Direction Modifiers

Direction modifiers rollout

Path parameters group

Length path

Sets up the path length.

Chaos %

Specifies the chaos length of paths in percents.

Steps

Sets the length of segments of the path. This value affects the number of segments along the length of the path.

The next button opens the Steps Graph dialog.

Note: This is a critical parameter, where the value cannot be equal to zero. This is why the user should be cautious because when the value is too small, it may cause system overload.

Parameter: Angle button

Opens the Affects parameters, where you can add one or more influences to other parameters. This parameter passes the angle bend in every path point to the Affect pipeline. The original value can range from 0 to 180 degrees.

Parameter: Length button

Opens the Affects parameters, where you can add one or more influences to other parameters. This parameter passes the length path to the Affect pipeline. The original value usually can range from 0.0 to Length path value.

Modifiers list group

Allows to manage the list of modifiers.

Create modifier

Creates a new modifier.

Delete modifier

Deletes selected modifier.

Copy modifier

Makes a copy of the selected modifier into the copy buffer.

Paste modifier

Pastes the modifier from the copy buffer.

Paste as instance

Pastes an instance from the copy buffer.

Make unique

Makes the modifier unique.

Also, you can move modifier items up and down by using the drag and drop feature.

Note: The order or sequence in which you add modifiers is important. The calculation occurs from the top down.

To the left of each modifier, you can see the bulb icons that allows to enable or disable modifier.

Name

This field allows to specify the modifier name.

Count Rate %

Specifies how many paths in percent to calculate using the selected modifier.

Seed offset

Specifies a randomization value for selected modifier.

Clicking button opens the following menu for choosing the type of modifier:

Types of the modifiers

Random direction;
Vector direction;
Noise direction;
Deviation direction;
Spline direction;
Hard bend;
Wind animation;
Copy direction;
Align children;
Radial direction;
Spiral direction;
Zigzag direction;
Twist direction;
Object reaction;
Path reaction;
Object slice;
Vector orientation;
Start/End slice;
Optimize steps;
Eraser;
Trim;
Override Steps;
Shape;

Random direction

Smoothing

Specifies the length on which will be bended line from minimum to maximum angles.

Random angle group

Min Angle

The minimum rotation angle in random direction.

Max Angle

The maximum rotation angle in random direction.

The next

button opens the Angles Graph dialog. Min Angle and Max Angle use one button, because both graphs are displayed in one dialog.

Vector direction

Vector direction is used to imitate the gravitation, wind or other effects.

Global vector

The global start direction vector is used. It may come from GrowFX icon or from the Start point when using the Point distributor.

Local vector

The local start direction vector is used. The local vector comes from the current distributor of the path.

Another global vector

Another global direction vector is used. This vector is specified in the Another node group.

Another target point

Another point is used as target, which means the vector is always targeted at this point. This point is specified in the Another node group.

Another target surface

Another surface is used as target, which means the vector is directed against the normal at the nearest vertex of the surface. The object of the used surface is specified in the Another node group too.

Use view as target point

The vector is always directed to the camera or to the active view of the Viewport.

Another node group

This group available for use Another global vector, Another target point and Another target surface only. Naturally, the Create button that creates a new object is not available for Another target surface.

Pick

Click this, and then select an object in the viewport to be used as a vector.

Create

Turns on Create Vector mode. Manually place vector by clicking in any viewport. In this mode the Exlevel Point Helper will be created.

[None]

Displays the name of the picked object.

Strength

Specifies the influencing vector power, allowing to change direction.

Orientation for leaves

When on, performs axial reorientation of the direction, which means that it turns the path along the direction. Mainly it is applicable for leaves, as a leaf can bend only in one direction. So in creating wind animation or gravitation influence, when bended, the leaf turns over.

Noise direction

Noise direction can be used to add noisiness to the main direction without changing the direction of the growth itself.

Scale

Sets the size of the noise effect (not strength). Larger values produce smoother noise, lower values more jagged noise.

Phase

Shifts the start and end points of the underlying wave.

Random seed

When on, all path lines will be built differently.

Strength parameters group

Allows the user to set up the value of noise amplitude.

Strength

Strength of amplitude. We recommend turning on and adjust the Strength Graph so that the line of the path came from its starting point, otherwise for example, the branches will be shifted from the trunk.

X, Y

Sets the strength scale of the noise effect along each of two axes.

Fractal parameters group

Allows the user to configure the parameters of fractal noise.

Roughness

Determines the extent of fractal variation. Lower values are less rough than higher values. Range=0 to 1.0. Default=0.

Iterations

Controls the number of iterations (or octaves) used by the fractal function. Fewer iterations use less fractal energy and generate a smoother effect. An iteration of 1.0 is the same as turning Fractal off. Range=1.0 to 10.0. Default=3.0.

