PlantCatalog, 3D vegetation models by e-on software: About

Your 3D vegetation nursery

Unlimited 3D procedural vegetation collection for all your CG projects

Key Features

Advanced procedural vegetation

PlantCatalog is a standalone collection of high quality procedural 3D vegetation models, suitable for VFX, archviz and real-time scenarios like games. All models are designed by our landscape architect and are botanically accurate.

We source our textures from arboretums and create smart materials which adapt to editable plant characteristics such as seasonal changes or decreasing plant health.

Native pipeline integration

Exported PlantCatalog plants fit into any pipeline and can be imported by most 3D applications. With each license, you receive the free PlantCatalog Exporter software and free integration plugins from PlantFactory for industry-leading DCC software.

These solutions allow real-time editing and exporting of a plant model to a large variety of 3D formats. The plugins and extensions create native materials for a variety of render engines in your DCC software of choice.

Works with VUE & PlantFactory

Additionally, using the PlantCatalog with the most recent versions of VUE and PlantFactory combines the procedural plant power with EcoSystem instancing and atmospheric wind and breeze. Edit the plants natively in both applications without the need for additional software.

If you have an older version of VUE, just export baked polygon meshes with the PlantCatalog Exporter which can then be loaded as objects in prior versions.

And best of all:

One PlantCatalog license grants access to all PlantCatalog species immediately!

Infinite Procedural Customization

Stage & Shape Presets

With PlantCatalog species, you receive unlimited variability. Select one of the included presets to generate a different plant stage, from seasonal changes to smaller or bigger plants. Generate endless variations based on the current plant shape. Everything is built into just a single interactive model.

Published Parameters

Each plant is fully procedural and includes custom-built parameters for parametric editing. Change plant maturity, health or season. Transition seamlessly from forest growth shapes to open-field trees. Enable or disable fruits and blossoms. Add or remove branches on the fly and much more.

Multiple Resolutions

Many plants ship in different resolutions. Use the High Detail (HD) version with up to 5 million polygons for hero shots, the Low Detail (LD) version with up to 1 million polygons for instancing and the Real-time (RT) version with up to 50k polygons for game engines. And if polygon count is not an issue, use the Full Geometry (FG) version for pine trees with 3D needles. Additionally, customize the mesh resolution to your liking.

Node Editing In PlantFactory

With a license of the most recent PlantFactory version, you can open the procedural plant format *.tpf inside PlantFactory and make changes to the internal node graph. This allows for even further customization. Replace materials, edit presets or even publish new top-level parameters. When you are done, just save the modified file as a new species to your library.

Pipeline Integration And Export

Compatible with

...and many more!

The PlantCatalog Workflow

Browse the collection, then use PlantCatalog Exporter or PlantFactory to tweak and customize the plant to your liking.

Once satisfied, export the plant to the 3D format that best suits your pipeline. Animation and materials can be included.

Open the exported file in the software of your choice. The exported mesh is yours to keep and use forever.

Alternatively, load the original procedural file with plugins into your DCC application and convert it to a mesh from there.

Suitable For VFX, Games And Archviz

Using the included PlantCatalog Exporter software, each species can be exported to a large variety of 3D formats. This integrates all plants seamlessly into any production pipeline. Texture maps are saved to disk and written as basic materials into the mesh file.

Supported 3D formats:

*.3DS

*.ABC

*.C4D

*.DAE

*.FBX

*.GOZ

*.LWO

*.OBJ

*.USDA / *.USDC / *.USDZ

Animation-ready

Wind and breeze animation can be included for exporting in *.ABC, *.FBX and *.USD(A/C/Z) format. Choose between a fully rigged bone export or a baked point cloud animation. Select a framerate, set the animation length and a bone limit to save resources. When just a static deformed plant is required, wind deformation from the animation can be applied to the static geometry prior to export.

