Tutorial - Creating high density field of vegetation for your outdoor scene

Innovative, simple and elegant - i like the way you think JT.

I take it that the low particle count keeps it from adversely affecting the framerate? Do you think you could vegetate a whole island this way without turning it into a slideshow?

This is an excellent idea Jimmy! I've attached a picture of my bluebell woods to this message. If anyone is interested in seeing them IM me or come to Alviso (19,201) .

here's the link to the picture
Bluebells.jpg

Jimmy, I'm witched. You should get the Nobel man.

Putting default { } around pasted isn't working, getting an error on llParticleSystem..

PC

Jimmy helped me get it working ..anyway, anyone got any good locations for plant textures??

PC

I just tried this too, how do you get it working? I get the error on llparticlesystem too, but i know next to nothing about scripting

Neither do I. someone will post a full text eventually.

PC

Ok folks, here is the money making opportunity....

some one do this up real nice, make it easy to use with some voice commands or a card or something, and sell it to these people who need help for a fair price. Might try something like that instead of opening a mall. Don't take too long or I'll do it myself.

Excellent excellent effect.

here ya go

default
{
state_entry()
{llParticleSystem([PSYS_PART_FLAGS, PSYS_PART_INTERP_COLOR_MASK ,
PSYS_SRC_PATTERN,
PSYS_SRC_PATTERN_ANGLE,
PSYS_PART_START_COLOR, <0.75,1,0.75> ,
PSYS_PART_START_ALPHA, 0.5 ,
PSYS_PART_END_COLOR, <0.75,1,0.75> ,
PSYS_PART_END_ALPHA, 0.5 ,
PSYS_PART_START_SCALE, <10,1,3> ,
PSYS_PART_END_SCALE, <10,1,3> ,
PSYS_PART_MAX_AGE, 50.0 ,
PSYS_SRC_ACCEL, <0,0,0> ,
PSYS_SRC_TEXTURE, "gras02l" , //name of your own texture here, between the quotes
PSYS_SRC_BURST_RATE, 0.5 ,
PSYS_SRC_INNERANGLE, 0.0 ,
PSYS_SRC_OUTERANGLE, PI ,
PSYS_SRC_BURST_PART_COUNT, 2 ,
PSYS_SRC_BURST_RADIUS, 1.5 ,
PSYS_SRC_BURST_SPEED_MIN, 0.0 ,
PSYS_SRC_BURST_SPEED_MAX, 0.0 ,
PSYS_SRC_MAX_AGE, 0.0 ,
PSYS_SRC_OMEGA, <0,0,0>]);



}
}

What would the voice commands do? It's simple enough that I could do the commands myself rather than paying for it. I could also do an open source version.

Hi...
I love that effect, very natural looking and seems to be amazingly customizable.

Now, I am certainly very new to scripting in LSL, so excuse me if this is an ignorant suggestion, but, I was wondering if, since one can get the wind velocity and direction in SL (can't we?), would it be possible to change textures or rotate the textures/particles slightly and then back in order to simulate the grass moving in the wind?

Just an idea!

Thanks for making this open source, Jimmy!

Thank you everyone for your interest, I appreciated to see the prototype that Pirate, Toy and Goshua made. I encourage everyone to post your result, even if its not perfect, the objective is to improve the concept the get a reliable solution to improve our projects.

On my side I didn't work on this effect since I posted this tutorial, I was working on the upcomming welcome area of the team Bedazzle. For those of you who could be interested, here is a first look.

I have two objectives for the next week, first it will be to apply the same concept the creation of high definition trees (leaf), and then I'll remake the prototype in a public area to allow you to see the effect for real.

And yes, this script is made by the community for the community, so the latest version will be open-source.

One last thing, my tutorial are now available on the Bedazzle website at the adress :
http://bedazzle.grfx.at/portal/modules.php?name=Content&pa=list_pages_categories&cid=3

Anyone got any nice suitable grass textures they'd like to share? The one built into the game (with a long key) isn't transparent so is a bit 'poppy'.. any others kind enough to denote?

to get a good effect put the script on two prims about 5m appart. Then another prim another 5m away can have a rotation script. Link them all up so the grass prims spin around as one prim rotates.. the grass gets thrown about quite nicely then.

Thanks jimmy

You can see this in action at the south side of Navora.

PC

Here are 2 files which I hope can contribute to this project ...

planter.jpg shows an exaggerated picture of my planter assembly
red = rotator
green = arm
blue = planter

planter.txt contains a short description and 3 commented scripts, one each for the rotator, arm and planter prims.