Shift Start Point

When off, shifts a path line so that the starting point coincides with the distribution point. In previous versions the noise modifier shifts all path's points relative to the axis. Now, using this option, the starting points keeps its original positions. Mainly for compatibility with previous versions. Default=off, but if you open a file saved in the old version, this option is on.

Deviation direction

This modifier allows the user to deflect the trunk in the direction opposite to the growth of branches at the points where they appear.

Distributed paths

In the drop-down list, choose an available path with distributor, which will generate points of deviation.

Angle from child vector

When on, the angle of deviation will be the same as the angle of the distribution of a new branch. If this option is off, the user can set the Angle of deviation direction.

Angle

Sets the angle of deviation.

Tolerance

Minimum distance to the existing points required to insert new points on the path. If the distance between the position of a new branch and the nearest path point is less that the value of this parameter, the nearest path point shifts to this position. This allows the user to avoid little values of the step while building a mesh, which in its turn allows you to avoid artifacts on the cylinder mesh. Usually this value can be set to be equal to 1/3 of the path step. In case of big values of this parameter, the calculated value will be reduced to 1/3 of the step.

Separate SmGroups

When on, this will separate smoothing groups of the surface in bending place. This means that polygons coming after the bend will have a different smoothing group than polygons coming before the bend. Used for the Cylinder mesh or Leaves mesh only.

Spline direction

This modifier are used to set path directions along a spline.

Spline object group

Pick spline

Click this, and then select a spline in the viewport.

Extract spline

Lets you create a new spline in the scene as an instance for further modification.

[None]

Displays the name of the spline object.

Orientation

Orientation angle of a spline along the direction of a start vector.

Chaos angle

Chaos of orientation angle.

Scale

Sets a spline scale.

Chaos scale %

Chaos scale in percent.

Length < Spline length

When on, the length of a created path will be no more than the length of a spline.

Randomize sample spline

If a spline object consists of several splines, this option allows use splines at random during generating multiple paths.

Interpolation between splines group

Interpolation

Enables smooth interpolation between several splines.

Interpolation value

Specifies the interpolation value, range 0.0 to 1.0. If value is 0.0, the first spline in a spline object is used. If is 1.0, the last spline is used. Hence, the value in the range from 0.0 to 1.0 will be provided by a spline as a result of interpolation from the first to the last spline in a spline object.

Note: When calculating this modifier, the Pivot of the spline, in particular its Z-vector, is used as a starting direction. Reorient the Pivot in such a way that its Z-vector is directed along the required direction of growth.

An example of using interpolation between several splines:

An example above shows a spline object that consists of three splines.

To create a similar spline object, follow these steps:

Create 3 splines in a single spline object. If possible, create similar number of vertices;
Add the Spline direction modifier for branches and select this spline using Pick Spline;
Enable interpolation by checking Interpolation;
Set the Interpolation value = 1.0;
Affects to this parameter from the position of branches on the trunk, i.e. in Path distributor for branches select Parameter: Path position, and add an Affect to the Interpolation value;
Enable a Factor Graph and set an upward curve from 0.0 to 1.0. As a result, values of Interpolation value will be multiplied by the value of this graph and give a change from 0.0 to 1.0 along the length of the trunk, starting from bottom branches all the way to the top ones. For a bottom branch the value of Interpolation value will be equal to 0.0 and for the top branch - 1.0. Consequently, the first spline will be used at the bottom and the third will be used on top;
If necessary, enable the Length < Spline length to make the length of branches the same as splines.

Hard bend

It allows you to create a hard bend in the direction that resembles the fracture of branches or leaves.

Position %

Specifies the position of the bend point on the path in percentage.

Chaos pos %

Adds random variation to the Position setting.

Bend by Angle group

Allows to adjust the angle of the bend. The checkbox lets you disable the use of this angle.

Angle

Angle of bending direction.

Chaos angle

Chaos of bending angle.

Orientation

Axial orientation of the bend.

Apply Vector group

Allows to apply the vector to the remainder of the path after the bend. It may be necessary to give a realistic sagging of leaves after their fracture. These parameters are absolutely similar to the parameters of the Vector direction modifier.

Separate SmGroups

Wind animation

It allows you to create the animation of swaying paths in the wind.

Note: We recommend using this modifier only in the After Mesh Modifiers. This allows you to generate animation faster and better.

Wind object group

Pick

Click this, and then select a Wind helper object in the viewport.

Create

Turns on Create Wind object mode. Manually place Wind helper object by clicking in any viewport.

[None]

Displays the name of the Wind object.

Stiffness

Stiffness of the path, numerically determines the wavelength of the vibrations of paths. Waves move in the wind direction with speed equal to Wind Speed in the parameters of the Wind helper object. This influences the oscillation frequency: the shorter the wavelength, the greater the frequency.

