Difference between revisions of "Foliage"
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[[image:AlexDracott_ForestLightingStudy.jpg|120px]] | [[image:AlexDracott_ForestLightingStudy.jpg|120px]] | ||
| − | [http:// | + | [http://polycount.com/discussion/149632 Forest Lighting study]. Maya and Unreal 4. |
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[[image:MarkDygert_Hedges.jpg|120px]] | [[image:MarkDygert_Hedges.jpg|120px]] | ||
| − | [http:// | + | [http://polycount.com/discussion/67620 Hedges and Topiary a quick tutorial]. Modeling and texturing for stylized bushes. |
[[image:EricChadwick_NormalThief.jpg|120px]] | [[image:EricChadwick_NormalThief.jpg|120px]] | ||
| − | [http:// | + | [http://polycount.com/discussion/72325 Tree making fast technique?] Tree modeling techniques discussed. |
[[image:RexMcnish_latestfirs.jpg|120px]] | [[image:RexMcnish_latestfirs.jpg|120px]] | ||
| − | [http:// | + | [http://polycount.com/discussion/72008 My Work - New Forest Asset update] |
[[image:Steppenwolf_eDgLo.jpg|120px]] | [[image:Steppenwolf_eDgLo.jpg|120px]] | ||
| − | [http:// | + | [http://polycount.com/discussion/86606 Modeling a tree crown with ease]. Foliage modeling for easy LODs. |
[[image:AllodsOnline_Clumping_29.jpg|120px]] | [[image:AllodsOnline_Clumping_29.jpg|120px]] | ||
| − | [http:// | + | [http://polycount.com/discussion/98976 any tutorials on grouping and spreading out vegetation realistically]. |
[[image:JamesStout_foliage.jpg|120px]] | [[image:JamesStout_foliage.jpg|120px]] | ||
| − | [http:// | + | [http://polycount.com/discussion/comment/1312273/#Comment_1312273 "BC" - some simple, game-friendly ivy]. How to create game-friendly ivy meshes & textures. |
[[image:TreeTutorialbyJeramyCooke-image005.jpg|120px]] | [[image:TreeTutorialbyJeramyCooke-image005.jpg|120px]] | ||
| − | [http:// | + | [http://polycount.com/discussion/comment/1021264/#Comment_1021264 3D Trees Tutorials]. Multiple methods. |
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* [http://www.game-artist.net/forums/support-tech-discussion/11251-trees-beginners-3ds-max-tutorial.html Trees for Beginners in 3ds Max Tutorial] - by ''"braveryd"''. Using the AEC Extended: Foliage tree generator in 3ds Max. | * [http://www.game-artist.net/forums/support-tech-discussion/11251-trees-beginners-3ds-max-tutorial.html Trees for Beginners in 3ds Max Tutorial] - by ''"braveryd"''. Using the AEC Extended: Foliage tree generator in 3ds Max. | ||
* [http://www.andyzibits.com/tut_particle_tree_generation.html Tree creation using particle generator] - by ''[http://www.andyzibits.com Andy Zibits]''. Using a particle system in 3ds Max. | * [http://www.andyzibits.com/tut_particle_tree_generation.html Tree creation using particle generator] - by ''[http://www.andyzibits.com Andy Zibits]''. Using a particle system in 3ds Max. | ||
| − | * [http:// | + | * [http://polycount.com/discussion/comment/1152529/#Comment_1152529 Bending vertex normals and using vertex color] - by ''[http://ericchadwick.com Eric Chadwick]''. Using the Edit Normals modifier in 3ds Max to bend the vertex normals of low-poly foliage planes. |
| − | * [http:// | + | * [http://polycount.com/discussion/comment/1149155/#Comment_1149155 Bending the vertex normals with Normal Thief] - by ''[http://ericchadwick.com Eric Chadwick]''. Using the [http://www.scriptspot.com/3ds-max/scripts/normal-thief Normal Thief] script in 3ds Max to bend the vertex normals of low-poly foliage planes. |
