I just discovered that Vue 6.5 will give a nice curvature to the ground plane and atmosphere automatically.

Here are my first shots above the ground plane - Vue Orbital Renders. Put all your experiments in this thread or just send us a snapshot of some planet you have created on from the ground plane but from the orbital plane. Here is a planet that appears to be somewhat earth like. Enjoy!

http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/1732/abovetheground3cn7.jpg

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/3779/abovetheground2ba8.jpg

What is the html on the forum for showing images in the post?

There is no special code - you should simply use the options of the embedded editor of the forum.

For images this big, it is preferable to post links to the pictures using the Link button of the forum editor.

Like this : img263.imageshack.us/img263/3779/abovetheground2ba8.jpg

You can display an image using the Image button otherwise.

(I took the liberty to edit your post for you).

Nice trick by the way.... I did not realize that Vue 6.5 introduced an automatic curvature to atmospheres !

Quote - Nice trick by the way.... I did not realize that Vue 6.5 introduced an automatic curvature to atmospheres !

Thank you for the post edit, and yes, Vue does this automatically.  You could even get out far enough to observe the "body" from outside of the orbital plane!

You can also use the "outside the Word Sphere view" to diminish the effects of large cloud planes and make some pretty interesting atmospheric panaramas, which allow you to add an enourmous selection of special cloud effects.  Also works for creating Galaxies and other "outerworld" special effects.

How does one activate or use the "outside the World Sphere view"--I am using Vue6 esprit  I could find nothing in the menus to do this.

thanks

The “Outside the World Sphere View” is an undocumented effect used by e-On in several of their scenes.  If you have your camera at the center of the World Sphere and load an atmosphere you like; then do a simple render. 

Then Move the Camera outside of the World Sphere, the circular shaped pattern surrounding the ground plane, move the camera away by at least one length of the width of the World Sphere.   

Sometimes I go two lengths for a very large cloudy panorama.  Then do another render of the scene and you will see the difference.  The atmospheres shrink and the clouds appear very small, which allows you to add a number of additional cloud shapes that you could not have added when inside the World Sphere.  You can get some very complex looking atmos with this approach.  

http://www.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/index.php?image_id=1535452&member is an example of the complex cloud shapes you can add.  I was one and a half times the distance outside of the World Sphere.  

Another simpler scene was Autumn Comes to the Quarry, and DEP 10.  The atmosphere in DEP 10 was originally based on the atmosphere End of Time.  I added a few low level clouds to get an interesting look.  You can get very creative with all of that new space to work with.

Mind you, you will have to have your terrains and other objects outside the box as well and close to the camera.  

Galaxies are a whole new ball game and the distances can really get interesting, 100’s to 1000’s of units.  Makes for some nice Nebula clouds at those distances.

Should have added this in the last post:

About Galaxies and other space stuff. Normally you have to stay above the ground plane to work on such, or delete the ground plane to remove it from view. That can cause a problem in relation to your sense of direction while working on a scene. Yes, you can look to the coordinate’s box, but that can throw you off if a visual person. 

This tip is a bit simpler to work with as you want the ground plane and World View Sphere visible so you can relate visually rather than have to check the X,Y,Z coordinates all of the time.  

Suppose I will make a nebula and want lots of real estate.  I flip my Main camera up 90 degrees to face the top of the World Sphere; you can use the Top camera, or create a new camera to do the same. 

Open Options, Display Options and unclick the setting Stop camera from going below clipping plane (groundwater).   Move the camera down to the bottom of the World View, you should be able to see all of the ground plane mesh in the Main View. Set the ground plane to 100 % transparent, do not delete the ground plane or the World View will disappear and you are stuck in space without visual references.   At least that is what happens in my Esprit.

You will find objects and lights will have to be quite a bit larger and brighter to work in this new added space, but you will have lots of real estate to work with for your scene.

Well haven' t found it good for making nebulas etc so far, but is good for plantary approach renders!
Great find, guys! :)

Using this technique:
http://www.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/index.php?image_id=1612142