Using FP as a driver for adjusting the surface it's scattered on.

[DT]

I know how to do this the cumbersome way but I want to know if there's an easier way.

So what I'm trying to achieve is the following:

When I place trees manually in a Forest Pack object, I would like to have the surface that it's being scattered on react to the position of the tree, for instance: when I place a tree, the surface bulges up.

How I'm doing this now (there other ways but this is what I do now). First I place cylindrical objects manually where I want my trees to be positioned. I use that geometry as a Volume select and then a push modifier to make it bulge up. The thing is I have to attach all these cylinders so I can use 1 volume select. I know I can use tySelect to add more objects.

Then I use that geometry as a driver for the positions of the trees. Now when I want to move a tree, I have to move the cylinder.

Is there a way for me to skip the first step of creating cylindrical objects and just use a FP directly as a driver to push the surface up? Using effects or something?

[Michal Karmazín]

Hi,

Another possible approach is to use a distance texture to drive the displacement, similar to the setup shown in the Ask iToo! | Forest Pack and RailClone Q&A | 24 February 2022 video, which demonstrates how to blend a material. However, you’ll need to duplicate the FP object and replace its geometry with a simple shape - such as a sphere. The original FP object can't be used for this, as it would create a circular reference. I hope that helps.

Best regards,

[DT]

Hi,

Another possible approach is to use a distance texture to drive the displacement, similar to the setup shown in the Ask iToo! | Forest Pack and RailClone Q&A | 24 February 2022 video, which demonstrates how to blend a material. However, you’ll need to duplicate the FP object and replace its geometry with a simple shape - such as a sphere. The original FP object can't be used for this, as it would create a circular reference. I hope that helps.

Best regards,

Hi Michal, thanks for the reply, yes that is indeed another way. I suspected the circular reference making it not possible to do it the simple way. Thanks again.