Please note that if Stiffness is more than the path length, the oscillation frequency depends to some extent on the length of the path.

Flexibility

Flexibility of the path, numerically determines the scale of the subsidence under the influence of wind forces.

Scale Frequency

Scale of the oscillation frequency. This parameter is required to adjust the oscillation frequency.

Amplitude Multiplier

Sets the amplitude of the waving lines in the wind. Allows you to make movements smoother.

Axial rotation group

Allows to adjust the axial rotation of the oscillating paths. It can be applied to the leaves because they tend to vibrate along their axis.

On

Enables this feature.

Max angle

Maximum deflection angle of the axial rotation.

Strength factor

Used to adjust the amplitude of the axial rotation.

Orientation for leaves group

On

Angle strength

Used to adjust the rotation angle of the leaves.

Looping animation group

On

Enables the looping animation. Enabling this option disables the Scale Frequency, because it will be calculated automatically.

Looping Period

Specifies the looping period.

For the correct looping animation, don't use the Perturb Speed, Perturb Vector and Decay options in the Wind helper settings.

The visual representation of Stiffness:

Flexibility = 1.0:

Flexibility = 10.0:

Copy direction

It allows you to copy the direction of the parent path.

Radial offset

Specifies a crosscut offset from the original path.

Align children

Distributed paths

In the drop-down list, choose an available child paths with distributor, which will align.

Amount %

Percentage value, showing how strongly the child paths aligned. 0% - not aligned, 100% - fully aligned.

Align children is not used:

Align children is used with Amount = 100%:

Radial direction

Performs the radial curling of the direction.

Smoothing

Specifies the length on which the direction rotation to Angle bend will be done.

Angle bend

Specifies the angle bend on Smoothing length.

Orientation

Specifies the orientation angle, showing on which side the path will be curl.

Spiral direction

Radius

Spiral radius.

Angle turn

Spiral twisting angle. Numerically shows the twisting angle, at a Unit Calc distance, in Preference Parameters rollout.

Zigzag direction

Radius

Specifies the amplitude of the Zigzag.

Steps

Zigzag step.

Twist direction

Makes twisting along the path.

Angle twist

Specifies the twisting angle per Unit Calc in Preference Parameters rollout.

Object reaction

Expresses the paths reaction on other scene objects, i.e. reflection and attraction.

Pick Object

Click this, and then select a geometrical object in the viewport, with which the paths will react. If you need to use primitive objects (plane, sphere, box, cone), for quickly calculation you can use Exlevel Helper objects.

[None]

Displays the name of the selected object.

Reflection group

Allows to adjust the reflection paths from the object surface.

Reflection On

Turns the reflection function on.

Distance

Specifies the distance to the object, when it's reached, the path direction is going change.

Prevent Penetration

It prevents the penetration into the surface of the object.

Min distance

The lines don't reach the surface at this distance.

Magnetic group

Allows to adjust the attraction paths to the object.

Magnetic On

Turns the magnetic function on.

Distance

Specifies the distance to the object, when the paths is attracted to the object.

Max strength %

Percentage value, showing how strongly the magnetic points capture the paths directions.

Calculation method

Sets the principle of generation of the magnetic points.

Use Vertices

The vertices of the mesh object are used as magnetic points.

Generate points on Faces

An additional magnetic points will be generated on the faces.

Steps on face

Sets the distance between an additional magnetic points on the face. Decreasing the value will increase density of points on the face. The magnetic points are generated randomly, so the distance may be not accurate.

Show magnetic points

When on, displays magnetic points on surface in the Viewport.

Bake Direction

Click this button on the last frame to bind the path's points to the animated reaction object.
This can be useful if you have an animated object or tree, and you need to bind the growing ivy to this object.

Reset

Removes all information of the binding points.

Path reaction

As in Object reaction modifier, the Path reaction modifier also expresses the path reaction but on the other paths within itself, or paths of another GrowFX-object.

Path List group

Allows to manage the list of the paths using for reaction.

Add

Adds a new path.

Delete

Deletes selected path.

This object

The paths of this object will be used.

Another object

The paths of another object will be used.

Pick object

Click this, and then select a GrowFX object in the viewport, with which the paths will react.

Select path

Use this drop-down list to choose the necessary path for reaction.

Radius path

Specifies the imaginary radius of the reaction path, is used in reflecting only. For magneting the centroidal axis is used.

Reflection group

Allows to adjust the reflection paths from the other paths.

Reflection On

Turns the reflection function on.

Distance

Specifies the distance to other paths, when it's reached, the path direction is going change.

Magnetic group

Allows to adjust the attraction paths to other paths.

Magnetic On

Turns the magnetic function on.

Distance

Specifies the distance to the object, when the paths is attracted to other paths.

Max strength %

Percentage value, showing how strongly the magnetic points capture the paths directions.

