Planet texture generator

Question

What cross-platform (or cross-browser) resources are available to help make texture maps for generating beautiful planetary images using Blender (Cycles)? Ideally, these would include:

• Terrain maps (colour, land, ocean, lakes, rivers, mountains, etc.)
• Height maps (normal and bump)
• Specular masks (land mask)
• Cloud maps
• Gas giants

Answer 1

Custom Texture Map Generators

Software to help generate planetary texture maps.

• Rye Terrell's texture map generator
• Planet generator
• TerraNoise
• PlanetMaker
• Sci-Fi World Generator (Map Palette option has a land mask)
• Experilous Planet Generator
• Cloud Maps
• Fracplanet
• Terraform (X11)

Java

• TerraJ
• Planet Genesis (website)

Unavailable

Software that is offline, defunct, unreleased, or otherwise unavailable but still potentially useful.

• Fractal Worldmap Generator (defunct)
• Scientific Exoplanets Renderer (unreleased)

Source Code

Links to uncompiled software.

• Planet generator (mirror 2)
• Planet generator
• http://www.oocities.org/area51/6902/t_torben.html (Java version of Torben's code)
• https://github.com/unconed/NFSpace
• https://github.com/fluffyfreak/GLSLPlanet
• Fracplanet
• Fractal Worldmap Generator

Free Maps

Maps of various resolutions (often without specular, cloud, or normal maps).

• Extraterrestrial Planetary Surface Texture's for Imaging Professionals
• Flatplanet
• Planet Texture Maps 01 (by Hameed)
• Pix For Planet Texture Maps (various, license unknown)
• Deep Time Maps
• Maps of Fictional Worlds

Solar System

• NASA Images and Textures
• Planetary Pixel Emporium
• JPL/Cassini Saturn's Moons

Tutorials

Comprehensive web pages that describe various ways to craft realistic texture maps.

• Making Worlds (C++)
• http://xnameetingpoint.weebly.com/planets1.html
• libnoise (how to use the API)
• Using "Planet" for 16-bit maps
• Orthographic projection of 2D SVG texture map onto 3D SVG sphere

GIMP

• Creating Normal Maps
• GIMP Planet Making

Photoshop

• Create Planets in Photoshop

Binaries

Binaries that run under Windows and Wine.

• Planet Editor
• Wilbur (run winetricks vcrun2010 to install missing DLLs)

Related

Related information about planetary texture maps.

• Rules Can Be Beautiful (TEDx Talk, jump to 7m 30s)
• Procedural Planets, Heightmaps and Textures

Research, Whitepapers

• Height Maps, Cube Maps, etc.
• Planet Map Generation by Tetrahedral Subdivision
• Procedural generation and realtime rendering of planetary bodies
• Planetary Scale Terrain Composition

Palettes

Cartography palettes for planetary colours.

• Standard Color Palettes for Relief Maps
• Archive of colour gradients

Long Live the Rainbow

Creating beautiful relief models

Best Colour for Elevation (no snow)

Best Colour for Elevation (with snow)

ESRI Mapping Center

Red, Blue, Green

Palettes given as red, green, blue values.

Snowball colors

Palette {
  Class          "IceWorld"
  StyleRange     (0.00, 0.00)
  colorSea       (1.00, 1.00, 1.00, 0.50)
  colorShelf     (0.95, 0.95, 0.95, 0.50)
  colorBeach     (0.80, 0.80, 0.80, 0.75)
  colorDesert    (0.85, 0.85, 0.85, 1.00)
  colorLowland   (0.87, 0.87, 0.87, 1.00)
  colorUpland    (0.93, 0.93, 0.93, 1.00)
  colorRock      (1.00, 1.00, 1.00, 1.00)
  colorSnow      (1.00, 1.00, 1.00, 1.00)
}

White-brown colors

Palette {
  Class          "IceWorld"
  StyleRange     (0.00, 0.00)
  colorSea       (0.30, 0.25, 0.22, 0.00)
  colorShelf     (0.37, 0.31, 0.28, 0.00)
  colorBeach     (0.56, 0.47, 0.42, 0.20)
  colorDesert    (0.70, 0.70, 0.70, 0.50)
  colorLowland   (0.70, 0.70, 0.70, 0.80)
  colorUpland    (0.65, 0.65, 0.65, 1.00)
  colorRock      (0.60, 0.60, 0.60, 1.00)
  colorSnow      (1.00, 1.00, 1.00, 1.00)
}

Blue ice

Palette {
  Class          "IceWorld"
  StyleRange     (0.00, 0.00)
  colorSea       (0.30, 0.25, 0.22, 0.00)
  colorShelf     (0.37, 0.31, 0.28, 0.00)
  colorBeach     (0.65, 0.86, 0.88, 0.20)
  colorDesert    (0.59, 0.76, 0.80, 0.50)
  colorLowland   (0.93, 0.95, 0.95, 0.80)
  colorUpland    (0.90, 0.98, 0.98, 1.00)
  colorRock      (0.60, 0.60, 0.60, 1.00)
  colorSnow      (1.00, 1.00, 1.00, 1.00)
}

