Modeling a forest

[jim smith]

[quote="elderla"]Hello everyone
OK, maybe I can't model a forest with individual trees. If I need half a million or so. So does anyone know anything about bulk modeling forest areas, like some kind of bubble model painted in tree paint? or whatever? I remember discussions of this sort of thing years ago on the old SketchUp forums (fora?) before Google.......but I don't remember anything specific.

Hi Donna, quite an ambitious project. I think this discussion and plug-in might help with the bulk modeling process....

http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=323&t=11746&st=0&sk=t&sd=a

Component spray. Several pages of discussion that might help. There is also a way to drop them onto contours.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

Jim

[nothingman]

Alan's suggestion looks like its a good one for overhead views. I'll have to put that one in my tool box. One technique I've used for modeling large areas of forested terrain is to use an aerial photo and project that texture on the contour map, then come back in with a series of tree line objects that i build. basically a photo of a forest edge without bothering with casting shadows. I set these up in a loose lattice in middle areas, similar to where Alan is using his aerial rug and use individual trees around the edges. This can be a very good technique for showing specific views, especially lower angle perspectives. Sorry I don't have any examples to share, but I got the idea based on someones tutorial for making realistic grass that was posted here years ago.