For lightweight animations, the real-time versions include dynamically camera-facing billboard geometry which can be brought into Unreal Engine 4 & 5 through the supplied integration plugins.

Native Shader Creation

The included integration plugins from PlantFactory not only offer the editing capabilites of the PlantCatalog Exporter within your favorite DCC application. When converting a procedural plant with the plugins to a baked mesh, the plugins will automatically create native shaders, based on which render engine was selected when the plant was loaded.

The PlantFactory plugins are available for Cinema 4D, Maya, 3DS Max and Unreal Engine 4 & 5 with shader creation for Arnold, Redshift, Renderman, Unreal Engine 4 & 5 and V-Ray. Plugins for further render engines and applications are in development.

Live Sync & Extensions For NVIDIA Omniverse

PlantCatalog is fully integrated with NVIDIA Omniverse. Export a plant as USD from the PlantCatalog Exporter through the Nucleus Core to Omniverse, then enable live sync and see any further plant edits update in real-time in the Omniverse stage. All plants are setup to automatically create OmniPBR materials.

Additionally, the free extension plugin can send any exported USD plant back from Omniverse to PlantCatalog Exporter for further editing, even after a live link is now longer active.

Thus, your plants will always remain procedural, even after export.

Find out more about the integration with Omniverse, including tutorials and installation instructions, on our Omniverse page.

Value For Money

Constantly updated

Every new species added to the catalog is free whilst your license remains valid. The catalog is an ever-growing library with multiple updates per year, expanding the collection constantly. As a reminder, most species also ship in multiple versions such as FG, HD, LD and RT models. Download a detailed list of all available models here.

Keep what you exported

Every mesh exported is yours to keep and use forever, even after your license has expired. You are allowed to use the meshes for any commercial project, provided that you do not sell PlantCatalog derived meshes on any marketplaces. For more details, please check our standard End User License Agreement (EULA).

Affordable Creator version

We offer a specialized version for all users of VUE & PlantFactory Creator. This version includes all the same content, software, plugins and features as PlantCatalog, but is limited to non-commercial use only. The Creator version is available at a significantly reduced price point compared to the full PlantCatalog.

Miss a specific species?

Get in touch with us and we will add model requests to our roadmap for future updates or make you an individual offer.

PlantCatalog Creator

Get access to PlantCatalog and take advantage of an ever-growing library of procedural vegetation. Use the plants inside VUE and PlantFactory or export them to any other app for non-commercial projects.

Annual license

$99 per year.

PlantCatalog

Get PlantCatalog and use the plants in any commercial project. Export static or animated models with automatic material creation for many different render engines or load them into VUE or PlantFactory.

Annual license

$249.95 per year.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Do I need VUE and / or PlantFactory to run PlantCatalog?

Absolutely not!

It is not mandatory to own VUE and PlantFactory to use PlantCatalog.

PlantCatalog comes with its own standalone tools (PlantCatalog Exporter, and a set of third party importer plugins) so that you are up and running without any additional hidden costs. You can of course use the PlantCatalog collections directly in the most recent versions of VUE and / or PlantFactory though (provided you activate the PlantCatalog within each application - see below for more information).

I am not clear which PlantCatalog license goes with which e-on software product. Can you help?

PlantCatalog Creator ($99/year) is a specific activation key that allows loading the PlantCatalog vegetation assets in VUE and PlantFactory Creator. The activation key for PlantCatalog Creator will not work with PlantCatalog Exporter. To export PlantCatalog content from a Creator version, you can use the VUE or PlantFactory export options or the VUE and PlantFactory integration plugins.

PlantCatalog ($249.95/year) provides access to the PlantCatalog vegetation collection in all e-on applications: VUE, PlantFactory and PlantCatalog Exporter, independently from their flavor (Creator/Professional). All integration plugins are included.

The Enterprise solution includes access to PlantCatalog content natively in VUE and PlantFactory, and the Enterprise annual activation key will also allow you to install PlantCatalog Exporter, at no additional cost.

