Sumatra V1.4 Layout Basics

This Tutorial has been written to explain the basic functions of the Sumatra Plugins V1.4 for Lightwave Layout.

For installing the plugins and adding buttons into the lightwave-interface, please read the readme.

At first, we need a terrain object. Open modeler, select the box tool and press N. Now, enter the following values:

Width:100 meters

Height: 0 meters

Depth:100 meters

Segments x:50

Segments y:1

Segments z:50

Close the numeric window and press space. Then, press the tab key to subpatch the model. Save the model under any name you want, close modeler, and load the object into Layout.

Important: Always make sure, that your groundmodel is well subdivided and sized. In Layout, Sumatra needs a Groundmodel with at least more points/polygons than the number of objects you want to clone!

After you have loaded your groundmodel in layout, start Sumatra. Make sure, that your groundmodel is selected before starting the plugin.

In the objects Tab, select the model you want to clone (I used "palmtree_low.lwo" from the sumatra objects folder). Enter the number of clones into the "clones" field. This first time, 100 clones should be enough. Make sure, that the "Layer active" control is active on your layer. If "Layer active" is deactivated, no objects will be created on this layer.

Go now into the "Advanced" tab and activate "Use subpatched or displaced Terrain". Then, press OK.

After cloning is finished, your screen should look similar to the image above. As you can see, the plugin has created 100 clones onto the terrain. But the trees all have the same size and rotation. Also, some of the trees are standing too close to other trees. So lets try it again. Delete the cloneobjects (all clones are grouped under a Null Object called "Sumatra Clones". You just need to delete the Null object.), select the terrainmodel and start Sumatra again.

Go into the "rotation&scale" tab, and enter the following:

min/max rot H: 180

min/max rot P: 6

min/max rot B: 6

Size min: 100%

Size max: 200%

Go now into the "Altitude,Offset&Weight" tab and enter 3meters into the offset field.

Press Ok again now.

You screen should now look similar to this. All Trees are now random rotated and scaled. Also, there is now a offset between all trees of minimum 3meters (from center to center).

Now, let us create some more complex vegetation on a displaced terrain. Delete the trees, select the terrainmodel and press "P". In the deform tab, press on the Displacementmap "T" Button.

Here, enter the following values:

Layer Type: procedural

Procedural type: Turbulence

Texture Value: 8

Frequencies: 2

Scale X/Y/Z: 30m

Now, go into the surfacemenue, and activate smoothing on the surface of your groundmodel. After this, start Sumatra again.

Lets add now some more objects to scene. In the 2nd Layer, choose another object to clone and the number of clones. I use the model "farn.lwo" from the sumatra objects folder and 100 clones. Enter the same rotation settings like in the first layer and 200-400% random size. Enter an offset of 1meter. Then press OK.

The result should look now like in the image above. All trees and plants are random scaled and rotated. All Trees have a minimum offset of 3meters to each other tree and all plants have a minimum offset of 1meter to each other object.

If you want to add additional cloned models you no longer have to delete all previously cloned models. In Version 1.4 Sumatra automatically checks for previously cloned models in the scene when you run the plug in again (in Layout only). If there are already Sumatra cloned objects in the scene (parented under the "Sumatra clones" null object) the plugin will check their positions and will add new clones keeping offsets to all existing cloned objects. To double the number of clone subjects just start Sumatra again and press OK.

Sumatra has now added 200 more objects to scene.

Another basic function in Sumatra is using a reference object. If you have choosen a reference object, all objects will only be generated near your choosen object.

Delete all trees and plants, and add a Null Object to the scene. Move the Null Object anywhere over your terrain mesh. Select the terrainmesh and start Sumatra.

Select the Null object in the "Reference Object" control and enter an area of 50 meters. Then, press OK.

All Objects are now max 50 meters away from your reference object.