Grass, plants et al billboards
by Luis Anton · in Game Design and Creative Issues · 02/17/2005 (2:14 am) · 10 replies
Hello,
I'm looking for some tips, advices, tutorials or Artists Secrets about creating foliage billboards, for using them with fxFoliageReplicator. I've created some grass billboards from real grass, and some billboards for a tropical island, but they don't look too well...
Where's the trick? :)
These are some of them, although half-sized and gif converted:
One created from real grass
One from a real fern
One created using an L-System and random noise (too much noise, though)
I've discovered that images must be, at least, 128x128 pixel size. The 'object' itself should not have blurred edges, it's good to leave 'holes' within the foliage shape, so you can see through it, it should share colors with the terrain itself, where possible... what else?
I'm looking for some tips, advices, tutorials or Artists Secrets about creating foliage billboards, for using them with fxFoliageReplicator. I've created some grass billboards from real grass, and some billboards for a tropical island, but they don't look too well...
Where's the trick? :)
These are some of them, although half-sized and gif converted:
One created from real grass
One from a real fernOne created using an L-System and random noise (too much noise, though)I've discovered that images must be, at least, 128x128 pixel size. The 'object' itself should not have blurred edges, it's good to leave 'holes' within the foliage shape, so you can see through it, it should share colors with the terrain itself, where possible... what else?
#2
I think I've just two examples, those that come in the TGE demo. I'll ask google... again ;)
02/18/2005 (2:37 am)
Ok, thanks. I'll try fxGrass and see what's the difference (random orientations, no billboards...) I think I've just two examples, those that come in the TGE demo. I'll ask google... again ;)
#3
I usually (on grass at least) like to put the whole image at 90-95% alpha transparent as well, may not be realistic, but seems to produce smoother more blended results.
Just my little tricks, nothing great. ;)
02/18/2005 (4:03 am)
I notice Alpha bending around the edges and the bottom of the grass (where it meets the ground) usually increase the look dramatically. Sharp alpha masked edges never look right on such small pixels imho.I usually (on grass at least) like to put the whole image at 90-95% alpha transparent as well, may not be realistic, but seems to produce smoother more blended results.
Just my little tricks, nothing great. ;)
#4
What do you mean with alpha bending around the edges and bottom? I guess that's something that can be done in photoshop, isn't it? my alpha channel seems to be created from just one color, so it's alpha-noAlpha, like those gifs above.
I should try creating an alpha mask with a different program...
02/18/2005 (10:22 am)
Great Timothy :D My idea for this thread was sharing those kind of things ;) What do you mean with alpha bending around the edges and bottom? I guess that's something that can be done in photoshop, isn't it? my alpha channel seems to be created from just one color, so it's alpha-noAlpha, like those gifs above.
I should try creating an alpha mask with a different program...
#5
02/18/2005 (1:17 pm)
@Luis: I would recommend png format so that you can support full transparency for your grass, this will give you much more convincing results. Search resources for the SuperPNG plugin for improved PNG export from photoshop. 
#6
02/18/2005 (2:48 pm)
Here is a program we use to create our plants. Put them in Torque and use them with the fxFoliageReplicator. They are really nice plants,grass, rocks,twigs,mushrooms,etc.. The only thing is you have to import them into Milkshape3d, Gamespace or other program you are using for making your dts files. Then just export as a dts. We have made some great scenes with them. It doesn't take more than 10 minutes to make a plant and put into Torque.
#7
Alex, I use pngs :) Those were just example gifs, because I had some problems with pngs in the blog where they are stored.
Mark, that program looks really nice. Do you have screenshots of its results in torque?
02/19/2005 (5:42 am)
Uo! Alex, I use pngs :) Those were just example gifs, because I had some problems with pngs in the blog where they are stored.
Mark, that program looks really nice. Do you have screenshots of its results in torque?
#8
Im newbie on torque and try to make plants in milkshape. But when I put on a texture I see only one side in Torque Sow tool. Must I duplicate each plane ,rotating 180 degress and putting them together to see the texture from both sides?
03/12/2006 (4:14 am)
Hi Guys!Im newbie on torque and try to make plants in milkshape. But when I put on a texture I see only one side in Torque Sow tool. Must I duplicate each plane ,rotating 180 degress and putting them together to see the texture from both sides?
#9
03/12/2006 (8:52 am)
Yes Dieter you'll have to duplicate the plane. The easiest way is to copy it then just flip the normals instead of actually rotating the plane 180 degrees.
#10
Im modelling in milkshape with the dts plus exporter. I think there is no way to get a good hedge made of five planes(one for each side and one for the top), each with a transparent png textured without the magic sorting problem. Should I shift to 3DSMax to come up with it?
03/12/2006 (11:48 pm)
Thanks Eric, I've worked it out this weekend, Now I have sorting problems. (The good old sorting problems).Im modelling in milkshape with the dts plus exporter. I think there is no way to get a good hedge made of five planes(one for each side and one for the top), each with a transparent png textured without the magic sorting problem. Should I shift to 3DSMax to come up with it?
Torque 3D Owner Adam
Adam deGrandis
First, Id use FX grass for the first image... I think it would do a little bit better job than FoliageReplicator. Try it out.
For the second and third images, Id use them as textures on 3-4 plane dts objects. Right now the images themselves are a little too "full" and I think they would look odd if they were used as billboards.
I dont think there are too many "tricks" per se... My only other suggestion would be to look other billboard images and dts objects with transparency to see how they do it.
Hope this helps. :)