Difference between revisions of "Easy Cloud"

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(Updated descriptions per meeting w/Matt and tweaked page layout. Added example images for Main tab Growth setting.)
m (Updated description, page layout, and example images for Main tab settings.)
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'''Settings:'''
 
'''Settings:'''
 
<ul>
 
<ul>
* '''Cloud Type:''' This popup has three options.
+
* '''Cloud Type:''' This popup menu contains options for three cloud types.  <u>Cumulus</u> clouds have flat bases and are low-level clouds, generally less than 2,0000 metres in altitude.  <u>Altocumulus Castellanus</u> clouds are named for the tower-like projections billowing upwards from their base, which can form as low as 2,000 metres or as high as 6,000 metres.  <u>Stratocumulus</u> clouds are characterized by large, dark, rounded masses which are usually in groups, lines or wave-like patterns.  Their individual elements are larger than those in Altocumulus and as a whole are usually at a lower height, below 2,000 metres.  
 
<ul>
 
<ul>
 
[[File:EasyCld_08_MainTab_CloudType.png|none|277px|Cloud types]]
 
[[File:EasyCld_08_MainTab_CloudType.png|none|277px|Cloud types]]
* <u>Cumulus:</u> This cloud type has flat bases and are low-level clouds, generally less than 2,000 metres in altitude.  
+
<!-- * <u>Cumulus:</u> This cloud type has flat bases and are low-level clouds, generally less than 2,000 metres in altitude.  
 
* <u>Altocumulus Castellanus:</u> This cloud type is named for its tower-like projections that billow upwards from the base of the cloud. The base of the cloud can form as low as 2,000 metres or as high as 6,000 metres.
 
* <u>Altocumulus Castellanus:</u> This cloud type is named for its tower-like projections that billow upwards from the base of the cloud. The base of the cloud can form as low as 2,000 metres or as high as 6,000 metres.
* <u>Stratocumulus:</u> This cloud type is characterized by large dark, rounded masses, usually in groups, lines, or waves, the individual elements being larger than those in altocumulus, and the whole being at a lower height, usually below 2,000 metres.  
+
* <u>Stratocumulus:</u> This cloud type is characterized by large dark, rounded masses, usually in groups, lines, or waves, the individual elements being larger than those in altocumulus, and the whole being at a lower height, usually below 2,000 metres. -->
 
</ul>
 
</ul>
* '''Model: ''' This popup has two options.
+
* '''Model: ''' This popup menu has two options that track the development of Easy Clouds. Model  <u>TG 3.9.07</u> is a refinement of <u>TG 3.9.04</u>.  In some situations, however,  <u>TG 3.9.04</u> can look better, and is especially good for producing rougher and more billowy clouds.
 +
 
 
<ul>
 
<ul>
 
[[File:EasyCld_09_MainTab_ModelType.png|none|195px|Model types]]
 
[[File:EasyCld_09_MainTab_ModelType.png|none|195px|Model types]]
* <u>TG 3.9.04:</u>
+
<!-- * <u>TG 3.9.04:</u>
* <u>TG 3.9.07:</u>
+
* <u>TG 3.9.07:</u> -->
 
</ul>
 
</ul>
 
* '''Coverage: '''This setting controls the amount of clouds within the cloud layer as defined by its '''Radius''' setting.  Low values reduce the amount of individual clouds and increase the amount of empty space between them.  Increasing the value fills up the area with more individual clouds.
 
* '''Coverage: '''This setting controls the amount of clouds within the cloud layer as defined by its '''Radius''' setting.  Low values reduce the amount of individual clouds and increase the amount of empty space between them.  Increasing the value fills up the area with more individual clouds.
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|}
 