The scripts I present here are simplified versions of the scripts i use in attempt to make them usable for novices. Do not paste the entire text file, extract the appropriate script from the file and paste that. It should be obvious from the comments where each script starts and ends.

If you need any more help IM me when I'm online, I can TP you to show you my efforts in action.

mmm i'm not very good at using the forums!, I expected my planter.txt file to show up as a text window in the browser, but it doesnt. When I click on the file it gets downloaded to my hard disk. Here it is pasted ... of course this will destroy the tabbing ...




// ==================================================
// PLANTER
// Made from 2 or more linked prims:
//
// 1. A Rotator prim to rotate the assembly
// 2. An optional arm between the rotator and the planter
// 3. One or more planter prims linked to the Arm.
//
// In my simple setup the prims also contain 2 additional
// textures "visible" and "hidden" which are use when
// hiding and showing the planters. "visible" is any
// opaque texture and "hidden" is a 100% alpha texture.
//
// No copyright whatsoever: Laukosargas Svarog November 2004.
// ==================================================







// ==================================================
// ROTATOR
// This script goes in the rotating section of the planter.
// This prim listens for the voice commands and converts them to
// link_messages to pass on to the other prims.
//
// No copyright whatsoever: Laukosargas Svarog November 2004.
// ==================================================

// Rotator listens on this channel
integer channel = 5;

default
{
on_rez ( integer param )
{
llResetScript();
}

state_entry()
{
// Initialise in stopped state
llTargetOmega( <0,0,0.0>, 0.0, 0.0 );
// Set a listen event
llListen( channel, "", llGetOwner(),"" );
}

// Respond to voice command by passing them on as
// link messages
listen( integer channel, string name, key id, string m )
{
llMessageLinked( LINK_SET, 0, m, NULL_KEY );
}

// Command handler...
link_message(integer sender_number, integer number, string message, key id)
{

if ( message == "planter on" )
{
// Start rotating
llTargetOmega( <0,0,0.1> * llGetRot(), PI, 1.0 );
}
else if ( message == "planter off" )
{
// Stop rotating
llTargetOmega( <0,0,0.0>, 0.0, 0.0 );
}
else if ( message == "planter show" )
{
// Make this prim visible
llSetTexture( "visible", ALL_SIDES );
}
else if ( message == "planter hide" )
{
// Hide this prim
llSetTexture( "hidden", ALL_SIDES );
}
}
}

// ==================================================
// END OF ROTATOR SCRIPT
// ==================================================


// ==================================================
// Arm
// This optional script goes in the arm of the planter
// All it does is respond to link_message to hide and show the arm
//
// No copyright whatsoever: Laukosargas Svarog November 2004.
// ==================================================
default
{
on_rez ( integer param )
{
llResetScript();
}

link_message(integer sender_number, integer number, string message, key id)
{
if ( message == "planter show" )
{
llSetTexture( "visible", ALL_SIDES );
}
else if ( message == "planter hide" )
{
llSetTexture( "hidden", ALL_SIDES );
}
}
}
// ==================================================
// END OF ARM SCRIPT
// ==================================================


// ==================================================
// PLANTER
// Link as many planter prims as you require to the Arm
// Then put this script along with a plant texture in each planter.
// NOTE: before the planter prim is linked to the arm or rotator
// it must be rotated to correctly place the particles horizontally
// across the ground. If your particles come out in a vertical circle
// rotate the planter prim until you are satified. I find I made great
// use of alt+shift+3, alt+shift+= and alt+ctl+T when i was positioning
// my planters.
//
// No copyright whatsoever: Laukosargas Svarog November 2004.
// ==================================================

//
// Set this string to the name of your plant texture
// If you cant copy your textures then a use a Key instead of a name.
//
string texture = "grass.tga";

// Alter this colour if you want to shade your texture
vector colour = <1.0,1.0,1.0>;

// This is the horizontal and vertical size of each particle
// Scale this size to suit your texture this 10,2 is for
// textures of 512x256 or 256x128
vector size = <10,2,0>;

default
{
on_rez ( integer param )
{
llResetScript();
}

link_message(integer sender_number, integer number, string message, key id)
{
if ( message == "planter on" )
{
llParticleSystem([PSYS_PART_FLAGS, PSYS_PART_INTERP_COLOR_MASK ,
PSYS_SRC_PATTERN,
PSYS_SRC_PATTERN_ANGLE,

