Elements

The term “element(s)” is used throughout Planet Blender to describe a module or group that forms part of the whole. The following section will list the elements hierarchically. This sorting method is also used in the main node group sliders.

Base

The Base element is made up of several sub elements namely:

• Driver (DR)

  The main driver for the planet, this influences almost every other element.

• Mountains

• Craters

• Rifts

  Rifts work together with the ocean element to create continents. Essentially rifts are continental rifts. This is also the final sub element of the base element.

Surface

The Surface element has various sub elements.

• Volcanos

  Volcanic field/Lava

• Tundra

  The tundra element’s alpha is also the ice alpha when mixed with water.

• Soil

• Sand

  Sandy or desert terrain.

• Vegetation

• Forests

  Works with the soil alpha

• Savannah

  Works with the sand alpha

• Snow

• Lights

Water Surface

The Water Surface element has various sub elements.

• Ocean

• Surf

• Beach

• Rivers

• Ice

Clouds

The clouds element uses a volume shader in Settings and Layout workspaces. For the PBR workspaces it uses a bump, colour, and alpha combination. Volumes are not exportable as PBR textures.

Ozone

The ozone element uses a volume shader in Settings and Layout workspaces. For the PBR and map workspaces it uses a bump, colour, and alpha combination. Volumes are not exportable as PBR textures.

Extras

The extra element contains sub elements that are useful but not intrinsically necessary for the proper functioning of Planet Blender.

• Grid

  The Grid element consists of a number grid and a cardinal grid.

  • Number Grid

    This grid is numbered. It is useful for pinpointing a specific part of the planet. For example, when adding fictional names to areas on a map, it could be used as a coordinate system.

  • Cardinal Grid

    Good for knowing where north, south, east, and west is. It can help with rotating objects around the planet. The cardinal grid points are labeled with B or F that denotes the Back or Front of the planet.

Temperature

Most elements have a temperature property, this provides a data map of the planet’s temperature. It uses a standard heat map. Blue = Cold, Yellow = Mid, and Red = Hot. White and Black denotes out of range values.

Relief

The relief map illustrates the height of elements. It uses the same heatmap as the temperature element. Blue = Cold, Yellow = Mid, and Red = Hot. White and Black denotes out of range values.