First, I planned to use tree assets in UE5, but when I looked around, I only found normal trees and couldn’t find any large, mysterious trees. So I decided to make the tree myself.
This week, I focused on creating a large and mysterious tree inside a cave.
I am good at modeling buildings and mechanical objects, but I have had little experience with modeling organic forms like trees, which have irregular shapes and delicate wood grain details. Because of this, creating this tree was a personal challenge for me, and at the same time, it became a valuable opportunity to gain new knowledge and skills.
I wanted to create a large, powerful impression, so I designed the wood grain to be somewhat coarse and with wider spacing between the grains. Also, because trees at shrines often have decorative elements, I incorporated ornaments that symbolize the sacred tree and the act of worship. The most difficult part was creating the spirally woven rope.
Through the process of creating this tree, I was able to learn how to use sculpt mode more effectively and gain new insights. Overall, it was a very meaningful and valuable learning experience.
Making Process
1.First, I created a circle and converted it into a curved cylinder, similar to the shape shown in the reference image.
Then, I drew curved lines along the surface of the cylinder.
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2.Next, I converted the curved lines into three-dimensional cylindrical objects. At this stage, I effectively used Bezier curves to control the shape.
In addition, I made both ends thinner and the middle thicker in order to represent a more realistic tree form.
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3.Then, I rotated and duplicated the cylinder created in step 2 by 360 degrees, as shown in the reference image.
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4.Once I had a clear understanding of the overall tree shape, I went back to step 2 and added additional branches. After that, I used Sculpt Mode to create details such as growth rings and wrinkles, enhancing the realism of the tree.
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5.Finally, I repeated the rotation and duplication process described in step 3. Then, I carefully adjusted the positions and rotations of the branches while considering the overall balance of the tree.
Rope
In terms of this rope, I first created it in a spiral shape. Then, my initial plan was to bend the rope along a curve and wrap it around the tree.
Specifically, I started by creating a circular object, and using a modifier, I arranged it in a spiral along the Z-axis. Next, I applied a curve modifier to shape it into a circular form. Finally, I adjusted the curve mode of the object to add sagging caused by gravity, making the rope look more natural.
Paper docoration
When creating the paper decoration, I first created a flat plane. Then, I added a grid on the plane and removed unnecessary faces and vertices to shape it according to the reference.
Next, I extruded the plane in steps to make it three-dimensional. Finally, I bent the object along a curve, which allowed me to create a paper decoration that looks like it is fluttering in the wind.
Straw decorations
Creating the straw ornaments was particularly difficult. I felt that the most challenging part was expressing the detailed texture of the straw and its complex shape.
However, I tried to create them in my own way. First, I created a sphere and deleted the bottom half. Next, I extruded the deleted part to create the shape of the straw ornament. After that, I used Sculpt mode to adjust the texture and shape. Finally, I adjusted the position of the bottom face to complete it.
References