Values
The parameters in this tab can be used to control/define the animated growth of an L-System. You can also adjust various default variables that can be used in conjunction with a character set (e.g., Default Scale for F, Tropism for T).
This value defines the number of recursions (or generations) for the L-System. Be careful when increasing this value because you can end up creating a lot of geometry very quickly.
Use the following settings as an example:
Premise: FA
rules: A=+FBA
B=-F
Increasing the Growth value will result in such character strings (these can be displayed by clicking on the Result String to Console button in the Turtle tab):
Growth = 0: FA
Growth = 1: F+FBA
Growth = 2: F+F-F+FBA
Growth = 3: F+F-F+F-F+FBA
Since the Growth value is not limited to whole numbers, and can also consist of intermediate values, each difference to the next generation will be steplessly displayed (depending on whether or not the Grow Angle, Grow Scale or Grow Movement options are enabled).
Note that some Rules constellations can take two or more generations to generate another visible growth of the L-System.
This is the angle around with the Turtle will turn if no value is defined in parenthesis (for the angle commands -, +, &, ^, /, \).
This is the default diameter of the Spline (if you place the MoSpline, including the profile Spline, into a Sweep object, this diameter will be used. Don't forget to enable the 2-Rail option). During growth, scaling will take place steplessly per generation to the defined scale (if the Grow Scale option is enabled).
This is the distance the Turtle will travel if no value has been defined in parenthesis (e.g., for the move commands F, f, G, etc.).
If you define one or more "T" in the character string (as in the default Rule "B=&FTFTFTA), each subsequent line will be curved in the direction of the Y axis (i.e. downwardly). For a tree-like L-System, this would mean the branches of the tree would hang downwardly (as is often seen on tropical trees, hence the parameter's name).
The direction of the Tropism effect can also be influenced by Force Objects. Instead of having branches simply hang downwardly the hanging branch can be removed completely, depending on the Force Object, and the "T" assigned to the Force Object and its strength effect.
In other words: If no "T" is in the Premise or Rules fields, or if the Tropism setting is set to 0, Force Objects will have no effect!
Adds random structure to an L-System by varying length and angle.
Adds variation the above Randomness effect.
If you add a " (quotation mark) command to the string the default length will be shortened or lengthened by this factor for each generation of growth.
If you add a ; (semi-colon) command to the string, the default angle will be increased or decreased by this factor for each generation of growth.
If you add an ! (exclamation mark) command to the string, the default scale will be increased or decreased by this factor for each generation of growth.
With these three options you can define how "sprouts" appear for each generation of growth when the Growth parameter is animated.
If all three options are disabled the following generation will appear suddenly. Depending on the option(s) enabled, the Angle (starting at 0), Scale (starting from a diameter of 0) and/or Movement will be displayed.