3DArcStudio Tree Maker User Manual

5/28/2018 3DArcStudio Tree Maker User Manual

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3D3D3D3DARCSTUDIOARCSTUDIOARCSTUDIOARCSTUDIO

TREE MAKERTREE MAKERTREE MAKERTREE MAKER

one-click tree maker

Plugin for Sketchup

Beta Version 0.91

User Manual

hp!""###.$%arcstu%io.com

&$'(rcStu%io )01$

(ll rights reser*e%


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$'(rcStu%io +ree Maker

Sketchup Plugin - http!""###.$%arcstu%io.com

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ofcontent-heretogettheplugin

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1.1.1.1. Table of contentTable of contentTable of contentTable of content

1. +a,le of content ....................................................................... )

). Setup ........................................................................................

).1. here to get the plugin .....................................................

).). /nstallation .........................................................................

$. reating our first tree ............................................................. 2

$.1. +he Make +ree Menu ......................................................... 2

. +ree onfiguration ................................................................... 9

.1. 3*er*ie# ............................................................................ 9

.). +runk ................................................................................ 10

.$. Main Branches ................................................................. 14

.. Su, Branches ................................................................... )0

.5. 6ea*es .............................................................................. )0

.2. 7lo#ers ............................................................................ )$

.4. Managing multiple instances of the same tree ................ )$

.8. Sa*e as +emplate ............................................................. )$

5. (%%itional +ools ..................................................................... )

5.1. (ppl olorset .................................................................. )

5.). (ppl an%om olors ....................................................... )

2. (%%itional /nformation ........................................................... )5

2.1. Sketchup *ersion .............................................................. )5

2.). ompati,lit ................................................................... )5

2.$. Bugs reporting.................................................................. )5


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+a,le

ofcontent-heretogettheplugin

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2.. :no#n issues ................................................................... )2


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Setup

-heretogettheplugin

2.2.2.2. SetupSetupSetupSetup

2.1.2.1.2.1.2.1. Where to et theWhere to et theWhere to et theWhere to et the plu!nplu!nplu!nplu!n

'o#nloa% the latest *ersion of 3DArcStudio Tree Maker from the

#e,site!

http://www.3darcstudio.com

;ou #ill fin% it in the downloadarea. +he plugin is pro*i%e% as a

compresse% file . Sa*e the ?ip file to our %isk.

2.2.2.2.2.2.2.2. In"tallat!onIn"tallat!onIn"tallat!onIn"tallat!on

Un?ip the %o#nloa%e% file@ an% cop all files an% su,%irectories

into the Sketchup Plugins %irector.

B %efault@ for Sketchup *ersion 8 running on in%o#s 4 2,its@

this %irector is name%!

C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Google SketchUp 8\Plugins

+he name of this %irector ma *ar %epen%ing on the *ersion ofSketchup@ the sstem ou are using an% the options chosen #hen ou setup Sketchup

application.

(fter installation@ ou shall ha*e into the Sketchup Plugins

%irector one file name% 3darcstudioloader.rb an% one

su,%irector name% 3darcstudio. +he su,%irector contains the

plugin co%e itself an% a%%itional configuration files.

+o check the installation@ start a ne# instance of Sketchup. /f one isalrea% running@ eCit an% restart Sketchup.


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Setup

-/nstallation

5

We recommend you to use a new Sketchup empty model to avoid any

crash or performance issues with your exisng models. You will be

able to copy/paste or save and import later into your models the trees

you created with !rcStudio "ree #aker.

/f the installation #as successful@ un%er the Plugins menu@ ou

shoul% ha*e a ne# menu calle% 3DArcStudio


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0reating1ourfirsttree-+heMake+reeMenu

2

3.3.3.3. Creat!n #our f!r"t treeCreat!n #our f!r"t treeCreat!n #our f!r"t treeCreat!n #our f!r"t tree

3nce the plugin installe%@ ou can imme%iatel %ra# a tree #ith

the eCisting %efault parameters.

3.1.3.1.3.1.3.1. TheTheTheThe Ma$e Tree MenuMa$e Tree MenuMa$e Tree MenuMa$e Tree Menu

Start Sketchup@ an% select from the menu !

3DArcStudioan% Make Tree

( %ialog ,oC is prompte%@ #here ou #ill ,e aske% to choose in a

%rop %o#n list a tree template from a list of eCisting templates.

Select the Default Generic Treean% click O.


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4

+he list of the templates %epen%s on the *ersion of the plugin an%

the templates ou ma ha*e installe%. 3ther tree templates ma

,e %o#nloa%e% from http!""###.$%arcstu%io.com. ;ou can also

create our o#n templates .

