Attached Link: fuji lenticular

I am wondering if anyone has had any luck creating lenticular clouds like the ones that appear on top of Mt Shasta. and Mt Fuji  - it kind of looks like a hat - bowled over the top of the peak. I have attempted several but still does not look quite right the shading and shape, etc.. If you can share any tips or models you might have it would be nice! thanks so much!

 Yes it`s possible. Within a cloud layer you can create about any cloud shape you want (by using the function editor). The above picture is just a quick render of a hat shaped cloud.

http://www.eonmusic.ch http://www.artmatica.ch

Eonite,
alas, most of us are NOT that blessed at functions genius-a-mosity! hehe* *:p

"I'd rather be a Fool who believes in Dragons, Than a King who believes in Nothing!" www.silverblades-suitcase.com
Free tutorials, Vue & Bryce materials, Bryce Skies, models, D&D items, stories.
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Quote - Eonite,
alas, most of us are NOT that blessed at functions genius-a-mosity! hehe* *:p

:laugh:

Hey Silverblade,

I do not see myself as being particularly blessed.

The reason why I get along with the FE is simply because some years ago I decided to tame that beast...and I tamed it without reading any math books ;-)
 

It won`t be any harder for you or anyone else to get into it.

http://www.eonmusic.ch http://www.artmatica.ch

Maths isnt too hard a beast to tame either. Well, I dont think it is - all straight forwards and logical:)

Eonite, is there a way to get a cloud which doesnt have a flat bottom? I havnt studied it very thorougly but it seems to me it assumes clouds will be flat at the bottom. Maybe like an upside down hat? No, perhaps that's not a good example, just rotating isnt the solution I'm looking for. Lets say a cloud with no flat areas in any direction.

"I paint that which comes from the imagination or from dreams, or from an unconscious drive. I photograph the things that I do not wish to paint, the things which already have an existence."
Man Ray, modernist painter
http://artpearl.redbubble.com/

Quote - Eonite, is there a way to get a cloud which doesnt have a flat bottom? 

Artpearl (and everone else interested),

The answer is yes.

Create a new layer, set the altitude to let`s say 100 meters and the Height to 1 km.
Now, first you have to get rid of the density falloff near the bottom and top of the layers.
This is achieved by checking the "Custom Cloud Layer Profile".
Set up the filter so you have the whole area white. This way you get rid of the density fall offs.

Below is a comparison between the checked vs. unchecked "Custom Cloud Layer Profile".
 

http://www.eonmusic.ch http://www.artmatica.ch

 Both examples use the same shape (infinite cylinder).

The left picture show how the cylinder is cut off sharply at the bottom and the top of the clouds layer.

The picture to the right shows what happens to the cylinder when the "Custom Cloud Layer Profile"
is left unchecked.

http://www.eonmusic.ch http://www.artmatica.ch

Set Uniformity to 100%. This makes certain that the details are treated the same throughout the cloud(s).

http://www.eonmusic.ch http://www.artmatica.ch

 With these settings you can now go ahead and create your clouds shapes in the FE. You then have the choice to either use the details of the cloud model or you can use your custom details.

In any case your details will look the same everywhere.

http://www.eonmusic.ch http://www.artmatica.ch

The sphere was created in the FE by using a Gaussian Tooth node.

http://www.eonmusic.ch http://www.artmatica.ch

Are you using cloud layers in the atmo or metaclouds ?  Must be my dumb day because I'm not getting this
:b_uncertain:

Gill

       

 Gill,

I am using a spectral cloud layer.

What`s probably confusing is that I used a sphere as an example. This sphere is generated by a function and is not the same as the sphere object , which is used for metaclouds
.
The option I am talking about is far more powerful because it allows you to create about any clouds shape you want.
Below is a rather crazy example using the same approach. The shapes of the clouds were created in the function editor

http://www.eonmusic.ch http://www.artmatica.ch

:-) 

http://www.eonmusic.ch http://www.artmatica.ch

genius...! :)
"Need more input!" he says like Johnny 5! ;)

"I'd rather be a Fool who believes in Dragons, Than a King who believes in Nothing!" www.silverblades-suitcase.com
Free tutorials, Vue & Bryce materials, Bryce Skies, models, D&D items, stories.
Tutorials on Poser imports to Vue/Bryce, Postwork, Vue rendering/lighting, etc etc!

