Using a single cloud layer.
1: I propose having the option to add many colors to a cloud. For example in reality a single cloud can be white to dark grey due to the moisture content in the cloud i think, what ever the case is, this is a needed feature.
2: Add the option to add a different fractal noise along any point of the cloud/s. For example you can have a tall cloud with billowy tops but have a turbulent rigid noise along the lower/side edges. I see clouds like this all of the time.
Of course multiple internal light scattering had already been mention even though this is needed as well.
I would have brought these up a long time ago but forgot to. :P
I think you can do all of this already:
1) the cloud color and scattering color give you control over the cloud colors. However, often you don't get the colors you;'ve chosen since it is heavily affected by density, edge sharpness, lighting and the cloudfractal.
2) Like you can restrict surfaces to height you can do this also with cloudfractals. You should be able to do this using distribution- and merge-shaders to combine the cloudfractals.
3) Would be nice indeed :)
4) To add to your suggestions: more fractal noise flavours ;D
In summary, clouds are a b*tch :P You can get very nice results quite easily, but when you want to get very realistic results the learning curve becomes very steep quickly.
Martin
The cloud color variations i would like to see would be having a power fractal to drive the colors in the primary color dialog itself.
I do not want to combine cloud fractals because i do not think the fractals would line up to well say i had a perlin on one and a rigid perlin on the other using the same seed. Rather, i would like to see a way of using varying fractals on one cloud layer only all controlled by XYZ distribution and elevation.
Quote from: AL33 on March 10, 2010, 05:22:21 PM
1) The cloud color variations i would like to see would be having a power fractal to drive the colors in the primary color dialog itself.
2) I do not want to combine cloud fractals because i do not think the fractals would line up to well say i had a perlin on one and a rigid perlin on the other using the same seed. Rather, i would like to see a way of using varying fractals on one cloud layer only all controlled by XYZ distribution and elevation.
1) well ok...I thought you were only interested in a gradient from dark grey to white. That is certainly possible and often seen in renders here. If you want other (perhaps more colorful) effects, you might indeed need the option to drive colors using a fractal.
2) thinking that fractals would not line up well has some truth, but actually it is really possible and you already gave the answer yourself. You can easily combine different fractal flavors, control XYZ distribution (using distribution shaders and translate shaders).
Did you try any of these yet?
Quote from: Tangled-Universe on March 10, 2010, 05:43:07 PM
1) well ok...I thought you were only interested in a gradient from dark grey to white. That is certainly possible and often seen in renders here. If you want other (perhaps more colorful) effects, you might indeed need the option to drive colors using a fractal.
2) thinking that fractals would not line up well has some truth, but actually it is really possible and you already gave the answer yourself. You can easily combine different fractal flavors, control XYZ distribution (using distribution shaders and translate shaders).
Did you try any of these yet?
Nah, i should have been more specific about what i was getting at. ;D I think i might have another solution to this soon.
I think i may be able to try number 2 as well. Back to the drawing board.
We definitely have plans to make cloud control more powerful. Not sure if these specific ideas are in the pipeline, or would be the best enhancements, but it's definitely something we consider to be a key feature of TG2 and know we need to keep enhancing it.
- Oshyan
I like the sound of that Oshyan ;)
- Terje
Well, option 1 and 2 did not work. Reason being is i think the features are simply just not there i tend to think. I will wait until Planetside has a future solution as long as i have to.
Quote from: AL33 on March 15, 2010, 07:01:25 PM
Well, option 1 and 2 did not work. Reason being is i think the features are simply just not there i tend to think. I will wait until Planetside has a future solution as long as i have to.
What/how did you try?
I did exactly what you said and nothing impressed me to keep going so i gave up. No worries, this is nothing new for me anyways.
Think they'll ever be light refraction so we can make artifical sundogs and rainbows?
Quote from: kevnar on March 15, 2010, 08:27:27 PM
Think they'll ever be light refraction so we can make artifical sundogs and rainbows?
Actually simulating the refraction realistically would probably be far too computationally intensive. Might as well just "fake" it convincingly. ;D
- Oshyan
Agreed.