Assign the seasonal display to plant species

Plant species in Lands Design have a Realistic 3D representation that can host different appearances according to seasons. Although a large number of plants already have different seasonal representations, there are some plants that do not have it and you can modify those plants manually.

The realistic representation files are generated by a Plant Editor that has two versions: “Plant Editor” and “AccuRender Studio Plant Editor”. The first one generates “ArPlantX” files, and it’s included in Lands Design. The second one, and newer, generates “ArTree” files and it can be downloaded when you edit an ArTree file. In this tip you can learn how to create plants with the AccuRender Studio Plant Editor.

Steps to create seasonal representations

  1. Open the Plant Database (_laPlantDatabase command).
  2. Select the plant species to edit and click on the Properties button to open the Properties dialog.
  3. Enable the Edit checkbox.
  4. Open the Plant editor from the Render tab. If this species is currently using an ArPlantX file, the plant editor will open. If it is using an ArTree file, you will be prompt to download and install the latest version of the AccuRender Studio Plant Editor. If the Plant Editor button is grayed out, it means that species doesn’t have any Realistic file assigned. Choose one from the library clicking on the Change… button. You can also open the Plant editor (and the AccuRender Studio Plant Editor, once installed), from the Windows Start menu > Lands Design Plant Editor. The following steps are described using the Plant Editor.
  5. From the Foliage tab you can create different foliage definitions assigned to different seasons to use in the season simulation when rendering the model.
    • Use the + button to create a new definition and the checkboxes to select the seasons it will display.The Plant Editor included in Lands Design. On the left side the plant model viewer and on the right all the controls for creating the species. The controls are grouped in three sections: Standard, Trunk and Foliage. The one visible is the last one, and it includes the default foliage definition.
    • For deciduous species, create a definition for winter and adjust the parameters so that the leaves do not appear in this season.The Plant Editor included in Lands Design. On the left side the plant model viewer and on the right all the controls for creating the species. The controls are grouped in three sections: Standard, Trunk and Foliage, and the last one is visible. The leaves of the tree model have been removed in the new season representation since it's going to be for winter.
    • Create as many definitions as you want to adapt the changes of each season of the year. Modify the texture of the leaf to create color variations.The Plant Editor included in Lands Design. On the left side the plant model viewer and on the right all the controls for creating the species. The controls are grouped in three sections: Standard, Trunk and Foliage, and the last one is visible. A new season definition for spring with red leaves has been added, and it can include as many season definitions as you want.