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MTree - Tree creation

Discussion in 'Assets and Asset Store' started by mherpin, Aug 31, 2018.

  1. mherpin

    mherpin

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    I am working on a tree creation solution for unity. I am the creator of the modular tree addon for blender, and have started to write a game centered, improved version for unity.

    The goal is to create a user friendly, fast and complete tree creation package that produces realistic tree models, along with wind shaders and automatic LOD.

    I have already implemented the inner workings of the tool, and I would like to know what features the community wants to find in such a package.

    Here is a quick result of the current state of the tool:

    Mtree.JPG

    Here are the current features:
    • User friendly Tree creation with uv map
    • Obstacle avoidance
    • Automatic LOD creation
    • Vertex color ambient occlusion
    Features being worked out:
    • wind vertex displacement using uv channel or vertex color
    • Advanced shaders with translucency for all render pipelines
    • User Interface
    Feel free to tell what you think about it, and what features you would like it to have !
     
  2. LennartJohansen

    LennartJohansen

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    Looks great.

    For me it would be important that the shaders support instancing.

    Also a location based color tint/Hue would be great. to get variations as you populate large areas.

    Lennart
     
  3. Mark_01

    Mark_01

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    Yes looks great !! insta buy am guessing :)
     
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  4. Neviah

    Neviah

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    Is there an option for changing the seasons of the trees? Fall, spring, winter?
    Looks really good, to be honest. Keep it up.
     
  5. Mark_01

    Mark_01

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    How is it coming along ? This is super promising and I hope it can take out speed trees honestly.

    The UI looks kind of like a Speed tree UI ... very cool.
     
    pachermann likes this.
  6. recon0303

    recon0303

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    Is there a video some where? of your old or new one, I looked didn't see, I only see screens . Thanks. and I agree with Lennart.
     
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  7. StevenPicard

    StevenPicard

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    Looks good. I'd be interested in an update, as well.
     
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  8. mherpin

    mherpin

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    Thanks for your feedback !

    I am making progress with the tool. I have started to write custom shader graph nodes in order to be able to make shaders that work for all render pipelines. They will support instancing. I have also created a billboard generator for the last LOD level.
    I will add more control over the tree generation, try to make different species in order to test it's versatility, and start working on the documentation.
     
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  9. Mark_01

    Mark_01

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    Am very excited to see this kind of asset!!! Speed tree just has not panned out well for Unity I think....
    UE4 got Speed tree 8 prb like 4 months ago ? Unity nope...

    I'd love to use MTree - Tree creation, it very well could be the best speed tree alternative for Unity..
    I am guessing a bunch of folks like me who won't do subscription ... really would get this.

    Along with what I bet will be A Lot of people here.
     
    Last edited: Sep 19, 2018
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  10. mherpin

    mherpin

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    Here is the state of the wind shader:
     
  11. Bodyclock

    Bodyclock

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    NIce, but I think the trunk bends too much, at least at the lower level. Would require a really strong wind for a trunk that thick to bend at all. Just my 2 cents worth. :)
     
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  12. mherpin

    mherpin

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    Thanks, I think you are right, I will adjust the stiffness calculation !
     
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  13. mherpin

    mherpin

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    Here is a test with four trees scattered on a terrain. the trees have four LOD levels, including a billboard. The shader lighting is really simple for now, but even then it gives acceptable results.

    Feel free to tell me what you think about it !

     
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  14. mherpin

    mherpin

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    I have redesigned the interface and improved the trees generation.
    I have started to write the documentation, and I will publish the tool soon.

    Here is what the editor looks like:
    Editor.JPG

    I have decided not to fully support HD render pipeline and Lightweight render pipeline yet since the shader graph editor lacks important functionalities and writing shaders for the new render pipelines is a pain due to the lack of documentation.

    The shaders support Instancing, fast translucency, wind vertex displacement, and leaf color variation.

    Here is a screen of the examples that will be included, feel free to tell me if I should make more of them.
    Mtree.jpg

    Maxime
     
  15. coverpage

    coverpage

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    Looks so promising. Will it have support for 3rd party leaf and bark textures. For example from megascan.
     
