SpeedTree: Encyclopedia II - SpeedTree - Components

SpeedTree - Components

SpeedTreeRT (RT standing for "real-time") is perhaps the most important part of the SpeedTree package. It is a software developers kit (SDK) written in C++ whose source code is available to buyers. It is intended to be fitted into a larger graphical engine, with the SpeedTree software handling the rendering of trees and foliage alone and the specific product's engine incorporating these into the larger environment. This is intended to both provide more efficiently-generated high-quality trees and save project developers time as a result of its specialization.

SpeedTreeCAD (CAD standing for "computer-aided design") is a specialized modeling tool created specifically for creating and editing foliage. Where more general modeling tools would require the modeler to manually rearrange vertices, rearrange the "skin", and so forth to create minor variations, SpeedTreeCAD just requires that variables like branch length, branching angles, and gravitational influence are specified, and then generates a tree from that information. If the developer then decides that the branches should be less densely packed, for instance, he can easily adjust the appropriate variable rather than having to make tedious manual changes. Trees created in SpeedTreeCAD can be more or less detailed, and consequently can be used for either real-time or prerendered display.

Alternatively, IDV provides SpeedTreeMAX and SpeedTreeMAYA, plug-ins for the popular 3D Studio Max and Maya modeling programs.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Components", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki