Gaea 2 is a node-based procedural terrain generation software developed by QuadSpinner. It is used by game developers and visual effects artists to create realistic, high-resolution landscapes and is a major update to the original Gaea software.
Key features
Procedural generation: Gaea 2 uses a node-based graph system to create complex landscapes. This allows for non-destructive and scalable terrain creation where users can easily adjust, reorder, and experiment with different nodes to achieve desired results.
Erosion simulations: The software is known for its realistic erosion simulations, which can be art-directed to achieve specific looks.
Workflow: The interface is divided into a 3D viewport, a node graph, and a parameters panel, which provides a clear and streamlined workflow for terrain design.
Integration with other software: Gaea 2 can be integrated with other software, such as Houdini and Unreal Engine, to incorporate generated terrain into larger scenes.
Heightmaps: Terrain in Gaea is saved as a heightmap, a grayscale image where the brightness of each pixel corresponds to the height of the terrain.
Node library: A variety of nodes are available to build different effects, including primitives (basic shapes), terrain nodes, and modifiers. A recent update, Gaea 2.2, added new and improved nodes for erosion and ice, among other enhancements.