+he tree is ,uilt an% place% at the origin of the Sketchup mo%el.

;ou can then mo*e it as an other Sketchup o,Dect.

Base% on the tree compleCit an% the computer an% graphics car%

performance it ma take some times to %ra# the tree@ ,ut

generall onl fe# secon%s for a simple tree like the %efault

generic one.

+he tree is create% as a Sketchup Eroup that ou can then

manipulate as an other Sketchup entit. /t contains itself $ groups

name% stems@ lea*es an% flo#ers. ithin the lea*es an% flo#ers

group@ each leaf"flo#er is ma%e of one instance of the same

component.

;ou can ,uil% other trees repeating the prece%ing steps.

"o improve performance when using the "ree #aker plugin within

Sketchup

$lose all windows% and more speci&cally the outliner window.


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8

'ide edges in the display

Start with an empty model% or a model with few other drawing

elements.


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+ree0onfiguration-3*er*ie#

9

%.%.%.%. Tree Conf!urat!onTree Conf!urat!onTree Conf!urat!onTree Conf!urat!on

%.1.%.1.%.1.%.1. O&er&!e'O&er&!e'O&er&!e'O&er&!e'

ustomi?ing tree is the most interesting part of the 3DArcStudioTree Maker plugin@ as ou can create almost infinite *arieties of

trees , changing the configuration parameters. 6etFs ha*e a look

at these options.

+his collection of trees has ,een create% #ith , changing tree configuration options.

/t is a*aila,le as %o#nloa% on http!""###.$%arcstu%io.com

+he tree parameters ou can change are groupe% into 5 sections.

Gach is accessi,le from the conteCtual menu.

+o access to the configuration of a tree@ select the tree Sketchup

!roupan% ri!ht clickon it. +his #ill acti*ate the conteCtual menu.

/f ou right click on a group ma%e , 3DArcStudiio Tree Maker

plugin@ a menu item name% 3DArcStudio Treeis a*aila,le #here

ou can choose from the follo#ing menu items to configure the

tree parameters!


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+ree0onfiguration-+runk

10

Trunk Main "ranches Su" "ranches #ea$es %lowers

e #ill see in this chapter the %ifferent options a*aila,le an% ho#

the can change the appearance of our tree.

%.2.%.2.%.2.%.2. Trun$Trun$Trun$Trun$

7rom the +runk menu@ ou #ill get a %ialog ,oC that ena,les ou to

change parameters that appl to the glo,al tree an% to the main

trunk.


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+ree

0onfiguration-+runk

11

Tree "hapeTree "hapeTree "hapeTree "hape

+his option changes the glo,al aspect of the tree , a%apting the

length an% count of ,ranches among the trunk from its ,ase to its

en%. +o ,etter un%erstan% the effects of this option here are

eCamples of the same tree #ith from left to right the tree shapes!

prami%al@ roun%@ hemispherical@ columnar@ %iamon%@ V-Shape.

+ree Shape 3ptions

Prami%al-oun%-Hemispherical-olumnar-'iamon%-VShape


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+ree

0onfiguration-+runk

1)

Tree he!htTree he!htTree he!htTree he!ht

Si?e of the trunk.

+he total height of the tree ma ,e higher if ,ranches are gro#ing

up#ar%. hanging this *alue #ill impact some other options like

,ranches length that are %efine% in percentage of this *alue.

Trun$ cur&e t#peTrun$ cur&e t#peTrun$ cur&e t#peTrun$ cur&e t#pe

+he trunk ma ,e cur*e% #ith the follo#ing options!

&one! no cur*e Simple! regular cur*e angle S Shape! start in one %irection at the ,eginning then cur*e,ack in re*erse %irection 'e!in! most of the cur*e applie% to the start of the trunk Middle! most of the cur*e applie% to the mi%%le of the trunk (nd! most of the cur*e applie% to the en% of the trunk

/f another *alue than none is chosen here@ ou nee% to also %efine

the trunk cur*e angle option.

Trun$ cur&e anleTrun$ cur&e anleTrun$ cur&e anleTrun$ cur&e anle

/f a cur*e shape has ,een setup in the trunk cur*e tpe option@

%efines the total angle that #ill ,e use%.

Ra(!u" "!)eRa(!u" "!)eRa(!u" "!)eRa(!u" "!)e

Half si?e of the trunk at the foot.

*ranchle"" lenth*ranchle"" lenth*ranchle"" lenth*ranchle"" lenth+he percentage of the trunk length that #ill ,e free of ,ranches.

