To create a tree we first started off in Adobe Photoshop.
I created a new layer, used the magic wand tool to select around a tree texture i had already found and uploaded. I then deleted around the tree. Created a new layer and filled the background to white. Underneath the top layer i changed the background to black and then selected the two layers and merged them together. Creating the tree opacity layer.
Next to create the tree texture i hid the opacity layer, made a new one and picked a dark colour from the picture. I choose the burn tool, played with the highlights and exposures options and worked around the edges of the tree. I then created a new layer changed settings from normal to colour and used the paint tool to paint around the edges. I again merged the three layers and saved as my tree texture.
Next i had to create the branch like areas to make the tree more 3d. To do this i used the polygon lasso tool to cut out a selection of the tree texture and opened it in a new layer. I changed the centre axis to rotate the selection around repeatedly doing this to create a birds eye view of the texture. Once finished i merged all the layers. I repeated this technique again for the opacity view filling to black and white.
The next stage was to create the model in 3ds max. I created a plane 128 length x 93 width with 1 segments. I also then used the angle snap to rotate to a 90 degree angle
I used the material editor mode to compact editor, discard materials and stand changes to 2, then reverting back to standard. I applied textures and opacity textures too. I dragged to plane and rendered what i had. I shift rotated to give the tree a 3d body. I converted all to an editible poly. Then created a cylinder wireframe with 1, 3 and 12 segments. I used edge mode and isolated all selections.
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