possible to map an image on clouds?

[Nala1977]

hey guys lets say i want to create a whirpool of clouds, i know you might be able to do it with procedural and math nodes, but would it be possible to create a b/w image as a mask/map to input (where?) into a cloud system?

[N-drju]

Adding an image is not possible. But if you wish to create a whirlpool of clouds, you can do it simply by applying "vortex shader" to the cloud's density input.

[Nala1977]

Adding an image is not possible. But if you wish to create a whirlpool of clouds, you can do it simply by applying "vortex shader" to the cloud's density input.

well yeah i just wanted to know if it was any way possible by masks or any other way to alter the clouds trough an bw image

[N-drju]

Okay, I get it. Guess my mind must have been elsewhere...

You can add a grayscale image as a cloud's density input. Once you do, the cloud layer will use this as the density input, rather than the basic power fractal. Might need a few tweaks to get the scale right though.

[Kadri]

You can use any image itself or for masks in many different ways you want. Alone or together with procedurals etc.

I made this with images used on clouds (no polygons or whatever) for example:
https://planetside.co.uk/forums/index.php/topic,18917.msg204014.html#msg204014

[D.A. Bentley (SuddenPlanet)]

This link should also be very helpful for creating high altitude planetary shots with masked clouds for realistic weather patterns:

https://planetside.co.uk/forums/index.php/topic,22451.msg226388.html#msg226388

Methods for masking clouds include simple shape shaders, bitmap masks, or projected masks through image maps and cameras.
You can also mask clouds using a distance shader connected to your camera and cloud layer.

[WAS]

There's some pretty decent global cloud maps out there too. Such as this one: https://www.solarsystemscope.com/textures/download/2k_earth_clouds.jpg