Grass Splines

[applegathc]

I find using JVC Grass2 series splines are very much effective when used with a fitting texture...but are there any other grass splines that are modest in colour saturation that would blend in well with grass texturing?

Thx

 

[kamran]

jr grazzy splines

 

[mezzoprezzo]

The FMA instant grass series is good. There is a good selection on the DLS.

If there's a grass type you like, but doesn't look good on the texture you have used, try changing the texture. Pick one that matches the base of the grass stalks rather than the tops. The same trick works for single object grass clumps. The effect can be further enhanced by blending textures with other, less likely, ones such as dirt, ballast (or even forests, if set to large scale & small radius and applied sparingly).

 

[boleyd]

I agree with the matching to the ground texture. The appearance is quite real when a proper match is found. Remember to view from cab height. This is not flight simulator. ALT-Y is effective for a quick look but it is from the eyes of a short human.

Another good trick to make the grass blend is to reduce the height of grass splines closest to the track. Nature usually tapers the grass low to high away from the track. Two parallel splines with the first on at reduced height is a must for me. Also you might slightly overlay them a bit as well. Contrary to some observations splines do not kill FPS. I have hundreds in a route. Good vegetation is a must unless you do not enjoy just how real old Trainz can look.

 

[JCitron]

I agree with the matching to the ground texture. The appearance is quite real when a proper match is found. Remember to view from cab height. This is not flight simulator. ALT-Y is effective for a quick look but it is from the eyes of a short human.

Another good trick to make the grass blend is to reduce the height of grass splines closest to the track. Nature usually tapers the grass low to high away from the track. Two parallel splines with the first on at reduced height is a must for me. Also you might slightly overlay them a bit as well. Contrary to some observations splines do not kill FPS. I have hundreds in a route. Good vegetation is a must unless you do not enjoy just how real old Trainz can look.

I agree with you on the good vegetation. It does change how a route looks. More recently I've started adding the newer grass splines to my routes by JVC and along with the Grazzy Grass from Jointed Rail. The earlier grass splines did cause awful stuttering due to the way they were created and rendered. There used to be that obvious pause and pop-up as the grass loaded on in to the scene.

John

 

[boleyd]

If you find a spline limited in distance visibility (popping up), and you really like it, there is a change in the config for it that extends the viewing distance. I just do not remember what it is right now.

 

[mezzoprezzo]

If you find a spline limited in distance visibility (popping up), and you really like it, there is a change in the config for it that extends the viewing distance. I just do not remember what it is right now.

It's an easy change. Simply delete the unit-mesh line.

That makes many of the grass splines behave realistically. The FMA series were particularly bad at appearing at the last moment, but are otherwise so well made it's well worth the effort to do this minor amendment to each one. I haven't noticed any performance penalty after doing this, although I do use grass splines sparingly.