Interactive Design of Bonsai Tree Models

Abstract

Because of their complexity, plant models used in computer graphics are commonly created with proceduralmethods. A difficult problem is the user control of these models: a small number of parameters is insufficient tospecify plant characteristics in detail, while large numbers of parameters are tedious to manipulate and difficultto comprehend. To address this problem, we propose a method for managing parameters involved in plant modelmanipulation. Specifically, we introduce decomposition graphs as multiscale representations of plant structuresand present interactive tools for designing trees that operate on decomposition graphs. The supported operationsinclude browsing of the parameter space, editing of generalized parameters (scalars, functions, and branchingsystem silhouettes), and the definition of dependencies between parameters. We illustrate our method by creatingmodels of bonsai trees.Categories and Subject Descriptors (according to ACM CCS): I.3.6 [Computer Graphics]: Methodology and Techniques