The Vue 6 Infinite / xStream Tips n´ Tricks series is a combination of project based scenes and learning techniques for Vue 6.
Each chapter in this training series is available for individual purchase, or as part of a main volume. Instructed by Nicholas Pellegrino.
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Tips n´ Tricks Volume Three contains the following three lessons of the Tips n´ Tricks Series.
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| Real Trees |
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If so, there is no need to worry, asileFX Real Trees training is here to help.
In this training, instructor Nicholas Pellegrino, will show you more of his secret plant creation techniques, and the renders created from these techniques will blow you away.
Vue is a very powerful program, it allows you to create vast ecosystems containing billions and billions of polygons. Solidgrowth technology allows endless variations of vegetation species, and quicker render times than standard objects. Solidgrowth plants use Vue´s global wind and ventilators for amazing animation.
...but what about Solidgrowth tree close up renders?
The vast majority of Vue Solidgrowth trees are designed to be seen in massive groups from 10,000 to hundreds of thousands, and for that purpose they work wonderfully.
Solidgrowth plants are very flexible and look great from any distance.
If you want highly realistic trees for a close up render, Vue users tend to import objects from other software applications. There are many drawbacks to this method, the most important are listed below.
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| Limitations of non-solidgrowth vegetation (imported objects) |
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Render times are increased.
Note: An imported 200 polygon plant will take longer to render than a 70,000 polygon solidgrowth plant, and even more so with an ecosystem. |
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Imported trees are not compatible with Vue wind, and therefore cannot be properly animated. |
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You are unable to use Solidgrowth variations, so creating a realistic scene with more than one of the same plant, would involve needing a separate model for each of the same species. |
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The backlight option in the material editor, may not produce the same results on a non-Solidgrowth plant. |
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| Limitations of Vue 6 Native (Rural Maple Tree) species. |
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Because the branches connected to the leaves are part of an image map, they will not always connect to the tree in a realistic manner. There are ways to improve this connection, but branches tend to lack depth and realistic variations. In this example the hooking point (where the image map connects to the tree) is placed in a position causing the leaves and branches to appear as if they were not connected to the tree. The hooking point can of course be changed to any part of the image map, but with this species, the edges may appear more polygonal if the hooking point is centered. |
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In this section of the maple render, we can very clearly see a few problems. Because large groups of leaves are all connected to the same low poly square, the leaves do not curl or bend as they would with a plant species. This causes trees to lack depth, and from many angles the leaves will almost disappear completely.
This large polygroup can also decrease realism with leaf fluttering, entire sections of leaves to moving, rather than each leaf individually. This is not a problem with large ecosystems or fast motion blurred animations, but for a close up, we can see the lack of realism. |
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Modifying the leaves on this tree is quite different than modifying a small plants. Plants typically have an image of a leaf as the main material, its branches and stems are 3D and not part of the image.
If we wanted to modify the leaf type on this species, we would have to design and entire group. With the knowledge learned from this training, you will be able to modify leaves on trees, just like you would with a plant. |
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| Advantages of asileFX "Real Trees" Techniques. |
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You can immediately see the differences by using the Real Tree technique. One very obvious difference is the density of tree foliage. If you wanted to produce this much foliage on a native species, the amount of leaves on the image map would need to be increased; because there are a limited amount of polygons to attach the image to, a tree like the one above cannot be achieved.
If you look closely at the shaded areas of the tree, the depth is quite realistic. Almost every leaf is overlapping one another, cascading realistically down the tree. None of the leaves appear flat, which is very important for rendering correct specular values. |
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By looking at the render above we can get a closer look at a small section of a branch. At this scale the overlapping and depth of the 3D stems is even more obvious, the specular highlights are also easier to see.
If the design is planned correctly, it is also possible to avoid leaves intersecting one another, although this becomes more difficult with larger and denser amounts of foliage. |
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| Sun Reference Tool |
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| Painting Rock Formations |
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Ever needed to quickly create a complex rock formation, or rock outcrop?
If so, did you find yourself spending too much time placing individual rocks, or frequently using the smart drop tool?
In this lesson, instructor Nicholas Pellegrino, will show you how to use the ecosystem painter, to quickly and easily create amazing rock formations.
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