I've got a magnolia blossom for the tree modeller. Aligned its "root" at 0,0,0.... Loaded it up in the plant folder and it shows up as a leaf, but Carrara refuses to load it, shows an error, and loads a default leaf instead. I don't get it. What am I doing wrong? I've opened several of the other leaf/flower models and I've tried to follow their example.... holly

I kind of recall that all other leaf models are single-mesh models? Have you tried converting it to a vertex model? That would probably ruin it's form. Maybe it is an idea to export it as a dxf file? Or something else? But maybe that is not the problem at all... Good luck! Hoof

Is the model a single vertex object? Brian

If you export the model as an OBJ and re-import as a single object it should work. You can have a complex object as a 'leaf' but it does need to be a single vertex model.

Yes, it is a single UV mapped vertex object. Also, I have saved it with the map applied. Is this maybe the problem?

Ahh, it was the UV map. I resaved the model with default texture only. Loaded fine. Added the texturemap on the final tree at the Leaf shader domain. holly

Glad there was a solution and a new trick in my toolbox! I didn't realize you could create your own leaves! Thanx for the tip! :D

Good thread. Nice blossom. I'll log this for future days.

Well, I got the Magnolia blossoms to work in the plant modeller. And although the tree-branch structure itself probably isn't very magnolia-ish (magnolias are actually very evenly distributed and umbrella shaped) I think I'm a few days closer to an advanced tree tutorial.... I *almost* understand that huge intimidating array on the advanced panel.... must... hold it all... in head... hurts... augh. Thanks for your help! holly

Very cool! I'd love to see your tutorial. Please built it before head explodes. -Kix

How about keeping it on paper, or digital paper, like memory or hard drives? They don't tend to explode when filled, although may do so if attached to bombs.

Now we really do need translucensy and subsurface scattering in Carrara... Look wonderful!

Thanks for the feedback and encouragement! I'm trying to organize a tutorial for this.... Another day of tweeking and a few more tiny lights go off in the brain where I feel like I almost understand the tree modeller. It *is* sort of like shamenism afterall! ...Or gambling. The numbers aren't absolute, and the worst part is that the advanced settings are not recorded by Carrara's UNDO, so you gotta remember what you changed and by how much..., while you wait for the tree to recalculate..., and then wait for the preview to rebuild....