[Plugin][$] 3D Tree Maker - New version 1.10.14

pibuz · 6 Sept 2014, 10:35

Hi Pascal! I'm an architecture visualizer and I really really think your plugin is wonderful! Finally a serious and versatile tree generator inside SketchUp!
I especially like the "render proxy" feature: extremely useful when working with big and complex scenes.
Speaking of which, I have a little request for you: I work with Indigo Renderer, and it also supports a proxy system to substitute complex models with lighter ones. You only need to apply the suffix "_dummy" to the desired proxy which will be exported and rendered as the original component (eg. "tree" and corresponding proxy "tree_dummy").
So first thing I did was checking the components window and see what happens when I convert one of your trees to a proxy: I saw nothing happens.

The thing I'd like to ask you is if it's possible for you to add an option to save the dummy proxy to the components list, and maybe name it automatically "name"_dummy so that Indigo Renderer can recognize and export the complex tree model without having to re-render it (and make the SU scene heavy).

Thank you very much in advance!

ijmccoy · 6 Sept 2014, 12:50

@ppoublan said:

@ijmccoy said:

is there a guide for it at all?

Not yet, but I'm working on it... will publish it as soon as available.

@ijmccoy said:

whenever i try to render the leaves disapear and ive no idea why, any help would be great

Which render do you use ?

i've made tests with Octane, Thea, Kerkytea. I could try with your render with evaluation version.
I know some issues with the renders I tested but with good results.

yours
Pascal

using vray for sketchup. if i put a single tree in a model on its own it renders with the leaves but in the model ive just added trees to, they all render without leaves

ppoublan · 7 Sept 2014, 05:17

@ijmccoy said:

using vray for sketchup. if i put a single tree in a model on its own it renders with the leaves but in the model ive just added trees to, they all render without leaves

Hi,
Does this only appears with some trees ? in this case which one ? Could you post one example.
In any case there are two issues I know with many renders :

incorrect handling of colorized textures
incorrect handling of UVs textures when material is applied to a parent group, not to the faces.

Here is an example :

I'm not sure if you are in this case, but if you used trees with PNG textures, due to the render error on UVs, leaves may disappear because of the transparency part of their texture is not correctly placed.

So I made a small script to fix it for trees.

Could you test it and let me know if it works in your case.
3darcstudiotools.rbz
install the extension
before rendering : use the menu 3DArcStudio>Tools>Fix Leaves textures...

Yours
Pascal

ppoublan · 7 Sept 2014, 05:27

@pibuz said:

Speaking of which, I have a little request for you: I work with Indigo Renderer, and it also supports a proxy system to substitute complex models with lighter ones. You only need to apply the suffix "_dummy" to the desired proxy which will be exported and rendered as the original component (eg. "tree" and corresponding proxy "tree_dummy").
So first thing I did was checking the components window and see what happens when I convert one of your trees to a proxy: I saw nothing happens.

The thing I'd like to ask you is if it's possible for you to add an option to save the dummy proxy to the components list, and maybe name it automatically "name"_dummy so that Indigo Renderer can recognize and export the complex tree model without having to re-render it (and make the SU scene heavy).

As there is no standard method defined within Sketchup to manage proxies/ghosts, each plugin and render defined its own method. So the problem is they are not designed to interoperate

By the way this is maybe a good idea for a future Sketchup version to have a standard proxy/ghost management integrated. Maybe Chriss Fullmer is listening ?

In this particular case, from what you say, this could be the way to achieve it :

Create a tree, displayed in full mode
Add a second tree of the same type
You will be asked by TreeMaker if you want to add copies of existing tree or create a new component : answer No to create a new component

You now have two trees that looks the same but each has its own component definition.

Take one of them, rename its definition name to “…_dummy”.
You can now convert it to proxy (right click, change to proxy), and let the other one with full draw.
Place some copies of the _dummy in the model
Hide the other one in order for it not being rendered.

Test the render.

Let me know if it works. If yes I can see how to integrate this operation into the code to ease the process.

Yours
Pascal

Oxer · 7 Sept 2014, 20:01

Hi Pascal,
I use Thea4SU plugin and the problem with the leaves textures exists ( bad UVs leaves in renders) but I have installed the Tools Script and the problem is fixed now.

Another question, when I create a tree in a blank sketchup file, new components appear in the Componentes Window, see the image below:

but when I use Fix Texture Leaves Tool those components disappear, is that correct?

ijmccoy · 8 Sept 2014, 13:55

@ppoublan said:

@ijmccoy said:

using vray for sketchup. if i put a single tree in a model on its own it renders with the leaves but in the model ive just added trees to, they all render without leaves

Hi,
Does this only appears with some trees ? in this case which one ? Could you post one example.
In any case there are two issues I know with many renders :

incorrect handling of colorized textures

incorrect handling of UVs textures when material is applied to a parent group, not to the faces.

Here is an example :

[attachment=2:27t53w9y]uvfix_avant.jpg[/attachment:27t53w9y]

I'm not sure if you are in this case, but if you used trees with PNG textures, due to the render error on UVs, leaves may disappear because of the transparency part of their texture is not correctly placed.

