Tree Generator Plugin

[mtpeak2]

another pic.

[zacktaich]

I don't want to see this thread die.

[mediaho]

 

Not happy with the banding in the volumetric light.

[ZPiDER]

ok, the decal stamp creation is now finished (i hope).

as with any other decal in a:m, you can add or replace images in the decal and by that control more than one attribute with it (or control it differenly).

 

also the groups dont need to be pre-existent.

the groups in the screenshot were directly created by the plugin.

 

i have also added another spline ring for each main segment.

this creates more useful groups, but makes the main branch a bit bumpy .. i'll see if i can fix that, probably i'll lose the extra ring again.

[gschumsky]

i have also added another spline ring for each main segment.

this creates more useful groups, but makes the main branch a bit bumpy .. i'll see if i can fix that, probably i'll lose the extra ring again.

Actually, I've never seen a tree that isn't somewhat bumpy. Even the really smooth ones have parts where branches get fatter/thinner. And the cool thing is with these extra rings, we can tweak by hand which way the bump goes by pulling on it. This would make the trees generated even more realistic. What would be cool is to add some sort of random generator (seed--no pun intended) to make those ring splines fall out of line just a bit to simulate nature more closely.

This is getting more exciting every time I come to check it out.

Thanks for the great work Zpider!

[ZPiDER]

another day, and again its 2:00 am and another premiere:

target surfaces can now be animated!

this example doesnt show it off too well, but it actually uses a rotating target surface to get the twisting of the tree.

[ZPiDER]

here a more extreme example

[zacktaich]

Looks good for swaying in the wind... I think I'm gonna make an animated .gif later.

[ZPiDER]

Looks good for swaying in the wind... I think I'm gonna make an animated .gif later.

no sorry for the confusion.

animating the target surface results in a static tree, but think of the target surface as a "light source".

along its life, the tree always grows towards the light source, until it reaches it.

and now you can animate this light source.

 

i'll have to make a small tut explaining how to "design" the tree with this feature, but it gives you a lot of power.

 

i've got something cooking for the swaying though

 

also: this version is not up yet. still have to fix some minor things.

the next version will likely only work with 11.0 beta6 and higher.

[zacktaich]

Ok, why won't it work with 10.5? sounds cool anyways.

 

Look forward to the "swaying" feature.

 

Zack

[ZPiDER]

ok heres a small tutorial on how to create a tree with an animated target surface:

 

Step 1: Build Target Surface

 

first you need to construct your target surface. i have just made a "half-torus".

i have also added a bone and assigned the targets cps to it. you can also see the "base" group.

now is also a good time to adjust your thickness, branchlength, regularity and locality curves if needed.

save the project.

[ZPiDER]

Step 2: Test for Depth

 

now invoke the TreeeZ plugin.

we are doing this to find out how many levels your tree will have. depending on your target surface and on your locality curve the number of generated levels may vary greatly.

the example tree had 8 levels (0=the topmost level, 7=the trunks base)

note the number as

and reload your saved project

[ZPiDER]

Step 3: Animate Target Surface

 

now its time for the fun part: animate the target surface!

some important things:

- leave the first frame untouched

- animate until frame

(in our example Frame 7!)

 

what is at frame 0 will affect the trees base,

what is at frame 7 wil affect the trees deepest tips.

 

think of the target surface as a light source.

the time from 0 to 7 is the time the tree growed from seed to now.

animating this light source will affect how the tree grows.

[ZPiDER]

Step 4: Generate!

 

now let it grow.

IMPORTANT: go to frame 0

then rightclick,wizard,treeez

 

note how the tree first grows outwards and then up and back inwards. additionally i made the bone spin, this gives the tree its twisted shape.

[ZPiDER]

and finally a render.

i've just slapped some streaks on level0 through 3 and rendered.

[ZPiDER]

and here is the test project file

TreeZ_03_test.prj

[ZPiDER]

you will also need this tga for the project ..

treemap.tga

[ZPiDER]

TreeeZ Version 0.3 PC for V11.0

 

+ automatic generation of decal stamp along length

+ target surfaces can be animated (bone animation)

+ "base" group remains free

+ level-groups dont have to be preexistent

+ extra spline ring for main branches

- level0 branches might not reach target cp anymore

 

and some minor changes to algorithms.

 

i dont know much about the compatibility of the plugin.

i have tested it with a:m v11.0 beta6. users of earlier versions, please report!

TreeeZ.hxt

[Grubber]

Whaaaaoooooaaaww!!!!

ZPiDER, thanks a lot!

I know You hear it all the time!

[Morten]

Hi.

Just tested ver. 0.3 pc in a:m 10.5r....and...no go

Time to uppgrade I suppose.

Keep up the good work, ZPiDER!

 

morten

[ZPiDER]

i'm afraid that i cant make it work then in 10.5 .. i'll give it a try today though.

[ZPiDER]

TreeeZ Version 0.3 PC for 10.5

 

Same as TreeeZ Version 0.3 PC for 11.0, plus:

- does NOT create level groups

+ gives level depth (needed for tut) in info popup

TreeeZ.hxt

[Morten]

Goodie!

