Visual simulation of botanical trees based on virtual heliotropism and dormancy break

Realistic image synthesis of botanical trees has many applications. Since the generation of ‘tree skeletons’ having natural visual impressions is essential to realistic image synthesis, various methods of modelling skeletons, especially growth models, have been presented. However, no one has succeeded in simulating natural tree features which appear in a growth process, such as generation of a round tree crown, a weeping bough, an irregular branching pattern, or regeneration of a crown. This paper demonstrates, by showing several simulated examples, that a growth model having the abilities of heliotropism and dormancy break, which produces shapes of trees adapted to changes in the light environment, is effective in the CG simulation of realistic tree skeletons.