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  16. Mark_01

    Mark_01

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    And I'll chime in, I guessing you can change the tint of the leaves ?
     
  17. mherpin

    mherpin

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    For each tree, the is a material for the leafs and one for the bark. You can change the textures of each, as well as the tint.
    You can also change the mesh for the leafs.
     
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  18. Mark_01

    Mark_01

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    Hate to ask, do you have a general idea of cost ? Will you have a sale price for the
    first few week or so ?

    If I may, you probably know about this, but I would suggest as well, to make a post in the
    "What's on secret sale " forum. I have seen a few developers post there as well, for when
    their asset gets approved by Unity.

    I'd also like to wish you good luck on the release. I have a feeling you could do very well with this, to put
    it mildly. :)
     
    Last edited: Nov 2, 2018
    StevenPicard likes this.
  19. mherpin

    mherpin

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    Thank you very much for your support, I wasn't aware of this thread, but I will definitely have a sale price for the launch.
    I am not sure of the final price yet, but it will probably be in the 40/60$ range. What do you think ?
     
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  20. Mark_01

    Mark_01

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    If you dig through the asset store ( yes not all assets are the same ) , but you will see many have huge price tags and
    very few sales... where as a less price gives more sales. Usually a good strategy is to start lower and
    get sales till you get a 5 star rating and with bug fixes and updates increase the price / or have a
    initial price ( most dev's will say " for a short while, with out stating exactly how long ) ... a new asset
    will have a lower starting price.

    I am guessing there can be upgrades like trunk profiles and branches profiles .. that gives you room to increase
    your price. I am not expert tho and am not a Unity dev, so my opinions are from a hobby guy kind of view.

    Another way is to use a dll and sell one copy with the dll for cheaper and charge a lot more for the source code versions.

    In any case a good tree solution that is not speed tree is needed, So I hope you do very well, no matter what routes
    and pricing you choose to do.
     
    Last edited: Nov 4, 2018
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  21. mherpin

    mherpin

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    I think you are right, I will start with a lower price and make it evolve according to the feedback I receive, I didn't know how much control I would have over the price, but it seems I change change it whenever I want. Thanks a lot for your insights !

    I have submitted the asset, and I am waiting for the review from unity.

    In the meantime, here is the presentation video of the asset:
     
  22. PROTOFACTOR_Inc

    PROTOFACTOR_Inc

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    Is it possible to re export to fbx and keep all the vertex colors etc? Would be pretty great.
    Awesome work so far.
     
    JamesArndt likes this.
  23. PROTOFACTOR_Inc

    PROTOFACTOR_Inc

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    Also why not sell it on your personal store/ web site while you wait for the asset to be reviewed. You'd be surprised how many people are willing to help fellow developers keep 30% more of their hard work.
     
  24. Mark_01

    Mark_01

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    Congratulations on sending it to the store. Hope it get approved fast :)
     
    Last edited: Nov 14, 2018
  25. dan_wipf

    dan_wipf

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    @mherpin Hi, looks fantastic, as the mideler tree from blender:)

    just wondered, when will it be out? will there be a demo testing?
    and will it be released on github?

    looking forwArd :)

    dan
     
  26. mherpin

    mherpin

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    Thanks !
    It will be out as soon as the unity team approves the asset, which seems to be quite long.
    I don't think I will make a demo testing, but there will be a large discount for the launch.
    There are no plans to release it on GitHub for now since it will be a paid asset.

    I will keep you all informed of the process when I have news from unity.
     
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  27. dan_wipf

    dan_wipf

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    cool well what can we await of the pricing?

    are we allowed to modify your asset? (like in blender adding root nodes)...

    that be awsome! :)

    dan
     
  28. mherpin

    mherpin

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    I think the starting price will be around 25$.

    The full source code will be available, so you will be able to do any modification you want (and feel free to email me if you think such changes should be default).
     
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  29. dan_wipf

    dan_wipf

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    still no news from unity?
     
  30. mherpin

    mherpin

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    No, I think there has been a problem, so I made a new request. I am now hopping for the best !
     