Calculation method

Sets the principle of generation of the magnetic points.

Use Points

The points of the paths are used as magnetic points.

Generate points on Paths

An additional magnetic points will be generated on the paths.

Steps on path

Show magnetic points

When on, displays magnetic points on paths in the Viewport.

Object slice

Pick Object

Click this, and then select a geometrical object in the viewport, on which the paths will be sliced. If you need to use primitive objects (plane, sphere, box, cone), for quickly calculation you can use Exlevel Helper objects.

[None]

Displays the name of the selected object.

Distance

Specifies the distance to the object, when it's reached, the path will be sliced.

No affect length

When on, the imaginary length of sliced path won't change, and this will reflect the rest calculation, particularly the Cylinder mesh builder with variable over length radius, while the radius will remain original.

Cylinder mesh, Cap end

When on, you can override the cap end for Cylinder mesh. Use the drop-down list to choose another cap end variant - Planar or Spherical.

Erase the affected lines

Erases the affected lines. Those lines that touched the object will be erased.

Vector orientation

This modifier performs the path's overturn along the direction axis.

Global Vector

The global start direction vector is used. It may come from GrowFX icon or from the Start point when using the Point distributor.

Local Vector

The local start direction vector is used. The local vector comes from the current distributor of the path.

Aligned Local Vector

The aligned local start direction vector is used. The local vector comes from the current distributor of the path, but this vector is aligned along the parent path.

Another Global Vector

Another global direction vector is used. This vector is specified in the Another node group.

Another target point

Another point is used as target, which means the vector is always targeted at this point. This point is specified in the Another node group.

Another target surface

Use view as target point

The vector is always directed to the camera or to the active view of the Viewport.

Another node group

Pick

Click this, and then select an object in the viewport to be used as a vector.

Create

Turns on Create Vector mode. Manually place vector by clicking in any viewport. In this mode the Exlevel Point Helper will be created.

[None]

Displays the name of the picked object.

X orientation

Reorients the direction on the X-side.

Y orientation

Reorients the direction on the Y-side.

Strength %

Sets the strength in percent, with which the axial rotation is made.

Without using the Vector orientation modifier:

An example of using X orientation, Strength % = 100.0:

An example of using Y orientation, Strength % = 100.0:

Without using the Vector orientation modifier:

An example of using the Vector orientation modifier, for the branches:

An example of using the Global Vector:

An example of using the Local Vector:

An example of using the Aligned Local Vector:

Start/End slice

Start slice

Specifies the slice length from the path's beginning.

Count rate %

Specifies the number of randomly sliced paths in percents.

End slice

Specifies the slice length from the path's end.

Count rate %

Specifies the number of randomly sliced paths in percents.

No affect length

Cylinder mesh, Cap start

When on, you can override the cap start for Cylinder mesh. Use the drop-down list to choose another cap start variant - Planar or Spherical.

Cylinder mesh, Cap end

When on, you can override the cap end for Cylinder mesh. Use the drop-down list to choose another cap end variant - Planar or Spherical.

Optimize steps

It optimizes path directions by removing points in the places close to linear.

Angle tolerance

Specifies the angle when points can be removed, i.e. if the deviation angle at the point of path direction is less than this value, this point will be removed.

Eraser

Allows you to erase unwanted lines (stems, branches, leaves etc.) directly in the viewports.

Pick lines button

Click this, and then select a lines in the viewport to erase. To exit picking, right-click the active viewport or click Pick lines again.

Delete from list button

Deletes selected items from the list. It restores erased lines.

Revert erased lines button

Click this, and then select a lines in the viewport to revert. To exit picking, right-click the active viewport or click Revert erased lines again.

Invert lines button

Inverts the selected lines. The erased lines will be visible, the visible lines will be erased.

Trim

Allows you to trim lines (stems, branches, leaves etc.) directly in the viewports.

Trim lines button

Click this, and then click in the viewport on the line in a certain position to trim. To exit trimming, right-click the active viewport or click Trim lines again.

Delete from list button

Deletes selected items from the list. It restores trimmed lines.

Revert trimmed lines button

Click this, and then select a lines in the viewport to revert. To exit picking, right-click the active viewport or click Revert trimmed lines again.

No affect length

Cylinder mesh, Cap end

When on, you can override the cap end for Cylinder mesh. Use the drop-down list to choose another cap end variant - Planar or Spherical.

Override Steps

Steps

A new step that will be used to build the lines of path.

Uniform Steps

The step size will be the same along the entire length of the line. This option is not available if the Steps Graph is enabled.

Shape

Turns on the shape modify mode. You can add and move the control points.

Turns on the deleting control points mode. You can delete the added points or reset positions for edge points.

Reset Modification button

Removes all modifications of this modifier.

Add the new control point:

Move the control point:

GrowFX Manual (for version 1.x)