Kevin Chen

SpikeGen Blender Add-on

Fall 2020

tags: computer graphics

Developed “SpikeGen,” a Blender add-on which procedurally generates spikes on a mesh using the golden ratio as found in natural forms. SpikeGen includes a configuration menu to allow user control over spike length, base size, spread angle, and randomness.

SpikeGen was inspired by the SIGGRAPH 1992 paper A collision-based model of spiral phyllotaxis.

I animated a cozy winter scene using SpikeGen and a variety of other procedural methods in Blender. In addition to procedural spikes using SpikeGen, the fire and snow particle systems, shapes of cactus bodies, and plant pots were also procedurally generated. I modeled, textured, and lit the scene.

Final project for CPSC 479 at Yale, Advanced Topics in Computer Graphics.

Link to writeup

Screenshot of a Blender menu for the SpikeGen add-on. The menu says 'SpikeGen Generator'.
Menu for SpikeGen.
Computer generated image of a sphere dotted with spikes in a pattern similar to spiral patterns found in nature.
Spikes are placed using the golden ratio.
Computer generated image of four Blender primitives, a cylinder, a cone, a sphere, and a cube. They are arranged in a 2 by 2 grid and are covered with white spikes.
SpikeGen works on a variety of meshes.


Additional close-up renders.

Computer generated image of three cactus plants on a windowsill. Computer generated image of the top half of a stone fireplace, a wooden mantel with three light blue cups, and a picture frame with a landscape painting. Computer generated image of a close-up of a stone fireplace. Three logs sit atop a holder and a bright orange frame fills the chamber. Computer generated image of a close=up of a window frame. Outside the ground is blanketed with snow and snowflakes are seen falling.