Se+ent"Se+ent"Se+ent"Se+ent"

+runk are split into eIual portions calle% segments.

ur*es onl appl at segments change@ so increasing this *alue

makes the tree seems more regular if cur*e%@ ,ut it increases also

the num,er of polgons of the mo%el .


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+ree

0onfiguration-+runk

1$

,ace",ace",ace",ace"

Jum,er of faces %efine% to %ra# the trunk. Higher this *alue@

more circular #ill look the trunk. /f *alue set to three@ trunk #ill ,e

%ra#n as a triangle.

Set a *alue of ?ero or t#o if ou #ant the trunk to ,e %ra#n as a

simple face or not *isi,le at all @ ,ut #ith other parts of tree

%ra#n. +hese small *alues are more often use% for small ,ranches.

Value of 5 to 8 is recommen%e%.

Root" nu+berRoot" nu+berRoot" nu+berRoot" nu+ber

7or most of the trees ou can let this *alue to 1. /t is use% in raresituations #here ou #ant multiple instances of the same tree to

,e %ra#n at the same time. Ma ,e useful to create ,ouIuets of

flo#ers or compleC trees.

W!n( forceW!n( forceW!n( forceW!n( force

(n a%%itional small shift is a%%e% to an element of the tree al#as

in the same hori?ontal %irection. +his ma simulate the effect of

the #in%.

in% force effect on the tree at the right


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+ree

0onfiguration-+runk

1

Spl!t"Spl!t"Spl!t"Spl!t"

Gach time a split occurs@ a ne# su,-tree #ill start from the split

position.

(efore using the split opon% reduce the number of branches% sub

branches% leaves and )owers% as it mulply those ob*ects and may

result in huge trees.

Split eCample

Sp!ral"Sp!ral"Sp!ral"Sp!ral"

+he trunk #ill rotate aroun% itself.


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+ree

0onfiguration-+runk

15

Spiral ! ) #ith cur*e angle 90

"his value needs the curve angle also to be set to su+cient high

number in order to have e,ect.

Trun$ color"etTrun$ color"etTrun$ color"etTrun$ color"etSelect from the pre%efine% colors that can ,e use%. ;ou ma also

appl a teCture .

Ra(!u" re(uct!onRa(!u" re(uct!onRa(!u" re(uct!onRa(!u" re(uct!on

Ho# the trunk #i%th #ill *ar from the start to the en%.


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+ree

0onfiguration-+runk

12

a%ius re%uction K 5L at left an% 95L at right

-e!ht &ar!at!on-e!ht &ar!at!on-e!ht &ar!at!on-e!ht &ar!at!on

Gach time the tree is re,uilt@ a small *ariation is applie% to the

height in or%er to get %ifferent instance of the same tree.

Spl!t anle +!nSpl!t anle +!nSpl!t anle +!nSpl!t anle +!n

/f split *alue non ?ero@ the minimum angle for ne# ,ranches

create% at the split origin.

Spl!t anle +a.Spl!t anle +a.Spl!t anle +a.Spl!t anle +a.

/f split *alue non ?ero@ the maCimum angle for ne# ,ranches

create% at the split origin.

Attract!&e forceAttract!&e forceAttract!&e forceAttract!&e force

6ike the #in%force option@ ,ut shift is *ertical! up or %o#n.

/lobal ran(o+!)e factor/lobal ran(o+!)e factor/lobal ran(o+!)e factor/lobal ran(o+!)e factor

(%%itional ran%om changes are ma%e to all *alues in or%er to get

%ifferent results of the same tree at each instance.

-npredictable results may be obtained with high values.


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+ree0onfiguration-MainBranches

14

Elo,al ran%omi?e factor set to 1

Te.tureTe.tureTe.tureTe.ture

Select a teCture to appl to the trunk. +eCtures are com,ine% #ith

the color selecte% in the prece%ing options.

%.3.%.3.%.3.%.3. Ma!n *ranche"Ma!n *ranche"Ma!n *ranche"Ma!n *ranche"

Ma. nu+ber ofMa. nu+ber ofMa. nu+ber ofMa. nu+ber of branche"branche"branche"branche"

Select the num,er of ,ranches that #ill gro# from the main trunk.

+he total num,er of ,ranches actuall ,uilt ma ,e %ifferent@ as it

%epen%s also on the tree shape.

(e careful that choosing too high number of branches may result in

huge Sketchup &les that may be long to load and display within

Sketchup% as each branch will itself generate sub branches and leaves.

0enth0enth0enth0enth

6ength eCpresse% in percentage of the parent ,ranch .


