Adding Foliage

The Vectorworks Landmark product includes the Foliage tool, for creating hedges, topiaries, vertical plantings, and ground cover, using custom geometry, and following the site model surface where applicable.

A foliage object is a collection of foliage type symbols, such as leaves or flowers. You can control the type, number, and orientation of the foliage symbols to create the best effect.

Define the shape of the foliage by drawing a polyline, which is converted into a 3D shape according to the selected configuration mode. Foliage objects can also be created by drawing a polyline and then selecting the Create Objects from Shapes command (see Creating Objects from Shapes).

Mode

Description

Configuration

Specifies how the foliage object will be configured, as described in the following section

Symbol

Opens the Resource Selector; double-click a resource to select it. You can also specify a folder that contains a group of symbols; the foliage will be created by randomizing the symbols inside the group.

After the foliage object is created, you can select an additional symbol from the Object Info palette, to add flowers to a hedge, for example.

Polyline creation options

Selects the method for drawing the polyline upon which the object is based; see Creating Polylines

Preferences

Opens the Foliage Tool Preferences dialog box to set the parameters for the foliage object

To create a foliage object:

Click the Foliage tool from the Visualization tool set.

Click Symbol on the Tool bar to specify the symbol to use for the foliage object. From the Resource Selector, double-click a resource to activate it.

Click Preferences on the Tool bar to open the Foliage Tool Preferences dialog box. Different parameters display depending on the Configuration type. The Foliage tool uses these preferences until they are changed.

► Click to show/hide the parameters.

Click the appropriate mode on the Tool bar to draw the polyline shape for the foliage object.

For more information on the Polyline tool modes, see Creating Polylines.

Click to set the foliage object’s start point.

Click to set the end of the segment and the beginning of the next. Continue drawing segments in this manner until the foliage object path or profile is complete.

Editing Foliage Objects

After the foliage object has been created, edit the foliage object from the Object Info palette, or select Properties from the object’s context menu to open the Properties dialog box. The same parameters that are available on the Foliage Tool Preferences dialog box display, along with the following additional parameters.

To reshape the path or profile of a foliage object, right-click and select Edit Path or Edit Profile from the object’s context menu. Alternatively, double-click the foliage object.

Parameter	Description
Configuration	● Linear: Draw a polyline to define the path. The foliage object is extruded along the path to the specified Height and Depth. ● Profile-Front: Draw a polyline to define the front profile. The foliage object is extruded from the front profile to the specified Depth. ● Profile-Front/Side: Draw a polyline to define the front profile. The foliage object is extruded from the front profile and clipped with the side profile. By default, the side profile is a rectangle, but you can edit it. ● Profile-Top/Front: Draw a polyline to define the top profile. The foliage object is extruded from the front profile and clipped with the top profile. By default, the front profile is a rectangle, but you can edit it. ● Profile-Top/Front/Side: Draw a polyline to define the top profile. The foliage object is extruded from the front profile and clipped with both the top and side profiles. By default, the front and side profiles are rectangles, but you can edit them. ● Area-Hedge: Draw a polyline to define the boundary of the hedge. The foliage object is extruded to the specified Height. The foliage symbols are concentrated along the outside edges of the object, leaving the inside partly hollow. ● Area-Round Hedge: Same as the Area-Hedge configuration, except that the edges of the foliage object are rounded. ● Area-On Ground: Draw a polyline to define the boundary of the foliage area. The foliage object is created flat on the ground, with no height. ● Area-Ground Boundary: Draw a polyline to define the foliage line. The foliage object is created flat on the ground, with no height, along the line. ● Area-Grid: Draw a polyline to define the boundary of the foliage area. The foliage object is created flat on the ground, with no height, with the specified Grid Spacing.
Height	For a Linear, Area-Hedge, or Area-Round Hedge configuration, specifies the height of the foliage object
Depth	For a Linear or Profile-Front configuration, specifies the depth of the foliage object
Rounded	For a Linear configuration, rounds the foliage object edges
Send to Site Model Surface	For a Linear configuration, or any of the Area configurations, sends the foliage path vertices to the site model surface under the foliage object; the first site model object on any visible layer will be used
Grid Spacing	For an Area-Grid configuration, enter the distance between symbols on the grid
Random Variation %	For an Area-Grid configuration, enter a randomization value for the grid spacing
Automatic Count of Symbols	For a Linear configuration, or any of the Area configurations, select this option to automatically calculate the number of symbols required to fill the foliage object. If desired, also select a Variation value to adjust the number of symbols. When this option is deselected, enter the Count of Symbols manually.
Count of Symbols	For a Profile-Front or Profile-Front/Side configuration, and for configurations where Automatic Count of Symbols is deselected, enter the number of symbols to fill the foliage object
Symbol Rotation	● Regular Foliage: Symbols are rotated vertically with some randomization; leaf stems point mostly upward ● Random Foliage: Symbols are rotated randomly ● Vertical Symbols Opt 1: Symbols are rotated randomly around the Z axis, and strictly kept vertical ● Vertical Symbols Opt 2: Similar to option 1, with small variations from vertical ● Lock Orientation (Front View): Symbols face the front of the object, with slight variation ● No Rotation: Symbols are not rotated at all, only distributed randomly ● Random Z Axis: Symbols are rotated on the Z axis randomly. This can be used with the Area-On Ground configuration to create a flat foliage effect, such as fallen leaves. If you are using true 3D symbols (such as VBvisual plants), use this option for a more natural look. For an Area-Ground Boundary configuration, this is the only symbol rotation option available.
Perpendicular to Site Model Surface	For an Area-Ground Boundary configuration, select this option to keep all symbols perpendicular to the site model

Parameter	Description
Configuration	The Cover 3D Generic Solid option is only available when you are editing an existing foliage object; see Covering a Solid with Foliage. With this configuration, additional options display to specify which views (front, top, bottom, back, left, and right) to generate.
Reshape Path	For a Linear configuration, or any of the Area configurations, activates the Reshape tool so that you can edit the path of the foliage object
Edit Profile	For any of the Profile configurations, opens a profile editing window. Select the profile object to edit, and use the polyline editing tools as needed. Click Exit Profile to close the editing window and update the foliage object.
Symbol 1/2	Symbol 1 is the symbol selected when the foliage object was created. If desired, specify a Symbol 2, to add flowers to a leafy hedge, for example. There are three ways to specify symbols: enter the symbol name, select the symbol from the Resource Selector, or create a new symbol.
Name of Symbol	Displays the name of the current symbol; enter the name of another existing symbol to change it. To use multiple symbols in the same foliage object, place the symbols in a folder, and enter the name of the folder here. For example, you might use various sizes and colors of the same type of leaf, to create a more vine with a more natural look.
Select Symbol	Opens the Resource Selector to select an existing symbol; double-click a resource to select it
Create Symbol	Opens the Create Foliage Symbol dialog box to create a custom symbol from an image file; see Creating a Foliage Symbol Definition
% Symbols	For Symbol 2 only, enter the percentage of this symbol to distribute throughout the foliage object

Adding Foliage

Mode

Description

Parameter

Description

Editing Foliage Objects

Parameter

Description