Greenhouse

=THE BLENDER GREENHOUSE=

This page is a repository of plants created with ngPlant and other open-source tools and formatted as blender .blend files. All material contained on this page has been 100% created by its authors, textures included, and is released under a CC-BY license, so you are free to download them and use them the way you want. On the Textures page, you will also find a good resolution png image of each plant to be used directly in your projects. There is also, under each plant, a link to its wikipedia description, so you can check things like its size, color variations, etc...

How to use?
The downloadable .blend files on this page include all models and textures needed to produce a ready-to-use alpha texture. Open the file, render it, save it as a .png file, and you have your image, ready to be mounted on a billboard plane.

The .blend files also contain a .ngp ngPlant file (as a blender text block) that can be used to produce variations of the plant. Simply save the .ngp file, open it with ngPlant, change the seed parameter, and export/import it to blender. Then, just copy the materials and trunk modifiers from the original to the variation and render it...

And if you obtain a good variation or even a brand-new plant, why not share it with us here, so our little greenhouse grows to a professional botanic garden?

How were those plants created?
If you would like to make some new plants, here is a quick & rough startup guide. There is also a full Tree-making tutorial availible.

The shape: The plants are first created with ngPlant. There is not much need to care about the real-world size, it is better to care about the proportion. There is not much secret, just find many images of your plant, look carefully at the general proportion, the angle that branches make in relation to the trunk, where and how the leaves are disposed around the branches, and try to copy.

The leaves: Once the branches are set up, you add leaf sets to them. you may want to cover all branches with the same set, or you might want to mix several leaf types, depending on the complexity you need. Then, for each leaf type, a black shape is drawn with inkscape. These shapes are then saved as .png files and colored in the GIMP. Again, you need to have a good look at pictures and try to reproduce.

Putting all together: The ngPlant object is then exported as an .obj file and imported to blender. Then a material is created for the bark (trunk & branches), and one material for each leaf type. All the plant is already UV-mapped by ngPlant, so mapping is a piece of cake. Then, set an orthogonal camera up, a couple of lights, and your plant is ready.

How to submit a new plant
If you made a new plant and would like to share it here, just make sure your blend file contains all the textures used to produce it (In blender, File > External Data > Pack into file will do it), and also, if you used ngPlant, the .ngp file created by ngPlant. To do that, simply open the text editor window in Blender, and load your ngp file as a text file. It will be included when you save your blend file. With that file, people will be able to produce random variations of your plant... Then, render a nice image of your plant (those hereunder are 640x300), upload both files here, and add a new section with your plant below... Any problem, just ask on the talk page.

Contact the authors
If you need help with plant-making or if you would like us to add a specific type, don't hesitate to ask us: Well, at the moment, there is me: Yorik... Add your name here when you upload plants!

Arecaceae Palm Tree


This is a very basic palm tree type, present in almost all tropical zones in the world. It is the parent family of the standard coconut tree. This one has no coconut, though. It can be found in forests as well as on all the paradisiac beaches in the world, and can also be used as an ornamental tree. Just be careful not to plant them on parking lots, no need to explain why...

added by Yorik on 17.07.2007 - [[Media:Palm-arecaceae.png|Download alpha texture]](560Kb) - [[Media:Palm-arecaceae.blend|Download blend file]](480Kb) - Wikipedia description

European Oak


This one is the standard european oak, since I'm not very sure about american trees I don't know if it serves for north-american species too, but if not it shouldn't be difficult to adapt. Mine is a bit "haunted house" style because it is the way I like oaks, but you could easily add some branches to make it more ball-shaped.

added by Yorik on 13.11.2007 - [[Media:Oak.png|Download alpha texture]](820Kb) - [[Media:Oak.blend|Download blend file]](2900Kb) - Wikipedia description

Epicea Pine


Since there are many, many different types of pine trees, it is quite difficult to tell which one this is. I think it is quite close to the famous belgian Epicea, which happens to be the typical christmas tree. Nowadays pine trees have (been) spread in the whole world I think, but such thick ones are mostly from cold northern countries.

