View source for Terraforming

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{{Old|Please see [https://community.secondlife.com/knowledgebase/english/editing-terrain-r23/ Editing Terrain] at the KnowledgeBase for more information.}}

In Second Life, not only do you have the power to do amazing things like fly — you can '''{{xref|terraform}}, which means you can change the shape and elevation of land (terrain) in seconds!''' All it takes is a few quick clicks.

[[File:2677410119_5ececeaaa5_o.jpg|320px|none|thumb|Squirrel Wood's "Professional Terraformer" in action, a scripted gadget. See video further down the page.]]

Terraforming can range from the realistic...

[[File:2351644102_d6b2013121_o.jpg|320px|none|thumb|[http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Georgean/205/208/41 Georgian, a vehicle sandbox], looks like this when objects are hidden.]]

... to the whimsical and beyond.

[[File:4835530755_f6f8ea71d8_o.jpg|320px|none|thumb|[http://slurl.com/secondlife/Dark%20Spirit/31/186/150/ "Enigma" in Dark Spirit region] with distinctive swirls.]]

== How do I terraform? ==

# Right-click the ground and choose '''Edit Terrain'''. This opens {{winlink|Build Tools - Edit Terrain}}.
# Select a terrain editing tool ('''Flatten''', '''Raise''', and so on).
# Move your cursor over the terrain. You should see small white arrows showing the size, strength, and direction of your current "terraform brush".
# Start "painting" the ground by clicking and dragging.
# Adjust '''Size''' and '''Strength''' to taste. Sometimes you'll want to paint in very broad, dramatic strokes — other times more subtlety is called for.

This video tutorial shows you how to quickly get started:

{{KBvideo|ZAKqbTxEBNQ|640|505|type=youtube}}

Alternatively, if you want to terraform a specific selection:

# In {{winlink|Build Tools - Edit Terrain}}, click '''Select Land'''.
# Click and drag your cursor across the terrain to select.
# Select a terrain editing tool and adjust '''Size''' and '''Strength'''.
# Click '''Apply'''. This affects all selected terrain.

== Where can I terraform? ==

You can terraform land you own or group-owned land you've been granted the ability to reshape.

However, the range you can terraform depends on region settings which may be controlled by Linden Lab or an estate owner/manager. [[Limits#Land|See Land Limits]].

== Where do I enable/disable terraforming? ==

A landowner can ''always'' terraform their own land, provided there aren't greater restrictions.

If you want to allow ''others, including random strangers'' to terraform your land parcel:

# Choose '''World''' > '''Place Profile''' > '''About Land'''.
# In the {{win|About Land}} window, click '''OPTIONS''' tab.
# Check '''Edit Terrain''' tab.

{{KBwarning|Be ''very'' careful before enabling this! '''Edit Terrain''' is ''off'' by default because ''you'', as the landowner, ''don't'' need it to terraform. Many builds are dependent on the shape of the terrain, and allowing passerby to incidentally or intentionally change your terrain can ''destroy'' builds — raising the terrain can return objects to their owners.}}

Further up a level, terraforming range can be changed by estate owners and managers:

# Choose '''World''' > '''Place Profile''' > '''Region/Estate'''.
# In the {{win|Region/Estate}} window, click '''Terrain''' tab.
# Set the '''Water Height''', '''Terrain Raise Limit''', and '''Terrain Lower Limit'''.

{{vh|Region/Estate - Terrain|See this for a further explanation of what each control means.}}

== Does enabling "'''Edit Terrain'''" do anything else? ==

Yes, strangely enough, it also allows Linden trees and other plants to be placed on your land. These are special objects unlike Resident-created tree objects which have some [[Move_build#Linden_trees|weird properties you should know about]].

== If I don't own any land, can I practice terraforming? ==

Yes, there's a quick and easy place you can feel free to mess up — '''[[Torley]]'s landbox, which you can [http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Here/9/13/35/ teleport to now]'''. It's featured in the video tutorial above.

== How do I change terrain textures? ==

Terraforming controls one part of your land's look: another part is the textures which are mapped on the surface to simulate grass, snow, or stranger stuff.

'''[[Creating Terrain Textures|See "Creating Terrain Textures" for further details.]]'''

== How do I prevent terraform griefing? ==

"Terraform griefing" refers to intentional destruction of your terrain, which can also affect objects which were previously resting on or near your terrain. As the old saying goes, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure".

First of all, as mentioned above, '''''never'' enable Edit Terrain on a parcel unless you're absolutely sure you want everyone else in the world to come by and change your terrain.''' For example, enabling '''Edit Terrain''' would be appropriate if you have a chaotic creative space that Residents are free to litter on, but you wouldn't want it on if you've meticulously sculpted a mountain.

