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ZenGrove

Grow a plant, one node at a time.

Overview

Grow a plant, one node at a time.

Explore all 44 nodes with illustrated Maya views and plain-English explanations of every setting. Build trunks and branches, place foliage, shape growth, add wind and prepare your output.

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← All 44 nodesOutput

Output

Builds connected structure and foliage as Maya geometry. Choose final mesh detail and lighter preview settings.

Reference updated for ZenGrove 1.0.0-alpha.10.

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Branches · Growth

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Result

Leaf overlap is checked here

When Avoid Leaf Collision is enabled on an incoming Leaves or Leaf Volume node, this output checks the combined foliage before applying preview limits. Skip can reduce the final leaf count. Check the build status for rotated, skipped or unresolved leaves. Active Dynamics and leaf avoidance cannot be used together in this version.

Setup

Output node with its setup settings in ZenGrove
ZenGrove in Maya · Setup · Open image for full size
Output Name

Gives this tree, collection or output a recognizable name.

Default: ZenGrove_Output

Geometry

Output node with its geometry settings in ZenGrove
ZenGrove in Maya · Geometry · Open image for full size
Radial Segments

Sets fallback tube sides for branches without their own resolution.

Default: 8

Length Spans

Sets fallback length spans. Zero keeps generator spans. Resolution overrides take priority.

Default: 0

End Caps

Closes free branch tips and the bases of parentless branches.

Default: On

Uv & Textures

Output node with its uv & textures settings in ZenGrove
ZenGrove in Maya · Uv & Textures · Open image for full size
UV Scale

Scales output UVs, changing texture size on the geometry.

Default: 1

Preview & Safety

Output node with its preview & safety settings in ZenGrove
ZenGrove in Maya · Preview & Safety · Open image for full size
Preview Quality

Chooses preview detail. Lower quality helps quicker adjustments; High uses more detail.

Options: Low · Medium · High

Default: Medium

Preview Distribution

Distributed spreads the preview across the crown. Random samples randomly. Full requests all placements, subject to preview limits.

Options: Distributed · Random · Full

Default: Distributed

Preview Instance Limit

Limits placed objects shown in a preview.

Default: 300

Preview Triangle Budget

Limits asset triangles in the preview. Heavy source meshes fit fewer placements within the budget.

Default: 250000

Export

Output node with its export settings in ZenGrove
ZenGrove in Maya · Export · Open image for full size
Instance Assets

Uses shared Maya instances in the final build. Off creates separate copies. Previews always use shared instances.

Default: On

Advanced

Output node with its advanced settings in ZenGrove
ZenGrove in Maya · Advanced · Open image for full size
Preview Geometry Vertex Limit

Stops a preview if estimated branch geometry exceeds this vertex count.

Default: 250000

High Geometry Vertex Limit

Limits estimated branch-geometry vertices in a High build.

Default: 1000000

Foliage FX Vertex Limit

Limits foliage vertices created for leaf droop or transferred normals in High builds.

Default: 1000000

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FAQ
What is ZenGrove used for?

Explore all 44 nodes with illustrated Maya views and plain-English explanations of every setting. Build trunks and branches, place foliage, shape growth, add wind and prepare your output.

Which host application does ZenGrove support?

ZenGrove is built for Autodesk Maya and is distributed through AO Studio Tools.

Where can I download ZenGrove?

Download the current AO Studio Tools package from https://aostudio.tools/getthetools.html and install it through AO.Hub.