GrowFX 2.0 User Manual

Meta mesh node

The Meta mesh builder is intended for creating trunks and branches with a complex shape by stitching them to each other smoothly to create a single surface.

Radius

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

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.

Min radius

Minimal radius.

Min sides

Minimal number of sides in a circle, no less than 3.

Auto radius

This option 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 option 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.

Meta parameters group

Allows the user to set up a particular behavior of part of the meta surface that belongs to the current path.

Meta ID

Surface identifier. A single GrowFX object can simultaneously build several independent meta surfaces which do not come into contact with each other. For this separation of meta surfaces, you can use this parameter, entering different values for the identifier. Accordingly, when you enter similar values of this parameter for different paths, their surfaces combine into a single meta surface.

Face size

Nominal size of a face during building. The actual size of a face can be smaller if the radius on this area of a surface is less than this value.

Operation

Type of operation on surfaces:

- adding surfaces. This mesh is added to the common meta surface.

- subtracting surfaces. This mesh is subtracted from the common meta surface.

Meta weight

This parameter allows you to specify the weight of that part of a meta surface that belongs to the current path. This parameter is available when Build simple cylinder is disabled.

UVW weight %

This parameter can be used to specify the UVW weight of that part of a meta surface that belongs to the current path, i.e. the higher the value, the more adjoining faces get UVW coordinates from the current path.

Build simple cylinder

If the option is on, a simple cylinder as in the Cylinder mesh algorithm will be built on all those areas that do not come into contact with anything. This feature allows you to minimize the time of building the entire tree considerably.

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.

Stop stitching

This option allows you to stop stitching as soon as a surface of the current path loses contact with other surfaces. Basically, it is used for branches that grow from a trunk and must not come into contact with anything else. This option is available when Build simple cylinder is enabled.

After pos %

When using Stop stitching, specifies the position on the path in percent after which it is possible to stop stitching.

By Radius

When using Stop stitching, specifies some radius. If the mesh radius is less than this value, the stitching at this area will not performed.

The latter options can be used to optimize and build a surfaces much quicker. For example, the radius of a branch decreases by length, and when the length reaches 70%, the radius is so small that it is impossible to notice stitched surfaces with other branches. Consequently, if you set After pos to 70%, you disable further stitching of this tree with others.
Stop stitching By Radius allows more easily optimize the calculation of metamesh.

Stop stitching for children

When on, the children branches are not stitch together, when stitching is stopped on the parent branch.

Surface displace map group

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.