Natsura Cluster Decoration

Attaches external meshes (leaves, flowers, fruit) to the skeleton.

The Cluster Decoration node attaches external geometry to the plant.

  • Instancing: Places copies of input meshes onto the skeleton.
  • Deformation: Can bend instances to follow the branch curvature.
  • Variation: Selects from multiple input variants based on attributes.

== Concept ==

=== Dressing the Skeleton ===

Use this to add leaves, flowers, thorns, or fruit. Unlike Surface Decoration (which skins the branch itself), Cluster Decoration attaches objects to the branch.

Inputs

Graph: The growth graph.

Geometry: The meshes to instance (e.g., a leaf model). Multiple inputs can be connected to provide variant geometry.

Parameters

Placement

Density : How many instances per unit length. Controls the overall coverage of decorations along the branch.

Pattern : Phyllotaxis arrangement: Spiral, Opposite, or Whorled. Determines the botanical arrangement pattern of instances around the branch.

Align : Orientation rules for each instance: tumbling, facing up, or facing outward from the branch.

Variation

Scale : Randomize size of instances. Adds natural variation to the decoration sizes.

Variant Attribute : Attribute to drive which input mesh is used. Allows different parts of the plant to receive different geometry variants.

Related

@workflow

== Workflow ==

  1. Import a leaf mesh.
  2. Connect it to a Cluster Decoration node's geometry input.
  3. Connect the decoration to a Grow node's Decoration socket (e.g., Branches).
  4. Adjust Density and Pattern to get the desired look.

@notes

  • Consumes: u, width, orient attributes from the skeleton.
  • Generates: instance attributes on the output points.
  • Multiple geometry inputs can be connected to provide variant meshes selected by the Variant Attribute.

Trunk Decoration

Specialized surface decoration for trunks, with enhanced UV and displacement controls.

Natsura Surface Decoration

Generates skin or bark geometry for the skeleton.