> [!abstract] Summary
> **Ivy generation in Houdini** — generate procedural ivy that grows on a surface, follows gravity, and clings to geometry. Custom **Spony tool** is WIP; an excellent paid reference is **MC_IvyTaming** by Marc Chevry. Common approach: grow curves with attractors / repulsion forces, then attach a leaf system (PolyWire for stems + Copy-to-Points for leaves).
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# Spony's Tool
*WIP — custom HDA in development.*
# General Approach
1. **Source curves** — start from points on the host surface (scatter or hand-placed).
2. **Growth simulation** — use a **POP solver** with surface-attractor + gravity, or a manual L-system / VEX-driven path.
3. **Stems** — convert the grown curves with **PolyWire** for the vine geometry.
4. **Leaves** — **Copy-to-Points** along the stems at controlled spacing.
5. **Variation** — randomise rotation / scale on leaves; add an **age** attribute to drive shading variation (new = green, old = yellow).
6. **Optimization** — convert to **point instancer** in Solaris ([[../SOLARIS/WORKFLOW/SOLARIS Instancing|SOLARIS Instancing]]).
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# Paid Tool — MC_IvyTaming 1.0 (by Marc Chevry)
> [!video] MC_IvyTaming 1.0 — Video Tutorial
> <iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/313007464?h=e27efe58e1" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
>
> [MC_IvyTaming 1.0 on Vimeo](https://vimeo.com/313007464) by [marc](https://vimeo.com/marcchevry).
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# 🔗 Related
- [[../HOUDINI MOC|HOUDINI MOC]] — Environment section.
- [[Houdini Environment Workflow|Houdini Environment Workflow]].
- [[Houdini Tree|Houdini Tree]] — sister procedural-vegetation note.
- [[../../../ARTFX OSMIUM/TOOLS/Notes/Moss Generator - Thomas Spony and Nick Medukha|Moss Generator]] — L-system procedural moss.
- [[../../PLANTFACTORY/PLANTFACTORY MOC|PlantFactory MOC]] — alternative vegetation tool.
- [[../../../ARTFX OSMIUM/PIPELINE/Notes/DETAILS/PIPELINE ENVIRONMENT|OSMIUM PIPELINE ENVIRONMENT]] — set-dressing workflow.