|}
 
</ul>
 
</ul>
* '''Cloud base altitude: '''This setting is the altitude at the base of the Easy Cloud.
+
* '''Cloud base altitude: '''This setting is the altitude at the base of the "Easy cloud".
* '''Cloud depth: '''This setting controls the height, or depth, of the cloud starting from its base altitude.  For example, if the '''Cloud depth''' value was 1,000 metres and the '''Cloud base altitude''' value was 500 metres, then the cloud would extend from 500 metres to 1,500 metres in height.
+
* '''Cloud depth: '''This setting controls the height, or depth, of the "Easy cloud" starting from its base altitude.  For example, if the '''Cloud depth''' value was 1,000 metres and the '''Cloud base altitude''' value was 500 metres, then the "Easy cloud" would extend from 500 metres to 1,500 metres in height.
* '''Localized: '''For Easy Cloud presets this setting is enabled and can not be edited.
+
<ul>
* '''Center: '''This setting represents the position of the cloud.
+
[[ File:EasyCld_102_MainTab_BaseAltitude.png|none|266px|Easy Cloud base altitude and depth example]]
* '''Radius: '''This setting defines the maximum extent of the cloud layer.
+
</ul>
 +
* '''Localized: '''For "Easy cloud" presets this setting is enabled and can not be edited.
 +
* '''Centre: '''This setting is the position coordinates of the cloud layer within the project.  For “Easy clouds” the “Y” axis value will attempt to sync to the '''Cloud base altitude''' setting and update automatically as the '''Cloud base altitude''' value is changed.
 +
* '''Radius: '''This setting defines the maximum extent of the "Easy cloud" layer.  
 +
<ul>
 +
[[File:EasyCld_101_MainTab_Radius.jpg|none|800px|Easy cloud layer radius shows up as dotted circle.]]
 +
</ul>
 
* '''Edge sharpness: '''
 
* '''Edge sharpness: '''
* '''Cloud density: '''This setting controls the transparency or opaqueness of the clouds within the cloud layer. Low values make the clouds look thin and let more light pass through them. Higher values make the clouds look thicker and denser, as well as darker because less light passes through them.
+
* '''Cloud density: '''This setting and the '''Edge sharpness''' setting control the transparency or opaqueness of the clouds within the cloud layer. Low values make the clouds look thin and let more light pass through them. Higher values make the clouds look thicker and denser, as well as darker because less light passes through them.  Generally speaking we recommend using the '''Cloud density setting''' because the automatic sampling adjustments that derive from the '''Ray-marching quality''' setting under the Quality tab are more strongly influenced by '''Cloud density''' than by '''Edge sharpness'''.  In other words, if you set '''Cloud density''' value very high, the render quality will adjust accordingly to keep the noise levels the same, but if you do this with '''Edge sharpness''' value it will not increase sampling to the same degree, meaning that you might have to increase the '''Ray-marching quality''' value much higher than is typical for most scenes.
  
 
</ul>
 
</ul>

Revision as of 02:31, 2 October 2020

Easy Cloud


Overview[edit]

“Easy clouds” are a set of presets accessed via the Add Cloud Layer menu and based on Cloud Layer V3 technology that provides a quick and easy way to create real world cloud types such as Altocumulus and Cirrocumulus with extremely realistic results including subtle features, details and highly plausible cloud shapes.

Easy cloud presets highlighted in red.

Settings:

    • Enable: When unchecked, or disabled, the cloud layer is completely turned off and will no longer contribute to the scene.
    • Enable primary: When unchecked, or disabled, the cloud layer will not be visible to the camera and will not show up in renders. However, if the Enable secondary checkbox is checked the cloud layer will still affect scene lighting and be visible in reflections.
    • Enable secondary: When unchecked, or disabled, the cloud layer will not influence scene lighting or be visible in reflections.
    • Move textures with cloud: When checked, or enabled, the fractal noise patterns that internally define the cloud layer moves with the cloud layer as it’s repositioned using the Centre setting. When unchecked, or disabled, repositioning the cloud layer using the Centre setting causes a different part of the fractal noise pattern to be visible as the cloud layer.
    • Seed: The seed value controls the noise pattern generated. Each seed value generates a slightly different pattern. You can either set the value manually or use the Random Seed button at right to generate a random value.
    • Mask by shader (BETA): When checked, or enabled, this shader is masked by the shader or function node assigned to this setting.


