How to Make a Palm Tree (Part 1)

In this terrible guide, I will be showing you how I made the palm tree.

    First we start off with a simple stalk. This is done using my tileset, and some finagling. Basically this is a weirdly attached octogonal prism that is broken up into skinner prisms to give the "tiered" effect. Notice that it isn't perfect, that is intentional. Plants are allowed to be a little weird, that's what gives it character.

Nice Straight Stem.

    Second off, we got to bend the stalk to our will. Nothing too crazy on our first tree, we can get some crazier bends on other trees, but for now, lets keep it simple.

Firm with a little give.

    Third, we start the leaf process with a simple layer of base leaves. Small leaves inside to give the illusion of some depth, I will likely go back and add a few more "under layer" leaves just to fill the center out.

4 inside leaves for thicc-ness.

    To me, this looks like a good under base spread. I will have these leaves hang extremely low at the bottom, and have them not stretched out.

I went with 5 leaves.

    You may not see this all that well, especially with the artifacts (Crocotile is bad with transparencies that aren't 0% or 100% transparent). But I have bent the leaf so that it makes an upside down "v", making the illusion of backbone stem (technical tree term), make sure that they are CONSOMATE "v's". If you didn't remember that from Strongbad's art class.

Consomate V's is the move.

Human "error" and some finagling gives the tree character.

Also, this might totally help with the mood. Atmosphere is everything.

I think its okay if there is a little clipping, but when I catch it like this, I don't think it's fine. I am going to adjust that little leaf.

    The next step is to shape the leaf beyond the "v". We need to give it a curve. Since these are just our base leaves, we're gonna keep them low. Work our way up one "tile" at a time til we get a decent curve. Then mellow out with a "stiff tip" (Don't laugh, perv).

This is the kind of curve we are going for, for now. Notice the sharp "stiff tip". They haven't been weighed down by the rest of the plant yet.

    Because you sculpt as you go, you notice what works and doesn't. I already noticed, the trunk of my tree, is just too thick. It won't do. I will need to skinny it up. This won't be easy. But since it isn't going to be as easy, this tree will likely have good "character" to it.

You have to see it from as many angles as possible so you see when you are in the wrong. Palm trees just have skinnier bases, and that's that.

This is much better. It's fine being "thicc", but it was just too thick before in all the wrong places, and also, the shape got a little more "jank" in my opinion for the better. You'll see when it all comes together.

    I hate to stop here, but I am getting extremely tired. I need to continue this tomorrow when my brain is at better capacity. Goodnight my friends.