Tree Confusion

[dricketts]

I'm just starting to put trees and vegetation on a large route I've been working on for about 8 months in TS2009. I'm trying to make a decision on what kind of trees to use based on realism and performance. This route will be fairly tree heavy. I'm still a little fuzzy on some terms I've seen come up several times and I'm hoping the community could help clarify my confusion.

Are these 3 distinctly different types of vegetation defined by how they are created?

Billboard Trees

Speedtreez

3D Trees

 

[cascaderailroad]

Try to keep the number of tree genus down to 6-10 types

 

[Dermmy]

Billboard trees are the old multi-plane 'cardboard cut out' trees which were pretty much the only Trainz tree prior to TS10.

3D trees are fully modelled trees. Speedtrees are a type of 3D tree. Pretty sure 'Speed Tree' is a commercial name belonging to a 3D tree made with a specific technology. Again I am pretty sure all 3D trees in Trainz are SpedTrees. Also pretty sure I will get corrected if I am wrong!

Also pretty sure that your decision is pretty much a moot point, since if the route is in 09 you are going with billboards, SpeedTrees won't work pre TS10...

@ Cascade - I know I'm correct on this: I'd have agreed with you wholeheartedly about 6-10 main tree types up to TS06. In TS10 I am constantly amazed what you can get away with. I suspect 09 lies somewhere between. Although 09 is probably the worst version for lots of trees. You are stuck with the double whammy of billboards and bad alpha sorting...

The 'Standing By For Corrections' side of

Andy

 

[dricketts]

Billboard trees are the old multi-plane 'cardboard cut out' trees which were pretty much the only Trainz tree prior to TS10.

3D trees are fully modelled trees. Speedtrees are a type of 3D tree. Pretty sure 'Speed Tree' is a commercial name belonging to a 3D tree made with a specific technology. Again I am pretty sure all 3D trees in Trainz are SpedTrees. Also pretty sure I will get corrected if I am wrong!

Also pretty sure that your decision is pretty much a moot point, since if the route is in 09 you are going with billboards, SpeedTrees won't work pre TS10...

Andy

I also want my route to be available for future Trainz users. Unfortunately I can not find any billboard trees that look or perform good in native mode with any degree of satisfaction.

I'm thinking of upgrading to 2010. I just can't warrant moving to 2012 without native mode.

Jankvis sent me some pics of some trees he is working on. He calls them billboard trees that use the speedtree engine. I must say they look encouraging compared to anything else I've seen.

 

[defacto]

Billboard trees are the old multi-plane 'cardboard cut out' trees which were pretty much the only Trainz tree prior to TS10.

3D trees are fully modelled trees. Speedtrees are a type of 3D tree. Pretty sure 'Speed Tree' is a commercial name belonging to a 3D tree made with a specific technology. Again I am pretty sure all 3D trees in Trainz are SpedTrees. Also pretty sure I will get corrected if I am wrong!

Also pretty sure that your decision is pretty much a moot point, since if the route is in 09 you are going with billboards, SpeedTrees won't work pre TS10...

@ Cascade - I know I'm correct on this: I'd have agreed with you wholeheartedly about 6-10 main tree types up to TS06. In TS10 I am constantly amazed what you can get away with. I suspect 09 lies somewhere between. Although 09 is probably the worst version for lots of trees. You are stuck with the double whammy of billboards and bad alpha sorting...

The 'Standing By For Corrections' side of

Andy

There is a few non-speed speedtrees in TS2010.

Try to search for JVC if you want good trees and other plants (i think they are implemented only in TS2010 though, but i'm not sure), there's everything from Oaks to Nettles!

 

[schweitzerdude]

Re Speedtrees

Search the forums using my username and look for my post "to speedtree or not to speedtree" a week or two ago.

Consensus seems to be that speedtrees are the way to go. I imported a route from TC1&2 into TS2010 and (based on the advice I was given), I replaced all trees with speedtrees using the "asset replace" function and have not regretted it. I do limit myself to about 10 different speedtrees to enhance performance, but depending on your PC horsepower that may not be needed.