Arbaro is a Java-implementation of the tree generating algorithm described in Jason Weber & Joseph Penn: "Creation and Rendering of Realistic Trees". (https://courses.cs.duke.edu/fall01/cps124/resources/p119-weber.pdf) It is reading in XML-files with the parameters of the trees and writing out povray code. The algorithm creates very realistic trees, when seen from a distance > 50m for normal screen resolutions, but is mathematically quite complex. It supports many tree species including palms and cacti. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Your first tree made with arbaro: 1. You need Java 1.4.x or newer and Povray 3.5 be installed. You could use an older Java version if you got the generic XML-processing package JAXP separately. 2. a) Using the GUI invoke cd <arbaro directory> java -jar arbaro_gui.jar Open quaking_aspen.xml and choose Create tree... from the menu. Check the "POV scene file option" and hit "Start". b) Using the command line version, call something like cd <arbaro directory> java -jar arbaro.jar -p pov/quaking_aspen.pov -o \ pov/quaking_aspen.inc trees/quaking_aspen.xml This should create two files in the pov directory: quaking_aspen.inc - a Povray include file with the definition of the aspen tree (stems and leaves) quaking_aspen.pov - a simple Povray scene with the tree 3. Call POVRay: cd pov povray +h600 +w400 quaking_aspen.pov ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Some other examples of invoking the command line version of Arbaro: a) to get help: java -jar arbaro.jar -h b) for complex trees you should give the Java machine enough memory: java -Xms100m -Xmx200m -jar arbaro.jar \ < trees/weeping_willow.xml > pov/weeping_willow.inc c) you can fine tune the mesh resolution and to what stem levels normals are added to get a smooth look by the -m parameter: smooth look: java -jar arbaro.jar -m 0.9 < trees/euphorbia.xml \ > pov/euphorbia.inc angular stems: java -jar arbaro.jar -m 0.2 < trees/shave-grass.xml > pov/shave-grass.inc (There is also a parameter "Smooth" with the same meaning used for species which look best with a specific smooth value) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ IF IT DOESN'T WORK It doesn't work, what I'm doing wrong? 1. Do you use the correct version of Java? java -version should say something about version 1.4.x. May be you have to add the full path of your Java executable on the beginning of the command line. 2. Did you change to the Arbaro directory? This is the directory with arbaro.jar and arbaro_gui.jar in it. 3. If you are a Windows user, you should use the back slash \ instead of the slash / in path names. I got the XXX.inc file what to do with it? You have to include it in a POVRay scene and render this scene. You can create an example POVRay scene (with the -p option) and render it with povray +w400 +h600 XXX.pov I got a tree image, but it's too large. You have to render the example scene with height to width ratio of 1.5, e.g. 600 pixels heigh and 400 pixels wide. If you like another format you can adjust the WIDTH variable in the .pov file I get an out of memory error. You should give the Java engine more memory, e.g. 100MB initial, 200MB max. heap size with java -Xms100m -Xmx200m ... I have another problem. Please mail me. I will try to help you. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Compiling from sources: Call "ant" in the folder with build.xml file ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Questions, patches, help offers, chocolate, ... send to <diestel@steloj.de>