| Q: When I place a tree with a light in
the back the tree is completely dark. How do I fix that? |
 |
| |
A: People use the first light
source to create the shadow, but you can also add lower intensity
lights to create ambient light. Remember, if you just define
one light then Verdant thinks it’s a dark room with one
spotlight. Put a couple of low lights right above or from the
direction of the camera to bring out the highlights. You can
also change the mood with colored lights. |
Q: How do I…
…get trees to look young and newly planted?
|
|
| |
A: The age variable does a lot
to help in this respect. You will also want to independently
change the trunk width and the branch width as well as the number
of branches. When you obtain something you like save it. It
will also reduce twisting in the trunk. |
| …keep the tree and/or shadow on
another layer? |
|
| |
A: You will need the tree and
shadow on a separate layer. Open up Verdant and place the tree
where you want it. Now hit cancel. Next create a layer above
where you want the tree and shadow to fall. Now reload Verdant
highlighting the blank layer. You can’t see the picture
but the tree and shadow are exactly where you left them. Press
Okay. |
| …add trees from a master plan or
in a specific pattern? |
|
| |
A: This is easier than it may
seem. All you need to do is take the overhead view of the plan
in question and create one layer above the plan for each type
of tree you want. On each layer mark where you want the given
plant. Save each layer independently as a bitmap and import
it into the groups section. |
| …morph a shadow to fit the hillside? |
|
| |
A: This is mainly done in Photoshop
and requires the tree and shadow to be on a different layer
(see “keep tree and/or shadow on a different layer”
above). |
| Q: So what about the exact plant I need….
|
|
| |
A: Burpee lists
over 60,000 varieties of plants and trees – no software
tool out there supports all of the plants that an artist might
need. That’s why Digital Element will design a custom
plant according to your specifications. You provide a few pictures
of the plant and its common-use or scientific name, and Digital
Element will model that plant type. You receive your plant within
two weeks. |
| Q: Can I Make My Own Plants? |
|
| |
A: Digital Element
will roll out Green House -- a plant developer network, offering
select third-party vendors the SDK and license to make and sell
customized plants and trees for Verdant. Green House participants
will get a link on the products page and discounts on marketing
their plants and trees. Digital Element has secured two strong
art community partners and is seeking two more to begin the
program. |
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| Q: How do I install the Mac version? |
|
| |
A: If you have bought the packaged
version, access the CD and copy the file Verdant.hqx from the
Mac directory on a CD to a temporary directory on your hard
drive. If you have the downloadable version, go to the directory
to which you downloaded the software. Double-click on Verdant.hqx.
When the archive is unpacked a folder named “Digital Element”
will appear in addition to a VerdantUnpack.sea file. Move the
“Digital Element” folder to the directory where
the plug-ins for Adobe Photoshop are located (PhotoShop 6.0\plug-in
if you chose standard pathways for installing Adobe Photoshop).
Remove VerdantUnpack.sea. If you have purchased the CD and inadvertently
double-clicked on Verdant.hqx, you can click OK for the error
message and manually select the installation director. |
| Q: I tried to install the Mac
version but it doesn’t work |
|
| |
A: Verdant has different versions
for OS 9 and OS X. The .hqx will have carbon in its name if
it’s the OSX version. If you received the download then
confirm your purchase order. The CD has both versions on it.
|
| Q: None of the options work – they
are grayed out. |
|
| |
A: Your product might not be
registered yet. Go to the About button, then Register. It will
tell you if you are registered. If you are not registered then
input the serial number (the number you were given with a dash
in it) and obtain a license number (there is a specific FAQ
on that). Once you are fully registered, all of the options
will open up. |
| Q: Where is the license number? I don’t
have one. |
|
| |
A: You need to register Verdant
online. Click on the registration page, be sure to select the
correct product, and then fill out the information. You need
to select a valid e-mail address because Digital Element will
e-mail you the necessary information. Copy and paste the license
number into the registration screen, which is located by pressing
About, then Register. The product will indicate that it is registered
when you have entered the data and tabbed to the okay button. |
| Q: How many plants will I receive? |
|
| |
A: When you buy Verdant, you
will receive ten plants. Users can also subscribe for a “plant
of the month.” Over the course of the year, you receive
twelve plants. You can also buy additional plants for $50 a
piece – half the price of the leading algorithmically-generated
plant competitor (who doesn’t support Photoshop anyway). |
| Q: I have the .hqx file on my
machine but the .hqx file won’t open up – what do
I do? |
|
| |
A: Sometimes you
need to open up StuffIt – the free file compression tool
and “Unstuff” the file through the StuffIt software.
Download the free
Expander from Aladdin Systems. |
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