Jul 27, 2012, 07:35 PM
(This post was last modified: Jul 27, 2012, 07:37 PM by callumiscool.)
Hey guys, I'd like to show you a quick tutorial on making a basic tree in sketchup using alpha channels for a cs object. You will need GIMP, www.gimp.org and google sketchup: www.sketchup.google.com
Note, this is just a basic way, there are many other advanced ways I could show you but just for beginners to sketchup this should do fine.
1. I first found a nice tree, make sure it has a good outline.
![[Image: tree.jpg]](http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc479/catlowe1/tree.jpg)
2. Erase as much of the background as you can. I just did a rough job, but when doing it take your time.
![[Image: 1-1.png]](http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc479/catlowe1/1-1.png)
2a. Then use the color picker and select the white bits.
3. Right click on the selection them hit color, then color to alpha. A box like this should come up.
![[Image: 2-1.png]](http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc479/catlowe1/2-1.png)
4. You now get this.
![[Image: 3-1.png]](http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc479/catlowe1/3-1.png)
5. Open up sketchup and draw a square, which should fit the tree. Apply the tree as a texture, and if you have made the square too big and the tree applys say a corner as well as the whole tree, just draw a line on the bad bits and erase it.
5a. Now texture the other side, make it a component and hit rotate, hold ctrl for another copy and rotate it 90 degrees.
![[Image: 4-1.png]](http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc479/catlowe1/4-1.png)
6. Now rotate the whole model, by 45, then 22,5m 11.25, 5.6125 degrees until you are happy with it.
\
Done! Remember, this is just a basic way. When we colored it to alpha, that just means were made a transparent layer.
Hope you enjoyed this tutorial, any problems or questions or feedback are all welcome
Callum.
Note, this is just a basic way, there are many other advanced ways I could show you but just for beginners to sketchup this should do fine.
1. I first found a nice tree, make sure it has a good outline.
![[Image: tree.jpg]](http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc479/catlowe1/tree.jpg)
2. Erase as much of the background as you can. I just did a rough job, but when doing it take your time.
![[Image: 1-1.png]](http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc479/catlowe1/1-1.png)
2a. Then use the color picker and select the white bits.
3. Right click on the selection them hit color, then color to alpha. A box like this should come up.
![[Image: 2-1.png]](http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc479/catlowe1/2-1.png)
4. You now get this.
![[Image: 3-1.png]](http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc479/catlowe1/3-1.png)
5. Open up sketchup and draw a square, which should fit the tree. Apply the tree as a texture, and if you have made the square too big and the tree applys say a corner as well as the whole tree, just draw a line on the bad bits and erase it.
5a. Now texture the other side, make it a component and hit rotate, hold ctrl for another copy and rotate it 90 degrees.
![[Image: 4-1.png]](http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc479/catlowe1/4-1.png)
6. Now rotate the whole model, by 45, then 22,5m 11.25, 5.6125 degrees until you are happy with it.
![[Image: 5-1.png]](http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc479/catlowe1/5-1.png)
Done! Remember, this is just a basic way. When we colored it to alpha, that just means were made a transparent layer.
Hope you enjoyed this tutorial, any problems or questions or feedback are all welcome

Callum.
making custom scenery one iece at a time...