Vegetation
The grass can always be greener!
It's simple.
It's not hard to find out where to place it, the harder part is how to do so. Let's cover some common thinking, though, to make sure we're on the right track. Firstly, tall grass is not proper yard grass. The large brush grasses are meant to be just that, brush grass. Not someone's front yard. Additionally, grasses should not be placed extremely clustered. Spread it out! Just like butter on bread, you don't put an inch of butter on it! (hopefully) So, here's your first tip:
Observe your prototype. (if any)
Now here's your second:
Use the randomly rotate tool! Always with grasses, trees, and the lot!
I have my reasons! Grass and trees that you use over and over can make a pattern that brings out the fact it's not real grass. There's a common texture pattern only observed when it's placed in large quantities. This means, you should mix things up by using the randomly rotate new object tool. (available in the Surveyor Options) This powerful tool makes the grass blended and even looking. It also added randomness to it, which is real as nature is never orderly! Here are some pictures showing why I always stress this option:
Observe your prototype. (if any)
Now here's your second:
Use the randomly rotate tool! Always with grasses, trees, and the lot!
I have my reasons! Grass and trees that you use over and over can make a pattern that brings out the fact it's not real grass. There's a common texture pattern only observed when it's placed in large quantities. This means, you should mix things up by using the randomly rotate new object tool. (available in the Surveyor Options) This powerful tool makes the grass blended and even looking. It also added randomness to it, which is real as nature is never orderly! Here are some pictures showing why I always stress this option:
So, as you can see, it's a great tip that you should ALWAYS use. By the way, you can click those pictures to enlarge them. Just if you want to. One last tip:
Splines use more computer rendering power than objects.
There you go. Cut back a bit on those splines. Oops, that wasn't my last tip:
Common grasses are amazing, you can load the route better and have easier rendering if you use the same grass over and over.
Your computer might give you a hug, but it's definitely true. Your processor works hard when you load a route, as well as your graphics card. It has to render and process all the different buildings and shapes the route has. So, if you use a ton of different grasses, it has to load them all separately which can take longer. (especially on lower end machines) So, you don't have to use the exact same grass all over the route, but you shouldn't need over 20 different types on one route. (unless your really going for it, which you rightfully can)
Okay, fine, I'll talk about textures. There's not too much to talk about with vegetation textures... I'm going to do a texturing tutorial by itself so don't you pout about there being so little information. I'm only going to say this once, so listen good...
Try to match your textures with your grasses.
See, not too hard right? If your grass it light green, find an equally light green grass texture. You don't have to be really crazy about it. It's obvious that your grass is going to be more precise in placement than your texture, but as a general thumb... go for it
If your curious, that grass is by jankvis. (on the DLS)
Splines use more computer rendering power than objects.
There you go. Cut back a bit on those splines. Oops, that wasn't my last tip:
Common grasses are amazing, you can load the route better and have easier rendering if you use the same grass over and over.
Your computer might give you a hug, but it's definitely true. Your processor works hard when you load a route, as well as your graphics card. It has to render and process all the different buildings and shapes the route has. So, if you use a ton of different grasses, it has to load them all separately which can take longer. (especially on lower end machines) So, you don't have to use the exact same grass all over the route, but you shouldn't need over 20 different types on one route. (unless your really going for it, which you rightfully can)
Okay, fine, I'll talk about textures. There's not too much to talk about with vegetation textures... I'm going to do a texturing tutorial by itself so don't you pout about there being so little information. I'm only going to say this once, so listen good...
Try to match your textures with your grasses.
See, not too hard right? If your grass it light green, find an equally light green grass texture. You don't have to be really crazy about it. It's obvious that your grass is going to be more precise in placement than your texture, but as a general thumb... go for it
If your curious, that grass is by jankvis. (on the DLS)