added by Yorik on 13.11.2007 - [[Media:Pine.png|Download alpha texture]](550Kb) - [[Media:Pine.blend|Download blend file]](2000Kb) - Wikipedia description

Eucalyptus


Eucalyptus is very common here in Brazil, as in many places. It was originally imported from Australia, and has unfortunately been responsible for serious damage to several local ecosystems, being a very easily spreadable and fast-growing tree. Neverthless, the harm is done, and now it is part of the landscape. There are hundreds of varieties and shapes, I chose a common one around here.

added by Yorik on 13.11.2007 - [[Media:Eucalyptus.png|Download alpha texture]](760Kb) - [[Media:Eucalyptus.blend|Download blend file]](1500Kb) - Wikipedia description

Dracena


The dracena, or dracaena, is an African-born plant that is quite common in Brazilian landscape design. It has many subspecies and is loaded with esoteric significations. It has several powers in Candomblé, and its name comes from "Dragon" because of its shape, and because you can extract fom it a substance called "Dragon blood"...

added by Yorik on 13.11.2007 - [[Media:Dracena.png|Download alpha texture]](470Kb) - [[Media:Dracena.blend|Download blend file]](390Kb) - Wikipedia description

Banana tree


This is a banana tree when it is young. It must be something like 1.5 to 2 meters high. Adult banana trees are quite common here in Brazil but not so much in urbanized areas, but the young one can be used here and there, since you can keep it small. If you cut it entirely at the end of the year, it grows again the next year. One day maybe I add some bananas to it!

added by Yorik on 17.11.2007 - [[Media:Banana.png|Download alpha texture]](450Kb) - [[Media:Banana.blend|Download blend file]](760Kb) - Wikipedia description

Beech


This one was is found everywhere in Europe and in northern america. It is a big reminder of my childhood. There is a nice purple variation around south of Belgium and Luxembourg, For me it is the tree that best symbolizes the small remains of lost medieval european forests. If there is one near your place, have a special care for it...

added by Yorik on 16.12.2007 - [[Media:Bleech.png|Download alpha texture]](1Mb) - [[Media:Beech.blend|Download blend file]](2Mb) - Wikipedia description

Flamboyant


Of the flamboyant, wikipedia says it comes from Madagascar, where it is endangered. But here in Brazil it accomodated quite well, like almost all tree species. It has a magnificent, fantastic, gorgeous orange / red flower cover on top of it... And it really cheers me up when I see one.

added by Yorik on 16.12.2007 - [[Media:Flamboyant.png|Download alpha texture]](625Kb) - [[Media:Flamboyant.blend|Download blend file]](1.3Mb) - Wikipedia description

Rose


This one was quite hard to make (and it is still far from perfect). My mother loves roses, I've never totally understood why. Well, I needed one in a project the other day so here it is... One has to have a rose in his garden, isn't it?

added by Yorik on 17.12.2007 - [[Media:Rose.png|Download alpha texture]](645Kb) - [[Media:Rose.blend|Download blend file]](645Kb) - Wikipedia description

White ginger


This is an ornamental variety of the ginger plant, the one that gives ginger, that thing that gives ginger beer :). I'm not sure that white gigner is the official name, though. It seems there are many, many ginger varieties. As with many ornamental plants, it is now spread across a good part of the world...

added by Yorik on 17.12.2007 - [[Media:Ginger.png|Download alpha texture]](500Kb) - [[Media:Ginger.blend|Download blend file]](1Mb) - Wikipedia description

Jacaranda


This is one is quite common here in Brazil. There are several varieties, but the most famous is this one, the Jacaranda Mimosa, which has those enormous violet flowers... And for a change, this is a native south american tree, you find it easily in the wild.

added by Yorik on 17.12.2007 - [[Media:Jacaranda.png|Download alpha texture]](1Mb) - [[Media:Jacaranda.blend|Download blend file]](1Mb) - Wikipedia description