Purple colors

Palette {
  Class          "IceWorld"
  StyleRange     (0.00, 0.00)
  colorSea       (0.30, 0.25, 0.22, 0.00)
  colorShelf     (0.37, 0.31, 0.28, 0.00)
  colorBeach     (0.82, 0.77, 0.81, 0.20)
  colorDesert    (0.64, 0.52, 0.56, 0.50)
  colorLowland   (0.53, 0.41, 0.44, 0.80)
  colorUpland    (0.56, 0.41, 0.45, 1.00)
  colorRock      (0.60, 0.60, 0.60, 1.00)
  colorSnow      (1.00, 1.00, 1.00, 1.00)
}

Orange impurities

Palette {
  Class          "IceWorld"
  StyleRange     (0.00, 0.00)
  colorSea       (0.30, 0.25, 0.22, 0.00)
  colorShelf     (0.37, 0.31, 0.28, 0.00)
  colorBeach     (0.98, 0.98, 0.96, 1.00)
  colorDesert    (0.73, 0.35, 0.14, 0.50)
  colorLowland   (0.82, 0.37, 0.17, 0.80)
  colorUpland    (0.98, 0.98, 0.96, 1.00)
  colorRock      (0.60, 0.60, 0.60, 1.00)
  colorSnow      (1.00, 1.00, 1.00, 1.00)
}

Pardo

Palette {
  Class          "IceWorld"
  StyleRange     (0.00, 0.00)
  colorSea       (0.30, 0.25, 0.22, 0.00)
  colorShelf     (0.37, 0.31, 0.28, 0.00)
  colorBeach     (0.78, 0.75, 0.64, 1.00)
  colorDesert    (0.51, 0.44, 0.34, 0.50)
  colorLowland   (0.63, 0.58, 0.45, 0.80)
  colorUpland    (0.91, 0.90, 0.75, 1.00)
  colorRock      (0.39, 0.39, 0.23, 1.00)
  colorSnow      (1.00, 1.00, 1.00, 1.00)
}

Ganymede 2

Palette {
  Class          "IceWorld"
  StyleRange     (0.00, 0.00)
  colorSea       (0.30, 0.25, 0.22, 0.00)
  colorShelf     (0.37, 0.31, 0.28, 0.00)
  colorBeach     (0.77, 0.70, 0.64, 1.00)
  colorDesert    (0.82, 0.75, 0.69, 0.50)
  colorLowland   (0.73, 0.70, 0.64, 0.80)
  colorUpland    (0.69, 0.65, 0.61, 1.00)
  colorRock      (0.53, 0.43, 0.37, 1.00)
  colorSnow      (1.00, 1.00, 1.00, 1.00)
}

Brown-grey colors

Palette {
  Class          "IceWorld"
  StyleRange     (0.00, 0.00)
  colorSea       (0.30, 0.25, 0.22, 0.00)
  colorShelf     (0.37, 0.31, 0.28, 0.00)
  colorBeach     (0.60, 0.56, 0.54, 1.00)
  colorDesert    (0.49, 0.36, 0.25, 0.50)
  colorLowland   (0.75, 0.69, 0.66, 0.80)
  colorUpland    (0.76, 0.74, 0.70, 1.00)
  colorRock      (0.25, 0.21, 0.15, 1.00)
  colorSnow      (1.00, 1.00, 1.00, 1.00)
}

Blue-grey

Palette {
  Class          "GasGiant"
  StyleRange     (0.00, 0.00)
  colorSea       (0.28, 0.26, 0.25, 1.00)
  colorShelf     (0.30, 0.28, 0.27, 1.00)
  colorBeach     (0.01, 0.01, 0.03, 1.00)
  colorDesert    (0.22, 0.30, 0.41, 1.00)
  colorLowland   (0.69, 0.61, 0.53, 1.00)
  colorUpland    (0.30, 0.29, 0.27, 1.00)
  colorRock      (0.41, 0.37, 0.36, 1.00)
  colorSnow      (0.61, 0.59, 0.70, 1.00)
}

Light colour

Palette {
  Class          "GasGiant"
  StyleRange     (0.00, 0.00)
  colorSea       (0.28, 0.26, 0.25, 1.00)
  colorShelf     (0.30, 0.28, 0.27, 1.00)
  colorBeach     (0.79, 0.75, 0.72, 1.00)
  colorDesert    (0.75, 0.73, 0.72, 1.00)
  colorLowland   (0.68, 0.67, 0.64, 1.00)
  colorUpland    (0.57, 0.59, 0.60, 1.00)
  colorRock      (0.55, 0.55, 0.56, 1.00)
  colorSnow      (0.69, 0.66, 0.62, 1.00)
}

