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 nodesForces

Point Force

Pulls growth toward a Maya object or pushes it away. Move the target to guide branches or open a gap in the crown.

Reference: ZenGrove 1.0.0 · 22 October 2026 · 13 settings. Requires AO.Hub 1.6.6 or later.

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Branches

Continue from this node

Branches

Choose branches and then a region

Affect selects which branches change. Influence Range selects a base-to-tip interval on each, and Influence Profile weights it. Bending accumulated within the range carries into the remaining tip without adding further deformation there. A zero profile or empty range bypasses the effect.

Combine strength controls

The influence profile multiplies the node’s existing start/full-strength ramp and any spatial falloff. Start with one force, inspect the result, then add another to balance the growth direction.

Watch the Point Force 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.

Affect

Chooses which branches are affected. Active Branches uses the latest generated layer. Active + Descendants also includes growth from that layer. Active Generated Hierarchy additionally includes ancestors created by that same generated contribution. Entire Input uses everything arriving here. Attached children follow a moved parent even when they are not reshaped themselves.

Options: Active Branches · Active + Descendants · Active Generated Hierarchy · Entire Input

Default: Active Branches

Input

Target

Uses a Maya object's pivot as target. Capture Selected assigns it; Create Force Handle makes an editable handle; Clear removes it.

Default: Nothing assigned

Distribution

Force Ramp — Start %

Sets where the force starts along a branch. Zero is base and one is tip.

Default: 0

Force Ramp — Full Strength %

Sets where the force reaches full strength. It ramps between Start and this point, then stays at full strength.

Default: 0.35

Influence

Influence Range — Influence Start

Start of the effect along each affected branch: base 0, tip 1.

Default: 0

Influence Range — Influence End

End of the effect. Beyond it no further bending or twisting is added.

Default: 1

Influence Profile

Local effect strength inside the Influence Range; 0 off, 1 full strength.

Default: Flat profile at 1

Deformation

Strength

Positive attracts toward the target. Negative repels. Zero turns influence off.

Default: 0.65

Strength Randomness

Varies force strength between branches.

Default: 0

Range

Sets influence distance from the target. Zero gives unlimited range.

Default: 5

Distance Falloff

Constant keeps influence even across the range. Linear fades evenly with distance. Smooth gives a softer fade.

Options: Constant · Linear · Smooth

Default: Smooth

Max Bend

Limits total force-driven turning along a branch, in degrees.

Default: 75

Advanced

Seed Offset

Changes this node's random variation. Keep the seed and settings unchanged to reproduce the same result.

Default: 90

Browse all ZenGrove nodes →

FAQ

What is ZenGrove used for?

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.