Generated Visual
The editor generates a full tree or bush from sliders, draws the result into a Starling RenderTexture, then uses that baked texture as the visible object.
Dynamic object editor
Dynamic Tree
Dynamic Tree creates procedural trees, bushes and vines inside the Ancient Machines editor. The generator bakes branches, bark texture, and foliage into one texture while preserving the full setting data for save, load, and export.
What it is
A procedural tree object for the level editor
Dynamic Tree is a generated object type registered as dynamic_tree. It appears in the dynamic object library and opens its own Object Settings controls when selected.
Editable Data
All generator settings live in dynamicTreeData, so a saved level can load the exact same tree configuration and redraw it later.
Scene Object Friendly
A Dynamic Tree can be used as a decorative scene object or as an object with a simple physics body, while the generated art keeps its own tree shape.
Texture Support
Branches can be plain colored strokes or use the same grouped stroke texture picker used by physics-line skins, including bevel, scale, compression, and flip controls.
Global structure controls
Controls that define the whole object
These controls sit at the top of the Dynamic Tree settings panel and decide the broad shape before level-specific tuning starts.
Generation Type
Switches between Tree and Bush. Tree uses one trunk; Bush spreads multiple main stems from the base.
Regenerate Skeleton
Redraws the structure from the current seed and branch rules. Change Seed first when branch placement itself should change.
Seed
Controls deterministic random generation. Different seeds produce different branch skeletons and visual variations.
Canopy Shape Vertical
Bends the global crown vertically by affecting branch angles as depth increases. It can make the crown feel taller, flatter, raised, or drooping.
Bush Base Width
Only matters in Bush mode. It controls how far the main bush stems spread horizontally from the base.
Global branch controls
Branch shape, color, and texture
These controls affect the whole tree or bush, independent of the currently selected branch level. Branch count, layout, angle spread, arc, per-level length scale, and per-level randomness are controlled in the Selected Branch Level section.
Branch Levels
Controls the maximum recursive depth used by the tree.
Branch Base Length
Base length used before recursive and per-level scale factors.
Branch Recursive Scale
Scales branch length as depth increases.
Branch Color
Tints the branch stroke when branches are drawn with plain color or with a stroke texture.
Branch Alpha
Controls branch transparency.
Enable Branch Texture
Turns branch stroke texture drawing on or off.
Use Branch Bevel Texture
Requests the bevel-capable version of the selected branch texture when available.
Branch Texture Type
Uses the same grouped stroke texture library as other line-based tools.
Branch Texture Scale
Changes how large the stroke texture pattern appears on branches.
Branch Texture Compression
Compresses or stretches the stroke texture along the branch path.
Branch Texture Flip Vertical
Mirrors the branch texture vertically.
Branch Texture Flip Horizontal
Mirrors the branch texture horizontally.
Branch Bend Horizontal
Globally bends branches left or right.
Visual Length Ratio Scale
Global parent-to-child branch length ratio.
Visual Thickness Ratio Scale
Controls how thick child branches are compared with their parent branch's stable logical thickness.
Visual Initial Thickness
Initial trunk thickness in Tree mode, or main stem thickness in Bush mode.
Foliage controls
Leaf types, layouts, colors, and whorls
Leaves are generated after branches, so foliage appears on top of wood. The leaf system supports broad leaves, circles, single needles, alternate pine needles, Bagrem pairs, and whorl clusters.
Leaf Type
Chooses Normal Ellipse, Needle, or Circle drawing.
Leaf Layout
Chooses Random, Bagrem Parallel, Pine Needles, or Pine Whorls placement.
Leaf Color
Primary foliage color used by generated leaves.
Use Leaf Second Color
Adds the second foliage color to the random leaf color palette.
Leaf Second Color
Second foliage color available when enabled.
Use Leaf Third Color
Adds the third foliage color to the random leaf color palette.
Leaf Third Color
Third foliage color available when enabled.
Leaf Alpha
Controls leaf transparency.
Leaf Angle
Base angle used for leaves and needles relative to the branch tangent.
Leaf Amount
Global foliage amount multiplier. Combine it with Leaf Amount At Level for level-specific density.
Leaf Base Width
Base width for ellipse and circle leaves.
Leaf Base Height
Base height for ellipse and circle leaves. Needle length is controlled by Leaf Length.
Leaf Size Scale
Global multiplier for leaf size.
Leaf Size Randomness %
Global random variation in broadleaf size and needle length.
Leaf Length
Base length for needle leaves.
Leaf Length Randomness %
Random variation for needle length.
Leaf Thickness
Stroke thickness used by needle leaves.
Whorl Slots
Number of positions used for Pine Whorls.
