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ZenGrove

Built to move. Down to the last leaf.

Overview

Built to move. Down to the last leaf.

The ZenGrove 1.0.0 reference: 52 nodes, 907 settings and short WebM demos. Explore Look At asset orientation, GameDynamics, joint previews, skeletal export and per-leaf random vertex colors. Requires AO.Hub 1.6.6 or later.

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← All 52 nodesModifier

Foliage Normals

Softens foliage shading using surface directions from a canopy-shaped proxy mesh. It helps individual leaf cards read as a fuller crown in High-quality builds.

Reference: ZenGrove 1.0.0 · 22 October 2026 · 9 settings. Requires AO.Hub 1.6.6 or later.

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Growth

Watch the Foliage Normals settings tour

Current Maya controls, including conditional settings. Each view stays on screen for one second (three views take three seconds); pause or choose a group to inspect it.

The video loads when you play it. Readable still views and explanations follow below.

Setup

Foliage Normals node with its setup settings in ZenGrove
ZenGrove settings excerpt · Setup · Open image for full size
Enabled

Turns the effect on or off while keeping its settings.

Default: On

Input

Foliage Normals node with its input settings in ZenGrove
ZenGrove settings excerpt · Input · Open image for full size
Normals Proxy

Generate Proxy makes a canopy-shaped mesh; Capture Selected Proxy assigns your own; Clear removes it. It guides leaf normals in High builds.

Default: Nothing assigned

Geometry

Foliage Normals node with its geometry settings in ZenGrove
ZenGrove settings excerpt · Geometry · Open image for full size
Proxy Shape

Adaptive Lobes fits several overlapping canopy shapes. Single Ellipsoid uses one overall rounded shape.

Options: Adaptive Lobes · Single Ellipsoid

Default: Adaptive Lobes

Lobes

Limits the number of fitted shapes for Adaptive Lobes.

Available when Proxy Shape is Adaptive Lobes.

Default: 6

Padding

Expands proxy shapes beyond sampled leaf positions.

Default: 0.15

Remesh Resolution

Controls edge density when remeshing the proxy. Higher values add detail.

Default: 12

Target Faces

Sets the approximate face count for the editable proxy.

Default: 1000

Preview & Safety

Foliage Normals node with its preview & safety settings in ZenGrove
ZenGrove settings excerpt · Preview & Safety · Open image for full size
Regenerate on Build

Rebuilds the proxy before Preview and High builds. Turn it off to keep manual edits.

Default: On

Show Proxy

Shows the proxy while authoring. Builds hide it; enable this again to edit it.

Default: On

Browse all ZenGrove nodes →
FAQ
What is ZenGrove used for?

The ZenGrove 1.0.0 reference: 52 nodes, 907 settings and short WebM demos. Explore Look At asset orientation, GameDynamics, joint previews, skeletal export and per-leaf random vertex colors. Requires AO.Hub 1.6.6 or later.

Which host application does ZenGrove support?

ZenGrove is built for Autodesk Maya and is distributed through AO Studio Tools.

Where can I download ZenGrove?

Download the current AO Studio Tools package from https://aostudio.tools/getthetools.html and install it through AO.Hub.