What you will learn:

-- Using Flattenize to create an ocean grid.

-- Using the displacement map plug-in to displace the ocean grid.

-- Using the shader to add realistic coloring and glitter to the ocean.

1. Enter modeler, and select L-Script as the plug-in.

2. Select the Grid L-Script. This is located in the Tutorials/NatureFX/grid folder.

3. Set the grid density to 50. This will create a 50x50 grid.

4. Name the surface "Ocean Surf" and save the object.

5. In layout, load the grid object that we just created. Under Displacement Map Plug-ins select DR Flattenize.

6. Leave all parameters to their default values and exit the objects panel.

7. Move the Camera position to: X: 2.5, Y: 83cm Z: -14m

8. Move one frame forward so layout can refresh itself. Notice that the grid perfectly fits the viewing volume. We now have the geometry we need to apply the waves to. So, let’s do that.

9. Under Displacement Map Plug-ins select DR NatureFX Ocean as the second plug-in in the list, right after Flattenize. Leave all values default. This will now displace the grid that Flattenize creates. Exit back into layout.

10. Scrub the frame slider back and fourth. You should see the ocean surface moving.

11. Go to the surfaces panel, and select OceanSurf. Go to advanced options, and select the DR NatureFX Ocean Shader plug-in. Leave all values default.

12. Turn on Smoothing for the surface in the surfaces panel.

13. We want the ocean to reflect the sky, so go to the effects panel->Backdrop and Fog, and Select gradient backdrop. Exit back into layout and do test render. The resulting image should look like this:

14. Not very interesting, but we’re making progress. Next, we want to see some nice glitter on the ocean. To do this we need to modify the angle of the light source to look toward the camera.

15. Select the Light. Change its rotation values to: H: -180 P: 20 B: 0

16. Render the scene. You should see a basic ocean reflecting the blue sky. The light should be creating a glitter on the ocean surface.

17. Save the scene. We will be adding more detail to this scene in Part 2 by fine tuning the surface with the shader.