Hi,

I am looking to create tree roots. Just roots. not trunk. For now, I am just using the pencil tool with triangle in to get one root and just drawing it over and over again as can be seen in the attached svg. But this method doesnt seem like the way to go. If there is anything else that I can do to make this better and more correct way of doing it, I would like to know. There are some other lines in there, but ignore them.
Thanks

Roots seems similar to what's L-system draws by default.
http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL ... indenmayer
If it could be combined with that kind curves styling, that would make the task easy. That's the only thing I could think of right now.

Are you going to keep the roots one color? If so, I'd probably continue on with what you are doing, but, I'd select all of the root pieces, then duplicate (ctrl +D), and fit them in and around the other roots, adjusting some of the nodes just a bit, or stretching some of them out, etc. It doesn't seem like you need too many more of these.

Well, I guess there may be several ways to approach "roots". You probably have a vision for what you want. I find the L-System nearly impossible to use. You need to understand certain mathmetical theories, I think, to use it successfully. However, somewhere I've seen a poster which provides the various formulas for different effects. I'll try to find it and post it in a minute. I think I have a link to it. (Edit -- link http://inkscape.org/screenshots/gallery ... nmayer.png)

Another approach might be using Extensions > Render > Random Tree. It's pretty effective in making "stick trees" or maybe tree silhouettes. So you'd have to flip them upside-down to look like roots. But, that extension only makes sharp corners. And the style you've drawn is very rounded, and more flowing type of roots. So that might not work for you, at all. You could try Combining all the "upside-down trees" into subpaths, and change all the cusp/corner nodes to smooth. I've done that before, and it doesn't work as I expected. Because of the way the tree paths fold back over on itself, creates what would be like circular or elliptical roots, which of course doesn't happen in real life trees or roots, lol.

But there may be another way to go, with what you're using, which is technically Pattern Along Path. You're using the triangle version of spiro splines, which technically is pap automatically applied. (the triangle is the pattern, and it automatically sets pap for single, stretched). Try this. After you draw a line with whatever tool you're using, open Path menu > Path Effects Editor. There you will see that pap has been automatically applied.

Here's a quick way to make some different shapes. See screenshot below. The tiny paths are the patterns. Select and copy the tiny pattern. Then select the spiro spline path. Look in LPE Current Effect area, and click the little Paste icon (or I suppose you could just use Ctrl + V). That pastes the new pattern to the same path and so you can get some different, branching roots. (You can zoom in, and make very, very narrow patterns, which would make thinner roots.)



I have to say, I've had a blast playing with PAP like this! I don't know why the pattern has to be pointing in a certain direction, but it doess matter. If you rotated my little patterns 90 degrees, you'd lose the branching effect. But anyway, have fun

Hi Brynn,
Thank you for your response. I did about creating trees using Random tree. It was here http://penguinpetes.com/b2evo/index.php?p=358
I played with it and it is kind of frustrating. Not frustrating as such it works as it is supposed to but I had different expectation of how it would smooth out etc compared to what it does.
Pattern along path is fun. I have played with it before and I guess I could think of ways to be able to use that in creating roots. That might work I will post if I get something working.
Thanks

Oh yes, I had seen that trees tutorial a while ago. But I didn't realize, or remember that was you. I'll look forward to seeing what you work out

Hi,
I didnt play with this much, but this is what I have. I feel that with little bit of further modifications, it can look pretty good.
Thanks

Littlegrassfolks - nice results!

I love playing with the PAP, but I usually end up with things that I keep in a file waiting for a perfect opportunity to be used, but never do, lol.

Can't wait to see what the OP (original poster) ends up with, please be sure to post here!

flamingolady wrote:Can't wait to see what the OP (original poster) ends up with, please be sure to post here!

littlegrassroots is the op

Wow egr, you went in a little different direction than what I had in mind. But it does seem to work! I was thinking of making one simple pattern, then applying it to differently shaped paths. But you made a very complex pattern that can only work on straight or gently curved paths. Nice