Gas giant clouds

[N-drju]

Since I'm not going to obtain TG3 anytime soon (as money doesn't grow even on Xfrog trees ) I started wondering if I could possibly create something like cloud "whirlpools" in TG2 (and I believe there is such an option in TG3 already.) The aim is to create planets that look like gas giants.

Initially I experimented a little with clouds, trying to warp them and so on, but with rather mediocre effects. However, I thought of something better and probably easier.

This time, I'll try to create a current of clouds using a pre-made blending shader from a grey-scale picture drawn in Photoshop. I'll try to use the spiral tool (or whatever it is called, I'll check) to create a sort of whirlpool mask. Then, hopefully, the cloud layer with blending shader attached to a fractal will have visible "arms" and start spinning!

If this works out, I might just post in some images. If according to you this post should belong to "Image sharing" feel free to move it. I had trouble making decision here.

[TheBadger]

You posted in the right section, I believe.

The answer to your question is yes, you can do all in TG2. The "Vortex shader" is just a really nice thing they put in TG3, it can make things much more simple. But you dont need it.

go to file search, and search for both hurricane, and gas giants. you will find .TGDs of each. as well as clip files.

study the .tgd(s) that you find.

Then make your own just as you envisioned it.

[N-drju]

Actually I made my first cloud twirl right after work and it was THAT simple.  Well, almost - I had to tweak the node network a little bit. I'll post the image later, so stay tuned. 

[masonspappy]

... as money doesn't grow even on Xfrog trees ...

Beg to differ. We keep a few around for tax time and Christmas.

[N-drju]

Betula Pecunialis?

Great! Where can I get the seeds?

[N-drju]

Okay, as I promised I am posting the images of cyclone clouds I was trying to make. I did not use vortex shaders or any functions. Just as I mentioned there's only a grey-scale image of spiral. What I had to do in order to make the clouds look right was to use the standard cloud shader in "density shader" and plug the grey scale image as a "final depth modulator." Simple.  The first image shows how it all looks from a low orbit. The other pic shows the appearance of clouds from about 7km altitude.

[attach=1]

[attach=2]

Good for starters.

The obvious problems here are a scarcity of clouds in each of the arms and the fact that the arms are very narrow. I would like to see it thicker and broader. I think that this is mostly the problem of an image processing program. I'll tweak the grey-scale image yet. Then I'll have to find a way to get the clouds more varied.

[TheBadger]

play with this yet? http://www.planetside.co.uk/forums/index.php/topic,11655.msg118271.html#msg118271

[N-drju]

Impressive! Guess I'll put my hans to it now, you found me weekend activity. Thanks for the link Badger!