Another example, and some answers:

As many deduced, and Gilles illustrated, the clouds are POV-Ray pigments
billboarded onto semi-transparent objects.  And, as Gilles pointed out, I
first posted an example of this back in Sep 2000 (see
http://news.povray.org/povray.binaries.images/12959/).

I recently sat down with 3.5, though, and attacked the idea again with all
of the new features available.  However, after trying various pattern
functions I discovered my original 3.1 code gave faster, more attractive
results.  These last two postings, then, don't use any 3.5 features - no
function patterns or otherwise.

From my experiments, I would say the technique is best for creating cumulus
clouds - i.e. puffy, medium height "cotton wool" clouds.  The hard edges in
the last post, and the depth of fog, basically replicate what I see when I
look outside my window every day!  Of course, it's very easy to soften the
cloud textures, and to reduce the amount of fog.  Because the clouds are
individual objects, you can have complete control over their placement in a
scene, and they are focal-blur compatible.  I've also created various
animations, flying from below to above the clouds, through the clouds,
around the clouds, etc., and the results are reasonably effective.

Now the downsides - because the clouds are flat objects and designed to look
best from the camera's viewpoint, there can be problems with reflections and
shadowing.  I am working on solutions for this, which I don't think should
be too difficult.  I also want to build in more sun-lighting features, and
possibly combine the cloud generation with other related effects...

Post a reply to this message

Attachments:
Download 'cc_clouds2.jpg' (18 KB)

Preview of image 'cc_clouds2.jpg'

On Fri, 12 Apr 2002 23:01:39 +1000, "Chris Colefax"
<chr### [at] tagpovrayorg> wrote:
> I also want to build in more sun-lighting features, and
> possibly combine the cloud generation with other related effects...

Don't forget timezones support like:
http://news.povray.org/5r0q0uoe2d1leap6ngfll9a2b4dg90a2j3%404ax.com
;-)

ABX

Post a reply to this message

WOW ...Very very impressive ....
Gimme the code please

--
Luis


****************************************************
Lightning Generator
http://lightning.generator.free.fr
http://LG666.ifrance.com
Chan IRC sur eu.undernet.org : #povray-fr
****************************************************

news: 3cb6daa9@news.povray.org...
> Another example, and some answers:
>
> As many deduced, and Gilles illustrated, the clouds are POV-Ray pigments
> billboarded onto semi-transparent objects.  And, as Gilles pointed out, I
> first posted an example of this back in Sep 2000 (see
> http://news.povray.org/povray.binaries.images/12959/).
>
> I recently sat down with 3.5, though, and attacked the idea again with all
> of the new features available.  However, after trying various pattern
> functions I discovered my original 3.1 code gave faster, more attractive
> results.  These last two postings, then, don't use any 3.5 features - no
> function patterns or otherwise.
>
> From my experiments, I would say the technique is best for creating
cumulus
> clouds - i.e. puffy, medium height "cotton wool" clouds.  The hard edges
in
> the last post, and the depth of fog, basically replicate what I see when I
> look outside my window every day!  Of course, it's very easy to soften the
> cloud textures, and to reduce the amount of fog.  Because the clouds are
> individual objects, you can have complete control over their placement in
a
> scene, and they are focal-blur compatible.  I've also created various
> animations, flying from below to above the clouds, through the clouds,
> around the clouds, etc., and the results are reasonably effective.
>
> Now the downsides - because the clouds are flat objects and designed to
look
> best from the camera's viewpoint, there can be problems with reflections
and
> shadowing.  I am working on solutions for this, which I don't think should
> be too difficult.  I also want to build in more sun-lighting features, and
> possibly combine the cloud generation with other related effects...
>
>
>

Post a reply to this message

Your clouds are incredible. Is fire next?

 -Shay

Chris Colefax <chr### [at] tagpovrayorg> wrote in message
news:3cb6daa9@news.povray.org...

Post a reply to this message

Very nicely done.

> Now the downsides - because the clouds are flat objects and designed to
look
> best from the camera's viewpoint, there can be problems with reflections
and
> shadowing.  I am working on solutions for this, which I don't think should
> be too difficult.  I also want to build in more sun-lighting features, and
> possibly combine the cloud generation with other related effects...

Shadows are easy enough; give the clouds no_shadow and then make a
horizontally flat disk with a black, partially transparent pigment on it,
and give it no_image and no_reflection.

--
- Slime
[ http://www.slimeland.com/ ]
[ http://www.slimeland.com/images/ ]
"Chris Colefax" <chr### [at] tagpovrayorg> wrote in message
news:3cb6daa9@news.povray.org...
> Another example, and some answers:
>
> As many deduced, and Gilles illustrated, the clouds are POV-Ray pigments
> billboarded onto semi-transparent objects.  And, as Gilles pointed out, I
> first posted an example of this back in Sep 2000 (see
> http://news.povray.org/povray.binaries.images/12959/).
>
> I recently sat down with 3.5, though, and attacked the idea again with all
> of the new features available.  However, after trying various pattern
> functions I discovered my original 3.1 code gave faster, more attractive
> results.  These last two postings, then, don't use any 3.5 features - no
> function patterns or otherwise.
>
> From my experiments, I would say the technique is best for creating
cumulus
> clouds - i.e. puffy, medium height "cotton wool" clouds.  The hard edges
in
> the last post, and the depth of fog, basically replicate what I see when I
> look outside my window every day!  Of course, it's very easy to soften the
> cloud textures, and to reduce the amount of fog.  Because the clouds are
> individual objects, you can have complete control over their placement in
a
> scene, and they are focal-blur compatible.  I've also created various
> animations, flying from below to above the clouds, through the clouds,
> around the clouds, etc., and the results are reasonably effective.
>
> Now the downsides - because the clouds are flat objects and designed to
look
> best from the camera's viewpoint, there can be problems with reflections
and
> shadowing.  I am working on solutions for this, which I don't think should
> be too difficult.  I also want to build in more sun-lighting features, and
> possibly combine the cloud generation with other related effects...
>
>
>

