Adding a Snow node

The Snow node applies a snow color map to a terrain at locations defined by parameters.

This node does not modify the terrain.

The node has one input: a terrain with or without a color map. If the terrain input does not have a color map, a neutral color ramp is applied and is visible in places not covered by snow.

The node has two outputs: the unmodified terrain with an updated color map and the snow mask.

To add a Snow node, right-click in the Graph Editor and select Create Node  > Color  > Snow.

Select the node to open its parameters:

Editing a Snow node

  • Snow color: Use the color picker or enter a hex color code to set the snow color.
  • Lowest altitude: This parameter is expressed as percentage of the maximum height. Below this value, the color map remains unchanged.
    To add snow only to the peaks, set the value to a high value.



    To add snow to all altitudes including the lowest, set the parameter at 0.


  • Max slope: This is the angle beyond which the snow does not settle. If the angle is small, snow will only be present in the least steep locations. If the angle is high, the snow is also present on steep slopes.
    For example, with value of 34, the following snow coverage is achieved:



    And with value of 50:

    This parameter does not apply to the north faces, which are always 100% covered by snow: only the lowest altitude parameter is applied to the north faces.

  • Depression filling: This parameter propagates the snow onto the concave parts of the terrain.
    For example, with value at 70, the following snow coverage is achieved:



    With the maximum values, only the edges are shown:



Tip: Place it after a Colorize or Advanced Colorize node to achieve the desired color for rocks and sediments. The results are interesting if we have sedimental smoothing and rock erosion: they will smooth the ground and add sediment at the bottom of the slopes to give a snow accumulation effect.

With sedimental smoothing and rock erosion:

Without:

Parameters

Parameter Use
Snow color Sets the snow color.
Lowest altitude Expressed as percentage of the maximum height. Below this value, the color map remains unchanged.
Max slope The angle beyond which the snow does not settle.
Depression filling Propagates the snow onto the concave parts of the terrain..

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