What free programs exist that are used to create computer landscapes. Because I've seen a lot of very nice ones that distort the image of reality into things more beautiful. And I'd like to join those people in the making of computer generated landscapes...

And thank you in advance to those who help.

Look into these:

Terragen is free (but your image size is limited to around 800px wide)...probably the best terrain generator out there.

Vue is not free

Bryce is not free

I haven't tried any CG art in a while so my knowlege is a bit behind. Good luck, cya.

Terragen 2 will only be free in the limited 800pix option as Noah mentioned - otherwise it will set you back $200+

I think e-on's Vue 6 would have something to say about that 'best' title and it's product range starts cheaper than T2 by about 50%

It depends on what you want. Terragen is overall, a much better landscape generator, but Vue is better at positioning objects over a landscape. As far as I know, Vue is basically a more powerful version of Bryce.

Personally, I stand by Terragen.
But that's just me.

hmm - tim you should really look at the show reel for vue 6 - calling it a powerful version of bryce does it a massive injustice. and its cheaper than terragen :-)

But Vue doesn't have a free actually functional trial version, does it?

the free terragen versions restrictions render it virtually useless in real terms and in all fairness - Vue has similarly restricted free and functional trial software.

Vue 6 showreel

WARNING Big video stream & requires Quicktime.

It looks impressive, but I'm rather skeptical of the results for an average user. Terragen (Not Terragen 2, yet) has, at least to me the most intuitive interface of the major landscape renderers out there. I haven't tried Vue, as I don't have the money to buy it if I do like it.

There is Blender for general 3d modeling and rendering, but I have no clue of how to start in Blender, let a lone make a landscape...

...press the spacebar in blender; that should get you started. ;-)

i think blender is more of a modeller than a terrain generator like vue/bryce/terragen. by all accounts its a good piece of software. trouble is with anything like this it starts out cheap and/or free but as it develops so does its cost. Modo was the same when it broke away from lightwave. Modo is regarded as one of the best modellers about but has gone from a free alternative to a very pricey option. the same appears to be happening to Terragen - when T2 finally lands in its complete form, the developers have already said that support for the original version will end with immediate effect and having tried the T2 trial - i'd stick with Vue. it's all horses for courses and as both are free to try - knock yourself out and see what floats your boat :-)