So I made a small script to fix it for trees.

[attachment=1:27t53w9y]uvfix_apres.jpg[/attachment:27t53w9y]

Could you test it and let me know if it works in your case.
[attachment=0:27t53w9y]3darcstudiotools.rbz[/attachment:27t53w9y]
install the extension
before rendering : use the menu 3DArcStudio>Tools>Fix Leaves textures...

Yours
Pascal

Tried the above but still coming out the same, really dont understand it as it works if i start a new sketchup file. Its the same for all trees as well not just 1 type

pibuz · 8 Sept 2014, 14:00

I tested the tool too, and I confirm that this fixed the error (rendering with Indigo Renderer). In sketchUp - like Oxer - I never had any texture issues, BTW.

ppoublan · 8 Sept 2014, 17:45

@oxer said:

Hi Pascal,
Another question, when I create a tree in a blank sketchup file, new components appear in the Componentes Window, see the image below:
[attachment=0:2zktr2wd]New Components.jpg[/attachment:2zktr2wd]
but when I use Fix Texture Leaves Tool those components disappear, is that correct?

Hi oxer,

From what I can see I think all these components are created or loaded by LightUp for Sketchup.
I think it adds them to the model when a tree is drawn just bucause this plugin adds model or components or materials observers and add its own component when one of this list is changed.

They disappears because in Tree Maker and I purge unused materials and unused components.

Yours
pascal

ppoublan · 8 Sept 2014, 17:49

@pibuz said:

I tested the tool too, and I confirm that this fixed the error (rendering with Indigo Renderer). In sketchUp - like Oxer - I never had any texture issues, BTW.

Did you try the proposed method to render proxies with Indigo ? Let me know if it works, so I can see how to make it "scripted automaticaly" into the plugin.
pascal

ppoublan · 8 Sept 2014, 18:41

@ijmccoy said:

it works if i start a new sketchup file. Its the same for all trees as well not just 1 type

Made some tests with vRay without pb. I dont know much about how vray is working. If the problem occurs only on existing SU file, there maybe an issue with cache. Found this option you could try : "Clear folder texture cache"

Oxer · 8 Sept 2014, 19:12

@ppoublan said:

Hi oxer,

From what I can see I think all these components are created or loaded by LightUp for Sketchup.
I think it adds them to the model when a tree is drawn just bucause this plugin adds model or components or materials observers and add its own component when one of this list is changed.

They disappears because in Tree Maker and I purge unused materials and unused components.

Yours
pascal

The the funny thing is that I haven't installed LightUp, for this reason I don't know why these components are created when you place a new tree, perhaps another plugin is the guilty.

EDIT: I have seen in Components Window >Edition the path for these Components --> C:/Program Files/SketchUp/SketchUp 2014/Tools/lightup/components/pointlight-v1.6.skp
I work on Mac and this path in OS X doesn't exist.

ppoublan · 8 Sept 2014, 20:02

@oxer said:

The the funny thing is that I haven't installed LightUp, for this reason I don't know why these components are created when you place a new tree, perhaps another plugin is the guilty.

EDIT: I have seen in Components Window >Edition the path for these Components --> C:/Program Files/SketchUp/SketchUp 2014/Tools/lightup/components/pointlight-v1.6.skp
I work on Mac and this path in OS X doesn't exist.

Sketchup UFO mysteries
Maybe I left some unpurged components with some leaves components definitions. Need to load all one by one to test...

Oxer · 8 Sept 2014, 20:08

@ppoublan said:

Sketchup UFO mysteries
Maybe I left some unpurged components with some leaves components definitions. Need to load all one by one to test...

Yes, that is the error, leaves components files unpurged

ppoublan · 8 Sept 2014, 20:25

"never let a bug, Oxer will point it"
Added to the todo list.

Oxer · 8 Sept 2014, 20:28

It's my problem I'm very perfectionist.
See the flower13 it has another layers too.

Tubeman55 · 28 Feb 2015, 09:12

Hi there,
I am looking for a talented power user of 3D Tree Maker who can support me with creating some trees and plants for professional use. I am willing to spend some dollars for your effort.
Please drop me a line if you are intested and give me some background information about you.

lema · 23 Apr 2015, 12:12

Tell me how to make a dense and clipping like this:

Inside the leaves do not want to not load.

deaneau · 3 Aug 2015, 11:07

hi, i have found a good site for leafes and other think.

(nobacks.com)

Maple Tree Leaves - Image Gallery

(www.3dmd.net)

garystan · 11 Feb 2016, 15:45

Hi everybody :

           Is there a Tree Maker plugin for Sketchup 8 ?  And where do I get it ?  The ones that I DID find are for Collada.

                                                                       garystan

sob80sup81 · 5 Aug 2016, 08:52

Hello,

Is this plugin still actively supported by the developer? I purchased a license expecting to get a more comprehensive library of trees and grass but after keying in the license, no change of tree collection from the free version.