SpeedTree

SpeedTree Cinema was released by IDV in 2009, and saw its first major use in Avatar by James Cameron. SpeedTree Cinema is designed for use in the film industry, and generates high-resolution meshes and high-quality textures for Autodesk 3ds Max, Autodesk Maya and Cinema4D.[13][14] The Cinema edition includes SpeedTree Modeler, and the complete Tree Model Library designed by IDV, while with some other suites tree packs must be purchased separately.[13] Several members of the SpeedTree line can simulate animated growth of trees and plants and seasonal changes, and can export data for animated wind effects.[13]

SpeedTree Studio was released by IDV in 2009 as a less expensive companion to SpeedTree Cinema. It does not include all Cinema features, nor the complete Tree Model Library.[15]

SpeedTree Architect was released in 2012, is designed for use in 3D architectural CAD. It generates meshes compatible with typical architectural applications such as Autodesk 3ds Max, Autodesk Maya and Rhino.[16] The Architect edition also exports normal maps and UV maps, for physically-accurate rendering engines such as V-Ray and mental ray.[16]

SpeedTree for Games is the edition of SpeedTree for video game development, contrasting with the Subscription edition offered to users of the Unity game development engine and certain versions of the Unreal Engine 4 engine.[17] The Games edition includes the Modeler, Compiler, and SDK.[17] This edition permits game developers to integrate SpeedTree runtime technology into any game engine of their choice.[18] Meshes generated with the system are low poly, with multiple levels of detail, use texture atlases, and are typically stored in an efficient binary format.[19]

SpeedTree Subscription Edition is a low-cost edition of SpeedTree Modeler and Runtime, targeted at independent game studios. The licensing fee is a US$19 monthly charge, as well as additional charges for tree packs.[20] Subscribers get access to the SpeedTree editor, the ability to generate 3D models of trees and plants, such plants being exclusively usable with either Unreal Engine 4[21] or Unity,[22][23] depending on the license. Subscribers can download additional tree model packs from the Model Library, and pricing varies between packs.[24][25]

SpeedTree Modeler is a Windows-based specialized modeling tool for designing foliage.[26] The modeler features a combination of procedural tree generation, and hand-editing tools, to draw trees or transform individual tree parts.[26] Procedural tree generation uses configuration such as branch length, branching angles and bark texture to generate a tree in a variety of formats. Newer versions support a drag-and-drop interface that automatically blends branch intersections and handles branch collisions.[14][27]

SpeedTree Compiler is a software that enables creation of efficient tree models for use in real-time rendering or video games. It generates texture atlases and compiles and optimizes tree models for real-time use.[19]

SpeedTree SDK is a multi-platform C++ SDK that efficiently handles rendering of SpeedTree-generated trees and forests. The engine is designed to integrate and operate within a larger game engine, with ready-made support for Unreal Engine, Unity and OGRE.[17][28] The engine contains optimized systems to cull off-screen trees, and to determine level of detail for on-screen trees.[17][29] Full source code is available to licensees for use in video games and other real-time applications, and modification of the engine is supported.[17] The engine is built to work with Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Xbox, PlayStation and PlayStation Vita.[27]

SpeedTree for Games was licensed for its first video games, including The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, in December 2002. SpeedTree has been licensed for PC and next-generation console titles in a wide variety of genres. Studios that have used SpeedTree, or published games featuring the technology, include:

Selected recent, upcoming and/or popular titles featuring SpeedTree for Games:

Following the release of SpeedTree Cinema in 2009, SpeedTree saw its first major cinematic use in 2009's Avatar, in which the technology provided the vegetation for the flyover of the planet Pandora in the first frames of the movie, as well as other scenes. Known movies and television productions featuring SpeedTree include:

SpeedTree is being used in the following real-time projects and offerings:

• America's Army project, both the America's Army game and in non-public applications used for training, simulation, education, virtual prototyping and outreach
• An optional foliage module with the Vega Prime visualization product line.[35] Vega Prime is a 3D visual simulation software package used by the global military industry and in other game and non-game markets.
• An Apache attack helicopter FLIR simulation developed for the US Army by Camber Corp. for pilot training under night flying conditions
• The Expresso Fitness Virtual Reality Bike, a cardio exercise system developed by Expresso Fitness and sold to gyms and home users
• A combat simulation developed by Emergent Game Technologies for the US Department of Defense[36]
• A project under development by the Germany-based division of European Aeronautic Defence and Space (EADS)[37]
• The Forest Fire project, developed by the Media Convergence Laboratory (MCL) at the University of Central Florida. The project is helping to determine if a virtual reality presentation of wildfires can influence local residents to invest in prescribed burns and other protective efforts.