Leaf

Using the Leaf plant layer, you can easily add leaves to your plant then shape them.

In the Plant Layers tab, go to the Add Part menu, highlight the parent (Branch) layer and select Leaf from the drop-down menu.

toPlant_Plant Layers_Leaf_UI Dolphin Update_v01.png

Leaf layer added in the Add Part menu.

There are tabs for Main, Geometry, Orientation, Distribution and Materials.

Main tab

Leaf on End

As a default setting this box is checked so that there is a leaf on the end of each branch.

To turn this off, simply uncheck the box.

toPlant_Plant Layers_Leaf_UI Dolphin Update_Leaf on End 1.png

Leaf on End unchecked.

toPlant_Plant Layers_Leaf_UI Dolphin Update_Leaf on End 2.png

Leaf on End checked and enabled.

Count

Select how many leaves you wish to grow.

toPlant_Plant Layers_Leaf_UI Dolphin Update_Count 5.png

Leaf Count setting of 5.

toPlant_Plant Layers_Leaf_UI Dolphin Update_Count 50.png

The Leaf Count value here is 50.

Seed

Changes the random variation and distribution of leaves where applicable.

For example, if you have size or twist variation set, changing this Seed value will give you different looks.

Position

Moving this slider offsets the position of the leaf relative to the parent layer (the branch) and can be both positive and negative.

Size

This slider will increase the global size of the leaves, across the whole plant.

Clicking and unfurling the drop-down arrow will reveal a Scale Along Branch parameter.

Scale along Branch

Again, the X-axis is the length of the branch and the Y-axis is the scale.

By pulling the knot down at the right-hand side, it is possible to scale down the leaves towards the end of the branch, making them gradually smaller.

toPlant_Leaf_Dolphin_Scale Along_1.png

Scale along Branch being driven by the spline curve setting at full strength.

toPlant_Leaf_Dolphin_Scale Along_2.png

Here, the Scale along Branch curve drops off, reducing the leaf size towards the end of the branch.

Size Variation

Use this setting to make things look more organic and realistic.

toPlant_Leaf_Dolphin_Size Variation.png

Here, the Size Variation is set at 100%, giving different lengths of leaves across the Branch layer.

Geometry tab

Mode

Set as Basic, by default, this setting controls how your leaves are presented.

The other options are: Custom and Emitter.

Basic

In Basic mode, you can style and shape your leaves in the traditional way they are presented in nature.

Custom

You are also able to add a custom leaf object, if you have something specific that you are looking for in your scene.

Add Custom Leaf

Click this button to add toLeaf to your scene.

toLeaf will now be in your Objects Manager, with its own settings; these are explained in detail in the toLeaf pages.

Custom Leaf Object

Simply drag and drop your object into the Custom Leaf Object list.

toPlant_Leaf_Dolphin_Custom Object_v01.png

Three separate 3D text objects have been used as the Custom Leaf Object here.

Emitter

Instead of generating leaf geometry, you can emit X-Particles instead.

This gives you the ability to create animation effects.

Emitter

Either click on the Add Emitter button or drag an existing scene emitter into this field.

In this image, the emitter is creating a particle for each leaf, driving size, direction and position.

The following Geometry tab parameters are only available with Mode set as Basic.

Leaf Profile

There are many ways to manipulate this, in order to shape the leaves to suit your particular need.

Adding a knot in the spline (using CTRL) and pulling down the end, will pull in the tips of the leaves.

With the Leaf Profile at full strength, the leaf is at full width from start to tip (the default shape).

The Leaf Profile spline curve has been manipulated here, to create this natural-looking leaf shape.

Add leaf profile spline points to create more complex leaf shapes.

Width

Globally adjusts the width of the leaves.

Length

Adjusts the length of the leaves, again globally.

Width Segments

As above, this will add to the geometry of the leaves.

As well as offering more options with Turbulence settings, an increase in geometry can help with the shaping options in the next section.

Length Segments

To add to the geometry of the leaves, you can increase the segments in length, giving you more options with Deformation settings in the Main tab.

Subdivisions

You can add subdivisions to increase polygon detail and to add smoothing to the leaves.

Leaves with Subdivisions set at 0.

Leaves with Subdivisions set at 2.

Thickness

By default, the leaves are flat; with this setting, you can make them thicker, giving them a more natural depth.

Leaves with Thickness set at 0.

Leaves with Thickness set at 5.

Fold Angle

Again, this angle can be positive or negative, folding the leaves backward or forwards down the middle.

Fold Angle set at (negative) -75 degrees.

In this second image, the Fold Angle is 66 degrees.

Furling Angle

This feature allows you to bend all leaves of the selected plant layer along their length, starting from the stem, replicating a curling shape.

