A 3D model of a Ficus benjamina tree for Unreal Engine 4
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5acb272c-babf-467a-8ca9-fc8a31a08b55/ed30a95d-3d04-45e5-bd50-2470ef4673c7_rw_1920.jpg?h=d5ad32b6251be7b70ab6a2166c28822d)
This is the first big tree that I created in SpeedTree software. While in my anterior projetct I used individual leaves, for this one I used a different approach with many leaves represented by the same mesh in order to keep a suitable polygon count for real time archviz.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5acb272c-babf-467a-8ca9-fc8a31a08b55/2ce65ce5-f77b-4ad1-804f-fbf4b6d4fed7_rw_1920.jpg?h=0117a2ce648a4b3843827c0d31ecc90b)
Day one: outdoor activity =)
Driving around and looking for real Ficus benjamina trees to use as source.
Driving around and looking for real Ficus benjamina trees to use as source.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5acb272c-babf-467a-8ca9-fc8a31a08b55/8af179ca-4ce3-4f4f-9ee7-4c7797e22087_rw_1920.jpg?h=79735e466da3fbd710412485dc086b54)
Some of the pictures I've taken to use as source. The species is quite common where I live (São Paulo - Brazil). Its presence in urban areas is a matter of concern as their roots may compromise underground structures...
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5acb272c-babf-467a-8ca9-fc8a31a08b55/c0380261-ad72-4039-9aa2-a48ec4231ee1_rw_1920.jpg?h=4e2efadd61eec64e0d67b76e6106d1a1)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5acb272c-babf-467a-8ca9-fc8a31a08b55/ccae7070-1ec4-4921-8cbb-760fe101b946_rw_1920.jpg?h=8da5d00544718bb8192d6bb3e9637d11)
The main problem of using a single mesh to represent a cluster of leaves is that it becomes way harder to achieve a good looking tree similar to real one with this method. I've spent some days struggling with that...
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5acb272c-babf-467a-8ca9-fc8a31a08b55/9df542d7-0b2a-429b-8e83-95b7dae83f8a_rw_1920.jpg?h=71ceb1324e0f7964133a53661c38e659)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5acb272c-babf-467a-8ca9-fc8a31a08b55/38f0ce8c-408a-41a4-9e72-60db22e07397_rw_1920.jpg?h=706f89aa98f31df07edecc10b9353cd9)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/5acb272c-babf-467a-8ca9-fc8a31a08b55/99dc9bf3-fe6d-49ed-9429-6d93aa79b9ea_rw_1920.jpg?h=870df80a24bf07aea5f792e4da9a16f0)