Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
Greenworks
http://www.xfrog.com/
Tools from Greenworks
Notes
: Be sure to check out Xfrog Tune,
Greenworks' polygon reduction program, if
you want to populate a forest for your ani-
mation (Xfrog itself tends not to skimp
when creating its geometry). When using
Xfrog, be sure to work through the Xfrog_
LW_Plugin (included on the CD). It is the
easiest way to get Xfrog models and anima-
tions into LightWave. If you don't want to
build trees for your animation yourself,
check out Greenworks' Library CDs that
have recreations of flora from around the
world (approved by discriminating
botanists).
Xfrog
(Intel)
Demo
What it is
: Xfrog uses a component-based
relational structure to create
organic mod-
els
. You don't actually push points as you
do in LightWave; rather, you set up
associa-
tions
(guided by mathematics as precision-
oriented as you have time to noodle), and
Xfrog does the rest. You can achieve amaz-
ing detail in a short amount of time
just by adding components and tweak-
ing controls.
What makes this cool
: Organic
modeling of things that have fractal
detail to them — trees, plants, shrub-
beries, alien cityscapes, and the like
— requires the patience of a Zen mas-
ter. If you aren't currently a devotee
of “mindful meditation” and need to
build trees or plants (or you are under
a deadline and have to get things look-
ing sharp
fast
), I recommend diving
into this time-limited, fully-functional
demo version.
Figure A-27
