Is it possible to load the cloud textures in Vue Infinate instead of a jpeg?  there does not seem to be any textures of clouds that it lets me load.  Forgive my newness :)

I guess I should clarify...I can load the cloud texture, but it doesnt look like the cloud texture.  It works like if I load it into a sphere, but not an alpha plain...so I guess I need a color map of the clouds but am not sure how you go about doing that...

im trying to achieve low level clouds around the base of mountains.

What excatly are you trying to do? Create a volumetric cloud by using spheres? Or use alpha planes to simulate clouds?

alpha planes to simulate clouds

Hi there! Why not check out a tutorial on skies on alphaplanes at : http://www.thomaskrahn.com/Tutorials.How_to_use_photos_for_skies.htm

Hope it'll help!

I understand that concept, I guess I just dont have photos of clouds...that is why I wanted to use the cloud textures that are include with vue

The cloud textures included with Vue are procedural materials, not image map textures, so no, you can't use them.

What you could do is use Terragen, another landscape program that is freeware, render Terragen clouds ( white clouds against black sky) and use this as a texture for your alpha planes, but you need to be a little familiar with Terragen for this. There wa a free flaming pear plugin for Photoshop called "cumulus" that is also great for this, but they don't give it anymore, nor do they sell it. Maybe you can find it in an old edition of computer arts, or some photoshop oriented magazine.

There are many sky and sunset photos at dreamstime.com. This is an inexpensive stock photo resource with thousands of useful photos. Most cost $1 each to download.

I just downloaded a sunset to use as a backdrop in a Vue 5i scene.

In fact, digital artists might be able to sell there.

_ jc...'Art Head Start' e-book
'Art Head Start.com site Digital Art skills. Free lighting chapter, tutes, Vue models, texture pix.

Attached Link: http://www.mayang.com/textures/Nature/html/Clouds/index.html

Wow! Hot stuff!

Thanks, dlk30341!

Attached Link: http://www.mayang.com/textures/

A heads up - he does have a download limit per day...so just keep going back LOL  I thinks it's like 35-36...can't remember.

Also...don't forget this for those who don't know...use the above maps as a alpha for backdrop & make sure you use the SAME pic for HDRI...works like charm :)

Wow, thanks alot gang for all the info you have given me and the others here.  I will check it out!!