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+ree

0onfiguration-MainBranches

18

Anle +!nAnle +!nAnle +!nAnle +!n

Minimum angle at the start

Anle +a.Anle +a.Anle +a.Anle +a.

MaCimum angle at the start

Anle (ecrea"eAnle (ecrea"eAnle (ecrea"eAnle (ecrea"e

+he ,ranch angle #ill %ecrease.

*ranche" (!"tr!but!on*ranche" (!"tr!but!on*ranche" (!"tr!but!on*ranche" (!"tr!but!on

Ho# the ,ranches #ill start from the trunk.

7iCe%! groupe% on one face Stairs! regular rotation (lternate! opposite %irections an%om


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+ree

0onfiguration-MainBranches

19

Branches %istri,ution ! fiCe% K stairs K alternate - ran%om

*ranche" cur&e t#pe*ranche" cur&e t#pe*ranche" cur&e t#pe*ranche" cur&e t#pe

Jone Simple S Shape Begin Mi%%le Gn%

Cur&e AnleCur&e AnleCur&e AnleCur&e Anle

+otal cur*e in %egrees.

Cur&e D!rect!onCur&e D!rect!onCur&e D!rect!onCur&e D!rect!on

Up or %o#n.

*ranche" Se+ent"*ranche" Se+ent"*ranche" Se+ent"*ranche" Se+ent"

Jum,er of segments the ,ranch is ma%e of.


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+ree0onfiguration-Su,Branches

)0

Sp!ral"Sp!ral"Sp!ral"Sp!ral"

6ike for the trunk@ the ,ranch #ill tr to rotate aroun% itself. ur*e

angle must ,e set to a non ?ero *alue to see the effect.

Trun$ Color"etTrun$ Color"etTrun$ Color"etTrun$ Color"et

Jot implemente% et for ,ranches@ in fact the colorset of the trunk

is use% for the ,ranches.

Ra(!u" S!)eRa(!u" S!)eRa(!u" S!)eRa(!u" S!)e

+he ,ranch #i%th eCpresse% as a percentage of the parent ,ranch.

,ace",ace",ace",ace"

Jum,er of faces use% to %ra# the ,ranches. ( *alue of ) ma ,e

useful to lo#er the total si?e of the tree.

%.%.%.%.%.%.%.%. Sub *ranche"Sub *ranche"Sub *ranche"Sub *ranche"

+he configuration options for su, ,ranches are i%entical to those

a*aila,le for ,ranches@ so refer to the prece%ing chapter to see

%etails.

%..%..%..%.. 0ea&e"0ea&e"0ea&e"0ea&e"

0eaft#pe0eaft#pe0eaft#pe0eaft#pe

Gach leaf is an instance of a component %efinition.

+he list of lea*es a*aila,le %epen%s on the tree templates installe%

#ith the plugin. +he list is the same for the flo#ers instances.

;ou can change"replace the component after the tree is ,uilt to

gi*e it our o#n %esign.


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+ree

0onfiguration-6ea*es

)1

You can start with leaffor leaves and leaffor )owers% as they are

fast to draw due to small amount of polygons. When you will be happy

with the global tree aspect% you will be able to choose from more

detailed components.

Here are some of the leaf tpes ou can use!

6eaf tpes eCamples

Ma. nMa. nMa. nMa. nu+ber per branchu+ber per branchu+ber per branchu+ber per branch

MaCimum num,er of lea*es attache% to one ,ranch.

Ma. nu+ber per "ub branchMa. nu+ber per "ub branchMa. nu+ber per "ub branchMa. nu+ber per "ub branch

MaCimum num,er of lea*es attache% to a su, ,ranch.

0eaf "!)e0eaf "!)e0eaf "!)e0eaf "!)e

Scale factor that #ill ,e applie% to the component use% to create

lea*es.

6eaf00 component is 14cm height.


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+ree

0onfiguration-6ea*es

))

0ea&e" color"et0ea&e" color"et0ea&e" color"et0ea&e" color"et

( slightl %ifferent color@ ,ase% on one reference color #ill ,e

ran%oml applie% to each leaf. +he list of colors propose% is an

eCtract of the stan%ar% Sketchup colors.

