EZ Tree is a lightweight, free, and open-source procedural tree generator for 3D production workflows. Developed in Python and available under the Apache 2.0 license, EZ Tree runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS, either via command line or its built-in GUI. It’s aimed squarely at CG artists, technical directors, game developers, and anyone who needs to populate scenes with tree assets—without wrestling a full-grown digital forest.
Lightweight, No-Nonsense Tree Generation
EZ Tree is available on GitHub and positions itself as a simpler alternative to heavier solutions like SpeedTree. It focuses on generating tree geometry quickly and predictably, using a Python-based system that outputs .obj files. That means it’s widely compatible with most DCC (Digital Content Creation) tools.
Users can create trees by running the script from a terminal or using the GUI executable (provided for convenience). Once generated, trees are exported in .obj format, which can be imported into almost any 3D software pipeline without additional plugins or converters.
Procedural Simplicity – With Custom Controls
EZ Tree supports a JSON-based configuration system. This allows users to define procedural parameters such as:
- Trunk height
- Branching angles
- Number of segments
- Leaf density
- And many more ….
You can tweak the .json configuration file manually or select from several prebuilt presets. The developer promises “readable and editable” config files, so even non-developers should feel at home (or at least not completely lost).
GUI or Terminal – Your Choice
Users can run EZ Tree as a CLI (Command Line Interface) tool if they’re integrating it into automated pipelines or batch processes. Alternatively, a GUI (Graphical User Interface) is available for standalone use, especially helpful for those just exploring the tool or adjusting parameters visually. The GUI is included as a .exe file for Windows and runs independently—no installation needed.
Designed for Speed – and Openness
Because it’s written in Python, EZ Tree can be easily extended or customized by studios and artists who want to integrate it more deeply into their own tools or pipelines. The use of open standards like .obj for mesh export and .json for configuration makes it friendly for adaptation.
There’s no built-in renderer, shading system, or rigging functionality—just tree geometry, untextured and unshaded. But that’s the point: EZ Tree does one thing, and does it fast. It grows your trees and gets out of your way.
Availability and Licensing
EZ Tree is free to use and modify. It’s distributed under the Apache 2.0 license, which allows commercial and non-commercial use, modification, and distribution. The tool can be downloaded from its official website or directly from GitHub.
What You Need to Know for the Pipeline
For Technical Directors looking to integrate EZ Tree into existing toolchains, its architecture offers some clear benefits: the .json config makes it straightforward to version-control different tree presets or feed in procedural variations at runtime. Since the tool is written in Python, wrapping it in PySide or Qt-based GUIs—or even baking it into asset management workflows (think Shotgun, ftrack, Kitsu)—shouldn’t be a major lift.
EZ Tree outputs clean .obj meshes only, so no UVs, no materials, and no hierarchy data (e.g., no LOD groups or physics proxies). This is strictly mesh generation. If you’re targeting real-time engines like Unreal or Unity, expect to process the output via import scripts that assign materials and prep for instancing or batching.
The simplicity of the source code means a RESTful wrapper or local socket interface could be DIY’d for network rendering or procedural scene population. In short: It’s a good seed for your own tools, if you don’t mind watering it a little.
Reality Check
The tool’s design emphasizes predictability and control over randomness. While EZ Tree uses procedural generation under the hood, it avoids overly complex simulation-style growth models. Instead, it’s more about crafting a tree to spec—fast.
While EZ Tree shows real promise as a lightweight procedural asset tool, it’s still new and evolving. As always: Artists working in production environments should verify performance and compatibility before introducing new tools into critical pipelines. No one wants a surprise sapling sprouting in the render queue.
