Cylinder mesh node

The Cylinder mesh builder is intended for creating trunks (stems), branches with a simple cylindrical shape. This builder is fairly fast and suitable for creating many branches where there is no need to stitch them seamlessly together. For tree trunks, larger and more visible branches, you can use the Meta mesh node.

Radius

Specifies the radius of a cylindrical surface. The right connector allows to connect the Curve node to control the radius value along the path lines.

Parameter: Radius

The right connector allows to get the current radius value at a specific point on the path line.

This value can be passed directly to any parameter, or through an influencing node, such as Affect or Math nodes.

For example, you can directly connect this connector with the Offset parameter of the Distributor node for a child Path node, thereby offsetting the starting points of the branches to the surface of this mesh builder.

For more information, see Example of using Parameter: Radius.

Sides

Specifies the number of cylinder faces. This parameter is available when the Optimize faces option in the Optimization group is off. The right connector allows to connect the Curve node to control the sides value along the pathlines.

Min radius

Specifies the minimal radius.

Min sides

Specifies the minimum number of faces, but not less than 3.

Auto radius

This parameter allows to enable the automatic radius reduction mode depending on the Cylinder mesh or Meta mesh radii of the parental paths. If the parental path has several customized Cylinder meshes or Meta meshes, then the first enabled builder is chosen.

Radius < Parent radius

This parameter creates radii, which are always smaller than the radii of the parental path. This works even if the radius is set to be bigger than the radius of the parental path. The exception can be the restriction of the minimal radius - Min radius.

Optimization group

Allows to optimize mesh.

Optimize faces

Enables optimization.

Face size

Specifies the polygon size during the building process. If the circle cylinder length is more than this value, then the number of faces will be calculated from this value. If the circle length is less than this value, then only three faces will be built and the face will be less than Face size.

Override steps

This parameter allows to enable the override steps, so it allows the user to change the number of polygons along paths.

Steps

Specifies the new step of the current path. This parameter is available when the Override steps option is on.

Advanced parameters group

Represents extra settings of a cylinder body, its start and end.

Mat ID body

Specifies the material identifier of a cylinder body. The right connector allows to connect the Chaos Material ID node to control the chaotic behavior of material IDs.

Planar cap start

Creates a flat cap start of a cylinder.

Spherical cap start

Creates a spherical cap start of a cylinder. A cylinder is built in such a way that the resulting sphere comes as a continuation of a cylinder.

Mat ID start

Specifies the material identifier of the cylinder's cap start. It is available when you have chosen Planar cap start. The right connector allows to connect the Chaos Material ID node to control the chaotic behavior of material IDs.

Planar cap end

Creates a flat cap end of a cylinder.

Spherical cap end

Creates a spherical cap end of a cylinder.

Mat ID end

Specifies the material identifier of the cylinder's cap end. It is available when you have chosen Planar cap end. The right connector allows to connect the Chaos Material ID node to control the chaotic behavior of material IDs.

Surface displace group

Allows to adjust the radial offset of the cylinder, or apply the displacement maps.

Radial offset

Specifies the radial displacement. There is an opportunity to use only the Curve node, so the Radial offset Curve allows to adjust the value range of the displacement along the circumference.

Scale offset

Specifies the general scale offset. While using the Curve node, the curve will vary the scale along the length of pathline.

Displace map

Assigns a displacement map from a selection dialog. After you make a valid choice, these buttons display the name of the bitmap or map. This button is labeled "None" until you choose a map. The right connector allows to connect the UVW Mapping node to customize the UVW coordinates for displace map of received surface.

Vertex color

Allows to configure the Vertex color parameters. The right connector allows to connect a Vertex color nodes.

UVW Mapping

The right connector allows to connect the UVW Mapping node to customize the UVW coordinates of received surface.

Examples:

This tree is created using only this Cylinder mesh builder:

End cap options (left - without cap, middle - planar cap, right - spherical cap):

Left - Optimize faces is on, right - Optimize faces is off and Sides = 12: