Beginner level cloud tutorial

[FrankB]

Hi there!

I thought I'd let you know that I have written a quick cloud tutorial for beginners and published it on my site.
If anyone is interested, here it is: http://nwda.webnode.com/news/terragen-2-atmosphere-clouds-tutorial-in-3-steps/
Next to creating and explaining a few basics around cloud layers and density fractals, we also cover influencing the shape of clouds, coverage gamma and a few other things.

(If you're already familiar with making normal cumulus clouds in Terragen 2, you won't be excited - it's really for beginners).

Regards,
Frank

[old_blaggard]

Nice post . Actually a related question (clouds are not my strong point): what difference is there in lowering the cloud coverage in the cloud node to lowering it in the density fractal?

[AmericanXer0]

Thanks for the tutorial! On the site, however, no images are displayed. For example, the end of step 1 reads this: "Your 3D preview should now show something like this: [image]." Is there a reason it is showing [image], instead of an actual image?

[FrankB]

Thanks for the tutorial! On the site, however, no images are displayed. For example, the end of step 1 reads this: "Your 3D preview should now show something like this: [image]." Is there a reason it is showing [image], instead of an actual image?

Thanks for the pointer. I initially planned to provide a few screenshots, but don't have the time for that at the moment (I also don't think it's really necessary). I may do that on another day.

Cheers,
Frank

[FrankB]

Nice post . Actually a related question (clouds are not my strong point): what difference is there in lowering the cloud coverage in the cloud node to lowering it in the density fractal?

I'm not sure what the difference is. I think I recall - but I'm not 100% certain - that reducing or increasing coverage in the fractal avoids a certain issue. That could be totally rubbish, but that's what I think I read somewhere.

[FrankB]

by the way... do you ask about the cloud layer's "coverage adjust" or "coverage gamma"? My response was related to coverage adjust.
For coverage gamma, there are clear differences between that and the coverage in the density fractal.

Regards,
Frank

Nice post . Actually a related question (clouds are not my strong point): what difference is there in lowering the cloud coverage in the cloud node to lowering it in the density fractal?

[FrankB]

just found that: http://forums.planetside.co.uk/index.php?topic=1698.msg16676#msg16676

Matt explaining the differences.

Cheers,
Farnk

[rcallicotte]

Frank, thanks.  Good idea.

[Hetzen]

I've been playing around on and off with clouds for a while now, and there were a couple of things which you've managed to clarify for me.

Thank you.

Just a small nitpick in bold from the following line...

"2 Open the cloud density fractal dialog, go to the density tab and increase the "Coverage Adjust" value from 0 to ~0.1"

[old_blaggard]

Thanks for digging that up, Frank .

[FrankB]

I've been playing around on and off with clouds for a while now, and there were a couple of things which you've managed to clarify for me.

Thank you.

Just a small nitpick in bold from the following line...

"2 Open the cloud density fractal dialog, go to the density tab and increase the "Coverage Adjust" value from 0 to ~0.1"

You're welcome :-)
What's wrong with the line you cited?

Thanks,
Frank

[Hetzen]

You missed the bold bit out in that line, which I missed out in explaining. 

I know it's obvious when you first jump in to that tab, because "coverage adjust" is the only value originally set at 0. I just mention it, because I sometimes like to read these sorts of things away from the program to get an over view on the overall process, which you've set up really well.

Do you guys ever use the "warp shader" much with clouds?

[FrankB]

You missed the bold bit out in that line, which I missed out in explaining. 

I know it's obvious when you first jump in to that tab, because "coverage adjust" is the only value originally set at 0. I just mention it, because I sometimes like to read these sorts of things away from the program to get an over view on the overall process, which you've set up really well.

Do you guys ever use the "warp shader" much with clouds?

Oh now, I understand :-)

And yes, the warp shader is used from time to time, depending on the cloud type you'll want. The warp shader is great for small scale wispiness, for example.

Cheers,
Frank

[Hetzen]

OK, so do you ever use it to try and get a "cauliflower" cumulus effect? Or do you normaly rely on dialing in settings within the Density Fractal?

Cheers

Jon

[FrankB]

A carefully tweaked density fractal is the main key for the cauliflower look, but you can employ the warp shader to help with that. I mostly use the warp shader plugged into a redirect shader for adding whispy strands to bigger cloud features.

Frank