Main Tab[edit]

Main Tab

Settings:

    • Cloud Type: This popup menu contains options for three cloud types. Cumulus clouds have flat bases and are low-level clouds, generally less than 2,0000 metres in altitude. Altocumulus Castellanus clouds are named for the tower-like projections billowing upwards from their base, which can form as low as 2,000 metres or as high as 6,000 metres. Stratocumulus clouds are characterized by large, dark, rounded masses which are usually in groups, lines or wave-like patterns. Their individual elements are larger than those in Altocumulus and as a whole are usually at a lower height, below 2,000 metres.
      Cloud types
    • Model: This popup menu has two options that track the development of Easy Clouds. Model TG 3.9.07 is a refinement of TG 3.9.04. In some situations, however, TG 3.9.04 can look better, and is especially good for producing rougher and more billowy clouds.
      Model types
    • Coverage: This setting controls the amount of clouds within the cloud layer as defined by its Radius setting. Low values reduce the amount of individual clouds and increase the amount of empty space between them. Increasing the value fills up the area with more individual clouds.
      Coverage = 0.4
      Coverage = 1.0
    • Variation: This setting controls the visibility of very large scale noise patterns within the cloud layer. It can reduce the cloud’s density in some places and increase it in other places. Likewise, it can reduce the cloud’s coverage in some places and increase it in others. This parameter is useful for generating randomness and is most noticeable when viewing a large expanse of the cloud layer, and when the cloud layer covers an area much larger than the depth of the cloud. When working with smaller clouds it tends to push them in random directions.
      Variation = 0.2
      Variation = 1.0
    • Growth: This setting constricts or expands the individual clouds within the cloud layer. Lowering the value causes the clouds to appear to evaporate, losing size and becoming more transparent. Raising the value causes each cloud to expand, and become more dense and opaque.
      Growth = 0
      Growth = 1
    • Cloud base altitude: This setting is the altitude at the base of the "Easy cloud".
    • Cloud depth: This setting controls the height, or depth, of the "Easy cloud" starting from its base altitude. For example, if the Cloud depth value was 1,000 metres and the Cloud base altitude value was 500 metres, then the "Easy cloud" would extend from 500 metres to 1,500 metres in height.
      Easy Cloud base altitude and depth example
    • Localized: For "Easy cloud" presets this setting is enabled and can not be edited.
    • Centre: This setting is the position coordinates of the cloud layer within the project. For “Easy clouds” the “Y” axis value will attempt to sync to the Cloud base altitude setting and update automatically as the Cloud base altitude value is changed.
    • Radius: This setting defines the maximum extent of the "Easy cloud" layer.
      Easy cloud layer radius shows up as dotted circle.
    • Edge sharpness:
    • Cloud density: This setting and the Edge sharpness setting control the transparency or opaqueness of the clouds within the cloud layer. Low values make the clouds look thin and let more light pass through them. Higher values make the clouds look thicker and denser, as well as darker because less light passes through them. Generally speaking we recommend using the Cloud density setting because the automatic sampling adjustments that derive from the Ray-marching quality setting under the Quality tab are more strongly influenced by Cloud density than by Edge sharpness. In other words, if you set Cloud density value very high, the render quality will adjust accordingly to keep the noise levels the same, but if you do this with Edge sharpness value it will not increase sampling to the same degree, meaning that you might have to increase the Ray-marching quality value much higher than is typical for most scenes.


Colour Tab[edit]

Colour Tab

Settings:

    • Cloud colour: This setting controls the colour of the cloud. Displayed beneath the setting is a readout indicating the level of albedo, which is a measurement of reflected light. The maximum albedo possible In the real world is 100% and a Cloud colour value of 0.25 can result in 100% albedo if the clouds are dense enough due to the way volumetric colours are calibrated in Terragen. For realistic looking cloud layers, it is recommended to keep the albedo value to around 100%.
    Cloud colour = 0.25 (sRGB 135,135,135)
    Cloud colour = 0.5 (sRGB 135,135,135)
    Cloud colour = 0.5 (sRGB 165,160,186)
    Cloud colour = 0.5 (sRGB 183,140,108)


Lighting Tab[edit]

Lighting Tab


Silver lining and dark edges

The bright outline along the edge of the cloud known as the “silver lining” occurs when light is scattered by cloud droplets along the cloud's outer edge. This contrast between the change in brightness with respect to the angle of the sun, is most clearly seen when the clouds are back-lit by the sun. When the values of the Sun glow amount and Sun glow power settings are set to 0, light is scattered uniformly in all directions decreasing the “silver lining” phenomenon.