So I got this ball finally, but was is the next step. :blink:

Mazak

Google+ Bodo Nittel 

Thank you all for your comments and suggestions. I am going to jump into the FE now!

Quote - So I got this ball finally, but was is the next step. :blink:

Mazak

Cool, Mazak!

Ok, let`s create a lenticular cloud!

I uploaded the basic scene here, so we can start from the same
file. Everyone is invited to participate. :-)

I will prepare a couple of screenshots and will explain every step. In the meantime, if you want,
play around a bit with the parameters of the Gaussian Tooth node. You know, Wavelength and Origin.

http://www.eonmusic.ch http://www.artmatica.ch

Ok I am on my seat, Herr Lehrer :D

Mazak

Google+ Bodo Nittel 

With Origin I can place the sphere in world. With Wavelength I can stretch the Sphere, and with Scale it scale in size.

Mazak

Google+ Bodo Nittel 

I'll be joing the lesson later hopefully. This is what I got with a modified gaussian tooth in the FE in my short play yesterday. Havnt finished playing, but it would probably be easier with your additional screen captures eonite, thanks.

"I paint that which comes from the imagination or from dreams, or from an unconscious drive. I photograph the things that I do not wish to paint, the things which already have an existence."
Man Ray, modernist painter
http://artpearl.redbubble.com/

I'm sitting comfortably waiting for the lesson

Gill

       

I made a cookie :biggrin:

Mazak

Google+ Bodo Nittel 

:b_funny:

I got something resembling a thumb protector !

Gill

       

Quote - :b_funny:

I got something resembling a thumb protector !

Picture! Picture! Picture! :biggrin:

Mazak

Google+ Bodo Nittel 

Cookies, miam! :-)

 Ok folks, are you ready?

I will upload the screens now and add some text. Will take 30 minutes or so. Please let me finish the uploading process first before posting any comments.

http://www.eonmusic.ch http://www.artmatica.ch

If not already done open the provided scene file and then enter the atmosphere editor. Right click on the cloud preview to get to the material editor. Right click on "Density Production" to enter the  function editor for density.

You should see a simple function tree with just a Gaussian Tooth node. This node generatess the sphere. Click on it to see its parameter settings.
Origin Z is set to 3. This lifts the the sphere up so it is well inside the cloud layer and not cut off by the lower limit of the layer.

Also check out the camera position. It`s set to Y-> -2km otherwise the sphere would be directly above the camera and we would not see it.

http://www.eonmusic.ch http://www.artmatica.ch

 Now, the first thing we will do is to set the Z wavelength of the Gaussian Tooth node to 0.1. You should now see a disk-like shape.

http://www.eonmusic.ch http://www.artmatica.ch

> Quote - > Quote - :b_funny: > > > > I got something resembling a thumb protector ! > > > > Picture! Picture! Picture! :biggrin: > > Mazak

I can't remember how I got there but in trying I managed to create a naughty looking single 'mamatus' !!

Now I have to go cook dinner so will be back to try the instructions later

Gill

       

 Since we will connect a branch to the Origin parameter we will set it to 0/0/0 and add an Offset node between the Gaussian Tooth node and the Position input.

The offset node is a math node from the math node menu.

Set its offset Z parameters to -2.5.

Note: The Z offset parameter of the Offset node needs to be set to a minus value to get an upwards offset.

http://www.eonmusic.ch http://www.artmatica.ch

 So far we have that disk shape but we need to push its center upwards in order to get the final shape we want. The next steps show you how to accomplish this.

First add another Gaussian Tooth node and connect it to the Offset node we added in the previous step.

Set its wavelength to 1/1/1 and scale it to 4.

http://www.eonmusic.ch http://www.artmatica.ch

 Add a Composer 3 node from the math node menu.

