Bristle Pine Project

[inkydigit]

Marc these are looking really really good!

Thanks for the explanation, Marc. Still, I think this can be done in XFrog only. I might have a try at such a tree as well. In fact, I have been working on a typically Dutch tree, a 'knotwilg' (shortened willow?). Hollowed on one side, crooked, with a thick top where all new branches explode from. I'll post some day...

---Dune

and Dune, when I was living in the Netherlands I saw some really strange trees, mainly in cities DenHaag & Rotterdam where the branches are restrained along one axis, keeping the avenue nice and neat..'echt nederlandse'!

[domdib]

Great work Marc!

[MGebhart]

@Dune,

No doubt. I have been using MAX and Zbrush for some time and I'm already familiar with the software. I have yet completely discovered all the features in xFrog. Finding good tutorials is rare.

Marc  

[MGebhart]

New Image with second version. Still tweaking.

Marc

[domdib]

I think the correct term is "gnarly".

[MGebhart]

Yes, it be.

Marc

[choronr]

The more I look, the more excited I become ...Marc, these are just what we need. You might consider having a few of the needle clusters a dry (tan.gray) color. And, a few downward pointing branches would put the icing on the cake (the ones closest to the lower part of the trunk would be the heaviest). Those extended roots are looking real fin.

[choronr]

One more thought Marc; there is a book/manual written and illustrated by 'John Naka' on his 'bonsai'. If you ever get a chance, have a look at it. His work is known worldwide. In addition to photographs, he has many drawn images of his projects - these would serve as a great guide for modeling trees. You'l find some there that look like your models.

Bob

[MGebhart]

Bob,

Thank you for the suggestions and recommendations. I'll try the needle clusters in a dry (tan.gray) color. This will most likely make the tree more natural and provide character.

This has been a fun project and I have discovered some new ways of enhancing the trees without increasing the poly count. I hope to have the third variation done today and post it by Saturday.

I think I will start a new tree that will be native to Europe. Some of the members have provided image samples of some nice big ones. I will research this this weekend.

Thanks for your participation in this thread.

Marc  

NOTE: Here is a variation with some dead needles. I'll droop the branches on version 1.

[MGebhart]

Final.

Marc

[Henry Blewer]

Nice render Marc. I like your image better than my version. Fantastic tree!

[MGebhart]

Thanks Henry,

There will be two version but, you can configure them many ways. Example: with all green needles, mix dead and green needles, sparse needles, mix and match bark and branch textures and so on. It should be versatile. I will include the obj file so people can manipulate the geometry. Add more branches and roots and such.

Marc

[choronr]

Marc, these are fine examples of what we need to add a certain specialness to our images. I truly appreciate what you've done here.

[MGebhart]

You are all very welcome.

I will do a couple more tests from different angles and release it sometime tomorrow afternoon. Also, add a text file on how to configure it for different looks. Should be fun.

Marc

[mhaze]

superb trees an a great example of what can be done. Look forward to using these.