RpTreeMaker - new version Dec 12, 2008

Al Hart · 30 Jan 2009, 16:14

Al,

Just tried out the newest version and it's a lot better. I'm really happy with the results. A couple things though.

It would be nice to have some control over the secondary branching.

Control over the central leader.

Lastly, I was wondering if it were possible to allow an option to create an NPR version of the tree? Something that will be read in a B&W sketchy line style. I tried playing around with unhiding the lines that are around the shadow mask, and this works okay, but it would be great if some of the branching was also translated into line work. I know this may be pushing it, but it's worth a shot.

I passed your comments on to the author. He is working on shrubs and such and perhaps that will help.

I'm trying to think of a good way to get edge lines for the trunk and branches. I think the only way to make this work will be to create a 3D tree with edges. Then the Sketchy Edges should just work. However, this will probably be in the "Pro" version, rather than the free version.

I tried some Sketchy edges on cylinders and they work OK. So if I can create geometry for the branches and leaves, we should be able to get a NPR effect.

Al Hart · 2 Feb 2009, 06:29

@unknownuser said:

I am an ex Forest Ranger and always wanted to try creating fractal trees.

I have downloaded RPtreemaker.
Yes I have used it a lot in the last week and think its excellent.
The program is simple to use but I do get confused between the functions of
bend and horizontal.

I do have some ideas.
I think the trees would be more realistic if there was some randomness
generated between multiple trunks. Most trees with multiple trunks have each
trunk start at different height and with different diameters. I notice that
in the standard type currently multiple trunks are duplicates all starting
at the same height.

It would be great to have a control or two that addressed this issue.

Another factor of reality would be windage. Many locations cause trees to
grow more out one side than the other. The trunk at ground level is not in
the centre of the dripline and the tree ends up asymmetric. A windage
control could address this issue.

I am enjoying using your software and particularly like the uniformity it
gives with the trees in my models. Please keep up the great work.

Thanks for the comments - I will pass them on to the developer, and hopefully he will incorporate some of them in future versions.

xrok1 · 2 Feb 2009, 23:10

sure would be nice if i could get past 100k of the 40 meg download??

looks like a great prog. but please fix the download link i've tried about 20 times now and can't get more than 100k or so of the file then it pauses and times out?

xrok1 · 3 Feb 2009, 00:06

i used bitcomet with 10 connections and finally got it downloaded now when i try to extract it the .zip file is corrupt?????????

Al Hart · 3 Feb 2009, 00:22

sounds like you are having download problems.

Please try again later. Something may be wrong with a site or connection somewhere.

xrok1 · 3 Feb 2009, 01:42

deleted file and downloaded again, i still get "can't open file as archive message" from 7zip and zip file corrupt message from winrar??????????

JClements · 5 Feb 2009, 04:19

Al,

Seems pretty easy to use.

1- Anyway to add an option to "smooth" the junctions for root-to-trunk and trunk-to-branch?
2- Is there a way to stagger (vertically) the primary splitting of the trunk?

This free version for SU would make a good standalone product ... but with a small price of course.

Al Hart · 6 Feb 2009, 04:54

Since SketcnhUp is free, it is probably not much effort for someone who wants a stand alone, to just use SketchUp.

Would you like some other options - such as save image and launch into a paint program?

Or if you are interested in a stand-alone, we could discuss features to add and let you consider marketing and supporting it. We are planning to add shrubs, bushes and other things in the next version.

In a for money version, we could also export a 3D file for use in SketchUp or other CAD systems.

JClements · 6 Feb 2009, 17:19

Hi Al:

From my perspective, as an illustrator, where I have to take photos of sites and modify/enhance them by adding foliage, your app would be very helpful. I know when the situtation arises, I will open SU, create a tree or whatever, and save out the transparent PNG and then import that image into a pixel program or a vector program like CorelDRAW or XaraXtreme to do my final layouts.

In situations where I am not concerned with creating 3D geometry I would just as soon open TreeMaker directly. I did try that already by firing up TreeEditor.exe, which worked fine and I could save an .ArPlant "template" file. However, I didn't see a way of opening the RpTreeMaker dialog without using SU (if there is a way to do this then my posting has been answered ). Otherwise, I could see where TreeMaker Basic standalone (a non-Pro version) was avialable to create transparent PNGs, GIFs, or TIFs and priced at a reasonable price (say under $30 ????) then it might serve as a nice niche application. Additionally, it could have: 1) a link to your site to browse, purchase, and download a tree or libraries of trees in .ArPlant format; similar to the way FormFonts offers its product, and 2) an option to import an image as a background (similar to SU's watermark feature) to facilitate creating trees/foliage with the right proportions.

I haven't any market research to support this suggestion and I don't know what your development costs have been so it may not be economically feasible, but I got the impression you've already addressed all the ground work programatically to do this.

Regards,
John

Al Hart · 6 Feb 2009, 17:37

Thanks for the input. I will consider such a product.

For you own (and other readers who want to run this outside of SketchUp) use, use the Batch Mode in RpTreeMaker to create a batch file.

RpTreeMaker - Render Plus Systems

(www.renderplus.com)

Follow the logic to run the batch file manually. As part of this you will get a .bat file which runs the tree-editor and then runs the image maker. With a little modification (You can change the .bat file to use %1 as an argument for the final image), you can use this to create trees from outside of SketchUp.

As a plug for our other products, (people who hate commercial plugs in posts skip this next part), try using IRender nXt to make even better renderings of your trees for use in other applications. IRender nXt lets you save the entire rendering as an alpha-transparent image for pasting in other images.

JClements · 7 Feb 2009, 03:20

Hi Al:

I followed your instructions (sort of).

After the batch file was created, I copied it and renamed as RpTreeMaker_Standalone.BAT and then made a shortcut to it and dropped the shortcut into my Programs folder.

That seems to work pretty good. However, the resulting PNG file is buried deep in my Document and Settings folder and always given a name of "Standard Tree (9).png (I'm guessing that was the original "template" tree name).

I am pretty shakey with my DOS commands (only been 10 years since I've last typed one in from memory at the Command prompt or created a batch file ).

Is there way that you could modify the attached batch file to:
1- direct the PNG file to my C:\Programs\RpTreeMaker\My_Tree_Library folder and
2- give the PNG file the same name as the .ArPLant file it came from?

John

RpTreeMaker_Standalone.BAT.TXT

Al Hart · 7 Feb 2009, 03:54

I think the trick is going to be to modify the RpTreeMakerArgs.txt file:

Mine looks like this:

C;\tmp\RpTreeMaker>cat  RpTreeMakerArgs.txt
*@KEY;CALLING_APP;RpTreeMaker
*@KEY;APPLICATION_FOLDER;c;/devc_2005/IRenderBatch
*@KEY;PLANT_FILE;c;\tmp\RpTreeMaker\RpArPlant.ArPlant
*@KEY;IMAGE_FILE;c;\tmp\RpTreeMaker\RpTree_1233978674.png
*@KEY;SIZE_FILE;c;\tmp\RpTreeMaker\RpTreeMakerParams.txt
*@KEY;PLANT_PASSES;1

I think that if you change the IMAGE_FILE entry, it will store the image in a different place.

Al Hart · 10 Apr 2009, 03:40

Some people have been having problems running the Tree Editor, either from SketchUp, or directly from the disk.

We now have it creating a debug file as it loads. If you have been having this problem:

Download the latest version from: Downloads
Start the Tree Editor.
If the tree editor fails, go to the RpTreeMaker menu under windows and select Show debug file. Send us the content of the debug file so we can determine where it failed.