PSYS_SRC_BURST_SPEED_MIN, 0.0 ,
PSYS_SRC_BURST_SPEED_MAX, 0.0 ,

PSYS_SRC_OMEGA, <0, 0, 0>,

PSYS_SRC_ACCEL, <0,0,0> ,
PSYS_SRC_MAX_AGE, 0.0,

PSYS_PART_START_ALPHA, 0.5,
PSYS_PART_END_ALPHA, 0.5 ,

// ---------------------

PSYS_SRC_TEXTURE, texture,

PSYS_PART_START_COLOR, colour ,
PSYS_PART_END_COLOR, colour;

PSYS_PART_START_SCALE, size,
PSYS_PART_END_SCALE, size,

PSYS_SRC_INNERANGLE, 0.0 ,
PSYS_SRC_OUTERANGLE, PI ,

// ---------------------

// These next four parameters age, part count
// burst rate and radius should be fiddled
// with until you are happy with the result!

PSYS_PART_MAX_AGE, 60.0 ,
PSYS_SRC_BURST_PART_COUNT, 4,
PSYS_SRC_BURST_RATE, 0.25,
PSYS_SRC_BURST_RADIUS, 2.0
]);
}
else if ( message == "planter off" )
{
llParticleSystem( [] );
}
else if ( message == "planter show" )
{
llSetTexture( "visible", ALL_SIDES );
}
else if ( message == "planter hide" )
{
llSetTexture( "hidden", ALL_SIDES );
}

}
}
// ==================================================
// END OF PLANTER SCRIPT
// ==================================================

vector size = <10,2,0> ?

where was my head ?

should be vector size = <4,2,0>;

although in reality it makes very little difference as the max
particle size i believe is 5 m ?


Note: I like my meadow to be very tall, hence the large sizes

i makes for more fun playing hide and seek with small AVs

I realised I could make the thing more efficient and lose the arm script entirely.
Also no longer need the visible and hidden textures.

Here are two alternative scripts for the Rotator prim and the Planter prim, the arm prim no longer requires a script to hide / show it....



// ==================================================
// ROTATOR
// This script goes in the rotating section of the planter.
// This prim listens for the voice commands and converts them to
// link_messages to pass on to the other prims.
//
// No copyright whatsoever: Laukosargas Svarog November 2004.
// ==================================================
// Rotator listens on this channel
integer channel = 5;

default
{
on_rez ( integer param )
{
llResetScript();
}

state_entry()
{
// Initialise in stopped state
llTargetOmega( <0,0,0.0>, 0.0, 0.0 );
// Set a listen event
llListen( channel, "", llGetOwner(),"" );
}

// Respond to voice command by passing them on as
// link messages
listen( integer channel, string name, key id, string m )
{
llMessageLinked( LINK_SET, 0, m, NULL_KEY );
}

// Command handler...
link_message(integer sender_number, integer number, string message, key id)
{
key linkKey;
integer i = 1;

if ( message == "planter on" )
{
// Start rotating
llTargetOmega( <0,0,0.1> * llGetRot(), PI, 1.0 );
}
else if ( message == "planter off" )
{
// Stop rotating
llTargetOmega( <0,0,0.0>, 0.0, 0.0 );
}
else if ( message == "planter show" )
{
while( (linkKey = llGetLinkKey(i)) != NULL_KEY )
{
llSetLinkAlpha( i, 1.0, ALL_SIDES );
i = i + 1;
}
}
else if ( message == "planter hide" )
{
while( (linkKey = llGetLinkKey(i)) != NULL_KEY )
{
llSetLinkAlpha( i, 0.0, ALL_SIDES );
i = i + 1;
}
}
}
}
// ======================================================
// END OF ROTATOR SCRIPT
// ======================================================



// ======================================================
// PLANTER
// ======================================================
default
{
on_rez ( integer param )
{
llResetScript();
}

link_message(integer sender_number, integer number, string message, key id)
{
if ( message == "planter on" )
{
llParticleSystem([PSYS_PART_FLAGS, PSYS_PART_INTERP_COLOR_MASK ,
PSYS_SRC_PATTERN,
PSYS_SRC_PATTERN_ANGLE,
PSYS_PART_START_COLOR, <0.75,1.0,0.75> ,
PSYS_PART_END_COLOR, <0.75,1.0,0.75> ,
PSYS_PART_START_ALPHA, 0.5,
PSYS_PART_END_ALPHA, 0.5 ,
PSYS_PART_START_SCALE, <10,2,0> ,
PSYS_PART_END_SCALE, <10,2,0> ,

