Mesh converter generator

The Mesh converter generator extracts tileable maps from meshes between the markers T (Top) and B (Bottom) and automatically replaces part or all of a mesh with standard SpeedTree geometry. One of these generators is usually the first step in building out a full model from a scanned trunk asset.

The process is detailed in this section, but the general workflow is as follows:

• Add a Mesh generator to the scene
• Assign a material with a mesh asset assigned to it to the Mesh generator
• Add a Mesh converter to the Mesh
• Move the T marker to the top of the region you want to capture
• Move the B marker to the bottom of the region you want to capture
• Adjust the properties according to your needs
• Use the Actions section buttons to extract maps or convert the geometry

Note: Select a marker, hold down “T”, and click on the target mesh to automatically place and center the marker.

Mesh converters have limited generation properties. You need a new mesh converter for every conversion you want to make. Refer to Generation properties.

The properties in this group control which material/mesh asset combinations are used by the generator and at what size they appear.

Set the effective radius for the map extractions and conversions. Only polygons that fall within the radius will be considered. This value is visualized by the pink surrounding cylinder in the Tree Window. The radius should be large enough to encapsulate all of the polygons of interest but not so large as to include parts of the mesh that are undesirable.

This generator uses several geometry features to compute the extracted map set's aspect ratio. Use this value to stretch the result vertically. You should see the preview image adjust as you edit this value. A value of 1.0 means use what the generator computed exactly.

Set the style of capture.

When the Mode property is set to Aspect ratio restricted, the captured area will be forced to create maps of the aspect ratio selected here.

The properties in this group control how often and how accurately the mesh is sampled.

The mesh is sampled at a discrete number of points as indicated by the black dots with white outlines. The number of points is computed based on the discovered radii and Mode setting while analyzing the top and bottom points. Use this property to add extra points to improve the accuracy of the converter. Extra points are added one at a time with each new point splitting the longest segment.

Note: Extra points always cover the region between the top and bottom markers. When the Mode is set to Aspect ratio restricted, you may have to add many points to see them in the area of interest.

Increase this value to smooth out the spacing between the sample points. Watch the preview image to see how the final output will be affected.

Blend regions and aspect ratio corrected main sections discover a course through the mesh automatically. This setting controls how many times the algorithm will try new paths before declaring a failure. Increase this value for particularly curvy, troublesome meshes.

In order to make the extracted maps tile in the V direction, parts of the mesh must be overlapped over the border. The properties in this section control that behavior.

Choose how the V blend data is computed.

Control how height data is computed for the exported heightmaps. A value of 0.0 means no localization. The highest point will be white and the lowest point will be black based on the entire region. A value of 1.0 means height is judged based on the ring around each point. Use higher values to capture features while keeping the overall height map more uniform.

Note: Use the Height render mode to see the heightmap in the Tree Window before exporting.

The properties in this group control the blend region placed at the top of the map. The geometry for this will be taken from below the B marker (or custom marker if enabled) so that the end result will tile in the V direction.

Control how far below the B marker is used for the blend. Larger values usually make for better blends. So much so you should carefully consider where you place the markers to make sure you have enough range and that the mesh in that region roughly matches the mesh in the main region for better tiling.

Note: The Tree Window will show the blend region triangles in wireframe over the mesh.

Select the blend mask used to blend the maps from the blend region onto the main region. These masks are located in the installation location in the “blend masks” folder. The “custom” folder in that location can be used to add your own masks if you desire. You must copy them in manually, there is currently no GUI for that operation.

Stretch the blend mask across the blend geometry. Use this property to make the blend mask cover as much of the blend region as possible.

Rotate the blend mask around the blend geometry. Use this property to align the blend mask on the mesh.

Set the number of times the blend mask repeats in U. It must be an integer so that the blend mask tiles in U. Use this property with the Stretch property to ensure the blend mask covers most (but not more) of the blend region and maintains its aspect ratio as much as possible.

The properties in this group control the blend region placed at the bottom of the map. The geometry for this will be taken from above the T marker (or custom marker, if enabled) so that the end result will tile in the V direction.

Control how far above the T marker is used for the blend. Larger values usually make for better blends. So much so you should carefully consider where you place the markers to make sure you have enough range and that the mesh in that region roughly matches the mesh in the main region for better tiling.

Note: The Tree Window will show the blend region triangles in wireframe over the mesh.

Select the blend mask used to blend the maps from the blend region onto the main region. These masks are located in the installation location in the “blend masks” folder. The “custom” folder in that location can be used to add your own mask if you desire. You must copy them in manually, there is currently no GUI for that operation.

Stretch the blend mask across the blend geometry. Use this property to make the blend mask cover as much of the blend region as possible.

Rotate the blend mask around the blend geometry. Use this property to align the blend mask on the mesh.

Set the number of times the blend mask repeats in U. It must be an integer so that the blend mask tiles in U. Use this property with the Stretch property to ensure the blend mask covers most (but not more) of the blend region and maintains its aspect ratio as much as possible.

The properties in this group control the preview image in the Tree Window. The black arrows indicate where a map ends and the next one starts for tiling previews. The pink bar indicates the span of the background image. The orange bars indicate the range of the blend regions.

Note: The preview image uses the active render mode so things like moving the light will affect it. You can also use material render modes to focus on one aspect at a time.

Control how large the preview image is in the Tree Window.

Control how the preview image is displayed.

When enabled, the tiling map is drawn consecutively until it reaches the top of the window.

The properties in this group create output based on the current configuration of the converter.

Set the width, in pixels, of the exported maps. The height is computed to maintain the appropriate aspect ratio.

Choose how length segments are set on converted geometry.

Note: This property has no effect on Convert in place operations.

Choose how the generated heightmap will be used when materials are made automatically either by manually selecting Make new material or by using any of the conversion options.

Export a set of maps.

Export a set of maps and automatically create a material using them.

Export a set of maps, make a new material from them, and apply the material to a newly created branch generator. Add the new generator to an existing SpeedTree model in the scene to continue building.

Export a set of maps, make a new material from them, and apply the material to a newly created trunk generator. The trunk should be very close in size to the captured region. Continue editing the trunk as you would any other native SpeedTree geometry.

Export a set of maps, make a new material from them, and automatically create a stitch where the B marker is placed. The mesh below the stitch will be retained. The new material will be applied to the Branch generator that is a child of the stitch. Edit and build off of this generator to continue the model.