* [http://3dfolio.com/files/tree_tut.pdf Tree Modeling Techniques and Principles] (PDF) - by ''[http://www.3dfolio.com/ Matthew D'Onofrio]''. Modeling efficient low-poly branches in 3ds Max using ''Extrude Along Spline''. | * [http://3dfolio.com/files/tree_tut.pdf Tree Modeling Techniques and Principles] (PDF) - by ''[http://www.3dfolio.com/ Matthew D'Onofrio]''. Modeling efficient low-poly branches in 3ds Max using ''Extrude Along Spline''. | ||
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* [http://learnfobia.com/category-Maya-129/tutorial-Sprite-Based-Particle-Trees-2259.html Sprite-Based Particle Trees] - by ''[http://stores.lulu.com/sunchirp Steven J. Tubbrit]''. Using a particle system in Maya. | * [http://learnfobia.com/category-Maya-129/tutorial-Sprite-Based-Particle-Trees-2259.html Sprite-Based Particle Trees] - by ''[http://stores.lulu.com/sunchirp Steven J. Tubbrit]''. Using a particle system in Maya. | ||
* [http://www.andyzibits.com/tut_maya_low_poly.html Ultra-efficient tree texturing and modeling] - by ''[http://www.andyzibits.com Andy Zibits]''. Using ''Paint Effects'' in Maya to create the foliage texture and branches. | * [http://www.andyzibits.com/tut_maya_low_poly.html Ultra-efficient tree texturing and modeling] - by ''[http://www.andyzibits.com Andy Zibits]''. Using ''Paint Effects'' in Maya to create the foliage texture and branches. | ||
| − | * [http:// | + | * [http://polycount.com/discussion/comment/1020341/#Comment_1020341 Low-poly Tree Using Maya PaintFX] - by ''[http://www.mobygames.com/developer/sheet/view/developerId,107125/ Jeramy Cooke]''. Using ''Paint Effects'' in Maya to create the foliage texture, then hand-modeling the tree. |
===CryEngine=== | ===CryEngine=== | ||
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===UDK=== | ===UDK=== | ||
| − | * [https://www.3dmotive.com/f102101/ Creating Foliage for UDK] ($) - 3dmotive tutorial by ''[http://www.damianlazarski.com/ Damian 'teaandcigarettes' Lazarski]''. Using 3ds Max 2012, Photoshop, and UDK to create grass and tree branches. See also the [http:// | + | * [https://www.3dmotive.com/f102101/ Creating Foliage for UDK] ($) - 3dmotive tutorial by ''[http://www.damianlazarski.com/ Damian 'teaandcigarettes' Lazarski]''. Using 3ds Max 2012, Photoshop, and UDK to create grass and tree branches. See also the [http://polycount.com/discussion/92432 Polycount forum thread]. |
== Vertex Normals == | == Vertex Normals == | ||
Revision as of 06:02, 3 November 2015
Topics about foliage and vegetation in games.
Contents
Foliage Tutorials
Forest Lighting study. Maya and Unreal 4.
Creating Grass and Vegetation For Video Games. 3ds Max and CryEngine.
A Game Art Trick: Airborn – Trees. Modeling and texturing for stylized bushes.
Hedges and Topiary a quick tutorial. Modeling and texturing for stylized bushes.
Tree making fast technique? Tree modeling techniques discussed.
My Work - New Forest Asset update
Modeling a tree crown with ease. Foliage modeling for easy LODs.
any tutorials on grouping and spreading out vegetation realistically.
"BC" - some simple, game-friendly ivy. How to create game-friendly ivy meshes & textures.
3D Trees Tutorials. Multiple methods.
3ds Max
- Climbing Rose Tutorial - by Mark 'Jenn0_Bing' Foreman. How to create custom and efficient ivy-style meshes in 3ds Max.
- Trees for Beginners in 3ds Max Tutorial - by "braveryd". Using the AEC Extended: Foliage tree generator in 3ds Max.