What are the compatible hosts and renderers for the PlantCatalog / PlantFactory importer plugins?

The plugins are currently available for 3D Studio Max, Maya, Cinema 4D and Unreal Engine 4. The extension plugin is available for any version of Nvidia Omniverse. Other applications will be supported in the near future.

Supported 3ds Max versions and render engines:

3ds Max 2019 through 2023
V-Ray 6 and older for 3DS Max
Arnold for 3DS Max
Scanline & ART renderer

Supported Maya versions and render engines:

Maya 2019 through 2023
V-Ray 6 and older for Maya
Arnold for Maya
Maya Software renderer
Renderman 24 (in Maya 2020 and higher)
Redshift 3.0.46 and higher (in Maya 2020 and higher)

Supported Cinema 4D versions and render engines:

Cinema 4D R20 through 2023
V-Ray Next & V-Ray 6 and older for C4D
Arnold for C4D
Redshift 3.0.46 and higher (only supported in C4D R23 and up)
C4D standard and physical renderer

Supported Unreal Engine versions:

Unreal Engine 4.25 through 5.1

What is the difference between using the plugins and PlantCatalog Exporter?

With PlantCatalog Exporter, a procedural plant is baked to a standard 3D file format that can be imported into many applications. Standard 3D file formats cannot contain any advanced material information beyond what is supported by each 3D file format by default, so you will probably need to adjust the saved materials in the target application and load any missing texture maps manually.

The plugins, on the other hand, detect which render engine is currently selected in your DCC application, and will create appropriate materials and shaders for that render engine. In other words, you will receive e.g. proper native V-Ray materials when V-Ray is the currently selected render engine. This saves you the need of editing the materials on the baked polygon mesh to create a V-Ray material manually on your own.

Additionally, the plugins contain the full procedural editing capabilites of PlantCatalog Exporter. You can make changes to the procedural model at any time inside your scene without the need for repeated export - import workflows. Thus, we suggest using the plugins over the PlantCatalog Exporter wherever possible.

How do I add the PlantCatalog collections to my VUE and/ or PlantFactory licenses?

First, if you own an Enterprise Solution (monthly or annual), the PlantCatalog is already built in, you just need to download the PlantCatalog archive files from the Software Center tab on your user account page and add the content to your collections by running the content installer for each archive. If you had setup a custom directory for PlantCatalog content during install, the content installer will automatically install the content to that location instead of the default locations.

If you own a Creator or Professional Solution (monthly or annual), you first need to place your order for your PlantCatalog activation key from the store. Once your order is complete, you will receive an Activation key by e-mail, together with your invoice. In the software (VUE or PlantFactory), go to the Help | Activate PlantCatalog menu entry. Input the activation key you have received, enter your e-mail in the dialog, and let the software activate itself.

Once the automatic activation is successful, go to the Software Center on your user account page, and download all PlantCatalog archive files and add the content to your collections by running the content installer for each archive. If you had setup a custom directory for PlantCatalog content during install, the content installer will automatically install the content to that location instead of the default locations.

Since we release new species on a regular basis, keep an eye on our blog and / or social platforms for the announcements. You’ll then just have to go to the Software Center again to download your new collection content for free and install that following the above process.

How do I install PlantCatalog Exporter and the plant libraries?

First, you need to place your order for your PlantCatalog activation key from the store. Please note that PlantCatalog Creator licenses won’t work with PlantCatalog Exporter, nor with the integration plugins as these PlantCatalog Creator licenses are specifically designed to work only with VUE and / or PlantFactory Creator.

Once your order is complete, you will receive an activation key by e-mail, together with your invoice. Go to the Software Center tab on your user account page and download the PlantCatalog Exporter application installer. During the install process, your activation key will be required. Input the activation key you have received when prompted, enter your e-mail in the dialog, and let the software finalize installation and activate itself.

