Hey guys!
So I’m trying to achieve this layered leaf effect. 
I have made an alpha from a leaf that I have created but when trying to layer them I get this sort of “see through” effect.
That makes the underlying geometry of the leaf below it still visible.
What would be the best way to easily create this effect apart from hand sculpting everything.
You can use the Layer brush, making sure you first store Morph Target (Tool>Morph Target>Store MT) at the highest sub-division level. Also having an alpha that fades to black, so that the leaf is tilted, will make is easier to get a nice overlap.
I did make a 3D alpha just then. I thought it would work after seeing a tutorial about it but it doesn’t work Still the same effect. I think I need to have space beneath it for it to work.
Your solution looks really good though! Gonna try that!
Edit: I’m not familiar yet with the layer brush (or layers in general, never used them) or in combination with the morph target. I’m not getting the effect you’re getting. I edited my alpha so it faded. What is the workflow exactly with this method?
Not really understanding the workflow could you elaborate?
I’m not getting the same effect. Still have the geometry “see through” effect.
I’m sorry, I wasn’t thinking straight - you can’t use a 3D alpha. You need to use the Layer brush which can’t use a 3D alpha. (This brush is nothing to do with Layers in the Tool palette!)
I’ve made a brush you can try. Follow these steps:
Leaf-Layer.zip (93 KB)
HTH,Leaf-Layer.zip (93 KB)
I did get the steps. What are you using the morph target for though? As far as I know just storing doesn’t do anything. Do you use it later when you finished the layering to tweak the height of the leaves all at once?
When I use the morph target I get this kind of clipping. When I use your brush I get the same. Not sure what I’m doing wrong here 
When I don’t use morph target even with the layer brush I also get the geo see through.
Follow these steps:
With a stored morph target, the Layer brush will draw on the original surface and ignore buildup from any changes to the mesh after the morph target was stored.
I must be incredibly dumb or something because this is not getting a layered effect for me. If storing the morph target will make the layer brush ignore what you drew on it already it makes sense I’m getting the intersection effect posted on one of my screenshots.
Which is exactly what I’m getting. But I want it to draw on top of each other but without getting geo detail to shine through where I draw another leaf. I don’t understand what I’m doing wrong here.
I wanted to add a video but it seems I can’t upload that to show what I’m doing. Working in “reverse” seems to work a little better, where I draw the leaves underneath each other but still the effect isn’t good.
Following those steps doesn’t work for me 
I think you are misunderstanding the limitations of the method. The alpha displaces the geometry based on the base mesh when the morph target was stored. But if you overlap leaves as you sculpt the previous leaf is not erased or squashed flat to make room for the new one, leading to the intersection you are seeing. The effect is made worse because your leaf has higher sides, whereas my leaves are basically flat across their width. A greater tilt would also help, so that the leaves can be overlapped front-to-back. But you will always have to place them with care.
Yes I think I need to change the alpha or try a different approach.
Thanks for all the help on this.