What is the best way to make a population of trees that look realistic. I have tried paint effects but it boggs down your system to much. Is there a better way.

particles
draw particles (make the surface live then use the draw particle tool and draw along the surface), make them sprites, and have them be pictures of trees

the trees will always face you and turn, it's a common technique that is still used today... it looks weird though...

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that's a "Ch" pronounced as a "K"

Computer skills I should have:
Objective C, C#, Java, MEL. Python, C++, XML, JavaScript, XSLT, HTML, SQL, CSS, FXScript, Clips, SOAR, ActionScript, OpenGL, DirectX
Maya, XSI, Photoshop, AfterEffects, Motion, Illustrator, Flash, Swift3D

thanks chirone

Or instead of sprites, as long as the trees aer fairly low poly, you could still draw your particles on the surface, but then instance a few tree models to the particles.

Chris

not sure how effective it is compared to particles - but you could always convert your paint fx to low polys and then create instances to make the rest.

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arran3D

arran3D blog

instancing is FTW

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https://users.ecs.soton.ac.uk/as28g11/

FTW?

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Israel "Izzy" Long
Motion and Title Design for Broadcast-Film-DS
izzylong.com

For The Win

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that's a "Ch" pronounced as a "K"

Computer skills I should have:
Objective C, C#, Java, MEL. Python, C++, XML, JavaScript, XSLT, HTML, SQL, CSS, FXScript, Clips, SOAR, ActionScript, OpenGL, DirectX
Maya, XSI, Photoshop, AfterEffects, Motion, Illustrator, Flash, Swift3D

or Forschungszentrum Telekommunikation Wien...

(as in instancing is Forschungszentrum Telekommunikation Wien)

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arran3D

arran3D blog

lol, cool sorry, I'm old....

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Israel "Izzy" Long
Motion and Title Design for Broadcast-Film-DS
izzylong.com

or as i first thought: F*** The What

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that's a "Ch" pronounced as a "K"

Computer skills I should have:
Objective C, C#, Java, MEL. Python, C++, XML, JavaScript, XSLT, HTML, SQL, CSS, FXScript, Clips, SOAR, ActionScript, OpenGL, DirectX
Maya, XSI, Photoshop, AfterEffects, Motion, Illustrator, Flash, Swift3D

Depending on the level of trees you need I would be tempted to do say 3 layers.

mid/hi poly converted paint FX trees with random rotations etc ete on them for the foreground, then low poly same and then sprites in the backgorund.

That way your getting the best of instancing as well as sprites.

Getting the most form your system.

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"No pressure, no diamonds" Thomas Carlyle