Free stand alone Ivy generator. With tutorial.

[sonix]

http://graphics.uni-konstanz.de/%7Eluft/ivy_generator/

I created a set of textures which have been added to the main site.

http://graphics.uni-konstanz.de/%7El...ator/#download

Ivy Generator & Blender tutorial. Explains how to achieve correct material creation, to give correct shadows:-

7zip version.
http://www.4shared.com/file/13448584...o_Blender.html

Zip version.
http://www.4shared.com/file/13448604...o_Blender.html

Thomas Luft's Ivy Generator is an unbelievably good tool for growing ivy over any mesh.

Export your scene or model from Blender as a triangulated .obj file and open this in Ivy Generator.

Exported files from the generator should be 1x branches, 1x adult leaves, 1x young leaves and matching .mtl file.

Import the .obj into Blender and complete the material setup.

From the included read me file, here are the instructions for usage.

Usage:

1.Import your obj+mtl scene, double-click to place the ivy root, press "grow", and enjoy watching the ivy growing!

2.Press "birth" to generate the full geometry.

3.Use the export function to save your ivy geometry as obj+mtl for usage in your 3d world.

4.Please triangulate your obj scene before loading it, and keep your scenes simple, since the growing process slows down in complex scenes heavily.

5.In case your ivy is growing inside your objects, use the "flip normals" button to flip the surface normals of your objects.

6.You can customize your ivy using the provided settings - tool-tips will help you to understand the settings.


7.Camera controls:

rotate - left mouse button
track - left mouse button + control
dolly - right mouse button
orbit - left mouse button + shift

Sonix's top tip:-

To check if the normals are facing the correct direction, double click on the mesh model.

If you can see a green dot, where you double clicked, the normals are facing the correct direction. If you can't see the green dot, then flip the normals.

The green dot is the ivy 'root' point where growing will comence.

A couple of my tests, which the models were imported into Blender but rendered with Maxwell Render v1.1

Venus model via 3DWorld mag:-


Poser model:-


Enjoy.

Sonix.

[spacestrudel]

Wow. this looks great! Thanks for this, can't wait to try it

[mzungu]

Very cool! Thanx for the tip sonix (you should also post this over in "other software"!)
I found it interesting that the author is also involved in simulating watercolor painting in CG (see http://graphics.uni-konstanz.de/fors...nguage=english). This would be of interest to those working on the possible integration of Freestyle!

[Modron]

Thanks sonix, that looks totally radical. It would look great on buildings, and tree trunks.

[Fweeb]

This is really excellent stuff. However, I feel compelled to note this:

Originally Posted by The Project Website Please respect that it is NOT PERMITTED to use this software or parts of it in commercial projects!

Have fun with this, but make sure to respect the developer's wishes.

[LarryPhillips]

... and the sentence before that:

"Here are precompiled versions for Win32 and MacOS including the source code of this project under the GNU General Public Licence."

Does this mean a computer sciences college grad doesn't know what the GNU license allows? Would he be surprised if he found the software itself being sold? Am I missing something here?

Not that I have a commercial use for this software's output. I'm just confused, that's all.

[kernond]

Please respect that it is NOT PERMITTED to use this software or parts of it in commercial projects!

Strange thinking. I'm amazed at the trend of anti-commercialism sometimes. I can't believe that he really means that as it is worded. With the inclusion of the GNU, I have to believe that he's referring to using the source code (or derivatives) in commercial projects.

Anyway, it's a quite awesome piece of work! Very useful.

[kernond]

I need to correct something. That's friggin' awesome!!!!!!

[Dread Knight]

Sweet! but.. no linux version?

[Fweeb]

Originally Posted by LarryPhillips ... and the sentence before that: "Here are precompiled versions for Win32 and MacOS including the source code of this project under the GNU General Public Licence." Does this mean a computer sciences college grad doesn't know what the GNU license allows? Would he be surprised if he found the software itself being sold? Am I missing something here? Not that I have a commercial use for this software's output. I'm just confused, that's all.

I take it as his addendum to the GPL (copyright owners have the right do add whatever stipulations they want). And unless he specifies commercial use of the code (he doesn't), we should take it to mean that no part of it (code or application) should be used for commercial purposes.

[86point5]

Originally Posted by Fweeb I take it as his addendum to the GPL (copyright owners have the right do add whatever stipulations they want). And unless he specifies commercial use of the code (he doesn't), we should take it to mean that no part of it (code or application) should be used for commercial purposes.

As copyright owner he can release under any license he wants, that is correct. But he can't add stipulations to the GPL and still have it be GPL. So, he is either releasing it under the GPL, or he is releasing it under the "IvyGeneratorNoCommercialUseLicence" (which is similar to the GPL ... but prevents commercial usage). However to truly release it as GPL means any additional stipulations are not allowed (meaning that you cannot bar commercial usage).

From the GPL:

You may not impose any further restrictions on the recipients' exercise of the rights granted herein.

[Cire]

Below is an e-mail conversation between myself and the program's creator.

I wrote:

Thomas,

I'm writing to say that your Ivy Generator program looks like a very good piece of software, and the results look amazing! I haven't yet used it, but plan to soon. I was made aware of it at a forum dedicated to the use of Blender, an open-source 3d application.

One question: does the statement "it is NOT PERMITTED to use this software or parts of it in commercial projects" apply to the source code, or to the program's output (generated models & materials)? Clarification would be much appreciated, and it might help to include your explanation on your site and in the thread at blenderartists.org.


Thanks,

Eric

He wrote:

Hi Eric,

after discussing with a number of people i decided to remove the restriction
to non-commercial usage. So feel free to use the tool in your projects!

Can you clearify it within the forum? Thanks!

I'll update it on the website soon!

Sorry, for the confusion!


Thomas




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[LarryPhillips]

Originally Posted by Cire Below is an e-mail conversation between myself and the program's creator.

Wonderful. I would credit the coder if I did use this in a project. He deserves that much at least.

@Cire - Thanks for clearing this up. And thanks for this lesson I should know by now. If I'm confused then simply email the author and politely ask for clarification. Doh! *slaps forehead*

[Fweeb]

Woohoo! That's great news. Thanks for doing the legwork on that Cire.

[BlackBoe]

This program is hot stuff.

[C-106 Delta]

This is very very nice. Now if there was only a program that could wrap and protect blender games, it would complete my day.

[Cire]

No problem all . . . and thanks to sonix for the find!

This is a great tool. Here's an early test:

[kernond]

@Cire
Excuse me but, dam that's sweet! Imagine the pain of doing that manually!

[Duhast]

Wow. Impressive

[Cire]

Originally Posted by kernond Imagine the pain of doing that manually!

No need to imagine . . . I've done it before.

And it was nowhere near as detailed, realistic, easy or fun to watch!

BTW: I'm somewhat aware of various tree/vegetation generators out there . . . anyone know of one that's as simple/powerful and plays as nice with Blender as this app?




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