[Tutorial] Building a waterfall

EarthMover

I was trying to figure out a quick and easy way to make a model of a waterfall into a pool.

I basically just created a closed arc and took the freehand tool and drew out the general area of the stones.

I grouped all the shapes individually and then push pulled them to the heights. Starting with this as the base. -

I used the Round Edges plugin and rounded the tops of the extruded shapes and softened them to make the boulders. Here's a screen capture of me working on this. Sorry the size is so big...I forgot to minimize it. http://www.screencast.com/users/EarthMover/folders/Jing/media/b754e77f-62ea-4596-a3a0-eada4436950d

For the water I used the Drape Cpoints and Triangulate points plugins and then manipulated the water to spill over the rocks. http://www.screencast.com/users/EarthMover/folders/Jing/media/c7eb106f-d194-43ec-9836-dfcd32587ff5

I added more rocks using the Blend ruby and the freehand tool. http://www.screencast.com/users/EarthMover/folders/Jing/media/d8a3b120-310c-42b1-83ef-d2dbece452b7

From there I did some quick texturing and moved the waterfall into the scene I needed it for and rendered it out for the client.

It could be a lot better with the rocks all having different textures and all, but I didn't have a lot of time allotted to this one.

The technique is there and can be improved and expanded on. I just wanted to share the 3 five minute screen recordings I did while I was modeling.

Max render

SU output

Waterfall texture

Rich O Brien

thanks Adam, that's a great tutorial and i got some great tips on how to appraoch things from a different perspective. Strange how what makes perfect sense to me , in terms of workflow , seems a convoluted approach once you view another user's technique.

Again thanks for the 'How-To' i got alot from it.

d12dozr

Thanks Adam, I also learned lots from this tutorial...in fact I have been wishing some of the SU masters here would post screencasts of random projects - just a glimpse at their workflow would help newbies tremendously.

EarthMover

Thanks guys. I just signed up for a paid Screencast subscription so I could have more bandwith for tutorials. I'll be making more screengrabs in the future.

solo

Adam, cool tutorial, and a few tools you have that I've never used. Yikes you do have lots of plugins, I don't recognise half of them.

Anyway I uploaded a pool waterfall here: http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=21835&p=183387#p183387 I did this a while back and thought seems you have a tutorial going I would share it.

rickgraham

<bowing to the masters> I'm not worthy!

I have a questions which is somewhat related. This is my FIRST model in SU. I know it has all kinds of errors in it (we all have to start somewhere).

I have it on 3DWarehouse: http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/search?q=progress112409&styp=m&btnG=Search&reps=3

My question is how do I model the stream as the water is going down hill (not flat). Any tips you (or anyone) can provide will be greatly appreciated!

Rick

pr0bka

Great tutorial!!! and great texture!!! thanks a lot for the tips. just one question...

how did you edit the alpha channel in Sketch up?? i can't seem to get the black to go away.

robert111

i need triangulate points plugin

EarthMover

robert111, Here's the link for triangulate ruby - http://www.crai.archi.fr/RubyLibraryDepot/Ruby/points_cloud_triangulation.rb

Also renders of two other waterfalls I model with this technique, although the boulders were built separately in these..

Render1 copy.jpg

Layton_Waterfall copy2.jpg

robert111

i dont open this web i dont know why

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EarthMover

Sorry about that. Try here - http://rhin.crai.archi.fr/RubyLibraryDepot/Ruby/en_geo_page.htm

You need to find Points_Cloud_Triangulation.rb. Right click and save the link to your plugins folder. It also requires Delaunay2.rb to work. Find it here - http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?p=117071#p117071