Fractal Tree Maker for SketchUp - Free add-on

Gaieus · 23 Nov 2008, 11:32

Okay, my little "contribution"; a hazelnut like tree (at least that's what I indended to create):
http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=439c4d6359efd9e3ffe3705437c1b39c

@unknownuser said:

...this is a "medium quality" (600 pixel) output of the tree maker. I wanted to create something that is similar to a hazelnut tree/bush and well... this is the first trial. It has roots as well so I placed the origin a bit higher so that the roots merge into the ground a bit but this way some of the branches do so. ...

And a screenshot:

This is a great tool, Al!

thomthom · 23 Nov 2008, 11:55

Very interesting plugin.

Gaieus · 23 Nov 2008, 12:08

Nice one, Alan; I haven't cared for the shadows this time (yet). Though it increases file size as well, if you mean to use it in native SU,it is necessary.

Another one of mine; a "Silver birch" (like) tree:
http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=3df72c0a4f7104a3ffe3705437c1b39c

And the screenshot:

This time I think with a bit more crooked branches than in reality (BTW is this silver birch?)

richcat · 23 Nov 2008, 12:19

Al your a

Leaf if attached if body wants.

Take a look at AndriyG81 for some bark textures.http://www.sketchucation.com/forums/scf/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=13226

Gaieus · 23 Nov 2008, 12:24

Hi Richcat,

Thanks for the leaf! And surely there are a couple of superb bark textures down there!

digby dart · 23 Nov 2008, 12:32

Thanks Al Hart.

solo · 23 Nov 2008, 12:34

Al

When making Palm trees the bend option shows in the raytrace but not in the component, it straightens out.

Alan Fraser · 23 Nov 2008, 12:35

Fill yer boots.
http://local.wasp.uwa.edu.au/~pbourke/texture_colour/bark/

Plus all the leaves you could ever want.
Note: these are links to collections, not the images themselves.
http://www.3dmd.net/gallery/index-22-page-1.html

richcat · 23 Nov 2008, 12:35

Heres another link from old post by ilay7k on leafs, but I have not tried it out yet http://www.polas.net/download/leaves.php

EarthMover · 23 Nov 2008, 12:54

Al, thanks for sharing......this really made my morning. It's like Onyx for Sketchup! Amazing stuff! I'll see if I can do some testing as well.

EDIT - Al, when I download from the link you provided on the renderplus forum, I get a .zip file that is empty (0 bytes)......any ideas?

richcat · 23 Nov 2008, 13:07

@alan fraser said:

I used my technique for exporting a vector outline from PS, then merged that and the image directly in SU. It takes about 10 minutes, but it's a little more controllable.

Hi Alan do you have a link to this please - I tried a quick search with no results.

Alan Fraser · 23 Nov 2008, 13:14

This version isn't quite ready for the 3DW yet, but here's a SU shadow-casting version. I didn't use the script; I used my technique for exporting a vector outline from PS, then merged that and the image directly in SU. It takes about 10 minutes, but it's a little more controllable.

Link to tutorial

tree 8m.skp

Alan Fraser · 23 Nov 2008, 13:15

Link added.

richcat · 23 Nov 2008, 13:23

Thanks Alan (I tried searching "exporting a vector outline from PS")

JuanV.Soler · 23 Nov 2008, 13:28

Thank you very much Al,

Gaieus · 23 Nov 2008, 13:41

@earthmover said:

EDIT - Al, when I download from the link you provided on the renderplus forum, I get a .zip file that is empty (0 bytes)......any ideas?

Try again, Adam; it should work.

bigstick · 23 Nov 2008, 14:17

I have downloaded this and it is an exe file, which means Windows only. Any chance of a Mac version too Al?

Al Hart · 23 Nov 2008, 14:46

@bigstick said:

I have downloaded this and it is an exe file, which means Windows only. Any chance of a Mac version too Al?

The Fractal tree software is Windows only, and I just can't seem to get the developer interested in MAC version.

Al Hart · 23 Nov 2008, 14:57

@at3d said:

Stu, I have installed and located within SU but when pressed to, what I hope will activate, nothing happens in SU.

My machine is running Vista, could this be an issue?

Try opening the Ruby Console, and typing in: load('RpTreemaker,rb') and see if you get any error messages. Of if you get any error messages when you click Plugins/RpTreeMaker.rb

If there are no problems there, go to: Program Files\Render Plus Systems\RpTreeMaker
and see what happens when you run TreeEditor.exe by hand. There may be a DLL or something which is missing.

Al Hart · 23 Nov 2008, 15:01

@alan fraser said:

Excellent Plugin Al. It's good to hear that it's technically possible to load new bark textures also.

We didn't learn that we could add bark and leaves until yesterday. If I had read Richcat's leaf post earlier (and more carefully) I would have known.

If you use your own leaves and bark and post the model to the 3D Warehouse, then anyone downloading the model and trying to use the same leaves and bark as the basis for a new tree will not have them. The 2D image will work fine - but if you want to use the .ArPlant tree definition, the images will be missing.

We will plan to store the images on the SU component as well, so that users can truly share the designs.