PSYS_SRC_INNERANGLE, 0.0 ,
PSYS_SRC_OUTERANGLE, PI ,

PSYS_PART_MAX_AGE, 60.0 ,
PSYS_SRC_BURST_RATE, 0.25,
PSYS_SRC_BURST_PART_COUNT, 5,
PSYS_SRC_BURST_RADIUS, 2.0 ,

PSYS_SRC_BURST_SPEED_MIN, 0.0 ,
PSYS_SRC_BURST_SPEED_MAX, 0.0 ,

PSYS_SRC_OMEGA, <0, 0, 0>,

PSYS_SRC_TEXTURE, "plant",
PSYS_SRC_ACCEL, <0,0,0> ,
PSYS_SRC_MAX_AGE, 0.0
]);
}
else if ( message == "planter off" )
{
llParticleSystem( [] );
}
}
}
// ======================================================
// END OF PLANTER SCRIPT
// ======================================================

I did some fiddling with this over the weekend and found that the maximum recognized value for PSYS_PART_MAX_AGE is 30 seconds. Values higher than that will disappear after 30 seconds.

I was under the impression that the maximum was 120 seconds, so I figure this information might be of use to anyone else who is trying this.

looks like you're correct Apotheus, I've just timed them also and 30 secs is the max.
I too thought 120, was that from the late lamented WIKI ?

I wont be putting any more ammendments to my code up here, i don't want to mess up the forum. Anyone interested in any updates should contact me. I also have a working planter that I'm happy to distribute for a small contribution.

yay... even I've got this working now Thankyou everybody, and Jimmy especially for sharing the idea...

Can someone go look at my setup in sth Navora.. and tell me why it's flickering? Perhaps some slightly transparent texture would help..

And gosh, anyone able to share up some nice grass textures? I googled for 30 minutes and found nothing appropriate

PC

I was just toying with this script this evening, and came up with this slight variation. It basically fills in a circular area around the particle generator. No moving parts!

float MINRADIUS = 0 ;		// Minimum distance to generate grass (makes a hole in the middle)
float MAXRADIUS = 5 ;		// Maximum distance to generate grass (area to cover)

float RATE = 0.3 ;		// Time between bursts of particles
integer COUNT = 3 ;		// Number of particles per burst

vector SIZE = < 3, 3, 0 > ;	// Scale to display the texture

vector COLOR = < 0.5, 0.75, 0.5 > ;	// Fine-tune the color

string TEXTURE = "grass021" ;	// Obviously, the name of the texture you want to use :)

updateparticles()
{
	llParticleSystem([PSYS_PART_FLAGS, PSYS_PART_INTERP_COLOR_MASK , 
	PSYS_SRC_PATTERN, 
	PSYS_SRC_PATTERN_ANGLE, 
	PSYS_PART_START_COLOR, COLOR , 
	PSYS_PART_START_ALPHA, 0.5 , 
	PSYS_PART_END_COLOR, COLOR , 
	PSYS_PART_END_ALPHA, 0.5 , 
	PSYS_PART_START_SCALE, SIZE , 
	PSYS_PART_END_SCALE, SIZE , 
	PSYS_PART_MAX_AGE, 50.0 , 
	PSYS_SRC_ACCEL, <0,0,0> , 
	PSYS_SRC_TEXTURE, TEXTURE ,
	PSYS_SRC_BURST_RATE, RATE , 
	PSYS_SRC_INNERANGLE, 0.0 , 
	PSYS_SRC_OUTERANGLE, PI , 
	PSYS_SRC_BURST_PART_COUNT, COUNT , 
	PSYS_SRC_BURST_RADIUS, llFrand( MAXRADIUS - MINRADIUS ) + MINRADIUS , 
	PSYS_SRC_BURST_SPEED_MIN, 0.0 , 
	PSYS_SRC_BURST_SPEED_MAX, 0.0 , 
	PSYS_SRC_MAX_AGE, 0.0 , 
	PSYS_SRC_OMEGA, <0,0,0>]) ; 
}

default
{
	state_entry()
	{
		llSetTimerEvent( 0.5 ) ;
	}
	
	timer()
	{
		updateparticles() ;
	}
}

Geez, I hope I did that right. I wrote it offline so I never compiled it. If it doesn't work I'm gonna feel like such a dork.

Has anyone figured out how to get targetomega to turn on an incline? I'd like to use this effect on a rock face, but I can only seem to get it to spin on the world axis.

Rotate the base object.

i just ran across this and have to say it's a most incredible idea. jimmy you more than deserve a dev incentive for this. got any land i can make a point to stand on every day for a month?