Bamboo Grove


Here is a common variety of a bamboo grove. Bamboo is found all over the world but is native to East and Southeast Asia. It is also a common subject of East Asian Brush Painting.

added by Rob on 23.02.2008 - [[Media:bamboo-rgba.png|Download alpha texture]](200Kb) - [[Media:Bamboo.blend|Download blend file]](500Kb) - Wikipedia description

Japanese Maple


Another tree common to East Asia is the Japanese Maple. Technically known as Acer palmatum, this tree varies genetically allowing for diverse sizes, colors, and shapes. Included here are a green version and a red version.

added by Rob on 24.02.2008 - Download alpha texture ([[Media:greenhouse-jap-maple-red.png|red]], [[Media:greenhouse-jap-maple-green.png|green]] - 500Kb) - Download blender file ([[Media:greehouse-jap-maple-red.blend|red]], [[Media:greehouse-jap-maple-green.blend|green]] - 850Kb) - Wikipedia description

Elm


This is the example tree from the treemaking tutorial. It is an european tree commonly found in old forests full of druids and magic creatures. It can have a variety of shapes, colours, etc... The one I made here is a very basic one.

added by Yorik on 01.09.2008 - [[Media:Elm.png|Download alpha texture]] (1Mb) - [[Media:Elm.blend|Download blend file]] (1Mb) - Wikipedia description

Bougainvillea


This tree is very famous in Africa, but is native in whole south America. You can find it in all warm places in the world. It is a decorative tree, much used in garden design. It is more a plant than a tree, but can grow up to 10-12m.

added by Yorik on 21.09.2008 - [[Media:Bougainvillier.png|Download alpha texture]] (1Mb) - [[Media:Bougainvillier.blend|Download blend file]] (1.7Mb) - Wikipedia description

Jubaea Palm


I'm not sure this is its correct name either (there are many, many types of palm trees), but I wanted simply a very old, high, dinosaur-like palm tree.

added by Yorik on 14.11.2008 - [[Media:greenhouse-Palm-jubaea01.png|Download alpha texture]] (600Kb) - [[Media:greenhouse-palm-jubaea.blend|Download blend file]] (1Mb) - Wikipedia description

Acai Palm


This is a kind of palm tree from the Amazonia region. The fruit, the Açai, is marvelous when eaten frozen. I think the tree is not much seen or used outside Amazonia, but there are several similar species around south america.

added by Yorik on 14.11.2008 - [[Media:greenhouse-Palm-acai01.png|Download alpha texture]] (500Kb) - [[Media:greenhouse-palm-acai.blend|Download blend file]] (500Kb) - Wikipedia description

Cycas Palm


It appears that it is actually not a palm at all, but it looks pretty much like one. It can be very big, about 4 or 5 meters high and makes a big bowl.

added by Yorik on 14.11.2008 - [[Media:greenhouse-Palm-cycas01.png|Download alpha texture]] (700Kb) - [[Media:greenhouse-palm-cycas.blend|Download blend file]] (700Kb) - Wikipedia description

Taxus/If


I am not totally sure if this tree is exactly a Yew or some other kind of Taxus, but it can be hard distinguish between the smaller coniferous species. It might also be used as a Juniper or a Cyprus tree. In many countries you will find such cone-shaped pine trees, they are commonly used in Italian renaissance gardens.

added by Yorik on 14.11.2008 - [[Media:greenhouse-If01.png|Download alpha texture]] (500Kb) - [[Media:greenhouse-if.blend|Download blend file]] (1.7Mb) - Wikipedia description

Sagebrush


Sagebrush is commonly found in desert areas, especially the western United States. Sagebrush has a characteristically scraggly appearance and does not always produce green leaves.

added by Rob on 11.02.2009 - [[Media:sagebrush-alpha.png|Download alpha texture]] (800Kb) - [[Media:sage-full.zip|Download blend file]] (8Mb) - Wikipedia description

Winter tree


added by User:mad0 on 23.04.2009 - [[Media:wintertree.blend|Download blend file]] (23172Ko)