Attention tree-loving hippies! [update 04/12/08]

[thomthom]

You can now use your collection of X-Frog trees and other other model that suffered from having messed up backfaces upon import to SU. With this plugin you can transfer textures and UV mapping from one side of a face to the other.

Big thanks for BillW over at SketchUcation for providing the code snippet to mirror the UV mapping!

SketchUcation thread: http://www.sketchucation.com/forums/...?f=180&t=14684

Update:
Version 1.0.1

• Moved functions into module
• Rearranged the menus
• Accounted for faces with tree vertices

Version 1.0.2

• Fixed some typo in the code

For some reason the script throws an exception on some occasions with faces with tree vertices. I don't understand why. Nor do I see any effect of it in the model. But I've worked around it by adding an exception handler. If anyone can shed some light to why it throws an exception some times I'd be grateful.

Download Mirror: http://download.thomthom.net/3d/sket...by/mirrorUV.rb


So my happy little tree friends, put your computer in a cool place, load up some trees, and show of a forest! ;D

[dalomar_cg]

Re: Attention tree-loving hippies!

Great...

[Free Agent_cg]

Re: Attention tree-loving hippies!

great, tree collections were getting dusty... :

[thomthom]

Re: Attention tree-loving hippies!

I need to make an update to the script though as it currently doens't handle faces with only tree points.

[dcauldwell_cg]

Re: Attention tree-loving hippies!

These x-frog trees look terrific.
Can these be imported directly into SU, or do you always go through some other software first?

Thanks

David

[thomthom]

Re: Attention tree-loving hippies!

I prefer to not use the .3ds files that comes with the DVDs. Instead I use the XFrog application to open the original XFrog file and set that detail of the tree all the way down to get a low polycount as possible.

And, at least before, you used to have to remap the textures in another application as the textures are .tif files which VfSU didn't render. But I'm wondering if it now does. In which case you can import the .3ds into SU and run the script to have the back faces corrected.

[thomthom]

Re: Attention tree-loving hippies!

Just had a look at the .tif deal, and with the SR1.5 we can render .tif files. That was a nice surprise which I didn't know. Certainly saves some steps when you have third party models with .tiff images, or texture collections in .tiff.

So yes, the work flow to import an Xfrog tree:

1) [Optional] Reduse polycount if you're unhappy with what comes on the DVDs
2) Import to SU
3) Run the mirrorUv.rb plugin to correct back faces
4) Assign the opacity maps to the leaf materials

[dcauldwell_cg]

Re: Attention tree-loving hippies!

Thomas

Thanks for the info. I think I'll give that a go.

Regards

David

[Vinch]

Re: Attention tree-loving hippies!

That sounds great and your tree is great.
But I really don't know what xfrog is.
Is it a program or a plugin? Can you open xfrog files in Max?
I'm going to take a look
Ty
Vinch

[thomthom]

Re: Attention tree-loving hippies!

That sounds great and your tree is great.
But I really don't know what xfrog is.
Is it a program or a plugin? Can you open xfrog files in Max?
I'm going to take a look
Ty
Vinch

XFrog producs are made by Greenworks. http://www.xfrogdownloads.com/greenw...s/newStart.htm
They have large collection of trees and plants in 2D and multiple 3D formats. They also have an application called XFrog which allows you to generate new trees, or modify existing ones. From there you can export to a format that your favourite 3D application can read.

[Jackson_cg]

Re: Attention tree-loving hippies!

Exciting news, thanks for the tips Thom.

[malaka]

Re: Attention tree-loving hippies! [update 04/12/08]

It works!!!! ;D ;D ;D ;D

Tanks a million

[gerbaux]

Re: Attention tree-loving hippies! [update 04/12/08]

hey thomthom, thanks for this plug-in... 1 question though, is it normal for SU that after i insert a tree even from the warehouse my skecthup become veeeeerrry slow? any tips on workflows.. it's kind of upsetting when i try to add things and it became very slow.. any tips will be very much appreciated.. thanks in advance... by the way, im using a q6600 cpu and 8600 gt graphic card and 2 gigs of mem.. thanks again....

[thomthom]

Re: Attention tree-loving hippies! [update 04/12/08]

hey thomthom, thanks for this plug-in... 1 question though, is it normal for SU that after i insert a tree even from the warehouse my skecthup become veeeeerrry slow? any tips on workflows.. it's kind of upsetting when i try to add things and it became very slow.. any tips will be very much appreciated.. thanks in advance... by the way, im using a q6600 cpu and 8600 gt graphic card and 2 gigs of mem.. thanks again....

It depends on the tree - but usually vegetation tends to have a very high poly-count - so yes, it's not unusual. What's a good practice is to place vegetation on a separate layer and hide it while you work - turning it on only when you render.

[40th]

Re: Attention tree-loving hippies! [update 04/12/08]

[quote=thomthom ]

What's a good practice is to place vegetation on a separate layer and hide it while you work - turning it on only when you render.

True.
If you have to navigate through the model with the tree/s visible, this will help a little:
Switch to Shaded display mode (no textures visible, only colors).
In the Styles>Edge settings Turn off the extension, points, and profiles. Leave just display edges turned on.

Hope this helps