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General => Image Sharing => Topic started by: Tangled-Universe on May 27, 2016, 06:12:12 AM

Title: Another TG4 cloud example
Post by: Tangled-Universe on May 27, 2016, 06:12:12 AM
Click to enlarge...

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: Another TG4 cloud example
Post by: AP on May 27, 2016, 06:52:31 AM
That is one fantastic cloud.
Title: Re: Another TG4 cloud example
Post by: Kadri on May 27, 2016, 07:12:47 AM

Nice. Are there two clouds?
Title: Re: Another TG4 cloud example
Post by: Tangled-Universe on May 27, 2016, 07:18:15 AM
Thanks guys :)

Quote from: Kadri on May 27, 2016, 07:12:47 AM

Nice. Are there two clouds?

No this is 1 cloud layer.

In some cumulus cloud you see "flat shelves" of dark clouds surrounding the main cumulus cloud.
I managed to make those too in just the same single cloud layer, but the more I do to try to make this awesome, the longer it takes to render.
This took about a day, but the render settings are also quite extreme.
Title: Re: Another TG4 cloud example
Post by: Dune on May 27, 2016, 07:22:00 AM
Great cloud!
Title: Re: Another TG4 cloud example
Post by: AP on May 27, 2016, 07:24:09 AM
I would have thought two clouds layers as well. One layer for the base and one layer for the cloud convection.
Title: Re: Another TG4 cloud example
Post by: Kadri on May 27, 2016, 07:32:53 AM
Quote from: Tangled-Universe on May 27, 2016, 07:18:15 AM
Thanks guys :)

Quote from: Kadri on May 27, 2016, 07:12:47 AM

Nice. Are there two clouds?

No this is 1 cloud layer.

In some cumulus cloud you see "flat shelves" of dark clouds surrounding the main cumulus cloud.
I managed to make those too in just the same single cloud layer, but the more I do to try to make this awesome, the longer it takes to render.
This took about a day, but the render settings are also quite extreme.

Thanks.
Render times will be always a problem probably.
But at least this kind of cloud quality is hard to find in other software.
Title: Re: Another TG4 cloud example
Post by: mhaze on May 27, 2016, 07:52:59 AM
Beauty!
Title: Re: Another TG4 cloud example
Post by: KlausK on May 27, 2016, 08:02:55 AM
That is quite a beauty!
cheers, Klaus
Title: Re: Another TG4 cloud example
Post by: yossam on May 27, 2016, 11:01:12 AM
DAYUM................. ;D
Title: Re: Another TG4 cloud example
Post by: Hannes on May 27, 2016, 11:31:31 AM
Looks great, Martin! So how did you create the "shelf" and the main cumulus part inside one cloud layer? Or was it accidentally?
Title: Re: Another TG4 cloud example
Post by: Tangled-Universe on May 27, 2016, 04:07:23 PM
Cheers all of you :)

Quote from: Hannes on May 27, 2016, 11:31:31 AM
Looks great, Martin! So how did you create the "shelf" and the main cumulus part inside one cloud layer? Or was it accidentally?

"Accidents" still happen, fortunately in this context :)

However, it was no accident.
See the attachment for a screenshot of the node network.
Here's how it works in a nutshell:

Each colour adjust creates a gradient from black to white over a certain altitude range.
If you multiply those you can create a "altitude range mask" which specifies at which altitude range your cloud can exist.
The range is about 30 meters.
There's a 2nd set which creates a mask 100 meters above the other.
You add these together and a transform node allows you to easily move the whole thing up/down without having to re-enter values in the 4 colour adjust shaders, very handy.
The result you use as a blendshader for the fractal.
Despite that all the colour adjust nodes and the fractal is clamped, I did have to use a clamp scalar to make it work. Don't know why exactly, but it works!

In the end you simply use an "add scalar" node to add this shelf-setup to the cloud density network you built, very easy.

[attachimg=1]

Here's how it looks in the preview. I exaggerated the visibility of the layer quite a bit for demonstration purposes. You can clearly see (to me at least) the 2 altitude bands where the stretched and flattened cloud fractal exists in.

