Tree armatures

[tom mann]

Has anyone tried to print up some hella-realistic tree armatures? They could be used for winter trees with paint, or used as the basis of all the leaf adding techniques that @grove den does.

[DKS]

Has anyone tried to print up some hella-realistic tree armatures? They could be used for winter trees with paint, or used as the basis of all the leaf adding techniques that @grove den does.

Awesome suggestion! This could be the solution to outstanding trees. Supertrees are OK, but they still look more like weeds than trees (to me). I could see attaching sprigs of Supertree stuff to the tips of 3D-printed armatures for the best of both worlds...

[peteski]

While the idea seems very good, even thought the resin used in this printer is much more durable than the easily-shattering FUD or FXD resin, I suspect the long thin branches would be very fragile.  Maybe good for a diorama under glass, but not sure if they woudl survive operating sessions and cleaning/dusting on a regular layout.

The other thing is the supports needed for printing.  There might be more supports needed than the actual branches? Some deep inside the branch canopy? Still, I would like to see someone try to do this.

[DKS]

While the idea seems very good, even thought the resin used in this printer is much more durable than the easily-shattering FUD or FXD resin, I suspect the long thin branches would be very fragile.  Maybe good for a diorama under glass, but not sure if they woudl survive operating sessions and cleaning/dusting on a regular layout.

The other thing is the supports needed for printing.  There might be more supports needed than the actual branches? Some deep inside the branch canopy? Still, I would like to see someone try to do this.

I think you'd be surprised at how durable it is. And I'm not suggesting printing hundreds of very fine branches; just getting a realistic tree shape down would be awesome--especially woodland trees, which are shaped very differently from "front yard" trees.

[peteski]

I think you'd be surprised at how durable it is. And I'm not suggesting printing hundreds of very fine branches; just getting a realistic tree shape down would be awesome--especially woodland trees, which are shaped very differently from "front yard" trees.

I guess we will not know for sure until someone decides to try this.  I would love to see the results.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

This has been my holy grail for a long time.

But to even get the design you'd essentially need a fractal generator or something like that.

I would love to see someone figure it out though!

[Lemosteam]

This has been my holy grail for a long time.

But to even get the design you'd essentially need a fractal generator or something like that.

I would love to see someone figure it out though!

Now this is where a scanner would come in handy.  A scan of a tree armature such as @grove den makes would not need to be smooth or even accurate.  Here is where "close enough" is actually close enough.

[peteski]

Forger Jos (even though his model trees are beautiful and super-realistic) - how about scanning a 1:1 tree (in a leafless state of course). 

[Lemosteam]

Forger Jos (even though his model trees are beautiful and super-realistic) - how about scanning a 1:1 tree (in a leafless state of course). 

Take too long and much too large.  One of his O Scale sizes would scale into just about anything and as DKS points out, all of the branches are not necessary, just the main trunk(s) and tributaries.

[wcfn100]

Lots of tree generators out ther for various programs.  I imagine there are a few here that could write their own pretty easily.


Jason

[chessie system fan]

I've thought about trees too, and it seems we're not the first ones. There aren't many free 3D trees out there, but here's one of the links I've found.
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2266076

But why would you design a hexagonal tree instead of a rounded tree? 

This one seems promising:

https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model/a042dc3e-2370-4ac5-a455-887de1a51eaf/ODS-3D-Tree-06

The easiest thing would be to take some of the multitude of tree silhouettes online and go from there.  I've even thought about using them as flats for backgrounds as a test to see if it works before putting a lot of effort into it.

Something like this:

[wazzou]

The only attractive thing about WS tree armatures is the ability to bend and/or twist the branches to suit.
I have real doubts that the resin armatures from 3D printers will afford that opportunity.

[DKS]

The only attractive thing about WS tree armatures is the ability to bend and/or twist the branches to suit.
I have real doubts that the resin armatures from 3D printers will afford that opportunity.

Bending the WS armature is actually a necessity, because they're made flat. If the 3D printed armature is the right shape to begin with, it wouldn't be necessary.

[wcfn100]

But why would you design a hexagonal tree instead of a rounded tree? 

Polygon count.

Jason

[wazzou]

Bending the WS armature is actually a necessity, because they're made flat. If the 3D printed armature is the right shape to begin with, it wouldn't be necessary.

Understood, but the relatively small size of the Photon will certainly limit the number of armatures that can be printed at once and the supports would be many and quite long.
By the way @David K. Smith, did you get your tin of Cougar Gold Cheese yet?