Houdini 21.0 Nodes Geometry nodes

Labs Tree Leaf Generator geometry node

Generates leaves on procedural tree branches.

The Labs Tree Leaf Generator SOP creates leaf geometry on branches generated by the Labs Tree Branch Generator or Labs Tree Branch Placer.

Leaves are distributed along branch curves and can be scaled, oriented, pruned, and procedurally varied to create natural foliage patterns.

Leaf geometry can be generated internally as simple cards or supplied through custom leaf inputs such as the Labs Tree Simple Leaf.

The node also supports instancing workflows for large trees where performance is critical.

Parameters

Tag

Name used to create a group and attribute identifying the generated leaf geometry or curves. By default this matches the node name.

Branch on Group

Restricts leaf generation to the specified curve group. When empty, leaves are generated on curves from the previous branch level.

Delete Previous Levels

Deletes geometry and curves from all previous branch levels.

Randomize

Random seed used for procedural variation.

Pack and Instance

Packs and instances leaf geometry for improved performance. This disables editing of tropism and noise but significantly speeds up large trees.

Treat as Atlas

Enables atlas-based leaf generation. When using atlas-based textures (for example from the Quixel Atlas Splitter), multiple leaf cards are generated from the atlas and randomly scattered.

Use Variant Attribute

Enables scattering of multiple leaf variations. Each leaf type must include an integer attribute named **variant** starting at 0.

General

Placement

Leaf Node Distance

Distance between leaf placement points along the branch.

Use Distribution Ramp

Enables distribution of leaf points using a ramp.

Distribute By

Attribute used to drive leaf distribution.

Length of parent: Distributes by parent curve length.

Radius of parent: Distributes by parent radius.

Height of parent: Distributes by parent height.

Distribution Ramp

Controls leaf density based on the selected distribution attribute.

Up Vector

Vector used to orient generated leaves.

None: Does not apply a specific orientation vector.

Parent: Uses the parent tangent direction.

Custom: Uses the vector specified in Custom Up.

Custom Up

Custom vector used when Up Vector is set to Custom.

Branching Pattern

Rotation around the branch used to distribute leaves.

137.5 degrees: Uses a phyllotactic pattern.

90 degrees: Places leaves at right angles.

180 degrees: Alternates leaves on opposite sides.

Alternate: Places one leaf per branch point.

Opposite: Places two mirrored leaves per branch point.

Radial: Places a user-defined number of leaves around each point.

Randomize Leaves Per node

Enables random variation in the number of leaves generated per point.

Leaves per node

Number of leaves created at each placement point.

Min Leaves Per Node

Minimum number of leaves generated per point when randomization is enabled.

Max Leaves Per Node

Maximum number of leaves generated per point when randomization is enabled.

Uniform Scale

Uniform scale applied to leaf geometry.

Uniform Scale Variation

Random variation applied to leaf scale.

Size

Base size multiplier applied to leaves.

Size Offset

Offset applied to leaf size based on branch attributes.

Size Ramp

Controls leaf placement and size along the branch.

Inherit Branch Radius

Scales leaf size based on the parent branch radius.

Inherited Radius Profile

Controls how parent radius influences leaf size along the branch.

Prune

Random Threshold

Randomly removes leaves based on a threshold value.

Prune by Light Availability

Removes leaves based on simulated light exposure.

Light Source

Object or light used to evaluate illumination.

Light Direction

Direction used for light evaluation when no source object is provided.

Visualize

Displays a visualization of light exposure on leaves.

Method

Method used to evaluate light exposure.

Threshold

Minimum light value required for leaves to remain.

Bias

Bias applied to the light direction calculation.

Advanced

Accurate Leaf Placement

Moves leaf placement points toward the outer surface of the parent branch.

Offset From Branch

Offsets leaves away from the branch surface.

Grid Behavior

Controls how leaves interact with the construction grid.

Constrain: Snaps leaves to the grid plane.

Clip: Deletes leaves sections below the grid plane.

None: Does not modify leaves when they intersect the grid.

Normal Method

Method used to compute leaf normals.

Default: standard polygon normals.

Spherical: normals projected from a surrounding sphere.

Origin: normals pointing away from the world origin.

Orientation

Roll

Rotates leaves around their local axis.

Use Roll Ramp

Enables roll adjustment along the branch using a ramp.

Roll Profile

Controls roll variation along the branch.

Yaw

Rotates leaves around the vertical axis.

Randomize Yaw

Random variation applied to yaw rotation.

Use Yaw Ramp

Enables yaw variation along the branch using a ramp.

Yaw Profile

Controls yaw variation along the branch.

Pitch Angle

Rotates leaves around the forward axis.

Randomize Pitch

Random variation applied to pitch.

Use Pitch Ramp

Enables pitch variation along the branch using a ramp.

Pitch Profile

Controls pitch variation along the branch.

Twist

Rotates leaves around their longitudinal axis.

Randomize Twist

Random variation applied to twist rotation.

Use Twist Ramp

Enables twist variation along the branch using a ramp.

Twist Profile

Controls twist variation along the branch.

Tropism

Tropisms simulate environmental forces that influence leaf orientation.

Bend Along Parent

Enable

Enables bending relative to the parent branch.

Strength

Strength of bending along the parent branch.

Falloff

Controls bend influence along the leaf.

Gravitropism

Enable

Enables gravity-based bending.

Direction

Direction used to simulate gravity.

Strength

Strength of gravity influence.

Falloff

Controls gravity influence along the leaf.

Phototropism

Enable

Enables growth toward light.

Direction

Direction of the light source.

Strength

Strength of light influence.

Falloff

Controls light influence along the leaf.

Noise

Adds procedural variation to leaf orientation and deformation.

Enable

Enables noise deformation.

Intensity Ramp

Controls noise strength along the leaf.

Primary

Curl noise used for primary curve variation.

Noise Type

Type of curl noise used.

Intensity

Strength of the primary noise deformation.

Frequency

Scale of the primary noise.

Roughness

Adds fractal detail to the primary noise.

Step Size

Sampling resolution used to evaluate the noise.

Randomize Offset

Randomizes the noise offset using the seed.

Offset

Offsets the noise pattern in space.

Secondary

Secondary anti-aliased noise layer.

Intensity

Strength of the secondary noise.

Frequency

Scale of the secondary noise.

Roughness

Adds detail to the secondary noise.

Randomize Offset

Randomizes the secondary noise offset.

Offset

Offsets the secondary noise pattern in space.

Resolution

Rows

Number of edge rows on generated leaf cards.

Columns

Number of edge columns on generated leaf cards.

Visualization

Enable Visualization Color

Enables viewport color visualization.

Color

Color used for visualization.

See also

Geometry nodes