Growing Trees without Manure.

Or how to make trees without Bull

A tutorial in Computer gardening by Frank Thomas.

With thanks to Paul DeVerter for testing and editing help.

Before we start it is assumed that you know how to use a Drawing programme like Paint Shop Pro, or other means of creating tga pictures and masks. There are tutorials that go into using these Items, so there is no need to re-write all that. You will also need Train Sim Modeller.

Making the Texture file using a Drawing programme.

	To start with, go out and Photograph, and or get access to pictures of Trees.
	You will have to make your Texture file before you can make a tree.
	All the next part is working in the Paint Shop Pro (or similar) and knowing how it works.
	Work with a picture area of 512 pixels (or more) in the Paint Shop Pro, it can always be reduced in size later.
	Edit the picture to remove all the back ground so that you have an isolated tree on a blank background.
	Use the clone tool fill in any awkward bits, or holes, so you have a reasonable looking tree.

	If the trunk is not central, or a peculiar shape, now is the time to change that, by using mirror imaging etc. until its base is central in the picture.
	If you do not do this, the end result will be a tree with a split trunk. (Look at usdecidtree3) For help in making the tga file with an alpha channel, look at the Supplement to this tutorial called How to Make the Alpha tga file from an Ordinary Photo (Alpha Channel Tree's)

	The hardest part is now over, all you have to do now is create an alpha channel and convert it into a tga file, give it a name, make it 256 x 256 pixels in size, and with the trunk dead centre.
	Save it as a name (in this case for demo purposes Ftree1.), and you know what folder it is in.
	Or use the attached Ftree1.tga file that I have made to get you going and try out the technique.

Working in the Train Sim Modeler.

	In the Modeler open a new folder and call it “Ftree1”. Place a copy of the tga file you have just made, inside the folder, so that every thing is kept together, save every thing to this folder.
	Open the Modeler and select New, click the Box mode, then set the Height 6 m (for the height of the tree). Set the width for the width of the tree 4 m and the depth for 0 (zero).
	Select the origin to the bottom. Now enter it OK.

	Readjust the bottom of the box so it is slightly under the “0” point.
	Reset Part …Centre Axis…To Origin. This will seat the tree on the ground without problems.
	Change to Poly Mode

	Look at the outlines in the Poly mode, and remove all the sides, top and bottom,
	Leaving only 2 polygons - the front and back.

Go back and select Edit…..Part Properties.

Open the Material box, and select “TransCrcfrm”, press OK,

The reason for this choice is when I first made Trees I used what one would expect: Trans norm. However playing around (that is how we learn) I tried TransCrcfrm, and to my surprise found the trees had a better brighter look. That simple. So I’ve used it ever since.

You have now set it up so it can use the tga file for your tree.

Select Part, then to the bottom and select Textures.

When the textures window opens, use the first “Browse” (Front) window and find your folder Ftree1, then select your “Ftree1.tga” Texture file.

Press open and the Texture Properties window opens.

Select the Ftree1.tga file, press Open, and the Texture Properties window opens.

The next part is easy but it is important to get it right.

You have to set the amount of picture that will be transferred on to the block you first produced (not really a block, more a slice).

Set the first “X Crop” so that it is near the edge of the tree, now note its number in the Window 42.

As the trunk is dead centre of your picture at the base, the balance has to be correct.

As the first number is 42 double it 84, now remember the overall size is 256. (Across)

Take the 84 away from 256 and you are left with 172, put that number in the “X Size”

You will see that although the tree is slightly off to one side, (that happens in nature)

the trunk is still central.

Now set the “Y Crop” just over the top of the tree, and the “Y Size” at the point at the base of the trunk, and make a note of the numbers. Press OK first side done.

Now follow the same procedure for the Back (using the same numbers in the boxes) but with one change. This time tick the “Invert X” box. (This will give a matching back and front.)

Press OK.

You have no sides or top and bottom to texture. Simple huh.

Click the Texture assignment OK and that bit is done.

If you look at the Trees that are loaded on to a route in single form they are like 6 leaves of a book. The ones that are loaded on to the route with the “Forrest” file system (for large areas) are cruciform or 4 leaves in a book. This does not matter. What you are doing here will finish up the same and can be used as “Forrest” files. Because the Forrest file system automatically changes them from 6 to 4 leaves to use them.

Now finish off the Tree.

Looking at the top view you have just one thin part.

Select the “Edit” Copy then press the “Edit” Paste.

You cannot see it yet but go into “Transform” Rotate

Set the “Y” window to 120, and press OK

You will now see two thin strips, at angles to one another, crossing in the centre.

Do the same again by following the above “Edit Copy, “Edit” Paste, Rotate

Press OK and now you have the complete 6 leafs

You will not see the pictures of the trees, like you would with a bmp, because the tga file has hidden depths. The way it is constructed it has another layer on it, and that layer is masking the picture, so all you see is white in the picture. Rest assured the picture is there.

Alternatively, you may save and close out of the dst file, and then reopen, and you will then find the textures are now showing in the perspective view of TSM.

Go now to the “File” “Project properties” fill in the boxes with the name(s)(Ftree1).

Then go to “File” “Create TS object file”, fill in the boxes as required

(the Route, In my case “Testone” and the class “Vegetation”)

Press the Continue button, and that’s it. Done.

Open the Route you selected to send the tree to, in your Train Sim Editor

Open the object Selector….Look for your class (Vegetation) ,

the Object….the name you gave it (Ftree1)

And it should be there. You know what to do next I hope.

Seasonal Textures

If you wish to make Seasonal Textures, copy the original texture file in your picture editor,

One for each different season. Then alter the looks to suit the season. When you have done them, (not forgetting they are tga files) using a converter utility (Aceit is a good one and simple to use) convert them into ace files. And place them into the respective Texture folders, and then change the code in the sd file to reflect the seasons you have added.

Growing Trees without Manure.

Or how to make trees without Bull

Making the Texture file using a Drawing programme.

Next:

Next:

Working in the Train Sim Modeler.

Next:

Next:

The next part is easy but it is important to get it right.

Now finish off the Tree.

Seasonal Textures

Best wishes and happy gardening.

Frankf.thomas