Low Poly Trees - Tree Factory 2

bigstick

Okay, no problem I have taken your original Tree Factory file and added a larger range of branch sizes and types to it.

The idea is to try to expand on it to duplicate even more types of trees with a greater degree of individuality and flexibility.

If you look at branches (I've been doing a lot of this - it's winter in the UK right now and, most of the trees are bare) you'll see that some are straight, some are curved, and some are somewhat twisted.

I'm building a series of branch types that people can use to simulate these. I also tend to use single texture-mapped rectangles, or texture-mapped folded planes (for leaflets) instead of leaf-shaped geometry. This reduces poly count.

Essentially it is the same as your (old) approach, which I think is very logical and simplifies creation.

I'll do a little more work before I upload it, but I'm quite happy to send you what I have beforehand. If you have some useful observations based on what you have already done, I could implement them.

Richard

Your right when you say OLD mate, I'd only just started using SU then - computers in fact! Hence why the leaves are poly - I didn't quite understand textures and possibilities.

I look forward to seeing what you've added!!! To be honest the original tree factory when I look back is just a broken down shite tree.

I've come up with some simple solutions to positioning and orientating all the elements that will really make it a simple process. Where I stopped was with the mapping of the trunks and branches, I played with TomTom's tools and made some observations that would solve this issue, just haven't got back to it!

Naked trees and here dead ones are great opportunities for studying branch forms!!

mitcorb

How about this example from Krisidious a few years back?
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=179&t=25435&p=218427&hilit=jagungal+gum#p218427

bigstick

@ mitcorb - what have you been smoking? Can I have some please?

Richard, I don't really bother too much with mapping. As long as you get the trunk right (I use Whaat's UV plugin for this and use cylindrical mapping - but only if I need it) you don't really notice the mapping on the branches by the time you add the foliage.

This is all based on the principle of building trees to for 3d entourage to decorate scenes, not to render in their own right. In this instance, you would need to texture map the branches properly.

I hope to add leaf options for conifers as well as deciduous trees. I don't think I'm even 50% done yet. Even with deciduous trees there are compound and single leaves, and clusters. Each will need their own approach. Even the way leaves hang varies. Some droop, some are held erect, some simply project. Some are grouped symmetrically, others alternate. So far I have increased the number and variety of branches, next I'm going to work on leaf options.

I'll post something when I have done more on leaves.

I'm conscious of my ignorance about the subject, so I'm learning as I go. I have actually bought 3 books to help me with this!

mitcorb

Bigstick:
Don't blame that on me, Krisidious posted it.

Alan Fraser

Designing complex trees in SU is possible. The gum tree would present some problems, but is not impossible. I did make this mature Live Oak a few years ago...complete with Spanish Moss. The leafy version is just under 5000 faces, the bare branch version is only half that.

Richard

Wow - that's stunning Alan

bigstick

Hmm, a larger version image would be good... I'm not sure if there are some weird things going on, or it's just an optical illusion.

Alan Fraser

Big enough?

Blue Gum
blue gum.jpg

Detail

bigstick

Oh yes - very nice work Alan! I was expecting it to be good because I've seen and bought some of your form fonts stuff in the past.
Don't know what was going on with the previous image, looked a little odd to me.

I have attached some images of the first two trees I have built using a modified version of Richard's TreeFactory.

Needs a little more work (I want to make it so that I have enough components and variations to build all types of trees) but it seems to be coming along nicely.

Render time in Podium (on my MacBook Pro) is quite good.

Acer_campestre 2012-02-04 17225100000.png