[attachimg=2]
Title: Re: Another TG4 cloud example
Post by: Upon Infinity on May 27, 2016, 04:14:59 PM
I guess release is pretty close, then, if PS is allowing you to post these samples?
Title: Re: Another TG4 cloud example
Post by: Hetzen on May 27, 2016, 05:10:27 PM
Interesting technique, I guess you're putting meter values in the colour adjust shaders. Lovely render.
Title: Re: Another TG4 cloud example
Post by: Jo Kariboo on May 27, 2016, 08:07:32 PM
Impressive!  :)
Title: Re: Another TG4 cloud example
Post by: masonspappy on May 27, 2016, 10:45:06 PM
Beauty! Now all it needs is a steampunk airship
Title: Re: Another TG4 cloud example
Post by: Hannes on May 28, 2016, 10:21:27 AM
Cool! Thanks, Martin! I'll save this trick in my "Cool tricks"-folder! ;)
Title: Re: Another TG4 cloud example
Post by: DocCharly65 on May 28, 2016, 11:49:10 AM
Very impressive!
Title: Re: Another TG4 cloud example
Post by: bobbystahr on June 05, 2016, 10:35:53 AM
Wow, if it took you that long it'd be a week on my computer...if TG4 will even eventually load into this box. Saved the info as did Hannes for later exploration.
Title: Re: Another TG4 cloud example
Post by: Tangled-Universe on June 05, 2016, 11:33:02 AM
Quote from: bobbystahr on June 05, 2016, 10:35:53 AM
Wow, if it took you that long it'd be a week on my computer...if TG4 will even eventually load into this box. Saved the info as did Hannes for later exploration.

I'm not sure if I understand what you mean with "if it took you that long"?
Also, what makes you think your box won't be able to load TG4? Where do you base that assumption on?
If your box can load TG2 then it can load TG4 ;)
Title: Re: Another TG4 cloud example
Post by: bobbystahr on June 05, 2016, 12:01:41 PM
Quote from: Tangled-Universe on June 05, 2016, 11:33:02 AM
Quote from: bobbystahr on June 05, 2016, 10:35:53 AM


I'm not sure if I understand what you mean with "if it took you that long"?
Also, what makes you think your box won't be able to load TG4? Where do you base that assumption on?
If your box can load TG2 then it can load TG4 ;)

That long on your machine which is likely waaaay more powerful than my 'budget box' pc...I believe Oshyan posted a while back that to get decent results you'd need an at least i5 processor is what I base my assumption on. I may be able to load it but most of the features will be beyond my puny pc and vid card...I will try no doubt but am not holding out false hopes for this pc for sure.
Title: Re: Another TG4 cloud example
Post by: Oshyan on June 05, 2016, 05:33:55 PM
As Martin said (or, similar), if you can run TG3 you can run TG4! In fact rendering (of same scene and detail level) will be *faster* in TG4 in most case. I think you are worrying unnecessarily here.

- Oshyan
Title: Re: Another TG4 cloud example
Post by: bobbystahr on June 07, 2016, 12:45:29 AM
Quote from: Oshyan on June 05, 2016, 05:33:55 PM
As Martin said (or, similar), if you can run TG3 you can run TG4! In fact rendering (of same scene and detail level) will be *faster* in TG4 in most case. I think you are worrying unnecessarily here.

- Oshyan

Thanks man. I musta got my wires crossed somewhere...sigh...not enjoying that part of retirement for sure...but this box really does need replacement...very sluggish compared to the one I fried the cpu on. Still I'll miss the pre-sale, emptied my bank account with property taxes...I guess I shouldn't complain really about owning a home...seems somehow ungrateful to the fates....but TG4 has me drooling heh heh heh
Title: Re: Another TG4 cloud example
Post by: AP on June 07, 2016, 03:28:32 AM
I am not certain if this has already been brought to attention or not. It would be interesting to have a new benchmark test for Terragen 4 when there is enough people settled into using the new version.
Title: Re: Another TG4 cloud example
Post by: ajcgi on June 07, 2016, 10:54:30 AM
Ooo that's clever. Very clever. Liking that a lot.
Title: Re: Another TG4 cloud example
Post by: Oshyan on June 07, 2016, 05:01:18 PM
I *should* note that even though rendering speeds will be faster in TG4, the RAM requirements will increase somewhat, depending on the scene. So if you're running into severe RAM issues Bobby, then it could be a concern. But again it depends on what's in the scene. Object-heavy scenes will need more RAM than before.

- Oshyan
Title: Re: Another TG4 cloud example
Post by: bobbystahr on June 07, 2016, 05:19:58 PM
Quote from: Oshyan on June 07, 2016, 05:01:18 PM
I *should* note that even though rendering speeds will be faster in TG4, the RAM requirements will increase somewhat, depending on the scene. So if you're running into severe RAM issues Bobby, then it could be a concern. But again it depends on what's in the scene. Object-heavy scenes will need more RAM than before.

- Oshyan

Noted, 32 G of RAM is on the new machine list already just because, good to know an average vid card will suffice, still tempted to go for that VR ready one I posted about though.
Title: Re: Another TG4 cloud example
Post by: masonspappy on June 07, 2016, 06:42:07 PM
Quote from: Oshyan on June 07, 2016, 05:01:18 PM
I *should* note that even though rendering speeds will be faster in TG4, the RAM requirements will increase somewhat, depending on the scene.

- Oshyan
Well, I'm ready to render whenever TG4 is released <nudge nudge> <hint hint> <wink wink>