The Giants Forest

[Ariel DK]

After difficult months without any inspiration, I'm returning to Terragen...
Very very inspired (especially by my new GPU), I decided work in my new Giant Sequoias scene.
but this scene not begin in TG, let's say SpeedTree...
I gonna update this topic every day, like always, a kind of "step by step"
Any advice is welcome

[AP]

I like what I see so far. The split is nice for the effect of a very old tree. The bottom needs bulging out more, perhaps smooth it off a bit. The branches seem to short so perhaps twice the length. I would make the branch length a bit more random as well. What ideas do you have for the bark if anything additional on that?

This could be a good reference which looks somewhat like your tree.

[Ariel DK]

thanks, AP
I want a big clefts in the base of the trunk (like in the image), I'm testing some things right now.
the branches are more larger indeed, but I adjust LOD for the distance of the camera
this is how looks in TG for now. take a look at this 70 mts beast

[AP]

Yes. The big clefts should be present, no doubt about it.

I do not recognize the leaves. It looks like they belong to a Pine or a Fir tree. An illustration of Coastal Redwood and Giant Redwood leaves.

I was thinking a more smooth transition with the trunk base like in the crude illustration.

[Dune]

Interesting to follow your ST work. I don't think you'd need the cage really, though perhaps it doesn't make much difference. I would indeed lengthen main branches, and there are several ways to increase variety in length.

[zaxxon]

Always nice to see another Speedtree user here. The best way to achieve the "deep clefts" is to use the displacement settings in the 'Branches' tab, remember that the 'Spline' controls are essentially the skeleton and the 'Branches' controls are the skin.  Below are a couple of screenshots of the trunk and branches with the displacement settings in ST. This model is based on the Speedtree Store model: Giant Redwoods. Out of the box the model isn't very appealing IMO, but the assets are pretty good and a bit of tweaking yields a nice tree. I live within a moderate drive of both Giant Redwoods and Giant Sequoias and always marvel at how magnificent and HUGE these trees are. The tree here is my modified model. Also, here is a link to a great set of ST tutorials from Rob Meyers, a ILM modeler. Meyers covers the displacement features and much more:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Puh8qV2vaL8&list=PLnVemmbJfZKAV_a_OGd5687dobfYGRj3a

[Ariel DK]

thanks guys for your replies

@AP: The leaf texture is from a fir pine, and Im not happy with they. I gonna back to PS to create new textures. thanks for the reference.

@Ulco: the cage is because I want some "close-up shots" from the bark, and export to ZBrush for the fine detail.

@zaxxon: I like me your own model, Im playing with branches values indeed, (thanks for the tip anyway), and for the link, very usefull...

[AP]

No worries.   

[Ariel DK]

I will continue this topic in TG, because some variations of my Sequoia models works fine for what I m looking for now.
dont worry, I will also continue the development of my Sequoia in ST, but in a new topic in the Open Discussion section
for now.. here is a new update of the scene

[Dune]

Nice mood and the trees hugeness really works well. But... does it ever get so cold that the winter people have to stroll through that forest so warmly clothed? I mean, there is a discrepancy between the mood and the objects.

Btw. nice ferns!

[AP]

A very nice sense of scale. The Ferns are Sword Ferns I believe.