GrowFX 2.2.0 User Manual

Sphere Cloud node

This node generates attractor points inside a spherical or ellipsoidal volume for the Space Colonization node.

It does not create branches or meshes by itself. Instead, it creates a cloud of points in space that can be used by the Space Colonization node as growth targets.

This node is useful for creating crowns, compact branching volumes, and other organic shapes where the branching should fill a rounded or vertically stretched area.

Output

The right connector outputs the generated attractor points for the Space Colonization node.

Modify gizmo button

Turns on the mode of editing the cloud gizmo directly in the viewport.

This allows changing the position and orientation of the cloud more conveniently.

Algorithm

Specifies the point distribution algorithm used to generate attractor points inside the cloud volume.

Hexagonal Close Packing - Produces a dense and regular distribution of points.
Face-Centered Cubic - Produces another dense lattice distribution with a slightly different structure.
Poisson Disk Sampling - Produces a more natural and less regular distribution of points.
Cubic lattice - Produces points on a simple cubic grid.
One point - Creates only one attractor point in the cloud.

Radius

Specifies the radius of the spherical cloud.

This is the main size of the cloud volume in the X and Y directions.

Z Scale

Scales the cloud along the local Z axis.

A value of 1.0 produces a regular sphere. Larger values stretch the sphere vertically into an ellipsoid, while smaller values flatten it.

Density of points

Specifies the density of attractor points inside the cloud.

This parameter supports a Curve, which allows changing the density depending on the distance from the center of the cloud.

Higher values create more attractor points, which usually leads to more detailed branching but also increases calculation time.

Random

Adds random displacement to the generated attractor points.

When set to zero, the points follow the selected algorithm exactly. Higher values make the cloud less regular and more natural.

Bottom Slice

Cuts off the lower part of the sphere or ellipsoid.

This is useful when the cloud should represent only the upper part of a crown, or when branches should not grow into the lower part of the volume.

A value of 0% keeps the full sphere. Higher values remove more of the lower part.

Override parameters

Min dist

When enabled, overrides the Min distance parameter in the connected Space Colonization node for this cloud.

This allows using a different minimum attractor consumption distance for this cloud only.

Max dist

When enabled, overrides the Max distance parameter in the connected Space Colonization node for this cloud.

This allows using a different maximum attractor search distance for this cloud only.

Display

When on, the cloud gizmo is displayed in the viewport.

Turning this option off hides the viewport representation of the cloud, but does not disable the attractor point generation.

Note: The generated attractor points are affected not only by the selected algorithm, but also by Density of points, Random, and the search settings of the connected Space Colonization node.

Note: If the cloud is stretched strongly with Z Scale, the branching can become noticeably different from a regular spherical distribution, especially when using low point density.

Note: Poisson Disk Sampling usually produces the most natural-looking point distribution, while lattice-based algorithms are more regular and can be useful when a more structured branching pattern is needed.