AO Studio Tools

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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Point Force

Pulls growth toward a Maya object or pushes it away. Move the target to guide branches or open a gap in the crown.

Reference updated for ZenGrove 1.0.0-alpha.10.

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Branches

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Branches

Affect

Point Force node with its affect settings in ZenGrove
ZenGrove in Maya · Affect · Open image for full size
Affect

Chooses which branches are affected. Active Branches uses the latest generated layer. Active + Descendants also includes growth from that layer. Active Generated Hierarchy additionally includes ancestors created by that same generated contribution. Entire Input uses everything arriving here. Attached children follow a moved parent even when they are not reshaped themselves.

Options: Active Branches · Active + Descendants · Active Generated Hierarchy · Entire Input

Default: Active Branches

Input

Point Force node with its input settings in ZenGrove
ZenGrove in Maya · Input · Open image for full size
Target

Uses a Maya object's pivot as target. Capture Selected assigns it; Create Force Handle makes an editable handle; Clear removes it.

Default: Nothing assigned

Distribution

Point Force node with its distribution settings in ZenGrove
ZenGrove in Maya · Distribution · Open image for full size
Force Ramp — Start %

Sets where the force starts along a branch. Zero is base and one is tip.

Default: 0

Force Ramp — Full Strength %

Sets where the force reaches full strength. It ramps between Start and this point, then stays at full strength.

Default: 0.35

Deformation

Point Force node with its deformation settings in ZenGrove
ZenGrove in Maya · Deformation · Open image for full size
Strength

Positive attracts toward the target. Negative repels. Zero turns influence off.

Default: 0.65

Strength Randomness

Varies force strength between branches.

Default: 0

Range

Sets influence distance from the target. Zero gives unlimited range.

Default: 5

Distance Falloff

Constant keeps influence even across the range. Linear fades evenly with distance. Smooth gives a softer fade.

Options: Constant · Linear · Smooth

Default: Smooth

Max Bend

Limits total force-driven turning along a branch, in degrees.

Default: 75

Advanced

Point Force node with its advanced settings in ZenGrove
ZenGrove in Maya · Advanced · Open image for full size
Seed Offset

Changes this node's random variation. Keep the seed and settings unchanged to reproduce the same result.

Default: 90

Browse all ZenGrove nodes →
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.