Modular Tree Addon
With the Modular Tree Addon you can generate a tree in the node-editor. It has it’s own node editor called Mtree. The amount of nodes and options might be overwhelming but that doesn’t have to be. To get the hang out of it a bit faster, here this little introduction.
How to use the Modular Tree addon?
In the node-editor you start with a Trunk node, a Branch node and the Tree parameters node. Connect the Trunk node to the Branch node and that is it. With this you can make a lot of trees (without leaves yet, comes later). At first the tricky part is to find out what does what. Keep in mind that the parameters in the Trunk node only affects the Trunk. And the settings in the Branch node only affects the branches. Press on Create Tree in the Tree Parameters node, and a preview tree will show up. Every time you change settings you press the Update Tree button.
If you want to have leaves, model a simple leave (and put later a subsurf modifier on it). Use the checkbox Create Leaves and pick your leave. Even a much better idea is to add a Twig node. Press in the Twig node on Execute and use that as leave instead.
Next is the grow node. What that does is extending the branches. So you have the trunk (Trunk node) and it’s branches (Branch node) and if you want you can refine the branches for a more high-poly tree with the Grow Node. That is pretty much it. Yoji on Blenderartists.org made a very nice tutorials, and it’s worth to take a look.
Tutorial by Yoji – Modular Tree
Where to download the Modular Tree addon?
You can download the modular tree on:
- Github. (That is for Blender 2.8).
- Full documentation here.
- Thread on Blenderartists.org for more background info.
May I sell the trees I make with this addon?
Hi, I have no idea. It’s not my addon. But I suppose you can sell the trees. I think it’s best to make the trees userfriendly to use. If you want to be sure if you can sell the trees or not, best is to contact the developer. I just post about addons on this website.
So I can sell it on blender market with zero royalties? Also, how can I contact the author?
Hi, you can contact the developer here I suppose: https://blenderartists.org/t/modular-tree/674043?u=peetie
The addon does not seem to work in Blender 2.8.2. It says I need to upgrade to 2.8?
This addon works great! However, I am having issues when it comes to exporting it as a .dae file. When I try importing my tree.dae files it dosen’t come out as the original did. If anyone knows how to fix this please let me know!
MTree does not appear to work with Blender version 2.83.0. After installation, and first tree creation, Blender crashed, and the MTree Node menu disappeared from the selection list. Despite restarting Blender, the MTree Node has not reappeared. I look forward to any helpful information. This looks like a great improvement over the Sapling Generator.
Hi i have big supplication I relly need make branches as separate object after generate tree, somebody can help me?
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how can i convert the leafs to a mesh for exporting to a game engine? without killing the engine 🙂 I joined and pulled into substance painter and it crashed when selecting 3000 leafs. i guess that is too many meshes. Maybe i need to combine the UV’s after the join? ill try and report back.
Did you have any luck exporting your tree and leaves to a game engine?
I am having the same problem and can’t figure out how to get this in a game.
I suppose the trees need to be converted to mesh? (Curve to mesh)
This video has a good suggestion for poly count and handling export to game engine.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BO6m4LPn2uQ