Whorl Min Leaf Count
Minimum number of needles generated from each whorl position.
Whorl Max Leaf Count
Maximum number of needles generated from each whorl position.
Whorl Spread Angle
Fan angle used by Pine Whorls. It is only active when the whorled leaf layout is selected.
Save and load
DynamicTreeData and persistence
The generated texture is recreated from data. The level stores the settings, not a flattened bitmap-only result.
Stored JSON Field
dynamicTreeData is stored with the object, following the same pattern used by other custom JSON fields such as physics-line and special visual object data.
Level Settings Array
Per-level values are stored in levelSettings, one object per branch level from 0 to 7.
Dimensions In Meters
UI dimensions are stored in physics meters and converted to pixels only while drawing. The baked render width and height are updated from the generated texture bounds.
Runtime Recreation
When the level loads, the display factory reads dynamicTreeData, recreates the Dynamic Tree display object, draws the tree, and uses the baked texture in the scene.
Practical setups
Useful Dynamic Tree recipes
These setups are a quick way to get predictable results while authoring a level.
Clean Broadleaf Tree
Use Tree mode, moderate Branch Levels, Random leaf layout, ellipse leaves, and a small amount of level angle randomness. Keep Branch Arc low for a readable silhouette.
Stylized Bush
Use Bush mode, raise Bush Base Width, reduce leading depth, and give level 0 several main branches. Use Leaf Amount At Level to control how dense the bush becomes.
Pine Needles
Choose Needle leaf type and Pine Needles layout. Increase Leaf Length and Leaf Amount, then use level leaf amount to avoid needles on lower structural branches.
Pine Whorls
Choose Pine Whorls layout. Tune Whorl Slots, Whorl Min Leaf Count, Whorl Max Leaf Count, and Whorl Spread Angle to create clustered needle fans.
Bagrem Style Leaves
Use Bagrem Parallel leaf layout with ellipse leaves. Each point on the branch gets a left/right pair, creating a clean paired-leaf look.
Textured Bark
Enable Branch Texture, choose a bark-like stroke texture, then adjust Texture Scale and Compression until the grain reads well on both trunk and small branches.
Creator guide
Physical trunks and branches
Use these options alongside the controls described above.
Wood-shaped collision
When a Dynamic Tree has physics, its body follows the trunk and first-level side limbs, including their leading continuations.
Leaves and fruit
Leaves, fruit and finer secondary branches remain visual detail. Do not rely on them as solid platforms.
Bush and vine forms
Bush generation uses several stems. Supported vine forms use the same root-chain approach for their physical wood.
Scene decoration
Use scene layers when the tree is decorative, or enable the supported physics setup when it should act as part of a puzzle.
Creator guide
Vines, leaf artwork, fruit and flowers
Use the expanded generation options to create hanging vines, canopies, curtains and decorated plants.
Expanded Dynamic Tree controls
| Option | What it does |
|---|---|
| Generation Type / Vine | Choose Tree, Bush or Vine. Vine exposes its own mode, direction and strand controls. |
| Vine Mode | Choose Single, Branching, Canopy, Curtain or Bush for the desired vine layout. |
| Vine Direction | Choose Up or Down growth. |
| Vine Constant Thickness | Set the constant thickness used by vine branches. |
| Vine Waviness Amplitude At Level | Tune the size of the bends for the selected branch level. |
| Vine Waviness Count At Level | Tune how many waves appear along branches at the selected level. |
| Vine Leaf Stem Length At Level | Set the leaf stem length for the selected level. |
| Vine Spread Width | Set the spread of supported vine layouts. |
| Vine Curtain Height | Set the height of a curtain layout. |
| Vine Root Count | Choose how many roots the supported vine layout uses. |
| Vine Curtain Strands / Vine Curtain Padding (m) | Set strand count and the spacing used by the curtain layout. |
| Draw Real Leaf / Real Leaf Type | Use leaf artwork and select its type rather than relying only on simple generated foliage. |
| Leaf Stem Offset / Leaf Stem Angle | Tune how leaves are attached to their stems. |
| Enable Fruit / Flowers | Add fruit or flower artwork to the generated structure. |
| Fruit / Flower Type | Choose the fruit or flower artwork. |
| Fruit / Flower Scale / Scale Randomness % | Set the size of the fruit or flower and its size variation. |
| Fruit / Flower Density % | Tune how densely the fruit or flowers appear. |
| Fruit / Flower Branch Levels | Choose the branch levels on which fruit or flowers can appear. |
| Fruit / Flower Rotation Offset / Orientation | Tune the orientation and additional rotation of the artwork. |
Connected editor systems
Related pages
Dynamic Tree works with the same editor selection and object-settings flow as other objects.