Red-brown-grey colors

Palette {
  Class          "GasGiant"
  StyleRange     (0.00, 0.00)
  colorSea       (0.28, 0.26, 0.25, 1.00)
  colorShelf     (0.30, 0.28, 0.27, 1.00)
  colorBeach     (0.08, 0.04, 0.04, 1.00)
  colorDesert    (0.90, 0.42, 0.25, 1.00)
  colorLowland   (0.62, 0.11, 0.10, 1.00)
  colorUpland    (0.90, 0.42, 0.25, 1.00)
  colorRock      (0.34, 0.16, 0.09, 1.00)
  colorSnow      (0.69, 0.66, 0.62, 1.00)
}

Red-black-grey colors

Palette {
  Class          "GasGiant"
  StyleRange     (0.00, 0.00)
  colorSea       (0.28, 0.26, 0.25, 1.00)
  colorShelf     (0.30, 0.28, 0.27, 1.00)
  colorBeach     (0.08, 0.04, 0.04, 1.00)
  colorDesert    (0.08, 0.04, 0.04, 1.00)
  colorLowland   (0.62, 0.11, 0.10, 1.00)
  colorUpland    (0.08, 0.04, 0.04, 1.00)
  colorRock      (0.34, 0.16, 0.09, 1.00)
  colorSnow      (0.69, 0.66, 0.62, 1.00)
}

Light brown colors

Palette {
  Class          "GasGiant"
  StyleRange     (0.00, 0.00)
  colorSea       (0.84, 0.73, 0.57, 1.00)
  colorShelf     (0.85, 0.75, 0.60, 1.00)
  colorBeach     (0.34, 0.29, 0.20, 1.00)
  colorDesert    (0.46, 0.38, 0.27, 1.00)
  colorLowland   (0.56, 0.47, 0.32, 1.00)
  colorUpland    (0.58, 0.50, 0.36, 1.00)
  colorRock      (0.73, 0.63, 0.48, 1.00)
  colorSnow      (0.69, 0.66, 0.62, 1.00)
}

Grey colors

Palette {
  Class          "GasGiant"
  StyleRange     (0.00, 0.00)
  colorSea       (0.81, 0.81, 0.81, 1.00)
  colorShelf     (0.63, 0.65, 0.65, 1.00)
  colorBeach     (0.58, 0.56, 0.58, 1.00)
  colorDesert    (0.61, 0.61, 0.63, 1.00)
  colorLowland   (0.72, 0.72, 0.72, 1.00)
  colorUpland    (0.78, 0.78, 0.78, 1.00)
  colorRock      (0.54, 0.54, 0.56, 1.00)
  colorSnow      (0.69, 0.66, 0.62, 1.00)
}

Dark grey colors

Palette {
  Class          "GasGiant"
  StyleRange     (0.00, 0.00)
  colorSea       (0.30, 0.30, 0.30, 1.00)
  colorShelf     (0.30, 0.30, 0.30, 1.00)
  colorBeach     (0.25, 0.25, 0.25, 1.00)
  colorDesert    (0.25, 0.25, 0.25, 1.00)
  colorLowland   (0.30, 0.30, 0.30, 1.00)
  colorUpland    (0.80, 0.80, 0.80, 1.00)
  colorRock      (0.24, 0.24, 0.26, 1.00)
  colorSnow      (0.30, 0.30, 0.30, 1.00)
}

Dark grey with more white clouds

Palette {
  Class          "GasGiant"
  StyleRange     (0.00, 0.00)
  colorSea       (0.30, 0.30, 0.30, 1.00)
  colorShelf     (0.80, 0.80, 0.80, 1.00)
  colorBeach     (0.25, 0.25, 0.25, 1.00)
  colorDesert    (0.25, 0.25, 0.25, 1.00)
  colorLowland   (0.30, 0.30, 0.30, 1.00)
  colorUpland    (0.80, 0.80, 0.80, 1.00)
  colorRock      (0.24, 0.24, 0.26, 1.00)
  colorSnow      (0.30, 0.30, 0.30, 1.00)
}
Deserts:

Olivine mountains

Palette {
  Class          "Desert"
  StyleRange     (0.00, 0.00)
  colorSea       (0.69, 0.54, 0.42, 0.00)
  colorShelf     (0.64, 0.50, 0.37, 0.00)
  colorBeach     (0.86, 0.70, 0.50, 0.00)
  colorDesert    (0.75, 0.59, 0.42, 0.00)
  colorLowland   (0.63, 0.48, 0.35, 0.00)
  colorUpland    (0.38, 0.30, 0.20, 0.00)
  colorRock      (0.09, 0.12, 0.07, 0.00)
  colorSnow      (1.00, 1.00, 1.00, 1.00)
}

