After trying out Gen3 I have to give a negative answer to this question, Gen3 is simply the better attempt to create a full-fledged tree generator for Blender since now and the one with the most complete (and complex) GUI, full stop. And it can only keep improving week by week.
Gen3 is parameter-driven tree model generator for Blender. Generation algorithm is based on model described in "Creation and Rendering of Realistic Trees" by Jason Weber and Joseph Penn.
Being a parameter-driven generator, the script developed by Stager13 gives a good amount of control over the generation process and by playing with all the parameters it supplies a wide range of results can be achieved.
The latest version (0.3) boasts some interesting features:
- UV generation for trunk and branches
- Leaves generation
- Import paramenters from Arbaro's xml files
Unfortunately there are still some issues to be fixed (the generation process can be slow and cannot be calcelled, the GUI requires the user to know some technical details [i.e. it is a little too complex for the average user], no pruning and lobes support, branches/leaves aren't automatically joined to the trunk [it's the same behaviour found in L-System]) but the script is still in an early stage of development, so let's hope the developer will keep up with the good work done since now.
For more details and to download the script visit Gen3's homepage , if you want to ask for more features or report bugs head your browser to Blenderartists Python forum.
17 Comments
well...
I try to use soon.
Thank you for info
After "Slashdotted" and "Dug" I fear that being "Blendernationed" will be the next webmaster's problem. The Site disappeared due to excessive traffic.
Hmmm, why do people who make cool stuff like this use GeoCities with data transfer limits? A real server doesn't really cost much... I would have been happy to host the thing.
Sheesh... this is not our day! We had another article here but the link was down so we replaced it with this one and now this one dies as well :) I've replaced the link with a 'Coral Cache' link (google it to find out more). As soon as it's back online we'll have the site in the cache so that it may survive a bit longer.
And now I'm going to have a beer and bang my head to the wall a bit ;-)
Is it me or this script takes too long to calculate and create the mesh... It kills my computer... even more when i choose the pre-seted trees
The site is still unavailable. Please keep us updated if it changes the download site or something (i've being waiting for a good "tree generator" for a long time!)
The preset trees are slower have a medium amount of leaves, this is why they are slower, so if those of you on slow machines should avoid using presets if not equipped with a decent dose of patience :-D
This article, for me, begs the question, how do you make good looking trees? I've used particles, image maps, alpha maps, dupliverts, perverts and converts and I never get a single decent looking tree.
It's back up again and cached.
Cool!
I hope some day all scripts are collected into a script reposotory to preserve blender scripts for future generations. (maybe a sourceforge one?)
lox_federico: you're right, it doesnt work in an old slow machine....
But i have an AMD 2.8 with a Nvidia 128 Mb and 512 RAM. Do you think that isnt good enough?mmm... I tried to create one of those preset and it took almost 4 minutes to create it. I dont know... And i can certanly tell you that my OS is working perfectly.
Regards!
Well, I think my workstation cannot be used as a meter for generation time:
Athlon64 X2 4200
2.5 Gb Ram
Ubuntu Linux 6.06 for AMD64 k8 smp (the OS is running very well here too, but it's python that makes things slow, on any OS available in this mortal land)
(the graphic card has nothing to do with python processing time, but if you want to know I'm running Blender with a Geforce 7900 512mb PCI-E 16x)
I've got a full black tupelo in less than 20 secs, quite affordable for an entire tree (trunk + 2 generation of branches + leaves).
Time for a little system upgrade! (joking :-P)
lox_federico: you see? with such of machine it takes 20 seconds.... jajajaja. what do you expect from mine... Tuvo bueno eso. COmo hiciste para conseguir semejante fierro...Mierd.....!!!!
PovTree, Arbaro and Treal all make beautiful trees.....Each app has its own strenghts and all are free....
Blender Import scripts are available
http://blenderartists.org/forum/showthread.php?t=68850&highlight=Treal
Here's a tutorial to help you get up to speed with using Gen3:
http://blendernewbies.blogspot.com/2007/08/tree-making-tool-gen3.html