Custom spines sample

The SpeedTree Modeler includes a sample that demonstrates the result of adding spines using mesh helpers.

To open and explore this sample:

  1. From the menu, select File > New.

  2. In the opening window’s left pane, select Samples.

  3. In the right pane, select the Learning tab, and then select the sample called Custom spines.

  4. Display the Mesh helpers that have been used to add spines to the hero mesh:
    In the Tree window, select Scene Objects > Mesh helpers > Toggle visibility.

  5. Visualize the spines that have been generated from the Mesh helpers:
    In the Generation editor, select any of the spine-only Branch generators that are descendants of the Mesh generator.

    Hero mesh with mesh helper icons and corresponding sent spines

    Notice that the canopy of the sample is procedural and built off of those curves. Solid branches are welded to the mesh through the spine hierarchy.

  6. Enable wind in the scene.

    The mesh pieces near the curves animate with those curves.

    You can control which curves affect which parts of the mesh using the Wind group on the Mesh generator and the Freehand Vertex Editor tool for manual assignment.