Six organic objects enable natural creations

Xfrog has updated its self-titled add-on to Autodesk's Maya to version 5, bringing full compatibility with Maya 2012 and six new procedural objects to the program that will assist in the creation of organic-looking models and natural objects. The plug-in's tools behave exactly as Maya components, so users can combine or keyframe them with paint effects, particle animations and other tools.

Xfrog 5 includes a Branch Object, that creates multi-level branching structures; a Phyllotaxis Object which arranges components on an arbitrary surface of revolution as determined by the "Golden Section," the rules of nature; a Hydra Object that arranges components in user-defined circular patterns; a Curvature Object that creates splines, often used for naturally curved leaves or twigs; a Variation Object that gives users the ability to use and multiply different objects with the Branch, Phyllotaxis and Hydra objects, and a Tropism Object that bents objects or works towards a gravity or light point, essential for realistic growth animations.

All the tools can be varied in infinite varieties, such as number of branches, lighting, gravity and other factors. Users can easily illustrate the growth of a flower or tree fro start to finish, using all the Maya animation curve editing features along with MEL scripting. Xfrog's plant structures have been extensively used in Maya-based motion pictures, including the recent Alice in Wonderland and Avatar. Xfrog offers libraries of botantically-accurate plant models (over 2,000) and the plug-in is also available for Cinema 4D and as standalone Windows software (version 3.5).

The new version costs $399, and includes a license code for Xfrog 4.3 for Maya users still on the 2008 or 2009 editions. A free 30-day trial is also available, along with tutorials. Maya 2012 for Mac requires a 64-bit (Core2Duo or later) Mac with 4GB or more of RAM, a qualified OpenGL graphics card and a three-button mouse.

by MacNN Staff