Post a reply to this message

I was thinking maybe that you could add a box that lies on the x-z plane for
each cloud, behind the box that makes the part that faces the viewer. Like a
slice of the texture at that point of the cloud. This would cast shadows.
Would that work, you think?

Beautiful render, btw.

Post a reply to this message

Have you not seen the candle flame on his website? :)

Post a reply to this message

"Tony[B]" <ben### [at] catholicorg> wrote in message
news:3cb7254a@news.povray.org...
> I was thinking maybe that you could add a box that lies on the x-z plane
for
> each cloud, behind the box that makes the part that faces the viewer. Like
a
> slice of the texture at that point of the cloud. This would cast shadows.
> Would that work, you think?

    I was going to suggest something similar, but I assumed he had already
thought of it. I suspect that his planes are set up to face the camera, he
could make another no-image plane like it that faces the "Sun"...

Post a reply to this message

Chris:

  I'll volunteer to do a Morray plug in for your macro ...

                  == John ==

"Chris Colefax" <chr### [at] tagpovrayorg> wrote in message
news:3cb6daa9@news.povray.org...
> Another example, and some answers:
>
> As many deduced, and Gilles illustrated, the clouds are POV-Ray pigments
> billboarded onto semi-transparent objects.  And, as Gilles pointed out, I
> first posted an example of this back in Sep 2000 (see
> http://news.povray.org/povray.binaries.images/12959/).
>
> I recently sat down with 3.5, though, and attacked the idea again with all
> of the new features available.  However, after trying various pattern
> functions I discovered my original 3.1 code gave faster, more attractive
> results.  These last two postings, then, don't use any 3.5 features - no
> function patterns or otherwise.
>
> From my experiments, I would say the technique is best for creating
cumulus
> clouds - i.e. puffy, medium height "cotton wool" clouds.  The hard edges
in
> the last post, and the depth of fog, basically replicate what I see when I
> look outside my window every day!  Of course, it's very easy to soften the
> cloud textures, and to reduce the amount of fog.  Because the clouds are
> individual objects, you can have complete control over their placement in
a
> scene, and they are focal-blur compatible.  I've also created various
> animations, flying from below to above the clouds, through the clouds,
> around the clouds, etc., and the results are reasonably effective.
>
> Now the downsides - because the clouds are flat objects and designed to
look
> best from the camera's viewpoint, there can be problems with reflections
and
> shadowing.  I am working on solutions for this, which I don't think should
> be too difficult.  I also want to build in more sun-lighting features, and
> possibly combine the cloud generation with other related effects...
>
>
>

Post a reply to this message

Nice idea !!!

--
Luis


****************************************************
Lightning Generator
http://lightning.generator.free.fr
http://LG666.ifrance.com
Chan IRC sur eu.undernet.org : #povray-fr
****************************************************

3cc195e1$1@news.povray.org...
> Chris:
>
>   I'll volunteer to do a Morray plug in for your macro ...
>
>                   == John ==
>
> "Chris Colefax" <chr### [at] tagpovrayorg> wrote in message
> news:3cb6daa9@news.povray.org...
> > Another example, and some answers:
> >
> > As many deduced, and Gilles illustrated, the clouds are POV-Ray pigments
> > billboarded onto semi-transparent objects.  And, as Gilles pointed out,
I
> > first posted an example of this back in Sep 2000 (see
> > http://news.povray.org/povray.binaries.images/12959/).
> >
> > I recently sat down with 3.5, though, and attacked the idea again with
all
> > of the new features available.  However, after trying various pattern
> > functions I discovered my original 3.1 code gave faster, more attractive
> > results.  These last two postings, then, don't use any 3.5 features - no
> > function patterns or otherwise.
> >
> > From my experiments, I would say the technique is best for creating
> cumulus
> > clouds - i.e. puffy, medium height "cotton wool" clouds.  The hard edges
> in
> > the last post, and the depth of fog, basically replicate what I see when
I
> > look outside my window every day!  Of course, it's very easy to soften
the
> > cloud textures, and to reduce the amount of fog.  Because the clouds are
> > individual objects, you can have complete control over their placement
in
> a
> > scene, and they are focal-blur compatible.  I've also created various
> > animations, flying from below to above the clouds, through the clouds,
> > around the clouds, etc., and the results are reasonably effective.
> >
> > Now the downsides - because the clouds are flat objects and designed to
> look
> > best from the camera's viewpoint, there can be problems with reflections
> and
> > shadowing.  I am working on solutions for this, which I don't think
should
> > be too difficult.  I also want to build in more sun-lighting features,
and
> > possibly combine the cloud generation with other related effects...
> >
> >
> >
>
>

Post a reply to this message