A lot of the faux Christmas trees out in the market today are amazingly realistic. Compare the visual and tactile qualities of artificial trees to a live Christmas tree, and you'll be hard-pressed to tell the difference. Read on to see what made this artificial trees look real.

Materials

Lifelike Christmas trees are created out of plastic called polyethylene, or PE.  Artificial trees using PE tips have the color, look and feel of a real tree.  The set-up time for a PE Christmas tree is less because the tips are already shaped. Most of the artificial trees that use PE also employ better painting techniques and colors that make the Christmas tree close to the real thing.  

Until recently, artificial trees were made exclusively using PVC. The branch needles were cut out of compressed PVC sheets which varied in weight, thickness and color.  PE trees come in various combinations of PE and PVC depending on the type of Christmas tree. They can be 100 percent PE or a combination of PE and PVC (60:40 or 70:30).  The PE branch tips surround the tree, while the PVC is in the inner part of the tree to add density if needed for the look.

Manufacturing

Instead of a cut and spin method that the traditional artificial trees use, PE trees are made out of a mold process. Often, a branch is cut from a real, fresh Christmas tree, packed in dry ice and shipped to the factory to create a mold.

Designers spend hours of meticulous research to recreate the look of various Christmas tree species. Many different molds from actual branches are used to form the artificial tree branch tips. Additionally, select tree branches are crafted in an irregular shape to fully mimic nature.

Details

Manufacturers are paying increased attention to detail in creating realistic Christmas trees. Among the lifelike details found in high-quality artificial Christmas trees are:

·         Mix of needle types

·         New growth needles on the underside of the branches

·         Soft-touch needles

·         Individually molded bi-colored plastic needles

·         Reinforced branches

·         Multiple layers of branches

·         Miniature pinecones

·         Intricate touches of snow on the foliage

Many people prefer a tree that looks real but does not require the care of a live tree. With their lifelike features, artificial trees made of PE are a practical alternative to a live holiday tree.