Red desert

Palette {
  Class          "Desert"
  StyleRange     (0.00, 0.00)
  colorSea       (0.69, 0.54, 0.42, 0.00)
  colorShelf     (0.64, 0.50, 0.37, 0.00)
  colorBeach     (0.81, 0.45, 0.32, 0.00)
  colorDesert    (0.61, 0.31, 0.21, 0.00)
  colorLowland   (0.76, 0.45, 0.32, 0.00)
  colorUpland    (0.96, 0.57, 0.39, 0.00)
  colorRock      (0.42, 0.24, 0.16, 0.00)
  colorSnow      (1.00, 1.00, 1.00, 1.00)
}

Cream and red dunes

Palette {
  Class          "Desert"
  StyleRange     (0.00, 0.00)
  colorSea       (0.69, 0.54, 0.42, 0.00)
  colorShelf     (0.64, 0.50, 0.37, 0.00)
  colorBeach     (0.80, 0.77, 0.51, 0.00)
  colorDesert    (0.88, 0.67, 0.48, 0.00)
  colorLowland   (0.80, 0.69, 0.49, 0.00)
  colorUpland    (0.99, 1.00, 0.75, 0.00)
  colorRock      (0.56, 0.50, 0.30, 0.00)
  colorSnow      (1.00, 1.00, 1.00, 1.00)
}

Arid badlands

Palette {
  Class          "Desert"
  StyleRange     (0.00, 0.00)
  colorSea       (0.69, 0.54, 0.42, 0.00)
  colorShelf     (0.64, 0.50, 0.37, 0.00)
  colorBeach     (0.69, 0.46, 0.35, 0.00)
  colorDesert    (0.43, 0.24, 0.18, 0.00)
  colorLowland   (0.49, 0.38, 0.39, 0.00)
  colorUpland    (0.90, 0.51, 0.33, 0.00)
  colorRock      (0.37, 0.25, 0.27, 0.00)
  colorSnow      (1.00, 1.00, 1.00, 1.00)
}

Red and yellow surface

Palette {
  Class          "Desert"
  StyleRange     (0.00, 0.00)
  colorSea       (0.69, 0.54, 0.42, 0.00)
  colorShelf     (0.64, 0.50, 0.37, 0.00)
  colorBeach     (0.51, 0.35, 0.27, 0.00)
  colorDesert    (0.74, 0.58, 0.36, 0.00)
  colorLowland   (0.65, 0.52, 0.27, 0.00)
  colorUpland    (0.67, 0.47, 0.32, 0.00)
  colorRock      (0.50, 0.34, 0.24, 0.00)
  colorSnow      (1.00, 1.00, 1.00, 1.00)
}

Light turquesa desert

Palette {
  Class          "Desert"
  StyleRange     (0.00, 0.00)
  colorSea       (0.69, 0.54, 0.42, 0.00)
  colorShelf     (0.64, 0.50, 0.37, 0.00)
  colorBeach     (0.41, 0.67, 0.63, 0.00)
  colorDesert    (0.26, 0.31, 0.23, 0.00)
  colorLowland   (0.49, 0.63, 0.49, 0.00)
  colorUpland    (0.38, 0.59, 0.50, 0.00)
  colorRock      (0.36, 0.39, 0.33, 0.00)
  colorSnow      (1.00, 1.00, 1.00, 1.00)
}

Contrast colors

Palette {
  Class          "Desert"
  StyleRange     (0.00, 0.00)
  colorSea       (0.69, 0.54, 0.42, 0.00)
  colorShelf     (0.64, 0.50, 0.37, 0.00)
  colorBeach     (0.51, 0.51, 0.49, 0.00)
  colorDesert    (0.19, 0.19, 0.22, 0.00)
  colorLowland   (0.55, 0.49, 0.46, 0.00)
  colorUpland    (0.49, 0.49, 0.47, 0.00)
  colorRock      (0.42, 0.41, 0.40, 0.00)
  colorSnow      (1.00, 1.00, 1.00, 1.00)
}

Butano

Palette {
  Class          "Desert"
  StyleRange     (0.00, 0.00)
  colorSea       (0.69, 0.54, 0.42, 0.00)
  colorShelf     (0.64, 0.50, 0.37, 0.00)
  colorBeach     (0.92, 0.56, 0.26, 0.00)
  colorDesert    (0.85, 0.50, 0.24, 0.00)
  colorLowland   (0.71, 0.47, 0.29, 0.00)
  colorUpland    (0.55, 0.40, 0.33, 0.00)
  colorRock      (0.51, 0.43, 0.40, 0.00)
  colorSnow      (1.00, 1.00, 1.00, 1.00)
}