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Autodesk Multimedia Forum · Autodesk 3D Studio

#Real Looking Grass HOW?

9 messages in this thread

#121639From: Judy WellerSep 1, 1994 8:49 PM

I am having an awful time creating grass that doesn't look plastic. I have tried the various textures that ship with Silicon Garden and also with 3D Surf. The closer they get to the camera the more they look like they were made of plastic. What is the best way to achieve "real" looking grass? Thanks Judy

#121670From: Michael BassierSep 2, 1994 2:02 AM

Did you try a few bump maps? I would assign a little opacity and self illum. map. And I think making the material METAL could help. BTW: Do you need it for an animation or a still? Michael – Michael Bassier, Written 02-Sep-1994 @ 08:45:53 Using: Windows NavCIS PRO 1.2

#121693From: Judy WellerSep 2, 1994 8:35 AM

Thanks I will give it try. Both materials I have been trying out have bump maps – but the final product is awful. Judy

#121682From: Daniel ErikssonSep 2, 1994 3:58 AM

Hi… I did have the same trouble myself, but try this: Make an opacity map with Animator Pro or something, with alot of white pixels on black (grass). Then set ambient to very dark green, and diffuse to medium green and light green to specular (exeriment :-)). assign this to the material and copy the object and move it little under the grass objekt and name it Ground. Then assign a brown bump map to the ground. Try setting the cast Shadow button off on the Grass objekt. Good look. Daniel Eriksson (Try diffrent Tile settings on Grass.)

#121694From: Judy WellerSep 2, 1994 8:35 AM

Thanks I will give your suggestions a try. Thank goodness this is for a still – but I find grass really difficult. Down the road I will be looking a longer prairie grass and meadow grass – have you ever tried those? Judy

#121765From: Daniel ErikssonSep 2, 1994 2:35 PM

Your welcome… Yes grass is a real challange and Prarie grass is even harder. But I just have to try it, perhaps vertical standing thin boxes with animated opacity maps …. Haven't tried it but I will test it. Greetings Daniel Eriksson

#121827From: John TissavarySep 2, 1994 9:35 PM

Judy, grass is in the same league of difficulty as hair (think about it…). You're really up against it here – but the bump map suggestions should help. You may also want to rethink how you compose your scene, and how much / how close you want the grass to be – in other works "sell" the shot. John Tissavary (LUNA cie, inc)

#122019From: Jeff GlazeSep 4, 1994 9:57 AM

I have made swamp grass by drawing it in 2D Shaper in different arrangements and then lofting it real thin and making many copies in the 3D Editor. You can do it with lots of work, try using array. Jeff

#122100From: John TissavarySep 5, 1994 12:51 AM

I've been using scatter for that type of effect – I agree that lofting and dispersing is the best way to go, although render times can get pretty hairy (sorry for the bad pun =-/ ). John Tissavary (LUNA cie, inc)