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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Vortex Force

Steers growth around a Maya target's axis. Add inward pull or movement along the axis for coils and spirals.

Reference updated for ZenGrove 1.0.0-alpha.10.

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Branches

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Branches

Affect

Vortex 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

Vortex 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 center and orientation for the axis. Capture Selected assigns it; Create Force Handle creates a movable, rotatable handle; Clear removes it.

Default: Nothing assigned

Distribution

Vortex 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 (1)

Vortex Force node with its deformation (1) settings in ZenGrove
ZenGrove in Maya · Deformation (1) · Open image for full size
Strength

Sets how strongly growth circles around the axis.

Default: 0.65

Strength Randomness

Varies force strength between branches.

Default: 0

Axis

Chooses the target object's local axis that growth circles around.

Options: X · Y · Z

Default: Y

Direction

Chooses clockwise or counterclockwise rotation, viewed from the positive end of the axis toward the center.

Options: Counterclockwise · Clockwise

Default: Counterclockwise

Radial Pull

Positive values pull toward the vortex axis; negative pushes outward.

Default: 0

Axial Flow

Moves growth along the axis while circling. Zero circles in place; positive and negative spiral in opposite directions.

Default: 0

Range

Sets distance from the vortex axis over which it acts. Zero gives unlimited range.

Default: 0

Deformation (2)

Vortex Force node with its deformation (2) settings in ZenGrove
ZenGrove in Maya · Deformation (2) · Open image for full size
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

Vortex 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: 140

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.