- Tree creation using particle generator - by Andy Zibits. Using a particle system in 3ds Max.
- Bending vertex normals and using vertex color - by Eric Chadwick. Using the Edit Normals modifier in 3ds Max to bend the vertex normals of low-poly foliage planes.
- Bending the vertex normals with Normal Thief - by Eric Chadwick. Using the Normal Thief script in 3ds Max to bend the vertex normals of low-poly foliage planes.
- Tree Modeling Techniques and Principles (PDF) - by Matthew D'Onofrio. Modeling efficient low-poly branches in 3ds Max using Extrude Along Spline.
Maya
- Sprite-Based Particle Trees - by Steven J. Tubbrit. Using a particle system in Maya.
- Ultra-efficient tree texturing and modeling - by Andy Zibits. Using Paint Effects in Maya to create the foliage texture and branches.
- Low-poly Tree Using Maya PaintFX - by Jeramy Cooke. Using Paint Effects in Maya to create the foliage texture, then hand-modeling the tree.
CryEngine
- Creating foliage in 3ds Max for CryEngine 3 Crydev forum post.
- Vegetation Procedural Animation and Shading in Crysis - by Tiago Sousa. A detailed overview of Crytek's process for vegetation shading.
Unity
- Tree Creator Tutorial - by larsbertram. Using Unity to create trees.
UDK
- Creating Foliage for UDK ($) - 3dmotive tutorial by Damian 'teaandcigarettes' Lazarski. Using 3ds Max 2012, Photoshop, and UDK to create grass and tree branches. See also the Polycount forum thread.
Vertex Normals
Foliage meshes in game are usually made using flat planes with a Transparency map containing a bunch of leaves (or grass blades). These textures are used instead of modeling each leaf or blade of grass discretely, because they would slow the framerate too much. Also the increased vertex count uses much more memory.
However the flat planes do not shade very well when lit. To counteract this, the vertex normals can be bent to influence the shading, helping to hide the flatness of the geometry.
If you want to use edited vertex normals on 2-sided models, you must explicitly create those backfaces yourself. If you let a game engine create backfaces automatically, the engine has to generate new polygons so it has to figure out where the new normals will point, resetting them all in the process.
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| Foliage shading is improved by bending the vertex normals. The File:TreeMakerScript plus NormalThiefScript Max2010.zip (textures copyright SpeedTree). Image by Eric Chadwick. |
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| A comparison of different flat geometry types, with and without bent normals. Top row uses "crossing planes", bottom row uses "tri planes". Left to right: wireframe, default normals, "global" normals using Normal Thief, and clump-based normals. Image by Eric Chadwick. |
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| Foliage shading examples compared, with and without Vertex color. Image by Eric Chadwick. |
- Vertex Normal tutorial by 'gutekfiutek'. This is a blog post in Polish that explains in pictures how vertex normals can be used for better foliage shading (translation by Google here). He used this technique to great effect in his Polished Landscapes Mod for Mount & Blade.
Foliage Tools
These tools are useful for creating game-resolution models.
Stand Alone
- frecle tree[d] (exports formats .B3D, .OBJ, .X) (alternate download via web.archive.org)
- ShoeBox: Mask Image by Hendrik-Jan "renderhjs" Schoenmaker - converts tree photos into transparent textures.
- ngPlant
3ds Max
UDK
- SpeedTree in UDK ($)
Foliage Examples
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| Images from Airborn - Piño's Journey by Airborn Studios. Also see A Game Art Trick: Airborn – Trees. | |
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| Trees from DISHONORED by Adrien "Crêpator" Thierry, from the Polycount Forum thread DISHONORED assets. | |
- A Game Art Trick: Airborn – Trees
- Battlefield 4 Vegetation - Art dump Polycount Forum thread.
- Foliage growth in CryEngine 3 Crydev forum post. Probably using a gradient in the alpha to grow the leaves. Another video here showing both grass and leaf growth.
More Information
