topic Re: onyxTREE vs xFrog in Visualization

onyxTREE vs xFrog

Anonymous — Thu, 11 May 2023 13:57:59 GMT

Maybe this is a bit off topic but I am ready to invest in some 3D tree&bush software. After some research I found onyxTREE and xFrog my favourite, as long as there is no onyxTREE demo to try I'm struggling with final decision. If there is somebody using this package and can give some insights regarding workflow, polygon handle, overal usefulness with ArchiCAD than I would be very grateful. If there is any other software you're using and can recommend, please do.

Thanks in advance.

Re: onyxTREE vs xFrog

Anonymous — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 23:30:20 GMT

Onyx Tree
User for 4 years ... it works

even with poly reduction there is a rendering pain threshold.

attached is adding a Onyx palm top to the library palm to keep rendering time reasonable.

also an ONYX tree where shadow and reflection comes into play.

Re: onyxTREE vs xFrog

Anonymous — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 23:31:03 GMT

palm top

Re: onyxTREE vs xFrog

Anonymous — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 23:32:03 GMT

shadow - reflection

Re: onyxTREE vs xFrog

Anonymous — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 23:34:09 GMT

reflection quality

Re: onyxTREE vs xFrog

Dwight — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 06:27:43 GMT

As for operation:

I've been recommending Onyx for a long time, but it is only since Archicad has the LightWorks engine that we can do a city block of 3D Onyx trees.

Starting with an existing botanically accurate model from the Onyx library of conifers, broadleaf, palm, bamboo or flowers, any parameter can be adjusted to make a model unique.

When exporting the model to 3Ds, filters permit polygon reduction by eliminating smaller elements like stems (Got no stems, got no seeds, Acapulco Gold, that's tree) and flattening leaves. See attached image for export dialog.

We all know that too many polygons can kill a rendering and trees have lots of them. In fact, if mediocre World War 1 poet Joyce Kilmer was alive today, his poem "Trees" would read:

"I think that I shall never see
as many polygons as in a tree."

My Onyx tricks are:

flat leaves.
larger, but fewer leaves
only export the leaves, larger branches and trunk with only five sides.

Unless you make a special translucent, speckled and perforated material to soften edges, leaves CAN look like the shattered emerald we are accustomed to in Archicad trees. Softness counts.

Onyx uses the standard xyz orientatiion and Archicad does not, so you need to tweak your 3DS import or the trees come in laying down.

I also recommend exporting the foliage separately from the branches and trunk so that you can rotate them against each other to give the impression of variety in a street tree line. It is also easier to change materials in archicad if you do this.

Re: onyxTREE vs xFrog

Dwight — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 06:33:36 GMT

Here's an example from my book of a street of onyx trees - the same foliage and trunk in each.
This was to be a cross between a photorealistic rendering and a sketch.

Re: onyxTREE vs xFrog

Dwight — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 06:43:01 GMT

There's an economical way to get reasonable 3D foliage that is character-based, not botanically accurate:

Hoshino Residential Library, wherever it is available, has a great shrub, and some trees, that can give good foliage character with controllable polygon numbers.
Some of these are in the planters of the last image. Using translucent perforated plant material softens the shattered glass look.

Re: onyxTREE vs xFrog

Anonymous — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 12:36:41 GMT

Thanks guys for respond. Looks like onyx is unbeatable.
Couple more things - what is average file size for a single, medium detailed tree when using onyx? What about bunch of trees for background (15-20m distance), is it still better to use 2D planes?

Dwight,
What is the status of the libraries like Hoshino or 20th Anniversary collection, are they free to use in commercial projects for any registered AC users, or only for those who got them as bundle/bonus? I cannot find a clear answer for that anywhere. Thanks again.

Re: onyxTREE vs xFrog

Rafal SLEK — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 14:18:59 GMT

Try ArchiTerra3 (new version) with Treegenerator function. Trees are generated by algorithm with some random variations. First attempts with LW engine are very satisfactory - objects are fast for computing and looks good (also in 2d symbol).
These are only "architectural trees" objects - no equivalent in reality like in OnyxTree.

Re: onyxTREE vs xFrog

Rafal SLEK — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 14:22:59 GMT

another view

Re: onyxTREE vs xFrog

Anonymous — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 17:30:57 GMT

Thanks Rafal,

Last ArchiTerra sure looks impressive and since I'm very happy with my ArchiForma and ArchiStair it might be next piece in the collection. For this particular project I need close and semi-distance trees and foliage so I think I'll go for onyxTREE first.

BTW, I saw there is some ArchiForma update. Does anyone know what's new and is it worth to upgrade? Thanks again.

Re: onyxTREE vs xFrog

Dwight — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 17:44:01 GMT

In reviewing Architerra's features, the improvements are stupendous!
Congratulations to Fabrizio and his Cigraph team. See the manual at:

http://www.cigraph.it/cigraph/pagetrans.do?action=prodotti_demo&prodotti_id=24

Re: onyxTREE vs xFrog

Rafal SLEK — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 09:33:41 GMT

Don't forget about Garden Works library (You've talked only about Hoshino lib with very few trees) where You could find near 40 highly parametric 3D foliage. This library is free.