Sun heading = 360 degrees.  In front of the observer's position.
Sun heading = 348 degrees.  In front and to the left of the observer's position.
Sun heading = 270 degrees.  To the left of observer's position.
Sun heading = 180 degrees. Behind observer's position.
Sun heading = 90 degrees.  To the right of the observer's position.
Sun heading = 22 degrees. In front and to the right of the observer's position.
    • Sun glow amount:
    Sun glow amount = 0.2
    Sun glow amount = 2.0 (default)
    • Sun glow power:
    Sun glow power = 0.5
    Sun glow power = 2.5


Multiple scattering

  • Softness:
    Softness = 0
    Softness = 3 (default)
    Softness = 6
  • Param B: This setting is not implemented in Easy Clouds and can not be edited.
  • Param C:
    Param C = 0.0
    Param C = 0.25 (default)
    Param C = 1.0


Light received from environment

  • Enviro light: As of Terragen 4.5 this setting has no effect on the cloud layer.
  • Enviro light tint: As of Terragen 4.5 this setting has no effect on the cloud layer.


Tweaks Tab[edit]

Tweaks Tab

Settings:

    • Direct light modulator: The shader or function assigned to this setting is used as a multiplier to the direct lighting which illuminates the cloud layer, it has no effect on areas of the cloud illuminated by indirect lighting (global illumination). It can be used to modify the colour or brightness of a cloud layer where it encounters direct lighting.
      Direct light modulator off.
      Red Constant colour shader applied as Direct light modulator.
      Power fractal applied as Direct light modulator.
    • Environment light modulator: As of Terragen 4.5 this setting has no effect on the cloud layer.
    • Ambient light modulator: The shader or function assigned to this setting is used as a multiplier to the cloud layer’s Ambient setting value. In order for the modulator to have an effect the Ambient value must be greater than 0.
      Ambient colour and intensity only.
      Ambient modulated by a Power fractal shader.
      Ambient off.  Ambient modulator off.
      Ambient modulated by Power fractal shader, other project lights on.
    • Shadow function:
      Shadow function off.
      Shadow function using Distant shader.
    • Ambient: This setting defines a colour and intensity which is added to the lighting that illuminates the cloud layer. While disabled by default, so that only direct and indirect lighting (global illumination) affect the cloud layer, a practical example for using this setting would be to increase the overall brightness of the cloud layer. The colour and intensity of the Ambient setting can be modulated by the Ambient light modulator setting.
      No ambient.
      Ambient = 1.0
    • Fake dark power: This setting is intended for planetary orbit views, as a way to artificially darken the cloud layer if it appears too bright, especially near the terminator, the line that divides the daylit side and the dark night side of a planetary body. Higher values increase the darkness of the cloud layers.
      Fake dark power = 0.
      Fake dark power = 1.
    • Fake dark sharpness: This setting is intended for planetary orbit views, as a way to artificially adjust the falloff of the terminator line on the cloud layer. In order for this setting to have an effect, the Fake dark power setting must be greater than 0. Higher values result in a quicker falloff or sharper transition.
      Fake dark sharpness = 10 (default)
      Fake sharp darkness = 1000


Anim Tab[edit]

Anim Tab

Settings:

    • Enable drift: When checked, allows the clouds to drift at the speed and heading defined by the Drift speed (m/s) and Drift heading (degrees) values.
    • Drift speed (m/s): Determines the rate at which the clouds move. Note that the cloud layer itself does not drift.
    • Drift heading (degrees): Determines the direction in which the clouds are moving. Note, that the cloud layer itself does not rotate to face in the direction of the Drift heading (degrees).
    • Enable evolution: When checked, allows the clouds to evolve at the rate of speed and in the direction as defined by the Evolution speed (m/s) value and Evolution method options.
    • Evolution speed (m/s): Determines how rapidly the shape of the cloud layer changes over time, by moving its internal textures in the direction defined by the Evolution method. The larger the value the greater the shape changes each frame.
    • Evolution method: This popup has four options that determine the direction in which the cloud shapes evolve.
      Evolution methods
      • Move all textures upwards:
      • Move all textures downwards:
      • Move height texture upwards:
      • Move height texture downwards:
    • Frames per second: Determines the frame rate for calculating cloud drift and evolution. For example, if a cloud were to drift 1 meter in 1 second at 24 frames per second, then the clouds would drift approximately 0.042 meters each frame. At a higher Frames per second value, the cloud would take more frames to move the 1 meter and appear to be drifting or evolving slower.
    • Reference frame number: This is the frame at which changing the Evolution speed (m/s) and Evolution method values have no effect. For example, if the reference frame value is 1, then frame 1 will look the same no matter what the Evolution speed (m/s) and Evolution method values are set to. All other frames are calculated according to the time difference from this frame.
    • Time warp (control frame number using Animation Panel): When checked, allows the Drift speed (m/s) and Evolution speed (m/s) values, which are constant values, to be driven by the Warped frame number value. For example, if the cloud drifted at a constant rate of 1 meter per second at 24 frames per second, you could make the cloud drift twice as slow by setting a keyframe for the Warped frame number at frame 1 with a value of 1, and a second keyframe at frame 48 with a value of 24. Note, the interpolation mode for the keyframes is set in the Animation panel, and in this example should be set to “Linear” to ensure that the cloud drifts and evolves at a consistent rate.
    • Warped frame number: On any given frame the current value of this setting, whether animated or not, keyframed or interpolated, determines the frame for the Drift speed (m/s) and Evolution speed (m/s) of the cloud. For example, if the current frame is 100, and the Warped frame number is 2, the clouds will appear as they were evaluated on frame 2. In subsequent frames, if the Warped fame number remains at 2, the clouds will appear to remain in place and not drift or evolve. With the Warped frame number setting it is possible to create slow motion or time lapsed effects.


    Example movies:


Quality Tab[edit]

Quality Tab

Settings:

    • Rendering method: This popup menu has two options which determine the way in which the cloud layer is rendered. Easy clouds are based on 3D volumetric data therefore the 2D rendering method is not recommended.
      Render methods
      • 2D: This rendering method samples one point per pixel midway between the base and top of the cloud layer.
      • 3D (volumetric): This rendering method uses ray marching to accumulate the density of the cloud layer. The clouds are based on procedural 3D textures.
    • Ray-marching quality: This setting provides a way to reduce render times by evaluating fewer samples within the volume along the ray. In many circumstances the quality of a rendered image using the default value of 0.5 is almost indistinguishable to the quality at a value of 1.0 but at a faster render time. Using too low a value, such as 0.1 or less, can cause the shadows cast by the cloud layer onto itself, to appear lighter or more diminished.
      Ray marching quality = 0.1
      Ray marching quality = 1.0
    • Sample jitter: This setting provides an offset for each ray-marched segment of the volume being sampled. A value of 0 means the sample point is located at the center of each ray-marched segment being evaluated, which may introduce “banding” in the final rendered cloud layer. A value of 1, shifts the sample point along the ray, but still within the ray-marched segment being evaluated. This introduces noise into the final rendered cloud layer, however the anti-aliasing process averages all the neighboring rays together to create a better approximation of the volume being sampled.
      Sample jitter = 0
      Sample jitter = 1
    • Receive shadows from surfaces:
      Receive shadows from surfaces = Off
      Receive shadows from surfaces = On
    • Smallest scale: This setting controls the smallest scale in metres for the internal fractal patterns that make up the Easy Cloud layer. Each time the value is lowered by 0.5 an additional octave is created for every internal fractal pattern in the Easy Cloud layer, which in turn will increase render times.
      Smallest scale = 60
      Smallest scale = 100
      Smallest scale = 500
    • Add micro wisps: When checked, or enabled, a fractal pattern is used internally by the Easy Cloud layer to introduce wisp-like detail into the edges of the clouds.
      Micro wisps on.
      Micro wisps off.


Optimisation Tab[edit]

Optimisation Tab

Settings:

    • Acceleration cache: This popup provides five options that may allow the cloud layer to render faster. The Acceleration cache is like a high resolution voxel buffer in which each option increases the size of the sample point by a factor of two. Unfortunately, this can also introduce unwanted artifacts into the rendered image, especially when the camera is looking towards the sun, and for this reason the recommended setting is None (highest detail). The Acceleration cache only affects shadows and reflections cast by the cloud layer.
      Acceleration cache options
    • Use 2D shadow map: Shadow maps were originally designed to avoid long render times when extreme Anti-aliasing values would not resolve noise issues in the shadows cast by a cloud layer. When enabled, this setting generates a 2D map for the cloud layer at the start of the render process. You can think of the shadow map as a 2D image of the cloud layer’s density values from the top view. Internally, Terragen positions the shadow map at approximately the center of the cloud layer on the “Y” axis and as rays are traced through the cloud layer the density values are used to modify the lighting. Shadow maps can be used to cast shadows onto the terrain, objects and other cloud layers, but not the cloud layer itself. While typically faster than ray tracing volumes, certain cloud types such as Easy Clouds, require a voxel buffer to be calculated anyways, so for these cloud types we recommend not using 2D shadow maps.
    • Shadow map resolution: These values determine the width and height of the shadow map created for the cloud layer. Higher values take longer to calculate but result in more detail, while lower values tend to be softer and have less contrast, due to less detail. The cloud layer’s Radius value plays an important role in determining the level of detail of the shadow map. For example, a cloud layer with a Radius value of 50,000 metres and mapped into 200 pixel by 200 pixel shadow map will appear softer than a cloud layer with a Radius value of 20,000 metres mapped into the same resolution.
      Shadow map resolution = 200 x 200
      Shadow map resolution = 400 x 400
      Shadow map resolution = 800 x 800
      Shadow map resolution = 1600 x 1600
      Shadow map resolution = off
    • Shadow map blur radius: When a cloud layer is animated its shape can potentially change every frame which could introduce ”flickering” into the shadows cast by it. The Shadow map blur radius was designed to reduce the flickering by blurring the shadow map for the cloud layer. These values determine the blur radius in pixels to apply to the shadow map after it has been internally rendered, therefore the Shadow map resolution values are important to take into consideration. For example, a Shadow map blur radius value of 2 will have a greater softening effect on a Shadow map resolution of 100 pixels by 100 pixels compared to a Shadow map resolution of 1000 pixels by 1000 pixels. The higher the Shadow map blur radius value the softer, or more blurred, the shadow map will be.
      Blur radius = 0
      Blur radius = 0.5
      Blur radius = 1
      Blur radius = 2
    • Use voxel buffer: When enabled, a voxel buffer is created based on the Millions of voxels value. For Easy Cloud presets the setting is automatically enabled and ghosted because these cloud types require the voxel buffer to calculate light scattering.
    • Millions of voxels: Sets the maximum number of sample points, or voxels, that will be generated to form the voxel buffer. Higher values create more sample points, which results in having more detail in which to calculate shadow and lighting solutions. This can have a large effect on both render times and RAM use.
    • Voxel buffer resolution: Automatically distributes the Millions of voxels value in a grid-like pattern across the three axes of the voxel buffer.
    • Accelerate empty space: When enabled, empty voxels in the voxel buffer are first identified in order that they may be skipped and not calculated during the render. This can result in render speed improvements on certain types of clouds such as those used globally.
    • Visualise voxels: When enabled, the voxel buffer for the cloud layer is displayed in the 3D Preview and used for rendering the cloud layer itself.
      Millions of voxels = 0.02
      Millions of voxels = 1
      Millions of voxels = Off
    • Use voxels for shadows: When enabled, the voxel buffer for the cloud layer will be used for cast shadows. This can result in faster render times and avoid noisy shadows, but may produce shadows with less detail.
    • Transition dist. (voxels): This setting, measured in voxels, is the transition point at which shadows are calculated using the cloud layer’s actual volume instead of voxels. This leads to more accurately cast shadows when the shadow rays are shorter, such as bouncing around inside the cloud or when close to the terrain.


A shader is a program or set of instructions used in 3D computer graphics to determine the final surface properties of an object or image. This can include arbitrarily complex descriptions of light absorption and diffusion, texture mapping, reflection and refraction, shadowing, surface displacement and post-processing effects. In Terragen 2 shaders are used to construct and modify almost every element of a scene.

A parameter is an individual setting in a node parameter view which controls some aspect of the node.

A single element of an image which describes values for color and/or intensity, depending on the color system which the image uses. Groups of ordered pixels together form a raster image.

A sample refers to a value or set of values at a point in time and/or space. The defining point of a sample is that it is a chosen value out of a continuous signal. In Terragen 2 it is usually a mathematical (procedural) function that is being sampled.