Growing Grass

[Rip_shot]

I've found this tutorial before, but I cant seem to find it and I have a great idea for a neat little abstract music video but I dont know what technique to use to make grass look like its spreading over a plain

any tips or links would be greatly appreciated.

[Rip_shot]

well I didn't find it but I figured out a way of pulling it off myself, if anyone is interested in how I did it just let me know I'll write up a mini tutorial, or maybe theres one on the internet that shows the way I did it and I just never found it lol.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTBIQMfwsqg

[Freespace-3DT]

Cool! Sure, I think a tutorial for that would be real cool. 3dstudio max, right?

[Rip_shot]

yup, its easier then it looks, though the only down fall I have found is it can only be done on a flat plain, I have to figure out how to get it to go over a hill or rolling hills.

[newbustamonk]

Can you give me at least the begining of the tut.....Im doing grass right now..and this would be cool....

[darkyien]

If it's under max, that's no prob at all : Use the Hair & Fur modifiers with an animated gradient ramp from totally black to white (in a kind of progressive way) in the cut length slot! Maybe I'll write something about that!

Cheers!

[LionFox]

wow this looks really cewl. i have some nice ideas to use this technique. cant wait to see your tut?!

ciao lionfox!

[Freespace-3DT]

Awesome idea, darkyien!!

[Rip_shot]

ya thats not the technique I used that darkyien used since I have no clue how to animate a black and white mask and the density map for fur and hair dosnt do the effect I was trying to convay

my version is using a partical system with animated grass blades, I've been crazy busy so I havnt had a moment to work on the tutorial, but I'll try and get it done as soon as I can

[ibrahim_gabr]

Yeah particle system would do more dynamic effect particle flow with some operators of deflectors and such would do it

[Freespace-3DT]

Isn't a particle system only complicating things?

[darkyien]

Hi guys!

Here is the tutorial but I'm having trouble posting images so, it's actually without any images. But, hopefully, it is easy to follow.
So, open Max (I'm working with Max 9). Create a plane 100x25 (just for the tut).
Apply the Hair&Fur Modifier to the plane. Scroll down in the modifier's 'General parameters' rollout and click on the 'Cut Length' material assigner (the little square next to it). Apply a 'Gradient ramp'. Open the material editor and drag the material in the 'Cut Length' to a blank slot. Okay, now you have a gradient ramp with 3 little marker, totally black, gray & white. Turn them all black (and do a 'haka'), except for the one on the left, which you'll make pure white. Now move the middle black marker to the left (as far as you can - you'll see the grass on the plane disappear). Turn 'Auto Key' on. Move the animation slider to the frame 100. Move the middle marker to right (& you'll see the grass grow, we're near the goal).
Now turn the 'Auto Key' off. Go to the 'Tools' rollout of the H&F mod and click on 'Load' presets. Select the tall grass settings. Adjust the hair passes as you like & there you go (you may have to adjust scale settings too).

If you don't understand something, do not hesitate to ask. I think I'll write a html version of this and submit it to 3dtotal (if the mods follow the thread, please let me know if this is a worthy tutorial).

Cheers!

[Freespace-3DT]

This would definetely look good as a tutorial. Go for it!
BTW, I'd be interested to host this tutorial on my website. :)

[Rip_shot]

thats a great idea, not the effect I'm trying to portray but much better then the way I did it, I dont know how to do things the easy way since I'm not an expert at 3d studio max, I just use the knowledge I know to make the effects

guess this means no one is interested in my "tutorial"?

[darkyien]

Okay, I'll write a more official version for this tut & Freespace, it would be an honor if you hosted this tut on your website.

It should be ready for new year!

Cheers everyone!

[darkyien]

I've been working on it and the tutorial will come in two parts. The first should be available soon!
Please Freespace, let me know how I can send you the tutorial, if you still want to host it on you website)

Cheers!

[bobi]

...and for the max 7 users (like me)...

Acctualy, meny people don't know that you can animate editable poly modifier (editable spline too)
So in my opinion, it should not be too hard to make a 10 diferent growing grases, and the scatters them on geometry.

You can also use pflow.

[Rip_shot]

maybe I could show you my tutorial on how I made mine since its more lower max friendly.

btw darkyien I have some suggestions to change in your tutorial

first of all, when you put the gradient map in the cut length also put one in the density (a copy) and tweak the density to be abit ahead of the cut length map otherwise with just the cut length you will see tiny grass for a long length killing the effect of spreading grass (which is the effect I'm going for, spreading grass)

[darkyien]

Well Rip_Shot, you're right but, in the definitive version of the tutorial I'm writing, that problem is handled, using another way (but yours is great too, and I'm glad you found that out, it shows that you've been thinking about it a lot).

It will be great to have your tut & mine, we'll be able to compare the results. I'm looking forward to it.

Cheers!

[Freespace-3DT]

Guys, send me your tutorials in a zip file ( containing the text, and jpg images of max width 640, and make sure to tell me where to place them along the text, via email at freespace87@gmail.com ), and I'll add them to the skinny Tutorials section when I come back after New Year. :D

Oh, and how you want me to credit you ( name, website ), and I'll also make sure to correct the text for typos and spelling. :) I'm good at that stuff, it drives me crazy.

[darkyien]

Well, Freespace, I'll be sending you the first part of my tutorial by the end of this week. It's ready but I need to get home and send it to you.
Again, thanks to host it on your website (at least, I'm sure it will be viewed a lot).

Cheers!