This node has 3 inputs. Connect the Z input to the Gaussian Tooth node we added in the previous step. 

http://www.eonmusic.ch http://www.artmatica.ch

 We will now connect the output of the Composer 3 node to the origin parameter of the initial Gaussian Tooth node. Click on the flash next to the origin parameters of the Gaussian Tooth node. This will extract the parameter. Grab the end of the link and connect it to the composer 3 node.

http://www.eonmusic.ch http://www.artmatica.ch

  You will notice that the previous step has little effect on our current shape. So we need to amplify it.

This is achieved by hanging a Multiply node in between.

The Multiply node can be found in the math node menu as well.

The the multiply value to 4.

The effect should now be more visible. 

http://www.eonmusic.ch http://www.artmatica.ch

 The following steps serve to get a better control over the position of the shape.

Add a Rotation and Twist node (Again from the math menu) and connect it between the Offset node and the Position Input node.

Set the Rotation Z parameter to 315.

http://www.eonmusic.ch http://www.artmatica.ch

 Now set the camera to position Y->0. The shape we created is now directly above the camera, so we can`t see it.

Set the offset parameters of the Offset node to 0/-4/-1.

The lenticular shape should now be clearly visible in the preview

http://www.eonmusic.ch http://www.artmatica.ch

 And now it`s time to play around a bit.

Set for example the size parameter of the second Gaussian tooth node to 2 and you will get a hat :-)

Also play around with the other nodes.

http://www.eonmusic.ch http://www.artmatica.ch

Finally leave the function editor, go back to the atmosphere editor and add some cloud details.

That`s all for now folks.

I hope you enjoyed it and I also hope that it turned on a couple of light bulbs :-)

If you have questions just go ahead. For math related questions, as you may know, we have a mathematician in the community...

http://www.eonmusic.ch http://www.artmatica.ch

Ok first problem after add Multiply 4. I get different look :(

Mazak

Google+ Bodo Nittel 

 Mazak, I suspect that you did not connect the second Gaussian Tooth node to the right input of the Composer 3 node.
Check if you really connected it to the Z input and not the X or Y input...

http://www.eonmusic.ch http://www.artmatica.ch

I see only Input-0 Input1 Input-2. No Z?

Mazak

Google+ Bodo Nittel 

Ok I connect to input-2 and get this:

Mazak

Google+ Bodo Nittel 

 Sorry, I meant input 2.

http://www.eonmusic.ch http://www.artmatica.ch

Quote - Ok I connect to input-2 and get this:

Mazak

Congrats, Mazak. You just accomplished the lesson successfully! 

http://www.eonmusic.ch http://www.artmatica.ch

TADAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!

Thank you for talking us mere mortals through this
:biggrin:

Gill

       

Gill, you`re in the club! :-)

http://www.eonmusic.ch http://www.artmatica.ch

My render need some time. . . . . . :bored:

Mazak :biggrin:

Google+ Bodo Nittel 

Funny I just took a pic of some the other day

Ok here is my final eonite-workshop picture :biggrin: (Click on image for full view)

Thank you eonite, for this lesson. (Ich hoffe ich kann davon was in meinem Kopf behalten)

Mazak

Google+ Bodo Nittel 

 Wow, the cloud in combination with such a nice terrain/texture looks just amazing!

My pleasure, Mazak.

http://www.eonmusic.ch http://www.artmatica.ch

Tank you! I send you a PM ;-)

Mazak

Google+ Bodo Nittel 

Mazak - yours looks terrific.  Really like the cloud is hugging the top of that terrain

Gill

       

your an absolute hero eonite! thanks for this!

Rich

http://blog.richard-potter.co.uk

Thank you for all the nice comments. I hope that others, besides Gill and Mazak, had a chance to go through the lesson. 

Andrewe-665: Those are nice stacked lenticular clouds. Shouldn`t be too much of a problem to recreate those in Vue.

http://www.eonmusic.ch http://www.artmatica.ch

I just uploaded a render in the gallery here.  Made a double-stacked one :)

Gill

       

Quote - I just uploaded a render in the gallery here.  Made a double-stacked one :)

Hey Gill, that`s a nice surprise! A stacked lenticular cloud :-)

I am curious to know how you were proceeding. Did you add a second cloud layer or did you manage to do it within one layer?

http://www.eonmusic.ch http://www.artmatica.ch

These clouds don't just appear over mountains.

