@olishea said:

eric why is your model above your toolbars? eh! 😲

I did that with the new "Outside Toolbars" plugin, you can find it.... nah, just Photoshop. 😉

Yes - emmissive materials cause noise. Should not be used for primary lighting in a scene.

well, everything was similar to what i posted just now, just different layers of information projected onto the terrain (villages, rivers, climate, woodland, etc.), nothing amazing really.

The pure displacement map generated this:
aramaio.jpg
(7 minute render)

@mirjman said:

how are you controlling the height of the displacement so that it matches real world units?

I'm not... 😕 😆 I just eyeballed it, did a couple of tests before settling... I did think about it, and I guess a more precise way of eyeballing it (so not precise either) would be opening both files, use the front view on both and compare.

I remember reading somewhere the multiplier for displacement maps had some real world meaning, I'll do some research.

I love seeing this level of detail in arch models, especially as it's rarely needed or justified for most arch work. SU transformed one of my least favourite arch tasks (resolving complex details) into one of my favourites and it's a joy to see someone else using it to great effect for the same purpose. Nice clear renders too. 👍

hello again!
i actually think I've finished at last! all modelling and texturing has been done, and the first "final" render is complete.

So thank you once again, you guys really motivated me with your comments!