Once the installation is completed and activation is successful, go to the Software Center on your user account page, download all PlantCatalog archive files and add their content to your collections by running the content installer for each archive. If you had setup a custom directory for PlantCatalog content during install, the content installer will automatically install the content to that location instead of the default location.

Since we release new species several times a year, keep an eye on our blog and / or social platforms for the announcements. You’ll then just have to go to the Software Center again to download your new collection content for free and install that following the above process.

Can I activate a regular PlantCatalog license within my Creator license?

Yes, you can, but that wouldn't be the most cost effective solution.

In VUE and/or PlantFactory Creator, you will be able to load the PlantCatalog content directly from the collection browser.

We would recommend you get PlantCatalog Creator instead, as it will be a better deal for you.

Can I activate a PlantCatalog Creator license within my Professional license?

No, the software will reject the key and prompt you to get a regular PlantCatalog License.

If you have purchased a PlantCatalog Creator license by mistake, please contact our sales support to discuss possibly exchanging your license.

Can I activate a PlantCatalog Creator license within PlantCatalog Exporter?

No, the software will reject the key and prompt you to get a regular PlantCatalog License.

If you have purchased a PlantCatalog Creator license by mistake, please contact our sales support to discuss possibly exchanging your license.

Can I use PlantCatalog within my legacy VUE and PlantFactory licenses (versions 2016 and below)?

Yes and No.

No: Technically, the PlantCatalog assets were authored in the most recent PlantFactory builds and use the most recent PlantFactory feature sets. Therefore, it would be impossible for a legacy VUE or PlantFactory to open the plant species as is. Additionally, PlantCatalog is tied to the licensing mechanism we introduced with the current solutions (RLM based) which the legacy products can’t work with.

Yes: Legacy VUE versions can load generic geometry assets, such as .3ds, .obj or.dae (the latest legacy versions of VUE 2016 can also load .fbx and .abc). So technically speaking, you could get PlantCatalog Exporter (which requires a full PlantCatalog license) and export the plant species as standard geometry to use within your legacy VUE software. You will however not be able to retain the procedural definitions within VUE (to populate EcoSystem with different instances for instance).

So, it’s not technically impossible, but we strongly recommend you get under the most recent versions of VUE and PlantFactory to give the PlantCatalog content its full potential.

Can I purchase a single vegetation species from PlantCatalog?

Yes and No.

The PlantCatalog procedural vegetation collection is an annual license-based offering, where you get access to the entire vegetation collection together with all associated software tools, incl. all new species additions, while your license is still running.

However, you can purchase individual pre-exported assets in standard formats from our Sketchfab online store. Note that not all PlantCatalog assets may be available on Sketchfab though.

I have a need for specific vegetation species that are not yet in the PlantCatalog library. Can you create the species for me?

Yes, we collect user requests to prioritize our species development roadmap. The more requests we get for a given species (or plant type, region, biome etc.), the quicker it’ll get developed. You can submit your request (please be as specific as possible in your initial request) using the form on this page.

If you are in a rush or have very specific vegetation needs that are not addressed by the current offering, we can also offer custom development deals. Contact us using the PlantCatalog form on this page (please be as specific as possible in your initial request), and we’ll start the discussion.

What happens to my collections if / when my PlantCatalog license expires?

All the meshes you will have exported to standard geometry formats (such as .OBJ, .FBX etc.) will continue working and are yours to keep and use (even commercially) forever – provided you stick to the EULA terms (see the question below for more information). Nonetheless, when your license expires, all species part of the PlantCatalog won’t be useable directly within VUE, PlantFactory, PlantCatalog Exporter and/or the integration/importer plugins.

All the species you will have derived from the official collections using PlantFactory and saved as PlantFactory format (.TPF or .TPFP) will also be unusable.

After your PlantCatalog license has expired, opening a VUE or PlantFactory scene that would include official or derivative PlantCatalog content in native PlantFactory file format will prompt a warning and offer to replace or skip such content.