0eaf lenth2'!(th rat!o0eaf lenth2'!(th rat!o0eaf lenth2'!(th rat!o0eaf lenth2'!(th rat!o

;ou can change the glo,al aspect of the lea*es

0ea&e" attach+ent0ea&e" attach+ent0ea&e" attach+ent0ea&e" attach+ent

%raft to ,e continue%N

0ea&e" (!"tr!but!on0ea&e" (!"tr!but!on0ea&e" (!"tr!but!on0ea&e" (!"tr!but!on


0ea&e" anle0ea&e" anle0ea&e" anle0ea&e" anle


0ea&e" or!entat!on0ea&e" or!entat!on0ea&e" or!entat!on0ea&e" or!entat!on%raft to ,e continue%N

0ea&e" (!"tance0ea&e" (!"tance0ea&e" (!"tance0ea&e" (!"tance


0eaf te.ture0eaf te.ture0eaf te.ture0eaf te.ture


Ma. nu+ber on trun$Ma. nu+ber on trun$Ma. nu+ber on trun$Ma. nu+ber on trun$



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+ree

0onfiguration-7lo#ers

)$

%..%..%..%.. ,lo'er",lo'er",lo'er",lo'er"

;ou can appl to flo#ers the same options as to lea*es. So refer to

the prece%ing chapter for %etails.

%.4.%.4.%.4.%.4. Mana!n +ult!pleMana!n +ult!pleMana!n +ult!pleMana!n +ult!ple

!n"tance" of the "a+e tree!n"tance" of the "a+e tree!n"tance" of the "a+e tree!n"tance" of the "a+e tree

3nce a tree has ,een ,uilt@ ou cop an% mo*e the Sketchup group

of this tree into our mo%els to create multiple trees. +o a*oi%

ha*ing all the trees i%entical ou can use the )e"uildmenu. ( ne#

tree #ill ,e %ra#n@ ,ase% on the same template.

%.5.%.5.%.5.%.5. Sa&e a" Te+plateSa&e a" Te+plateSa&e a" Te+plateSa&e a" Te+plate

;ou can sa*e our tree configuration as a ne# template to future

,uil% trees ,ase% on this configuration.


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(%%itional+ools-(ppl10olorset

)

.... A((!t!onal Tool"A((!t!onal Tool"A((!t!onal Tool"A((!t!onal Tool"

.1..1..1..1. Appl# Color"etAppl# Color"etAppl# Color"etAppl# Color"et

olorsets are use% , the +ree Maker plugin to appl slightl

*ariations of the same color on lea*es an% flo#ers. But this feature

can ,e useful to colori?e other o,Dects@ like tiles for eCample.

Gach o,Dect #ill get a %ifferent color from the colorset.

+o appl a colorset

select the o,Dects

acti*ate the menu.

Here is an eCample of a colorset applie% to tiles

.2..2..2..2. Appl# Ran(o+ Color"Appl# Ran(o+ Color"Appl# Ran(o+ Color"Appl# Ran(o+ Color"

Same as Appl* +olorset tool@ ,ut each o,Dect #ill get a colorchoosen ran%oml from the stan%ar% Sketchup colors.


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(%%itional/nformation-Sketch

up*ersion

)5

.... A((!t!onal Infor+at!onA((!t!onal Infor+at!onA((!t!onal Infor+at!onA((!t!onal Infor+at!on

.1..1..1..1. S$etchup &er"!onS$etchup &er"!onS$etchup &er"!onS$etchup &er"!on

+he current ,eta *ersion of the plugin has onl ,een %e*elope%

#ith Sketchup Pro 8 on a P running in%o#s

4. /t ma #orks fine on other sstems an% Sketchup *ersions ,ut

#ithout an guarantee. /f ou are using ol%er *ersions of Sketchup@

it ma ,e a goo% opportunit to %o#nloa% an% upgra%e to the

latest *ersion.

.2..2..2..2. Co+pat!b#l!t#Co+pat!b#l!t#Co+pat!b#l!t#Co+pat!b#l!t#

e ha*e ,een *er careful %uring the %e*elopment to insure that

this plugin #ill not interfere #ith other tools an% plugins that eCist

for Sketchup ,ut #e canFt test all Sketchup a%%-on. 'o not hesitate

to contact us if ou %isco*er compati,ilit issues #ith another

Sketchup tools or plugins.

.3..3..3..3. *u" report!n*u" report!n*u" report!n*u" report!n

+his plugin is currentl a Beta *ersion.

;ou can report issues , sen%ing a mail to! infoO$%arcstu%io.com


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(%%itional/nformation-:no#n

issues

)2

.%..%..%..%. Kno'n !""ue"Kno'n !""ue"Kno'n !""ue"Kno'n !""ue"

Sha(erl!htSha(erl!htSha(erl!htSha(erl!ht

$' mo%els create% #ith 3DArcStudio Tree Makerare not al#as

correctl ren%ere% , Sha%erlight. Some components of the tree

are not %isplae% at the correct place

Documents

3DArcStudio Tree Maker User Manual