In this tutorial, I’ll show you a good place to get free reference images (imageafter.com/), then we go into Gimp and create a seamless texture for our tree bark. Popping over to Blender, we begin the process of building a base tree shape by using curves and manipulating them to form the correct shape of the tree. After that, we convert the curves into a mesh, add UV seams, then attach the branches to the trunk by merging corresponding vertices together. We apply our seamless tree bark texture, and then begin the process of setting up “particle hair”, using a group of “branch-from-curves” to add the “filler twigs” to the base shape.
Bryan Tenorio’s Tree Tutorial: http://scotchtapeworm3d.wordpress.com/2010/10/06/tutorial-realistic-medium-poly-tree/
Great tutorial. So many great tips were covered. I look forward two part2.
Thanks so much. Greatly appreciated.
To make seamless images there is a filler under filters>map>make seamless
for simple images this should do the job. that was used in the BBB bark textures…
Great tutorial.
Hey do you use autodesk maya, which I saw in your filesystem.
Ya this time your PC was fast as you turned off the aero effects.
Regards
i have a copy of maya 7, but for some reason, i can’t get it to run on my upgraded windows 7. too many 7s i guess
nah, even if it did run, i’d still use blender as my main software. i only wanted to learn maya enough to be able to put it on my resumè
Downloading videos. Hopefully, it will be clear to me, a novice user.
Nice tutorial. I especially liked how you created the seamless texture. Easily done with pretty much any image editing software.
Hi David,
Very nice tutorial as always. Thank you for that.
Although it is very interesting tutorial and it is good to know how the script is working. I still have to ask the question
Do you know if the original script from BBB is going to be migrated to Blender 2.5.x/2.6 and what the timeline is for that?
i haven’t heard anything new on it; altho it seems that i heard something a while back that it used a different version of python or something, and it wasn’t compatible with 2.5. don’t quote me on that, i’m probably wrong
jonathan williamson might know a bit more on that one
ok Dave. thank you for the info
I’ve only watched the first part and it is good so far, but wanted to give you some Gimp tips.
If you have a floating selection and add a new layer it will automatically put that selection on the new layer. So you can just add a new layer with the new layer button – you don’t have to right click on the selection to create the layer and have it get pasted to that layer.
Also when you moved the selection over you could have used the arrow keys to move the selection. You can move selections in a more precise manner that way then with the mouse.
I know you have used PS in previous tutorials, so hopefully sharing some Gimp tips makes up for all the Blender tips I’ve gotten from you.
Jeff
indeed, thanks
Thanks!I really hope that scripts will come back in 2.5!
And i love how blender crashes XD!
Dave,
thanks for this video. I love these tutorials.
But…
this one was a bit messy, a quick and dirty video and the end result of the tree is disappointing. With all these errors and crashes during recording. The tree has not-connected twigs and twigs pointing in the wrong direction.
def. not the quality I’m expect to see on BC videos.
- ludimus
David,
Thanks for the great tuorial. It is very timely as I looked at at Andrew Price’s tutorial, but didn’t want to use 2.49 if possible.
Since the Blender 2.5 beta is still in flux, probably the script won’t be ported for awhile. I was going to look at the script to see if I could figure out how to achieve it manually and Voila, you made this tutorial.
Also thanks for the seamless texture technique, that helps me very much. I look forward to part 3.
David,
Nice tutorial as always. I made a tree myself and I have a suggestion. If you add another vertex group for the length, you avoid really huge twigs coming out of rather thin branches. This way the tree looks more natural without putting too much effort in it.
http://flic.kr/p/92HPGL
Since I haven’t used a reference at all, the shape of that tree is a little odd, but you get the idea.
Thank you for all the input!
morris
Merci pour ce tutoriel ! Luc.
Hey David,
First of all, thanks for the plug on my tutorial. I really appreciate it! I like the way you used curves to model the tree just like in the old script. It seems like it might actually be a better way than to go straight with geometry, since the curves deform better when trying to make everything 3d, and you can make it as smooth as you want whilst still keeping as few control points as you need. I also like the idea of using particles for the branches and leaves. I can totally see this being used for the same tree in different stages of the seasons.
I can’t wait to see the next part!
Great tutorial!, but how do you get the layer editing box in Gimp? I can’t find it
Grat tutorial! But I how do you get the layer editing box in Gimp? I can’t find it
To get the layers box click Windows>Dockable Dialogues>Layers. If you have several together such as Layers, Channels, Paths and Undo History you switch between them using the tabs at the top of the box
Andy
Thanks for the help!
Thanks for the tutorial!! I just started making my own tree, and stumbled on a workflow that works better for my brain, and so I thought I’d post it in case others think like I do…
Instead of extruding and rotating each vertex of the curve, I extruded one and moved it to the end of the branch and scaled it down to 0. Then I used subdivide to fine tune the branch. The good thing about this is it pretty much maintains the proper width of the branch, so I didn’t have to scale so much.
Great tutorial. I am beginning to use 2.55, but as my primary use is for Second Life (where I am teaching Blender as I learn it), I was wondering about the camera. You showed using alt-ctrl-0 to make the camera take your front view. I tried this in 2.49b without success. Is it not a command that can be used in 2.49b or am I, in addition, being hampered by using my Mac laptops keyboard? I’ve watched Bryan’s wonderful tutorial as well as Andrew Price’s using the script. I really like seeing different approaches to the same project and have learned much from each person’s…my gratitude to all of you.
How about combining this technique with the “sticky eye” presented in the alien face-rig tutorial? By doing so one might be able to make pumping and throbbing blood vessels. =P
http://www.blendercookie.com/2009/11/16/creating-a-face-rig/
My Referance image doesn’t come up =\ i did exactly whats said in the tutorial but nothing comes up, i’m using blender 2.5 but nothing happens.
Very nice seamless texture making in this video. I’m sure every artist out there needs it.
As a 4 month old newbie to Blender. I would just like to say thank you for the work, effort, and depth of detail you put into your tutorials. Just watching this one alone I learned an incredible lot about many things I can apply in other areas. Thanks again and you are really appreciated.