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General => Terragen Discussion => Topic started by: PeterParker on January 22, 2018, 11:49:50 AM

Title: Cumulus Clouds
Post by: PeterParker on January 22, 2018, 11:49:50 AM
Hello guys!

Anyone knows how to create some awesome Cumulus Clouds before a thunderstorm like shown in the attached pic.?
I most get flat and uninspiring results.

[attach=1]

Thanks a lot for your help
I appreciate it

Regards
Peter
Title: Re: Cumulus Clouds
Post by: luvsmuzik on January 22, 2018, 05:53:33 PM
Have you visited the File Sharing section, specifically Cloud Library? Some amazing examples on the last few pages along with free clip files and tgd.
Title: Re: Cumulus Clouds
Post by: bobbystahr on January 24, 2018, 02:24:09 AM
Quote from: PeterParker on January 22, 2018, 11:49:50 AM
Hello guys!

Anyone knows how to create some awesome Cumulus Clouds before a thunderstorm like shown in the attached pic.?
I most get flat and uninspiring results.

[attach=1]

Thanks a lot for your help
I appreciate it

Regards
Peter


try this as well...I found it informative

http://www.store.nwdastore.com/catalog/search?keyword=free
Title: Re: Cumulus Clouds
Post by: PeterParker on January 24, 2018, 08:21:04 AM
Thanks a lot for your answers :-)

Yes, i´ve seen already the Cloud section, but i´m not satisfied with the result, as you can see in the following picture:

First Picture with the new Cloud Modell: Can´t Modell anything cause i´ve only Heights, Tweaks and Quality tabs

[attach=2]

Second Picture: Old Cloud Modell Frank´s thunderhat: Flat, complete whiteout and looks not satisfied at all
Here you have more options but the result is poor

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: Cumulus Clouds
Post by: luvsmuzik on January 24, 2018, 09:38:33 AM
What version of Terragen are you using?
Title: Re: Cumulus Clouds
Post by: PeterParker on January 24, 2018, 11:20:51 AM
Quote from: luvsmuzik on January 24, 2018, 09:38:33 AM
What version of Terragen are you using?

I´m using Version 4.1.18
Title: Re: Cumulus Clouds
Post by: luvsmuzik on January 24, 2018, 11:26:39 AM
So is this an old cloud clip made in a previous version with limited control box? It looks quite dense if you can adjust density or lighting?
Title: Re: Cumulus Clouds
Post by: cyphyr on January 24, 2018, 11:28:43 AM
A lot of how clouds look depends on where the sun (or light source) is. In your image at the top of the page the sun is behind the clouds and in your latest image it is in front.
Try moving the sun behind the cloud and experiment with making it higher or lower in the sky. Also experiment with the density settings of the cloud.

edit: Also the image at the top is viewed from underneath the clouds with the camera looking nearly vertically up (well at least 45deg!) You can tell by the dark blue of the sky.
Title: Re: Cumulus Clouds
Post by: PeterParker on January 25, 2018, 08:10:22 AM
Quote from: luvsmuzik on January 24, 2018, 11:26:39 AM
So is this an old cloud clip made in a previous version with limited control box? It looks quite dense if you can adjust density or lighting?

Yes this is an old clip format, seems Terragen cant handle it anymore.
Title: Re: Cumulus Clouds
Post by: PeterParker on January 25, 2018, 08:42:48 AM
Quote from: cyphyr on January 24, 2018, 11:28:43 AM
A lot of how clouds look depends on where the sun (or light source) is. In your image at the top of the page the sun is behind the clouds and in your latest image it is in front.
Try moving the sun behind the cloud and experiment with making it higher or lower in the sky. Also experiment with the density settings of the cloud.

edit: Also the image at the top is viewed from underneath the clouds with the camera looking nearly vertically up (well at least 45deg!) You can tell by the dark blue of the sky.

