[TUTORIAL] Grasslands Face-Off

[chedda]

For a while i have been trying to nail realistic grass in sketch up & maxwell here is my latest effort (i think i am getting there)

[srx]

Very good result. Share tut?

[Hussel Hann]

Wow...nicely done
for Kerkythea user, how to create that 'furry' grass effect?

thanks...

[chedda]

It's a simple flat textured component with a PNG applied to both sides. The real trick is using Chris Fulmers repeat copy plugin. First make about 20 dense & random copies, then make that a component and spray it about.I found the textures over at flying architecture (great source) here:

http://www.flyingarchitecture.com/reali ... hinoceros/

plugin here:

viewtopic.php?t=26117 ($8 dollars well spent)

The beauty of the plugin is it lets you scale and rotate randomly. Previously i had used a grid of these planes but always suffered from repeating patterns, moire ? I made the scale between 90-110%, the random effect is excellent.

This plugin is a real beauty, my dreams of creating high poly forested hills are getting closer when maxwell adds proxies.

If anyone has some meadow plant PNG textures with alpha please share !

I have attached the .skp file below. The trick when you make the larger component is to move the axis to the middle again so you can paint it easier.

[Hussel Hann]

Chedda..
Thanks for the tips and links bro. Appreciate it so much.

[chedda]

I've learned a lot here it's good to finally contribute.

Ps i'm not sure i mapped the alpha correctly to the texture perhaps a photoshop guru can refine it ?

[Richard]

Ps i'm not sure i mapped the alpha correctly to the texture perhaps a photoshop guru can refine it ?

Mate when you say you didn't map the alphas correctly, what do you mean mate? Mate it is best to use tif images as clips in your MXM!! I'd probably add a larger scall bump map over the grass section to induce and breakup shadows within the clumping.

[chedda]

Hey Richard, when i downloaded the textures originally i had the grass image and a 2nd alpha image i combined them in PS i noticed the alpha did not match the specular, it produced a similar random effect though. Intersting about tiff's i used a PNg i think. I assumed bump would slow me down but your right the clumping is an issue.

[Richard]

Intersting about tiff's i used a PNg i think. I assumed bump would slow me down but your right the clumping is an issue.

Mate PNG should be ok - I'd probably make a alpha from converting the colour map. I'm meaning just don't use JPG for the clipping map as pixel bleed at the edge will cause a white halo.

Re the bump, this shouldn't slow you down at all! I'm not suggesting displacement, just say four or five big humps over a full block of grass so that you get some bulk movement (suggest using a good normal map!

[tadema]

Looks great.
John

[chedda]

Thanks John.

[jason_maranto]

That does look great, at first I thought maybe you had figured out how to use Maxwell hair from inside SketchUp (which I am desperate to try)!

Best,
Jason.

[YogieStars]

here i use sketchup and vray for sketchup.

[chedda]

Great image Yogi the contrast between the detailed plants and the clean lines of the structure work well. I'm glad my tips have helped. Is it possible to share your component (s) or are they purchased textures ?

[ccs1987]

great i always wanted to have build realistic grass over a surface. this plugin randomize the grass, but if there's plugin that make the grass in just one step with great effect that will be marvelous. i do find one in the plugin page but the result not that amazing

[AcesHigh]

pardon the stupid question, but what exactly does Repeat Copy does that Compo Spray does not?