Is there a "plant" tutorial out there?

I want to try to make my own plants (I try to make much of my own stuff, but I'm still new to it.) I would like to find a tutorial to walk me through some steps.

Any out there?

I have not seen one specifically for plants - but - they are very straighforward.

You need your 'plant' textures with fully transparent backgrounds.

Decide on using a 2 prim plant object or a 3 prim one - most plants use the same texture on each of the prims - reversed on the back.

Each prim is a 'very thin' cube with the plant textures placed on front and back.

Align the prims (normally centred on each other) at equal angles (although some 2 prim plant borders look good when angled not at right angles, but in a shallow cross pattern.

Try it, play with it, its fun and easy - let us know how you get on.

I remember a class in this: floral arranging I think it was. You make a vase too. Search/Events/Educational

Lots of building classes in everything there.

Aaron pretty much explained it...here is my brief tutorial...

Create two box prims and place them in an X on each other (so top-down view would look like an X). Place the plants transparency texture on each side of the prims (flipping for the same prim opposite side versions).

The art-form here is cutting out a tree or plant and creating the masking channel for the visible and non-visible alpha areas. For custom work, it can take a long time to trace out the contours of the leaves and such...it's worth it in the end to take your time.

This is great. I was just about to ask a similar question. I live on a tropical island in SL and on Kauai IRL, and I can get great pictures of plants. I even know their correct names. Finally, something that will bring me back to Photoshop...

Thanks all....I got that basically going. I worked out the alpha channels stuff in PSP and that part looks awesome (okay, so I think.)

I have a question on how "thick/thin" you make the prim, and is that outside edge then textured as "invisible?"

Also, should I be flipping my image in anyway, so the back is exactly the same as the front, or does that cause distortion of some sort?

My hanging basket doesn't look any worse than others I've seen, but I'm not sure how close to perfect it is either.

Thanks again. And I will look up the vase/flower tutorial/class also.

Use a full alpha texture in your edges: I find it easiest to apply the full alpha first, then place my front and back.

You also want your prim as thin as possible, but you may wish to leave a little leeway for resizing.

Flip your back image horizontally

The information here might also help you with the alpha work, too:
http://robinwood.com/Catalog/Technical/SL-Tuts/SLTutSet.html

Mari
(Who has taken to making and selling plants)

matika Wombat does excellent tutorials. If you search her name in world, you'll get a link for her tutorial area (assuming Search works.) She also does synchronous classes, so you might find one listed in events, under education.

I love making plants!

Once you have your prims and alpha image the way you like, you can get a nice effect by adding a subtle tinting on one side of each prim. You'll get slightly differnt colors depending on viewing angle.

If you need an example, you are welcome to go to my land (the location is in my sig) and look at my Rangpur Lime tree. Its a 3 prim plant. But I used .01 for the y axis.

TY Jana

Yes Indeed I do many types of tutorials and have them available at my store in Agape.
The plant tutorial ofcourse you can find it at my vendor,... but I added a free version of it now.
If you look up my profile teleport to any of my teleports on my profile, that will land you in a Agape,, fly so you can see the entire garden area,, you will see a Greenhouse at the end of the pond (well it's actually white). outside you will see a table made out of an old wire spool and on top there is a little green box with supplies and notes, all free for anyone who wants to learn their very own first plant.
Blessings.

matika