Elementacular 1.5 released - volumetric cloud shaping plugin for Maya

[Hetzen]

Ulco, I've sent this set up over to Oshyan to have a look at, so perhaps I shouldn't give the details away at the moment. It's quite different to those examples AP. When I re-wrote this yesterday I realised I only needed one Linear step in the graph. And Mogn I stuck a conditional in there 

[AP]

I figured as much after I studied more based on what this was about. I was tempted to run some experiments of my own, however not directly related to blobs but if anyone wants to look at these I can post the files later after a few more are finished.

[Dune]

@ Jon; no problem.
@ AP; those are pretty cool. There are clouds like those. I guess you can use a sinus function or some kind of PF multiplied by altitude ranges.

[Hannes]

Just did a quick test with localised clouds as blobs. Like that you can roughly see where the blobs are.
I guess this won't work with easy clouds, but with V2 or V3 it does.

[Hetzen]

There's some nice work there AP. Looks like you're using the altitude to drive a perlin in some of those. They remind me of a Battlestar Galactica - Cylon Basestar.

@Hannes: That's how DandelO did his I think.

[Hannes]

@Hannes: That's how DandelO did his I think.

Ah, I have to confess, that I haven't read all the postings...
Thanks, Jon!

[AP]

Not exactly an altitude to drive the noise but function nodes, however I intend to use altitude driven ideas to attempt to create a possible anvil top for cumulonimbus clouds but the starting idea there is to attempt the more tall primary cloud patterns and tight secondary cauliflower-like patterns which make up the cloud convection effect before flattening in the troposphere. Right now, what you all see is a general idea for mesocyclone super cell storm systems, hence the Cylon Basestar look. I just need to have the tight billowy patterns to grab all over the primary cloud. No success as of current.

[AP]

A few more.

[AP]

Quick question. Is there a way to limit any effect using a surface layers altitude for example with the clouds? I had a Surface layer attached to the cloud density on top of everything else using another noise as it's child but no change what so ever.

[Dune]

I sometimes used a distribution shader with altitude settings to influence clouds, used as a mask. If you use a few and have them mask fractals, you can get different fractals at different altitudes within one cloud. Or use a color adjust to alter the same fractal but at different altitudes.

[AP]

I tried that and it did not work.

[Dune]

Does...

[AP]

It appears I overlooked some things. Here is the result.

[Oshyan]

Wow, you are getting some results that are very close to huge "anvil" thunderstorm clouds. Keep it up! And share when you nail it.

- Oshyan

[AP]

Indeed, I will. There is some more testing to be had. I should start a new post based on these experiments as this diverged from the original post subject.