Hello cyphyr,

it makes no different whether the sun is before or behind the clouds. The result is the same.
What is better when it comes to rendering: Defer/Atmo Clouds tickt on or increasing the Atmosphere-Samples?
Defer/Atmo Clouds have always a grainy look. Maybe the settings are not properly set by myself.
Any suggestion?
Title: Re: Cumulus Clouds
Post by: Kadri on January 25, 2018, 12:16:20 PM
I haven't seen any problem in this kind of way with old clouds (can be a bug or whatever of course).
Getting rid of the things you don't want to share and uploading the TGD file here would be the easiest way to get help.
Title: Re: Cumulus Clouds
Post by: cyphyr on January 25, 2018, 12:41:58 PM
If you are using "Easy Clouds" or Cloud Layer V3 you may get better results by increasing the number of voxels from the default 50 (million) to something higher. However do try moving the sun some more. I'm getting improved results with a default easy cloud and a lowered sun. The default render settings should be fine.
If you can post the file I'm sure we could figure out a solution or spot if it's a bug.
Title: Re: Cumulus Clouds
Post by: Oshyan on January 25, 2018, 04:52:22 PM
Old clips should still be compatible.

The issues you're seeing - overall lack of shading detail, uniform lighting - should not be due to the default voxel settings. But I assume you are not using v3 clouds here since you mentioned these are old clip files.

The only way to know for sure is if you share your TGD to look at, either here or to support AT planetside.co.uk.

- Oshyan
Title: Re: Cumulus Clouds
Post by: PeterParker on January 26, 2018, 07:21:18 AM
Ok, thank you Oshyan.
Here you have it.

Thank you for your help.

Title: Re: Cumulus Clouds
Post by: Tangled-Universe on January 26, 2018, 11:20:35 AM
You are using a V2 cloud and the cloud colour is set >0.25, so by definition it will become brighter than white, since white has an albedo of 100 (this is what TG shows you, it's 177% now).
I reduced the cloud and scattering colour values by 50% and it looks better already.
Title: Re: Cumulus Clouds
Post by: cyphyr on January 26, 2018, 11:22:13 AM
It's your Acceleration Cache mainly. Try switching it from None to Highest.
And what TU says is completely right too.
Title: Re: Cumulus Clouds
Post by: luvsmuzik on January 26, 2018, 02:05:34 PM
my attempt
Title: Re: Cumulus Clouds
Post by: AP on January 26, 2018, 11:27:05 PM
Another edit using the Cloud layer v3 shader.
Title: Re: Cumulus Clouds
Post by: PeterParker on January 27, 2018, 07:45:19 AM
Thank you all for your help :-)

Especially thanks to AP for turnings Franks "old" Clouds into good looking shapes, thumbs up!  :D

Title: Re: Cumulus Clouds
Post by: bobbystahr on January 27, 2018, 09:41:13 AM
Great thread and a fine conclusion...way t go folks.
Title: Re: Cumulus Clouds, So...
Post by: bobbystahr on January 27, 2018, 12:14:31 PM
...having never tried Frank's Thunderhead I decided to and weird of weird, I can't get the sun blocked behind the cloud. The attachment has the same scene with no changes except the clouds and atmo and I have the same settings in both re: shadows.
Title: Re: Cumulus Clouds
Post by: AP on January 28, 2018, 04:32:39 AM
Quote from: PeterParker on January 27, 2018, 07:45:19 AM
Thank you all for your help :-)

Especially thanks to AP for turnings Franks "old" Clouds into good looking shapes, thumbs up!  :D

You are welcome. The only settings that were changed is the Cloud layer from v2 to v3. The Density fractal is unchanged, however the overall cloud patterns may still require some additional changes to better resemble a Thunderhead.
Title: Re: Cumulus Clouds
Post by: luvsmuzik on January 28, 2018, 01:16:09 PM
this link about Parameter C comes in handy  also

http://www.planetside.co.uk/forums/index.php/topic,21754.msg218651.html#msg218651
Title: Re: Cumulus Clouds
Post by: PeterParker on January 29, 2018, 09:58:27 AM
@AP
Thanks again the clouds looks stunning  :o
Great! :-)

@ luvsmuzik

Great advice :-)