Available on Amazon for the Kindle E-Reader

All the Woes of a World by Jonathan Icknield aka The Bryster

And in my final hours - I would cling rather to the tattooed hand of kindness - than the unblemished hand of hate...

Eonite - I added a 2nd cloud layer and gave teh top one a smaller scale and a few other adjustments and made that layer higher in the altitude than the lower one.  Fiddled around till it sat on the first one.

Bryster - yes, I've seen a few recently hanging over Cannock Chase which is forest and heathland near where we live.  Always annoyed when I don't have my camera with me !!

Gill

       

Bryster: Sure, those clouds may appear elswhere too. And it should not be too hard to build multiple stacked lenticular clouds in Vue as well. The ones in the second picture look like UFOs :-)

Gill: Cool. I have not tried with multiple cloud layers yet.
Basically, as an alternative, you could create another cloud by adding some more nodes to the existing function and making the required connections and settings. This might (or might not) save some render time.

http://www.eonmusic.ch http://www.artmatica.ch

With a quick fiddle I got this if you can see from the little preview window.

When I have more time I'll try other routes

Gill

       

 Hey, you are learning fast :-)

http://www.eonmusic.ch http://www.artmatica.ch

And to think at school I wasn't that interested in maths.   As long as I could do basic calculations I didn't see the point of tangents, sines, cosines etc..........

Mind you, at least when I was at school we did all the caluclations ourselves.  Not an electronic calculator in sight

Gill

       

*Mind you, at least when I was at school we did all the caluclations ourselves.  Not an electronic calculator in sight

• Now you're just showing your age :lol:

I'll bet you were good at maths too!!!! Your spelling is awful.:lol:

Available on Amazon for the Kindle E-Reader

All the Woes of a World by Jonathan Icknield aka The Bryster

And in my final hours - I would cling rather to the tattooed hand of kindness - than the unblemished hand of hate...

My sppelin is perfick just me tiepin that's badd  :lol:

Gill

       

Yeah yeah! It's the fairy's having sex on your keyboard that make the typos.

Available on Amazon for the Kindle E-Reader

All the Woes of a World by Jonathan Icknield aka The Bryster

And in my final hours - I would cling rather to the tattooed hand of kindness - than the unblemished hand of hate...

I've been the slow coach on this one...a couple of not very brilliant days :( I guess I can do it - thought I'll try it as a dress rather than a hat:). However, I cant say I really mastered it.  As usual I like to try 'what happens if' and many of my trials of changing a parameter or two  did not yield the expected results. But I didnt take notes so I cant give examples. Positioning the cloud is actually annoying - it's OK following eonite's instructions, and if the cloud is positioned first and everything else added later. But I wanted to put a second cloud in a completely different location, above the mountain, and it wasnt trivial,a bit  like driving blind. So instead I modeled an object (in hexagon)  with a similar shape and textured it with volumetric material, aligned it with the mountain in the x,y direction with the align tool and moved it up, and that's that. The objective was to   see if its worth the effort doing it in the FE.  A cloud has several more paramters I could play with, like feathering and altitude details, but I'm not sure its worth it. I only played with the object-cloud a very short time, so I'm sure it can be improved. (I dont understad why it has such a crisp edge at the bottom though). So the jury is still out. Thanks eonite for the explanations - quite helpful and a fun exercise. If I get around to it I'll make it into a metanode and then it should be easy to combine several shapes in the FE.

"I paint that which comes from the imagination or from dreams, or from an unconscious drive. I photograph the things that I do not wish to paint, the things which already have an existence."
Man Ray, modernist painter
http://artpearl.redbubble.com/

 Quite unusual use of lenticular clouds. Looks funny though :-)

Positioning of the cloud can be annoying, however when you consider the potential benefit it`s worth some additional effort. I mean you can always use Metaclouds instead, but it will be hard to create clouds like the lenticular cloud example.

The best way, if you want to have one single cloud positioned precisely over a mountain is to place the mountain at position 0/0/0 and to leave the offset of the cloud in the FE at X=0 and Y=0 . This way the cloud will be at the same position as the mountain.

