creation of a custom landscape has been contributed by Barry Gerdes. See Appendix [[Creating a Personalised Landscape for Stellarium]].

==landscape.ini [location] section==
An example location section:
[location]
planet = Earth
latitude = +48d10'9.707"
longitude = +11d36'32.508"
altitude = 83

Where:
* '''planet''' Is the English name of the solar system body for the landscape.
* '''latitude''' Is the latitude of site of the landscape in degrees, minutes and seconds. Positive values represent North of the equator, negative values South of the equator.
* '''longitude''' Is the longitude of site of the landscape. Positive values represent East of the Greenwich Meridian on Earth (or equivalent on other bodies), Negative values represent Western longitude.
* '''altitude''' Is the altitude of the site of the landscape in meters.

{{Template:UserManualNavigation|1=Advanced Use|3=Stellarium User Guide|2=Advanced Use}}

[[Category:Stellarium User Guide]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:39, 15 March 2012
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		+	{{ActualVersion\|0.10.2}}
	It is possible to create your own landscapes for Stellarium. There are three types of landscape:		It is possible to create your own landscapes for Stellarium. There are three types of landscape:
	* '''Single Fish-eye Method''' Using a fish-eye panorama image.		* '''Single Fish-eye Method''' Using a fish-eye panorama image.

@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 The image file should be saved in PNG format with alpha transparency. Wherever the image is transparent is where Stellarium will render the sky.
-The <code>landscape.ini</code> file for a fish-eye type landscape looks like this (this example if for the Trees landscape which comes with Stellarium):
+The <code>landscape.ini</code> file for a fish-eye type landscape looks like this (this example is based on the Trees landscape which comes with Stellarium):
   [landscape]
   name = Trees
@@ Line 25: / Line 25: @@
   maptex = trees_512.png
   texturefov = 210
-  tesselate_rows = 20
+ angle_rotatez = 17
-  tesselate_cols = 40
+  tesselate_rows = 28
 Where:
@@ Line 33: / Line 34: @@
 * '''maptex''' is the name of the image file for this landscape.
 * '''texturefov''' is the field of view that the image covers in degrees.
 * '''tesselate_rows''' (optional, default=20) If straight edges in your landscape appear broken, try increasing.
 * '''tesselate_cols''' (optional, default=40) If straight edges in your landscape appear broken, try increasing.

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:46, 13 February 2011
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−	{{Template:UserManualNavigation\|1=Advanced Use\|3=Stellarium User Guide\|2=~~Advanced Use~~}}	+	{{Template:UserManualNavigation\|1=Advanced Use\|3=Stellarium User Guide\|2=Adding Nebulae Images}}

	[[Category:Stellarium User Guide]]		[[Category:Stellarium User Guide]]

@@ Line 47: / Line 47: @@
 * '''type''' identifies the method used for this landscape. “spherical” in this case.
 * '''maptex''' is the name of the image file for this landscape.
 Note that the name of the section, in this case <code>[moon]</code> must be the landscape ID (i.e. the same as the name of the directory where the <code>landscape.ini</code> file exists).

@@ Line 120: / Line 120: @@
   longitude = +11d36'32.508"
   altitude = 83
 Where:
@@ Line 126: / Line 130: @@
 * '''longitude''' Is the longitude of site of the landscape. Positive values represent East of the Greenwich Meridian on Earth (or equivalent on other bodies), Negative values represent Western longitude.
 * '''altitude''' Is the altitude of the site of the landscape in meters.
 {{Template:UserManualNavigation|1=Advanced Use|3=Stellarium User Guide|2=Adding Nebulae Images}}
 [[Category:Stellarium User Guide]]

@@ Line 107: / Line 107: @@
 * '''fog_angle_shift''' vertical angular offset of the fog texture - at what height is it drawn.
 * '''draw_ground_first''' if 1 the ground is drawn in front of the scenery, i.e. the side textures will overlap over the ground texture.
 Note that the name of the section, in this case [guereins] must be the landscape ID (i.e. the same as the name of the directory where the <code>landscape.ini</code> file exists).