Are there any plugin out there that can make a straight cylinder looking more like a real wood trunk/log?

Are there any plugin that can make those wood log columns looking organic? rather than being all straight up with no organic deformations like in the picture below?

You could get a texture if you’re going to render it, I don’t know any plugin that makes something like that automatically but you could use plug-ins like artisan, subd with vertex tools to model or sculpt imperfections on the columns.

depending on what rendering program your using, you should be able to get normal and displacement maps that will imitate the organic texture.

Also what francisquitof mentioned, I would think to use the random tools plugin, sub divide the logs so there are a few verticies along the length then randomise to create some 3D effect (although not really natural).

No plugins that will make them all in one go, but it depends on your end goal.

Are they peeled and trued up logs of a relatively tall / straight tree? Then you are pretty close. Add some variation to the thickness of each post and maybe just a bit of taper.

Are they peeled logs but not trued up and they should be ‘clean’ but still look more like they came from a tree but not too rustic? Then look at trees. The bottoms are wider than the top. They are not perfectly round and they taper. Each post should be different.

Are they peeled logs from a local source, and do they want to look like trees? Then wider at bottom, not perfectly round, tapered, and also with a bend in 1 or 2 axis.

I’ve used the native tools - start with cylinders and then scale the top and bottom. Depending on what you need you can also make them a bit oval shaped. Make them longer than they need to be. Flare the bottoms out if they should look more like trees than poles.

Then I use one of the bend plugins - Fredo or Truebend work well to add some camber. If I want them to have some flat sawn parts I use solid tools to slice them.

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Another kind of solution.

You could try using a 2d FaceMe component with a slightly irregular profile and a texture. Works well if you don’t need really close up views.

A bit OT: Temporary conference hall in Helsinki, Finland, 2022, architect Jaakko Torvinen.
It took over some of the functions of the Finlandia Hall (Alvar Aalto) that is undergoing major repairs. Newspaper photo from construction stage.

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Would be like this…

You can model them or look for them on the 3D Warehouse.

A wood material with proper normal or displacement texture should do it if you are using Enscape.

Modelling in it in 3D seems like an overdo.



If you really really want to model them, you could in another software like Blender using sculpting.

If you are looking for something less detailed maybe you can even do it in Rhino or Sketchup using some kind of loft extension.

Here in Rhino I draw some quick polylines and lofted them.

You can find bark photos on the web, import onto a face in SU. RIGHT click on the photo and select PROJECTED TEXTURE
In the materials tray, pick the sampling tool, sample the image on the face, the paint bucket appears; now click on your cylinder to apply the texture to the curved surface of the cylinder.

This works on any curved surface.

Chris

There is also a free ap called RPtreemaker on the web that gives the power to design entire trees of various types, including the bark. super easy. Works by making a png that is insertable

Chris

In permanent construction you may have nasty surprises if you leave the bark on.

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Thank you very much Shynn! do you have this rhyno file to share? :pray: cant find any in good quality on warehouse… about the textures, should I use normal ou roughness for the heightness map? which one is better ?

Normal, Bump or Displacement is used for height.

Roughness is used for reflections.

I don’t have the Rhino file :frowning: as it was a quick test, but its easy to replicate. Just some lofted polylines.

Hi. Here’s how you can add naturalness to a straight log. I apologize that the interface is not in English, but I think it will still be clear.

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