Rotation

[Dune]

I was working on an ancient marsh path, and thought that it would be great if you could choose the rotation angle (0-360º) to be over Y (default), X or Z of a population of objects. Or better still, have a variety of objects spread across a surface as if it were one. I had made this piece of wood. A horizontal version rotated wrongly (I needed a series perpendicular to the path), so I tried a vertical one, rotated over X by 90º, but the result was the same. So that doesn't work. The repetition is there, I'm afraid, but I'll do some postwork on it.
I can of course make one object consisting of a differing series of beams, but that's too much work for now.

[DocCharly65]

I don't have any helpful idea but anyway the result look good so far.

[bobbystahr]

you can rotate the reference object in the transformation dialogue in the parts shader where you control the size as well
the column imported laying flat and after that rotation needed raising 100 m

tgd included to save on screen grabs but the info is all there.

[Dune]

so I tried a vertical one, rotated over X by 90º, but the result was the same

I did just that, Bobby, but it doesn't work. Rotation of instances then still rotates them over Y. I want to have a cylinder that rolls over ground, so to speak, not twists around its center.

[bobbystahr]

so I tried a vertical one, rotated over X by 90º, but the result was the same

I did just that, Bobby, but it doesn't work. Rotation of instances then still rotates them over Y. I want to have a cylinder that rolls over ground, so to speak, not twists around its center.

oops, I misunderstood your requirement...sorry. So you need a cylinder with a Y vertical so when you lay it down it rolls on the Y axis...

[Dune]

It should roll like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whET4omf9pk

[Hannes]

Did some tests as well. I imported two log objects: a horizontal oriented one, and one vertical. As you said, didn't work. Too bad!
Seems there is no other way but either importing a whole logs object or mixing several populations of one object with rotated instances.

[KlausK]

Having one of those moments where I seem to understand ...nada...
the rolling cylinder thing I understand but, this can`t be all there is to it.
Or you guys would have figured it out for sure 

Maybe populating different plane objects instead of having the pop on the planet/terrain.
Would make it easier perhaps to randomly distribute the logs and lining up the pops.
But as I mentioned, not really understanding what you are after in the scene context.

Whatever, here are some rolling logs.
cheers, Klaus

[Dune]

Ah, that's an idea. If the ground is pretty flat and populating on a perpendicular (standing) plane with full rotation, that could to the trick... could; I wonder if it would still rotate along Y.... They don't have to really roll, but I'd like one not too straight log/branch to be seen from different sides, but all lying in a row, if you get my point.

[KlausK]

I think I get it now.
My solution is almost too obvious to be what you need but, what about using the "Editing" function of the population?
Every single instance can freely be rotated, transformed, scaled about any axis.
Maybe not the quickest technique to use it with hundreds of instances but for 50 or so it might be ok.
cheers, Klaus

[Dune]

Yes, I have thought of that too, but it's too much work, rotating a hundred or so. I wanted a fast solution 

[Dune]

Small render from a low pov, with a romantic couple of prehistorians.

[DocCharly65]

Beautiful view

[bobbystahr]

Sweet render, the birds are a nice touch.

[cyphyr]

Sweet Track
is it ?