rock formations

<DIV class=forumtext>I'm looking for tips on how to build rock formations such as you see in the screenshot tutorial:

http://www.snarkpit.net/editing.php?page=tutorials&id=158

there is rock behind the fence that looks more realistic than most I've seen. You can even see the shadowing on the strata.

I've read the building caves forum and have used those techniques extensively (almost to a science), but can't seem to get rock to look layered such as in the tutorial referenced above. I'm able to add noise and sew, even blend, but stratified rock is something I would like to know how to do.

I've searched the forums and did not see anything. I also reviewed the realistic rock formations tutorial, but it didn't have anyting on stratified.

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the rocks are all made from displacement surfaces, and covered with what appears to be a blended rock/grass texture. the actual stratification looks like it's a texture thing.

you could pm agent smith, as it's pics of his map, and ask what texture he used. he might throw some donkey fur at you, but i wouldn't worry about it if i were you.

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i eat paint

Look for rock textures and try to apply them at a 0.5 x 0.5 scale or even 1.0 x 1.0

This works well with rocks becuase, for one Valve made a number of their rock 1024x1024 (not the normal 512x512) which give you a crisp texture even at its larger scale. Second by upping the scale you wont see the repeating texture of rock which look like crap from far away.

sooo... displacments + 1x1 scale rock texture = good looking rocks.

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I'll give those a shot after my weekend trip.