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forces [2017/09/13 12:44]
 forces [2021/04/27 09:19] (current)
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 +====== Forces ======
 +Forces are an additional level of manual control you can have over the procedural generation of a tree. They are objects that you place into a scene that allow you to manipulate the shape of branch spines. There are many types of forces, each with different actions and capabilities.
 +
 +{{ ::force.jpg?400 }}
 +
 +===== Adding Forces =====
 +
 +To add a force to the scene, right-click in the tree window or use the "+" toolbar button and select "Add force." Forces can also be added from the Generation Editor's Forces icon. 
 +
 +Since forces are world-space objects and not bound to the tree hierarchy, they can be transformed (moved, rotated, or scaled) with the gizmo in the [[tree_window|Tree Window]].
 +
 +To delete a force, simply select it and press the DEL or BACKSPACE key.
 +
 +===== Force Types =====
 +
 +There are several types of forces available, each having their own unique affect on the tree shape. Any force can have its type changed by selecting a different type on the force's properties. The available types are:
 +
 +{{:direction.png?nolink&35 |}}**Direction**\\
 +Branch spines grow in the direction that the arrow points.
 +
 +{{:magnet.png?nolink&35 |}}**Magnet**\\
 +Branch spines converge on a single point at the center of the force.
 +
 +{{:gnarl.png?nolink&35 |}}**Gnarl**\\
 +Branch spines twist around a world-space vector that is determined by the force's rotation.
 +
 +{{:twist.png?nolink&35 |}}**Twist**\\
 +Branch spines twist along their local up vectors and are altered by the force's rotation.
 +
 +{{:curl.png?nolink&35 |}}**Curl**\\
 +Branch spines curl inward on themselves in a direction determined by the force's rotation.
 +
 +{{:plane.png?nolink&35 |}}**Planar**\\
 +Branch spines grow along a 2D plane determined by the force's rotation.
 +
 +{{:force-return.png?nolink&35 |}}**Return**\\
 +Standard and subdivision branches will return to their original growth direction. Use this to keep wildly disturbed, jinked, twisted, curled, or gnarled branches under some control.
 +
 +{{:force-seasonlight.png?nolink&35 |}}**Season light**\\
 +Leaves change [[Seasons|Season]] sooner based on the how much they are growing toward the position of this force object.
 +
 +{{:direction.png?nolink&35 |}}**Season wind**\\
 +Leaves that fall on the ground due to Season are swept in the direction of the arrow.
 +
 +{{::knockout.jpg?nolink&35 |}}**Knockout**\\
 +Anything growing in the direction of the arrow will be "knocked out," or removed. The "Strength" property controls how sensitive it is.
 +
 +{{:mesh.png?nolink&35 |}}**Mesh**\\
 +Branch spines grow toward or around an arbitrary mesh object. See [[mesh_forces|Mesh Forces]] for more information.
 +
 +
 +===== Applying Forces =====
 +
 +Forces are not always applied to every [[generators|Generator]]. The force must be enabled in the [[branch_generator#forces|Force Properties]] for it to have any effect. Due to this, one force can be set to act on the trunk (e.g., pull the tree left) and a different force can be set to act only on its child branches (e.g., pull the child nodes right).
 +
 +> **Note**: If a generator is selected when you add a force, that generator will automatically have the new force enabled.
 +
 +A generator's force properties also have values and curves that let you adjust how strong a particular force is when it affects the generator. This works in conjunction with the force's [[force_object|"Strength"]] property.
 +
 +
 +===== Attenuation =====
 +Since forces are world-space objects, they can be freely moved around in the scene with the transform gizmo when they are selected. By enabling the [[force_object#Attenuation|"Attenuation" properties]], the area of effect of the force will be limited to a radius around the force object. This lets you have a force affect on only a very specific part of the tree rather than the whole thing.
 +
 +{{ ::force_attenuation.jpg?400 |}}
 +
 +> **Note**: You can also limit a force to a certain area defined by a mesh by using the "Container force" properties. See the [[mesh_forces#container_force|Mesh Force documentation]] for more information.
 +
 +