Grass simulation

#1

I am wondering if there are any EI users out there who are willing to share there ideas and techniques of how they are adding grass to their architectural renderings. Is there a plugin that does a good job of it.

Here is an example of how I achiveve it with the standard EI shaders.

http://www.gooddesign.com.au/kings_beach.jpg

Iā€™ve heard of the approach of using Mr Nitro but I am wondering if their is a far more convincing method of achieveing it. When I cruise the CG Society gallerys they talk about using planes for hair and I have seen this technique explained. Is it possible to apply this for grass?

I ask this because alot of the approaches Iā€™ve seen are a little unconvincing and would like to find a way that compliments the quality of architectural renderings that you can get out of EI these days. I always get the comment that ā€œIā€™ve got green carpet around the building!ā€.

Please tell me a good plugin exists or that someone is developing a good one that can be purchased!

Many Thanks
Buggsy

#2

Hey Buggsy,

Iā€™m sure Ian Waters will probably chime in on this oneā€¦ but lets look at the options.

  1. Placer Deposit: Northern Lights. Will ā€œplaceā€ and replicate geometry on any surface. Weight map definable. Includes wind functions. Animation capable.

  2. Conception 3: Konkeptoine. Shader ā€œV-lifeā€. Shader based veggies. Better for moss like growth.

  3. Fiber Forge: Konkeptoine. Can be used to place geometry as well. Possesses motion features, weight map placement, randomization, animation etc.

  4. Trestle: Paralumino. This plugin would help you create the polygonal ā€œgrassā€ you wish to replicate and place on the ground plane with either Placer or Fiber Forge. Trestle grass could be reshaped on the fly for better control of polygonal control.

#3

Also check the WIP section of this EI forum. Nitro Grass tips are located in there.

#4

The problem is one of perception, your grass looks fine except where it meets other objects, you need to do one of two things.

  1. Fake it. Grab the photoshop grass brush and use it with the rubber stamp to ā€˜roughenā€™ up the edges (where the grass meets the low wall for example). Sample grass areas of similar lighting. The attachment is me doing a quick 30 second example of this on your render.

  2. Do it properly. Use Placer Deposit (or FF - see note). These are the perfect tools for real grass, and with Paraluminoā€™s superlines shader you can render massive amounts of ā€˜volumetricā€™ grass with no noticeable render penalty. This looks MUCH better for animation. Plus you can do all sorts of great DoF effects in post with this method; you have many more options going at it this way, but obviously more set-up time. I personally use PD with Trestle in work for grass when we need it doing this way.

Note: Iā€™ve never used FF but I do know this is used with great success for this type of thing - plus it also works with superlines.

Hope that helps,
Ian

#5

Ianā€¦

Ah yesā€¦ Superlines would be good for the more superficial grass. Plus its geometry free. Keeps the overhead down when combined with FiberForge or Placer. If you want to shape your polygonal geometry then switch to Trestle grass polygons.

#6

You have been most helpfull, thank you. I guess I have gotten myself stuck just using photoshop for colour balance rather than using it for artistic editing. I think Iā€™ll have to invest in a plugin though so I donā€™t feel restricted when it comes to amination.

Hereā€™s an amended view, this time with photoshop grass.

http://www.gooddesign.com.au/kings_beach2.jpg

Many Thanks
Buggsy

#7

Great tip Ian. That little retouching helps to sell the pictureā€¦!

Excuse me for asking but where is this ā€œgrass brushā€ ? Is it under the ā€œnatural brushesā€ ?

I couldnā€™t find one named like thatā€¦

Thanks

fjv

#8

Hey fjv :slight_smile:

Iā€™m pretty sure itā€™s in there by defaultā€¦

check the attachment,
best,
Ian

#9

Thanks!

I found them, now :slight_smile:

fjv

#10

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