Walk
With Me - Terrains
Copyright 2003 Robert Cox (Meski)
Before we move on to terrains, we need to finish setting up the environment. If you have downloaded the Bryce file, you already have the correct settings. However, I am going to go over what the controls do.
1. 
Sky Mode - I almost always set my mode to Custom Sky. Click the little down arrow just below the first preview. You'll notice that you will get two more color blocks below the thumbnail.
a. Sunglow Color
This color is most prevalent when the sun is close to the horizon and in view.
Ctlr/Alt ( hold down both keys) left double click on the sphere as shown above. This sets up mouse positioning of the sun. Simply hold down the CTRL/Alt keys and left click where you want the sun. You will see a mark as shown in the pic below.
Now change the Sun Glow color to bright green. You will see what it affects. .... Gak! I know, horrible! Do a CTRL Z to undo. Sun Glow Color virtually replaces the sky color when the sun is low to the horizon.
Move the sun up, using the Sun Moon ball ( the one you double clicked on ), and make it out of sight of the screen. You will see your blue sky start to reappear.
b. Sky Color
We have already been there.
c. Horizon Color
Change the Horizon Color to green and you will see that your Stratus Clouds will change color. If there is an accumulation of stratus at the vanishing point, it affects the color at the haze and stratus.
d. Ambient Color.
This is the color of shadows and the control that washes out your color if you have it set too high. In most cases, it is better to be close to, but not completely, black.
e. Fog Color
Here is one that I don't use. I use spheres for fog using volume or surface shaders.
f. Haze Color
This one I think everyone knows. No mystery here.
g. Sky Dome Color
The Sky Dome Color is very important. It almost acts like the ambient control. However, it doesn't affect the lighted areas, just the shadowed areas of objects. Sky Dome light is the diffuse light that is refracted by the atmosphere. If it weren't for this light, shadowed areas in real life would be pure black. Notice the effects in the image below by adjusting this control. Note that it has a negligible effect on sun lighted objects with the exception of the ground plane. Also, note that is washes out the shadow (white) and you lose ground color if the Sky Dome Color is too low.
It is for this reason that I saved this part of the tutorial for terrains. Using the color controls, particularly the Sky Dome Color control, has a very large effect on how your terrains look.
h. Cumulus Color
This control is pretty self evident. Remember to keep your color saturation down. As the sun moves toward the horizon, your clouds will get redder. Often you will need to reduce saturation when the sun is on the horizon.