The angle can be positive or negative, depending on the direction you wish to furl the leaves.

Furling Angle of (negative) -65 on all leaves of the plant.

Here, the Furling Angle is 75 degrees.

Furling Bias

Again, this will dictate where the furling will begin.

At 50%, the furling is starting halfway along the length of the leaf.

If you decrease this, it will start furling from the beginning of the leaf and increasing it will only furl at the tip of the leaf.

Orientation tab

Twist

This will twist the leaves on their own axes by the degree set.

In this image, there is no Twist, set at 0 (zero) degrees.

Twist value raised to 75 degrees.

Variation

Adding a variety in the amount of twist amongst the number of leaves, which you are growing.

In this final image, the settings are the same as the last one, except for the 100% Variation set, giving a different Twist value for each leaf.

Angle

Increase or decrease this slider to angle the leaves either forward or backwards.

Unfurling the drop-down arrow will reveal a Bias curve.

In this image, the Angle is set at (negative) -25 degrees.

Here, the Angle is raised to 50 degrees.

Bias

This parameter offers a greater control over the angle, comparative to the parent branch layer.

In this third image, the Angle is 80 degrees, with the Bias curve set so that the angle raises towards the end of the branch.

Variation

To make your distribution more organic, you can add some variation.

Animation to demonstrate the effect of the Twist Around Branch, Angle and Variation sliders.

Y Rotation

Applies a percentage rotation on the Y-axis.

Variation

Adds a variety in this percentage set across the leaves in your scene.

Up Vector

By default, this is set upwards at +Y (World), but can be changed to -Y (World), +Y (Local), -Y (Local) and Object.

This is explained more fully in the Branch layer manual.

Y+ (World) vector.

Y- (World) vector.

Variation

Adding a slight variety in the way that the leaves are facing, once again, helps to make things look more organic.

Object

By selecting Object in the Up Vector setting, you can drag your object into this link field, in order that your leaves will target it in their trajectory.

Up Vector in the Object setting, with leaves targeting the Cube primitive.

Distribution tab

Depending on the Type that you select here, you may need to re-visit your length settings in the Main tab for the Branch layer and the Leaf Count parameter in the Main tab for the Leaf layer, in order to ensure an accurate and even distribution pattern.

Type

There are seven Type patterns: Random, Alternate, Distichous, Fibonacci Spiral, Decussate, Tricussate and Texture.

Distichous, Decussate and Tricussate will allow the additional option of a Count parameter, making it possible to change the number of patterns along the length of the branch.

toPlant_Leaf_Dolphin_Leaf Types.png

Distribution Type overview, including the Texture type, together with the associated settings.

Random

Randomly generates and distributes the leaves.

By altering the Seed value in the Main tab, it is possible to change these random looks.

Type setting set as Random.

Alternate

Alternating distribution of leaves along the branch.

Alternate setting.

Distichous

Giving pairs of leaves all the way along the branch.

This setting opens up the Count parameter.

Distichous Setting.

Fibonacci Spiral

The default setting, leaves are being distributed in the natural Fibonacci spiral, along the length of the branch.

Fibonacci Spiral setting.

Decussate

This gives alternating pairs, by default, which, again, can be changed with the Count setting.

Decussate setting.

Tricussate

Alternating, once again, but this time with three leaves on each layer of the branch.

Tricussate setting.

Texture

You can now use a Shader or a Texture to control the distribution of your branches.

Selecting this Type will give you the usual additional options to be able to import your Shader or Texture into the scene, including parameters for Channel and Tolerance settings.

Here the Type is Texture, with a Checkerboard shader set.

In this second image, a Noise shader has been applied, with the Tolerance at 95%.

Count

In certain Type settings, there is a Count parameter available, in order to select the number of leaves in each individual layer.

The Type, in this image, is Distichous, with a Count value of 9.

Twist Around Branch

This slider will twist your leaf pattern, at a set degree, around your branch.

Position on Branch

Drives how the leaves are distributed along the length of the branch.

The X-axis represents the length of the branch and the Y-axis is the ‘weight’ of distribution.

By default, the setting has the leaves harmoniously distributed, as seen below.

Position on Branch spline curve driving the leaf distribution.

A different spline curve setting driving a different ‘look’.

With the spline pulled down at the beginning of the x-axis, the leaves will be more concentrated further along the branch.

Materials tab

These settings apply materials to specific layers, operating in exactly the same manner as with the Trunk and Branch layers (described in greater depth in their pages).

Simply drag the required materials into the link field.

In this image, the material has been dragged and dropped into the Materials link field and is only affecting the selected Leaf layer.

The use of the Projection Options, UV Options and Phong Options are explained fully in the page for the Trunk layer.