Furthermore, if your land is group-owned, make sure only intended group members have the ability to turn '''Edit Terrain'''. As a group owner:

# Choose '''World''' > '''Place Profile''' > '''About Land'''.
# In the {{win|About Land}} window, click '''{{win|General}}''' tab.
# Next to '''Owner''', Click the name of the group.
# On the {{xref|inspector}} that appears, click '''View Profile'''.
# In the sidebar now showing the group info, click '''Roles''' to expand it.
# Click the '''{{win|Roles}}''' sub-tab.
# Click a role. For example, "Everyone".
# Scroll down to the bottom where it says '''Allowed Abilities'''.
# In the list of abilities, scroll down and make sure '''Toggle 'Edit Terrain'''' is off. (It's off by default for "Everyone" but on for "Officers" and always on for "Owners".) Repeat this for each appropriate role.

Applicable for estate owners and managers but just as important — make sure to click '''Bake Terrain''' (found in the {{win|Region/Estate}} window's '''Terrain''' tab) when your terrain is set as you like it. As described here, this sets how the terrain looks when you use the '''Revert''' land tool.

Optionally, if you want ''no'' terraforming happening on a region you own/manage:

# Choose '''World''' > '''Place Profile''' > '''Region/Estate'''.
# In the {{win|Region/Estate}} window, click '''Terrain''' tab.
# Click '''Bake Terrain''' and confirm this is the shape you want "frozen".
# Set '''Terrain Raise Limit''' and '''Terrain Lower Limit''' both to <code>0</code>.
# Click '''Apply'''.

This means no one else (like [[Renting land|renters]]) can alter their terrain across the entire region, not even you — unless you change the limits.

If your region was terraform-griefed, you may want to consider using the '''Revert''' land tool, but if objects were also returned or other substantial damage, [http://secondlife.com/support contact Concierge] to request a "[[Linden_Lab_Official:Estate_and_Private_Region_Autosaves_and_Restores_(Rollbacks)|rollback]]".

This video shows how to do most of the above:

{{KBvideo|ONcPI_vOK_c|640|505|type=youtube}}

== I own an estate, what terraform settings should I use for my regions? ==

That depends on your vision and intent for the estate.

* If you've just gotten your region, you'll need to terraform it to initially shape it. So you'll probably want to set '''Terrain Raise Limit''' to <code>100.00</code> and '''Terrain Lower Limit''' to <code>-100.00</code> ''but'' make sure '''Edit Terrain''' is ''off'' on individual parcels.
** Or, in {{win|Region/Estate}}'s '''Estate''' tab, uncheck '''Allow Public Access''' so wanderers can't come in until you say otherwise.
* If you have a themed region where the experience is tightly controlled, ''not'' allowing terraforming is common. Nothing wrecks immersion like being in a sandy desert and watching a spike shoot out of your neighbor's parcel, after all (unless you're emulating the sandworms from ''Dune'').

== I see regions that have such cool terraforming! How did they do that? ==

Like this?

[[File:3248815976_5d5fee9d96_o.png|640px|thumb|none|Various regions belonging to Linden Concierge.]]

As with many things in Second Life, creativity is endless and methods vary, so ask the estate owner and/or manager. They'll likely enjoy hearing that you noticed their art!

Beyond "by-hand" shaping, there are two advanced ways to terraform:

# '''[[Tips_for_Creating_Heightfields_and_Details_on_Terrain_RAW_Files|RAW files]]''' - Specifically-formatted computer graphics files. There are ways to convert a normal picture into a RAW file.
# '''[http://marketplace.secondlife.com/ Scripted gadgets]''' - These assist you with automating terrain changes. Search the marketplace for "<code>terraformer</code>" as there isn't a specific category devoted to them.

This video shows Squirrel Wood's "Professional Terraformer" scripted gadget:

{{KBvideo|wRlUD0tb9z4|640|505|type=youtube}}

In addition, clever Residents have come up with "terrain extenders" and other enhancements which aren't technically terrain, but objects designed to complement the overall look of your region. Like a really pretty wig. These can also be found on the Marketplace.

[[File:4204891928_57e060572b_o.jpg|640px|thumb|none|[http://landscapesunlimited.blogspot.com/ Landscapes Unlimited] pioneered using a combination of [[sculptie]] [[megaprims]] which greatly enhance the built-in terrain system.]]

== See also ==

Link to more awesome terraforming info here!

* '''[[Texture Tools]]''' - Related apps for making terrain textures.
* '''[http://solutionproviders.secondlife.com/search?query=&category1=&category3=&language=&country=&category2=57 Solution Providers who offer terraforming services]''' - If you'd rather hire expertise and not do it yourself.
* '''[http://blog.pradprathivi.com/2009/06/15/terraforming-101/ Terraforming 101]''' - Nicely-illustrated tutorial by Rrishanna Regina. Note it shows the older Viewer 1.xx interface, but the basics are still the same.
* '''[[Ground|More help pages related to terraforming]]'''