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sirius
05-08-2003, 03:35 PM
Hi,

the scene i am constructing needs to be covered with a massive amount of trees, detailed in proximity and less so in distance.
My particular problem is that most plugins etc part from trees growing up on world z-axis. My scene is a curved world as if the globus were a lot smaller. So my trees have to grow in the direction of the local globus normal instead in the 3d wordl z-axis.

how do i solve that?
making all trees geometry is not really an option.

sirius

:rolleyes:
Dave Black
05-08-2003, 03:48 PM
There are alot of ways to do this.

I'm assuming you are using planes with maped trees.

What version of Max are you using?

If it's 5.1, then you can go grab the coolest script ever(debatible, but makes it sound cooler:D):

Go here:

www.scriptspot.com

And grab this:

Advanced Painter 1.5.1

It will allow you to freehand paint the trees over the surface of your object allowing for you to place them on the surface normals.

Let us know what version you have, and we can better tailor our response.

-3DZ

:D
sirius
05-08-2003, 04:24 PM
thanks

version = 5.1

Indeed in the distance where the curvature occurs the trees can just be planes.

will investigate the script you suggested.
before i was considering to use scatter.

RPC trees, Speedtree and itoosoft forest pro grow just trees on z-axis. If i am wrong correct me please.

sirius

:rolleyes:
Dave Black
05-08-2003, 04:28 PM
I think you may be correct.

Again, try that script, as you can randomly distribute your objects very quickly and easily just by painting on the surface.

It's basically scatter on steroids. With alot of other features. Great script.

-3DZ

:D
sirius
05-08-2003, 04:33 PM
got still one problem:

the planes should keep facing the camera which will be moving. In the far distance it isnt necessary, but in the medium distance field plane will be noticed if they dont keep facing the cam.

sirius
:rolleyes:
Dave Black
05-08-2003, 05:16 PM
Wait, wait, wait...

What about a particle system? Using "facing" particles?

I seem to remember that forest pro can auto align the tree objects to the view, though you mentioned that it does'nt work for you...

You can use this script to do that:

Again, available at www.scriptspot.com

Multi-Assign Scripted Billboard Controller 1.01

Grab that, and see if it helps.

-3DZ

:D
Martijn Wijmer
05-09-2003, 08:21 AM
"the planes should keep facing the camera which will be moving. In the far distance it isnt necessary, but in the medium distance field plane will be noticed if they dont keep facing the cam."

That problem could be fixed with Itoo's software, if you're using planes that is. It's has a option to keep the planes alligned to the camera (I believe they use a look-at controller on all the planes)
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