Using an imported object and adding some volumetric mat won`t look good because you cannot achieve the kind of smooth edges you would expect from a cloud.

http://www.eonmusic.ch http://www.artmatica.ch

Quote - And to think at school I wasn't that interested in maths.   As long as I could do basic calculations I didn't see the point of tangents, sines, cosines etc..........

I don`t think it requires a lot of knowledge of math to get along with the FE. Some basics are useful though.

I can handle the FE because I spent  a lot of time with it, you know experimenting, figuring out, etc. 

http://www.eonmusic.ch http://www.artmatica.ch

Thank you very much Eonite and everyone that have pushed this topic to a great level - I am currently traveling now with limited access to the net and this forum and will get back in full force once I return from the road- I am now working on lenticular over Fuji and will post once completed to my satisfaction!
I am really glad to see this awesome capability that VUE has to create clouds in this way!
Thank you so much to all and see you again soon!

Looking back, I think mine had a bit too much lumpiness.  They should be smoother than that but next time...... :Smile:

hehehe - I hope you post your finished scene with lenticular over Fuji when it's finished !!

Gill

       

well done gill on getting picture of the day!

Rich

http://blog.richard-potter.co.uk

What better way to find out than here at Rendo :lol:

Thanks Rich - and of course to Eonite without whose guidance 'Eria' would never have been made

Gill

       

 Congrats, Gill! :-)

Further above you said, those clouds had too much lumpiness. Who cares as long as it serves the composition. To me it looks like a mountain underneath 2 giant cushions. Gives the image a mellow feel. I love it! 
Of course, from what I know about lenticular clouds, they tend to be thinner and less textured.

Anyway, it`s cool the Vue guys have chosen your picture. Well deserved!

Btw. I have seen a couple of movies with lenticular clouds on YouTube. It seems that those are stationary clouds. They are standing still while all other clouds are passing by. Quite remarkable.

hehehe: Youre welcome.  Have seen some nice pictures of Mount Fuji created by you, so Im curious to see the result. In case you have questions, just post them here.

http://www.eonmusic.ch http://www.artmatica.ch

Hi - I've followed the various threads about "clouds", function editor etc. with a great deal of interest. Lenticularly about the particular clouds - sorry - the other way around :) and I've come up with "something" I think. I know that the debate has been about cloud layers, but what if you decide to have free choice and positioning of the clouds. That's why I think the metaclouds may of some use, at least :) I did some experiments this afternoon, took photoreferences (Google) and have come up with this. If you like I'll make the metacloud material available in the freestuff section, maybe the whole scene, so you can tear it apart as desired :)

Tell me what you think.

• Lars "bigbraader"

I'd love to see the metacloud material!

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 Surprise! Nice scene and convincing lenticural clouds, bigbraader!

You`re right to try with Metaclouds. Positioning is a lot easier.

Would love to check out the whole scene :-)

http://www.eonmusic.ch http://www.artmatica.ch

Well, I got carried away further experimenting and totally forgot that I've promised you the scene as it looks in the previous post. Now it looks like this (see above), almost surreal now. The mats are the same, I've just played around with the metacloud objects.

I haven't been able to upload etc. before now. Real atmospheric phenomena put a stopper to that, as my internet provider's "gateway" hardware was struck by lightning last night :)

And - "eonite" etc. - don't be mistaken: I'm in deep awe over the mastery you've displayed, I just got inspired, started experimenting, and came up with "something".

The scene will be available as soon it is approved, but you can get it here already:

http://www.morkelstedet.dk/Zipfiler/Lenticular_test_1.zip

• some 6 mb. download

Hope you find it useful

• Lars "bigbraader"

 Thanks, just downloaded the scene and checked it out. Those Metacloud scapes really look kind of surreal...but amazing nonetheless and different from anything we have seen before.
It`s always satisfying to see when a seed begins to germinate... :-)

http://www.eonmusic.ch http://www.artmatica.ch

Thank you!

LVS - Where Learning is Fun!  
http://www.lvsonline.com/index.html