Hello everyone :o)
I don't know what I am doing wrong, but I cannot get a decent result when changing the leaf textures...

What picture format are you using? I tried with tif file with alpha map build in, I tried to change the alpha map to a gif file, I tried jpg texture and alpha map... No matter what I try, I get bad results when rendering...
It looks fine in the preview but awful when I try to render.

I am using the lastest Vue patch and a simple atmosphere that is not volumetric.

Is there a tutorial somewhere for textured map leaves ?

Thanks for your help :o)

Elaine

As I am experimenting further, here is what I found... To get this result:

I need to put the texture like this in the plant editor ...

Am I the only one having to do it like this ? LOL Elaine

Not sure, but try that :
Return the leaf (color piture).
At right, move the red dot at the bottom of the leaf.

Attached Link: http://www.e-onsoftware.com/Support/ShowTutorial.php?t=Vue4Pro/RubberPlantCreation&cf=%2FSupport%2F

http://www.e-onsoftware.com/Support/ShowTutorial.php?t=Vue4Pro/RubberPlantCreation&cf=%2FSupport%2FTutorials.php

Hi Phoul :o) It doesn't work any other way than the one I am showing... I tried the method you mentioned and it's a no go :o( Thanks for your help though :o) Elaine :o)

I use both jpg and bmps mostly. For each leaf, I have a color picture, and a black and white alpha. Got to make certain the black is totally black and white totally white, no grays. In the leaf image editor you showed in post 3, you have to make certain the color map and the alpha are facing the same way. You can do this by moving the alpha around; use the little arrows at the bottom right of the alpha picture. Once they're facing the same way, take the little red box in the image to the right and move it to where you want the leaf to attach to the branch or plant.

Message edited on: 01/26/2005 10:44

Hello Djeser :o) I tried rotating in every way I could, but the screenshot I am showing is the only was I can get the leaves to show properly in a render... I know it doesn't make sense and I understand what you are telling me, but Botanica doesn't want it the logical way for me.... Thanks :o) Elaine

When my settings are done the way they should be...

Here is what I get .... Elaine

I would definitely report that to e-on as a bug. It doesn't look like a difficult problem to fix. I will try on my PC tonight.

Attached Link: http://www.perpetualvisions.com/articles-and-graphics/review-botanica.htm

I have written a tutorial on creating plants using Botanica. I have created plants from scratch as well as creating leaves for trees which is more complicated. You don't have to struggle with rotating leaves or anything else. Djeser is correct that it is a good idea to make an alpha image yourself. Anyway, I have made a number of trees and plants as I explain it in my tutorial. If you have any questions, e-mail me and I will be happy to help you further.

Paula

That is an excellent tutorial Paula...I see you & I have the same tree book!

Hmmm...that's weird looking, all right! Did you try flipping both the color and alpha so they're pointing the opposite way? (In other words, leaf top points up instead of down) I don't have V5/Botanica, so it might be a bug particular to Botanica. A couple of tips when making your color images in PS or PSP or whatever, that I learned from Guitta: 1. Use the color sampler to make the background of the color image close to the leaf color. Like, green background for a green leaf. 2. Use your smudge/clone tools to expand the color edges of the leaf a little on the color image. This way, you won't get little white/black jaggies on the leaves when you render it.

Hello There :O) Thanks for the nice tutorial Paula, I will try that one for new trees as soon as I can get the alpha maps working in my Botanica :o) And yes, Djeser, I tried rotating the maps, and still I cannot get a decent result :o( I do think it should work as advertised and can't figure out what is wrong... Would be nice to know if I am the only one having this problem. I usually make better maps, but this was just to show the problem I am having... Thanks for all the help :o) And if someone has Botanica and Vue 5, I would like to know if it's working okay for you :o) Elaine

Elaine - Vue 5 and Botanica work correctly. Take your leaf into an image editor and then follow the second part of my tutorial which discusses leaves and how to make alpha maps. I didn't do anything magical. I didn't have to turn leaves around. All I did was import the leaf and the alpha image and they worked. e-mail me at paula@paulajane.com if you have a part of the process that isn't working and I will be happy to try to help you step by step. I know how frustrating it can be. I have been there myself. Paula