# Fractal Tree Tutorial ### Start with a Tree Trunk Firstoff, include the BOSL2 library, then add a tapered cylinder for the tree trunk. ```openscad-example include cylinder(l=1500, d1=300, d2=210); ``` ### Parameterize It It's easier to adjust a model if you split out the defining parameters. ```openscad-example include l = 1500; sc = 0.7; cylinder(l=l, d1=l/5, d2=l/5*sc); ``` ### Attaching Branches You can attach branches to the top of the trunk by using `attach()` as a child of the trunk cylinder. ```openscad-example include l = 1500; sc = 0.7; cylinder(l=l, d1=l/5, d2=l/5*sc) { attach(TOP) yrot( 30) cylinder(l=l*sc, d1=l/5*sc, d2=l/5*sc*sc); attach(TOP) yrot(-30) cylinder(l=l*sc, d1=l/5*sc, d2=l/5*sc*sc); } ``` ### Replicate Branches Instead of attaching each branch individually, you can attach multiple branch copies at once. ```openscad-example include l = 1500; sc = 0.7; cylinder(l=l, d1=l/5, d2=l/5*sc) attach(TOP) zrot_copies(n=2) // Make multiple rotated copies yrot(30) cylinder(l=l*sc, d1=l/5*sc, d2=l/5*sc*sc); ``` ### Make it a Module Lets make this into a module, for convenience. ```openscad-example include module tree(l=1500, sc=0.7) cylinder(l=l, d1=l/5, d2=l/5*sc) attach(TOP) zrot_copies(n=2) yrot(30) cylinder(l=l*sc, d1=l/5*sc, d2=l/5*sc*sc); tree(); ``` ### Use Recursion Since branches look much like the main trunk, we can make it recursive. Don't forget the termination clause, or else it'll try to recurse forever! ```openscad-example include module tree(l=1500, sc=0.7, depth=10) cylinder(l=l, d1=l/5, d2=l/5*sc) attach(TOP) if (depth>0) // Important! zrot_copies(n=2) yrot(30) tree(depth=depth-1, l=l*sc, sc=sc); tree(); ``` ### Make it Not Flat A flat planar tree isn't what we want, so lets bush it out a bit by rotating each level 90 degrees. ```openscad-example include module tree(l=1500, sc=0.7, depth=10) cylinder(l=l, d1=l/5, d2=l/5*sc) attach(TOP) if (depth>0) zrot(90) // Bush it out zrot_copies(n=2) yrot(30) tree(depth=depth-1, l=l*sc, sc=sc); tree(); ``` ### Adding Leaves Let's add leaves. They look much like squashed versions of the standard teardrop() module, so lets use that. ```openscad-example include module tree(l=1500, sc=0.7, depth=10) cylinder(l=l, d1=l/5, d2=l/5*sc) attach(TOP) if (depth>0) zrot(90) zrot_copies(n=2) yrot(30) tree(depth=depth-1, l=l*sc, sc=sc); else yscale(0.67) teardrop(d=l*3, l=1, anchor=BOT, spin=90); tree(); ``` ### Adding Color We can finish this off with some color. The `color()` module will force all it's children and their descendants to the new color, even if they were colored before. The `recolor()` module, however, will only color children and decendants that don't already have a color set by a more nested `recolor()`. ```openscad-example include module tree(l=1500, sc=0.7, depth=10) recolor("lightgray") cylinder(l=l, d1=l/5, d2=l/5*sc) attach(TOP) if (depth>0) zrot(90) zrot_copies(n=2) yrot(30) tree(depth=depth-1, l=l*sc, sc=sc); else recolor("springgreen") yscale(0.67) teardrop(d=l*3, l=1, anchor=BOT, spin=90); tree(); ```