Trees Shmees

[Gander0]

Hi!

 

Im doing an architectural animation with lighting effects showing a sunrise over a particular building. My building is ok but I need trees and grass in the scene. I have been experimenting with Forest Lite but as you can imagine with a project based around subtle lighting over time the and sun rising from behind the trees the effect isn't great. Im also using opacity grass rectangles with forest lite which looks great from the front but when lit from behind bit naff.

Anyway my main question is trees. I guess i am going to have to animate each tree bitmap by painting in photoshop and after effects, but is there a simpler way.

3D trees would be the obvious answer but I cant afford a plugin.

Any ideas?

 

Gander