David,
I think this is relatively standard fare for flight simulators and
such. Usually the use two intersecting quads (or 4 triangles) with alpha
transparency mapped textures of the trees. From any angle (except from
above) it looks like a tree.
I believe their last quad (or 2 triangles) is spent in the shadow that they
describe.
--Mark
At 10:06 AM 3/8/2001 -0500, you wrote:
>I am attaching a link to a product that renders trees in a very nice manner.
>I just can't figure out how they do it. They say further on their website
>that they use only 6 triangles per tree including shadows and fallen leaves.
>And that it appears 3-d from all angles.
>
>
>The only thing I can think of is they took pictures of the tree all the way
>around, then swap the textures as you change your viewing angle. But that
>still won't make it 3d when you walk right up to it. So maybe the basic
>tree shape is several triangles?
>
>Dave Yazel
Mark Ferneau 240-462-6262 (cell)
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