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  31. dan_wipf

    dan_wipf

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    yeah, i had to wait once over a week, for releasing an asset.. but a month “, is quite long, might be dueto christmas :)
     
  32. dan_wipf

    dan_wipf

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    btw, will there be a root growth node availble?
     
  33. Mark_01

    Mark_01

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    I have a link on my browser to search for Mtree and I check every day :)
    https://www.assetstore.unity3d.com/.../sortby=relevance/query=MTree&-&Tree&creation

    But yes I think it has been a month about ... I have not seen it take much longer then this for any asset.
    Am very excited. I have a voucher for 10 % off for filling out a Unity survey that is good till Jan 10 th .. hoping
    to use that and get this and something else ... to make up 50 $ which won't be that hard to do. :p:D
     
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  34. dan_wipf

    dan_wipf

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    chch i like your link
     
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  35. dan_wipf

    dan_wipf

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    yes! finally! it’s on the asset store :)
     
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  36. mherpin

    mherpin

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  37. Mark_01

    Mark_01

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    Huge congratulations for sure. Hoping this will be the start of great 2019 year for you!
     
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  38. GCatz

    GCatz

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    supports LWRP ?
     
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  39. mherpin

    mherpin

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    Not yet, the tree creation process works perfectly but the shaders are not ready for LWRP and HDRP for the moment.
    It is in the roadmap though !
     
  40. Gray_Master

    Gray_Master

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    sorry if my ask is not correctly, but i have interesting - mTree has been support for Tree-It (& more 3rd party) Leafs, because while i use Tree-It, Trees, saving from this application, is not showing correctly (leaf roots has been not fixed on branches & if scene have wind has been bad look with hole between leaf & branch).

    such as there:
    Clipboard 1.jpg

    PS. w/o wind leaf showing correctly.

    This is Leaf File:
    birch leaf 2.png
     
  41. dan_wipf

    dan_wipf

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    for the shaders:

    what i’d wish is following:
    - snow cover support
    - blend mode for seasonal change

    but might i’m going to update this myself and pass it to you via pn
     
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  42. mherpin

    mherpin

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    Snow cover is a good feature to have !
    I'm not sure if seasonal blend is a commonly needed feature, what do you think ?

    My current roadmap is :
    • support for LWRP and HDRP
    • more examples
    • better shaders
    • more textures
    • video tutorials
     
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  43. mherpin

    mherpin

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    I'm not sure I understand your question, do you mean that trees from tree-it are not showing correctly (and your question being does Mtree suffer from this problem), or do you mean that tree-it leaves are not showing correctly on an Mtree tree, and how to prevent it ?
     
  44. dan_wipf

    dan_wipf

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    just remeber that vegetation studio pro and cts from procedural worlds and all the naturemanufacture assets have a solid seasonal feature that supports snow and fall textures for leafs :)

    but one thing to say! i like your wind very much!

    @AdamGoodrich @LennartJohansen @NatureManufacture
     
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  45. LennartJohansen

    LennartJohansen

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    Hi.

    Making a custom shader controller for Vegetation Studio that links the global snow to your settings is easy.

    @mherpin If you want to I can help you make one and expose your shader setting to the Vegetation Studio GUI.
    We could also look at adding instanced indirect support for rendering.

    Send me a message if you want to have a look at it.

    Lennart
     
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  46. dan_wipf

    dan_wipf

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    Simple test, all credits to naturemanufacture and wind to more
     

    Attached Files:

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  47. Gray_Master

    Gray_Master

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    First variant - trees from tree-it are not showing correctly (and your question being does Mtree suffer from this problem).
    if possible before bye i want see example (in ideality) with my eyes or get ansers ror all questions becouse 25 $ in my country - big money) )))
     
  48. mherpin

    mherpin

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    I'm sending you examples of trees made with Mtree so that you can judge for yourself !
     
  49. riba78

    riba78

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    Did you use the tree shader made by Naturemanufacture?
     
  50. dan_wipf

    dan_wipf

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    yes:
    -palmatefexture
    -plamatefall texture(photoshop)
    -snow texture
    no normals and other textures(simple test)

    but the wind does not correspond correctly so i had to take the wind from mtree shader and combine it...
     
    Last edited: Jan 14, 2019