Foliage Implementation in UDK?

Neolight

Hi polycount. I'm trying to throw flora textures into my scene like this image below. How exactly does this work with UDK 2011? Anyone know? There used to be some kind of "foliage actor" that you could apply to a brush but It doesn't seem to exist.

Thanks

rebb

The Terrain Foliage System has been removed in a recent UDK Update, presumably to be replaced with an improved Version at some point. Meanwhile you're pretty much stuck to either using scattered Static Meshes or Deco Layers ( ugh ).

Neolight

You have to be kidding me.

I guess I picked a fine fucking time to make an environment set in a dense jungle planet. >:|

Shogun3d

Yeah that's a bummer.

A good workaround if you want to continue and do so by hand is (assuming you're using max) to use the Object Painter script by Neil Blevins. Then attach them all and bring it in as a static mesh.

http://www.neilblevins.com/soulburnscripts/soulburnscripts.htm

Arcanox

See I told ya!

Anyway, an alternative I suggested was actually using a particle system to distribute sprites across the surface of his ground terrain. Has anyone tried anything like this before?

Neolight

Arc, I've been trying to do this, but the meshes dont show up when I input a new mesh data type.

The tutorial on their website is completely out of sync with the latest version of the engine. Curses.

sprunghunt

try using foliage volumes

they're not part of the terrain but allow you to place foliage on a surface

Snight

Foliage volumes have also been removed. Neolight- if you really want to use terrain foliage you can get the September version of UDK here: http://www.udk.com/download.html

Autocon

So all foliage now must be placed by hand? That seems odd they would leave you with only that option if they have there own terrain system in place.

Neolight

Thanks for the help everyone. Me and Arcanox managed to come up with a decent solution by futzing with the particle system.

This should work decently enough for what i'm trying to do.

Thanks again!

Oniram

try this

http://udn.epicgames.com/Three/StaticMeshMode.html

DDuckworth

Sorry to resurrect this thread but could you post the solution to how you managed this with particles? I know how to use a static mesh as a particle but not how to make it stay on the ground and only on certain meshes (so it doesn't end up sideways on random stuff)

Sean VanGorder

I also recommend using static mesh mode, like Oniram suggested.

Xoliul

Yeah particle method and huge attached meshes are both a bit too slow probably.
I forgot about the Alt while S-clicking when I last tried it, thanks for bringing up the article to remind me.

DDuckworth

Lol no problem my problem with that method has been the grasses start layering on top of each other as I go, start building a tower out of grasses haha, any suggestions on getting around that? I want my grass fairly dense in some areas so that's why it keeps happening, causes a major headache!

Sean VanGorder

Xoliul - Keep in mind that Alt+S+Click will work outside of static mesh mode as well, but you won't get the rotation and scale settings that come with it unless you are actually in the mode.


DDuckworth - Haha, yes, that is a problem. I've had the "towering" effect with some trees before, and it's not exactly the look I was going for. I guess the only ways around it is to either be very careful, or use deco layers and adjust the density.