Works as a charm so far. Thanx a bunch!

 

m

[KenH]

Just to say there's great progress on this plugin. Nice work! It's a pity I haven't had time to play lately....hopefully soon!

[stephen]

I know the latest download was for 10.5, but I tested it in 9.0q anyway, and it doesn't work. The previous 0.3 version doesn't work in 9.0q either.

 

Ah well.

[ZPiDER]

I know the latest download was for 10.5, but I tested it in 9.0q anyway, and it doesn't work. The previous 0.3 version doesn't work in 9.0q either.

unfortunately its not possible for me to devlop for all possible a:m versions.

firstly, certain features of the plugin would have to be stripped, as they require newer sdk functions. secondly i would have to build, test and compile the versions.

 

if you like what you see, go ahead and upgrade to 10.5/11.0! its really worth it. and not just for the TreeeZ plugin

[mediaho]

if you like what you see, go ahead and upgrade to 10.5/11.0! its really worth it. and not just for the TreeeZ plugin

But that certainly doesn't hurt!

 

10.5 and 11 are really worlds above v9.x. Until 10.5 came out, I was still using 8.5 because of v9's instability and missing functions. You won't regret upgrading.

 

And anyone who hasn't made the leap past 8.5 because of the interface changes, just do it. I was hesitant at first but now I zip around in there quicker than I did in 8.5.

[stephen]

I'd love to upgrade. Part of the reason why I haven't is because I've been a student and haven't been working. As such, I haven't really had a lot of money. And I know $99 is quite cheap for an upgrade, but I come from Australia, so that's $USD99 + $USD35 International shipping (from the Hash website), which works out to be $USD134 for the cost of the upgrade. Then, I have to convert that to Aussie dollars, which works out to be about $AUD175.37. And even that won't be the exact price, as the exchange rate is always changing, so it could be from anywhere between 170-180 Aussie dollars.

 

I'm not complaining or anything, I'm just explaining why I haven't upgraded yet.

 

 

At least the original version of the plugin you released works with my version. I still have fun making trees with it!

[Sharky]

Hi Marcel!

 

I would like to ask you , that: Is your Treez plugin free?

 

Do everybody use it?

 

Sharky

[ZPiDER]

I would like to ask you , that: Is your Treez plugin free?

yes its free.

please use it and post pics here!

[mtpeak2]

The lighting isn't the best but here it is. If its too dark I'll add more light and post.

[mtpeak2]

I forgot to post this one. It's woody's family tree.

[mtpeak2]

Forgot to add the pic. Sorry.

[Sharky]

I would like to ask you , that: Is your Treez plugin free?

yes its free.

please use it and post pics here!

Hi Marcel!

 

Thanks for you,and I try your plugin

and I will post a picture and my opinion!

 

Sharky

[johnl3d]

Tried the 10.5 version with a sprite leave set of green feathers

 

 

 

nice trunk maker

 

picture with and without "leaves"

 

 

 

Thanks johnl3d

[mark73777]

can this work for mac?

[stephen]

can this work for mac?

A Mac version was done not too long ago.

 

http://www.hash.com/forums/index.php?showt...135entry24139

 

That address should take you to the appropriate post.

[mtpeak2]

Shaggy is having a little bit of touble. Marcel the decal feature works great. Thanks again.

[mediaho]

Hey Marcel - I noticed you haven't added TreeZ to your website. Do you plan on adding that along with your usual in-depth documentation?

[Sharky]

Hi Marcel!

 

Do you have flower plugin or similar?

 

Sharky

[Morty]

I've downloaded the 10.5 verison of Treez and placed the plugin into my .hxt folder but it still doesn't show when I'm using A:M. I'm running 10.5r on PC. Any suggestions?

 

Thanks,

M.

[gra4mac]

I haven't used Treez much, but after putting the plugin in the hxt file you need to restart A:M. Then make the base shape and name it base, and make the canopy shape. Now open an action and with nothing selected, right click to get the plugins/wizards/treez. Good luck.

[robvmonte]

I know this is an old and dead topic but I want to download this plugin but where is the hxt folder?

[mtpeak2]

What version are you running. And did you download the plug-in.

[robvmonte]

10.5 and no

[mtpeak2]

Go to page 1 of this thread and you can download it there. There is a project file there too.

[mtpeak2]

http://www.hash.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=4556&st=0#

[Rodney]

I know this is an old and dead topic but I want to download this plugin but where is the hxt folder?

 

It may be old but it certainly isn't dead!

I think everyone is just taking a breather before round 2 starts.

 

There are also other plant type threads sprouting up all over the place that have the floor at this time to complement the work by Marcel.

 

Here are three*:

 

Tree growth Animation

Toon Flower Model with Sliders

Creating Leaves with Hair

 

Too much fun!

 

...and there are other areas that fit nicely into the realms of greenery; Grass for instance:

 

Grass from Hair in v11

 

*Edited

[Pengy]

Haven't tried it yet but from the buzz this is sure to save me time.

[Reikster]

Does this work for anyone in v11.1?

I can get it to go in 10.5r and 11.0t, but not 11.1b

 

wonder what changed?

 

 

eric