We will use a new project for this action section so let's get started:
1. Open a new blank project.
2. Select the Set tab and click on the Terrain button. Double-click on the Grassland terrain to load it into the workspace.
3. While still under the Set tab click on the Tree button.
4. Double-click on American Elm A to load it into the workspace.
5. Pull the camera back to see more of the terrain and the tree.
The following image shows our terrain and the elm tree:
6. Click the Tree Brush button as shown in the following image:
 |
7. Click on the Feller tool, place the square tool indicator over the tree and click to remove it.
8. Click on the Planter tool and make sure the Brush Preview is checked.
9. Set the Brush Size to 500 and the Tree Number to 4. Keep the Height and Angle Variation at 50 each.
10. Click a couple of times on the screen to plant the trees in any location you desire.
This example uses two plantings of trees on the left and right of the screen towards the back of the terrain as shown in the following image:
11. Pull the camera back so we can see the entire terrain as in the following image:
12. Go back to the Tree Brush by selecting the Set tab and clicking on the Tree button. Select one of the Elm Tree groups or select an Elm Tree in the Scene Manager.
13. Click on the Tree Brush button to activate it.
14. Change the Brush Size to 5000 and the Tree Number to 50. Fill the terrain with trees. This example only took two clicks of the mouse to accomplish, one on the left side and one on the right side of the terrain as shown in the following image:
 |
We just created an entire forest with two clicks of the mouse! Now that is a time saver as we can now go back and cull out our trees for paths, building locations, or any other use. Some people plant trees around their structures or you can use a combination of both before and after planting and felling to get that just right scene of trees with little time or effort.
Use the tree feller tool in combination with the size of the tool to cut paths, roads, or walkways through our forest, or clear out an area for a building with paths. Clear the entire forest and build another one if you don't like what you have.
You can plant different tree types to get familiar with them and experiment with the variation settings for the trees when planting. Combine the trees with Live Plants such as grass, rice, and flowers and you can create some lush, beautiful landscapes.