Tree problem

jim_tim · 5 Feb 2012, 19:13

I found some pine trees on 3D warehouse that i thought would look nice in my model. However, when I copied and pasted them into 'my model' they appear to have white bits in-between the leaves which they didnt show in the original 3D warehouse model. see below

original 3D warehouse model:

My model:

Also, when I hit render(Vray) the appearance of the trees shows the leaves in their full jpeg format:

Is there a workaround for this?

Cheers

Gaieus · 5 Feb 2012, 20:20

Can you post a link? The first white areas may be shadow caster dummy components. For Vray to render these trees well, you will probably add a clipmap (it can be easily generated from an image file that has transparent areas).

andre51 · 5 Feb 2012, 21:08

Hi Jim

Will this work? It works for me in Maxwell. Shadows in render ok...
PineTree1.skp

Andre

jim_tim · 6 Feb 2012, 13:37

Ok so I upgraded to sketchup 8 (from 7) because I couldn't open Andre's file. This seemed to cure the white bits inbetween the branches whilst in the model. However, Even the tree model Andre sent me is rendering the white around the branches..... see below:

What would you guys suggest I do to get around this problem. I'd really like to use Andre's tree or the first trees I was using in my Vray renders but I'm not sure how to lose the white bits.

Alan Fraser · 6 Feb 2012, 14:10

The images (and shadow casters) in that tree are png files...and V-ray doesn't like png files. I believe that the very latest version can deal with png transparency, but any earlier version is going to produce exactly what you are seeing...with the transparent sections rendering as opaque white. You'll either need to upgrade, use the original png images to produce separate diffuse and transparency maps...or use something like Twilight.

Gaieus · 6 Feb 2012, 14:37

@jim_tim said:

Ok so I upgraded to sketchup 8 (from 7) because I couldn't open Andre's file. This seemed to cure the white bits inbetween the branches whilst in the model.

That could have simple been caused by transparency settings under Styles in SU 7 (and a fresh, new install of SU 8 may have a different style applied - although if it's the same model, who knows)

@jim_tim said:

However, Even the tree model Andre sent me is rendering the white around the branches...

@alan fraser said:

The images (and shadow casters) in that tree are png files...and V-ray doesn't like png files. I believe that the very latest version can deal with png transparency, but any earlier version is going to produce exactly what you are seeing...with the transparent sections rendering as opaque white.

@gaieus said:

For Vray to render these trees well, you will probably add a clipmap (it can be easily generated from an image file that has transparent areas).

Are you reading those suggestions?

jim_tim · 6 Feb 2012, 14:39

I'd quite like to try this......."use the original png images to produce separate diffuse and transparency maps". Can anyone point me in the direction of a tutorial on how to do this or is it pretty straight forward?

Thanks everyone for their suggestions and advice so far

Alan Fraser · 6 Feb 2012, 15:01

You'll need something like Photoshop, PSP, Photopaint or Gimp to get diffuse and transparency maps.
For the diffuse, I'd suggest opening the original png, placing another layer behind it and flood-filling that in a similar green. Then flatten the image and save as a jpg.

For the transparency map, you'll need to again open the png, the magic-wand select the transparent areas, then use that selection mask to produce an image that is pure white where you want opacity and pure black where you want transparency.

In other words, you'll get an mage of the branches as a white silhouette on a black background.
You may need to invert this in V-Ray. There is an invert check box on the clip map dialog.

andybot · 6 Feb 2012, 15:39

in vray - there's an option in the material editor on the diffuse layer to "use color texture as transparency". Check that box and you should be good to go. Don't need to worry about alpha maps...

Alan Fraser · 6 Feb 2012, 19:12

I think that's only in the latest version, Andy. No such box on earlier ones.

andybot · 6 Feb 2012, 19:51

@alan fraser said:

I think that's only in the latest version, Andy. No such box on earlier ones.

That's true. What version are you on jim_tim?

jim_tim · 8 Feb 2012, 15:23

Guys, I'm sorry I should've mentioned earlier that I'm using version 1.48.89. Andybot's suggestion worked Thank you all for your input. Problem solved thank you very much

Don't know what I'd do without this forum lol.