I am under a monthly Creator (resp. Professional) plan. Can I still use a PlantCatalog license?

Yes, there’s nothing preventing that. However, please understand that your right to use the collections starts once you have activated the PlantCatalog license and is valid for a period of 365 days after that. So, to get the most bang for your bucks, we recommend you keep your Solution monthly plan running during the whole duration of your PlantCatalog license.

We will NOT prorate (i.e. extend) PlantCatalog usage, should you use the stop and restart option for the Creator and Professional monthly subscriptions. We will also NOT refund unused time for your PlantCatalog license should you completely cancel your monthly plan.

Can I use PlantCatalog plants in commercial projects?

Yes, you are allowed to use all plants in commercial projects, be it for moving or still images or for embedding models into compiled applications such as games, provided that they cannot be extracted by the end user.

Please note that you may not resell or distribute plants from the PlantCatalog on 3D marketplaces. See the following question for more details on commercial use and our EULA.

Can I resell (or share publicly for free) the plant species I would derive or export from PlantCatalog collections?

In short, no. Using PlantCatalog is subject to your acceptance of our standard End User License Agreement (EULA). This EULA states that it’s perfectly fine to create images/animations that use the built-in content (even if you intend to sell those images/animations). What you are NOT allowed to do is to export such content – altered or not - and provide it elsewhere, be it free or for a fee. This is valid for both the vegetation geometries, but also all texture maps and additional content that ships with PlantCatalog.

Example # 1: you can use and embed the PlantCatalog content (original or modified) within your games, provided there is no way for the end user to extract and re-use the content from the engine.

Example # 2: you are in violation of the EULA if you sell or share publicly a plant species you have created from scratch, but such species uses any of the texture maps (unchanged or modified) that ship with PlantCatalog content.

You may however use PlantCatalog content as a means of training yourself and learning how to create your own vegetation species from scratch using PlantFactory.

Which polygon counts and texture resolutions do FG, HD, LD and RT qualities correspond to?

There’s no one size fits all answer to this question 😊

It depends on the vegetation itself (weeds won’t have the same polygon footprint as the giant Sequoia 😉), at what stage it is in its maturity, what’s the chosen mesh resolution etc. Since it’s procedural based as well, every instance will have its own polygon count.

It also depends on whether you want quads or triangles. There’s a product page for each species in the PlantCatalog Browse section which gives more details with regards to polygon count for any given species. All plants are provided at default mesh resolution of 0.4 but you can play and ramp this up at will. In PlantCatalog Exporter, the info menu option gives precise info about all this so that you can set the plant exactly to your own requirements before exporting (same information is displayed in the 3rd party importer plugins too). We tried to be as flexible as possible here and let you set the species quality you really need.

Texture maps are custom tailored to each species as well. When there’s no need for an 8k map (for instance flower pistils…), we did not include 8k maps. Overall most of the maps range between 8k and 128p depending on what the map caters for, and the given quality (HD/LD/FG/RT). We’ve tried to pre-optimize all species so that you have fewer editing steps afterwards.

Why aren't all species available in all four FG / HD / LD / RT qualities?

RT quality content was introduced at a later stage to the catalog (as opposed to HD/LD content being already available for Enterprise Solution users since the initial release in December 2018). Therefore, you can expect more RT quality species to come (for the existing species) progressively.

Additionally, when there’s no need for an LD version, we won’t develop it as the benefit of LDs isn’t worth multiplying the references (hence fewer LDs than HDs).

There’s currently only one species that has no HD version, which is the Giant sequoia. That’s on purpose as it would be practically unusable ‘as is’ in any DCC tools – using the vegetation in its full grandness. Given the physical size of that particular species, HD quality would only be useful for closeups on branches or the trunk (and even in LD, the branches and trunk details are already pretty decent 😉), and therefore overloading the destination software with the full plant geometry when you only need a few branches in your shot would be an overkill.