I know it has been about 8 million years since we did thisone, but I thought I would post that "Guide to building big trees" I promised you guys
so.. here it is, the..
"Guide to building big trees"
First, decide what kinda tree you are building. Does it bend? What share are the branches? What shape is the crown? And once you've decided on that..
1. Decide the height of your tree trunk.
This step may feel simple, but the height decides how thick your tree will be, how long the branches will be, and how much of your will to live you'll have to give up in order to finish it...
Now build it in dirt!
Such pillar. Much wow.
2. Make the trunk as wide as you want it to be.
Just thicken it right out. Keep an eye on proportions, or you might get a short and chunky tree, or a spindly tall tree that look like it might break in half in a storm.
More dirt!
3. Make the top and the bottom of the trunk wider. Bend the tree if you'd like to.
This is where it sorta starts looking like a tree. You want the middle to be thinner than your top and bottom. Imagine roots and branches extending from them. We are no longer trying to make it symmetrical, random it up for that more natural feel.
Still the dirt!
4. Add roots and main branches.
Add 3-4 main branches to your crown. They do not have to be at the same height, but this all depends on the type of tree you're trying to build. Add 3-4 main roots around your trunk.
5. Add smaller branches to the crown of the tree.
Shape the crown of your tree with smaller side branches on your main branches.
It's starting to feel like a (dirt) tree innit?
6. Replace the dirt with logs. Mind your directionality.
You want the bark of the log to run along the trunk, and our with the branches, giving it that natural feel. Put logs in the dirt base on your roots, giving the illusion that they are extending into the ground.
7. Add disks of leaves to shape your crown.
Shape one layer leaf disks around your branches. Mind you don't want them all in the same layer, but rather the height of them being determined by the height of your branches.
Mix up your leaves, 2 or 3 kinds of leaves together brings much more life to your tree! Here I've used jungle, oak and spruce.
8. Add leaves to the bottom and tops of your leaf disks.
Fatten them disks out, moving in with each layer, so you end up shaping more of an oval than a box. View each "leaf disk" individually, and once you've shaped them all, step back and see where there might be missing leaves.
Oh my that looks like a tree.
9. Pimp up your tree with some details.
I know I say this again and again but.. DETAILS. Always always details. This is what takes your build from shape to finished product. It's what makes it feel real.
On this tree the details are slabs, stairs, fence posts and the area around the tree has been Greenified™
Happy tree building!
Find this tutorial and more on the flat world, under Build School: Trees.
