Palmtrees for background plate

[etyrihje]

I am modelling palmtrees to see if I can get them real enough for a background plate to a scene I am working on in DVpal (720x576 25i)

This test render is done in fprime (only to level 6).
I have added bones and done a simple animation that seems good in my eyes.

The finished composite will consist of

1)Foreground plate shot on digibeta against bluescreen
2)Background plate - This shot, animated roughly 10 seconds of palmtrees with a subtle swaying in the wind kind of move
3)Background plate of ocean

At the moment I am thinking I have reached a level where I might just get away with my modelling, but thinking of adding some dead (brown) branches hanging down (like they often do on these kinds of trees).

if you have any suggestions or comments that may help me in setting up my final animation please let me hear! Thanks in advance.

[Csion]

I live in Florida, so I see LOTS of palm trees. My suggestion is to add dead branchs...expectialy if they overhang a road. The dead ones should be close to the trunk, with some hanging a bit...around here they patrol and cut down branches dead that are hanging to low.

Also put some more details in the trunk like a zig-zagged layered effect going up. And maybe some tiny green mini-coconut looking things (see image, they bunch like grapes).

http://www.sfrc.ufl.edu/4h/Cabbage_palm/sabpalrs.jpg

-Jace

[etyrihje]

Thanks for the inputs Csion,

I have put in green "coconuts", added some dead branches (think I will need to adjust their color/surface)

I have redesigned my branches based on the original work but after studying some photos of palm trees more closely.

I also did a 60 frame testanimation of my original setup and I think I might get away with this....

Any tips and tricks that can add to this is appreciated. I am keeping the trunk of the trees clean for now.

Thanks!

[Csion]

Thats better!

Maybe add a few more live branches...to make it denser, and make the dead ones more visible. unless you want them to be unrealisticly good looking for you project.

-Jace

[adrian]

They look great to me! I wish we had palm trees where I live :)

Adrian.

[etyrihje]

Thanks for the response/feedback.

Here is my palmtree in its v.3, not too different from last nights but I worked on a few things (I doubt they will even be noticeable in the final 720x576 animation)
1) Added some more dead brances
2) upped the density by adding more branches
3) Added some dead (brown) leaves on some select branches.

I think I have come as far as I can get with my current LW level. I may or may not use my base components to build new palmtrees, but the main challenge now is to add bones and get the trees to do some subtle swaying in the wind, and make a 10seconds (250frames) animation in DVpal quality, might start tomorrow, should be done by monday.

The palmtrees are roughly 26k polys per tree (making the enclosed scene 104000 polygons-four trees, one of which is barely in frame)

Once again thanks for the feedback.
I will post the animation when finsihed (unless its total crap)

[adrian]

Make sure you post an anim once you've done it. Nice work on the trees... you wouldn't get a better result using something like Xfrog. :)

Adrian.