What are the difference between landscape layer blend types?

Bora_Semiz
Tue, 27 Dec 2016 12:34:13 +0000
Rendering

I am new to computer game graphics and terminology. I don’t have problems reading the C++ programming documentation of unreal engine, however when it comes to rendering and graphics, I feel like I am reading a medical drug prescription.

First things first. I have several question, the most important one is the one as the title of this question. I am now trying to learn the basics of creating landscapes.

1-) What are the difference between those layer blend types? (LB_Alpha_Blend, LB_Weight_Blend and LB_Height_Blend)

2-) On what use case, what type should I choose?

3-) I have seen that when we choose LB_Height_Blend, we get a second pin in layer blend node. We put there the alpha channel of the texture we work with. Why alpha channel? Why not red, green or blue, or even whole RGBA, but alpha? What does role alpha channel take in this situation?

4-) Is there any book or website that can teach me all these terminology that is used in gaming graphics? Such as ambient occlusion, diffuse, specular etc.

5 posts - 4 participants