I've done this, it's some terrains (one with the lava texture, and one with the stone texture) I've used the same terrain duplicated, and I've increased the size of the upper terrain of 2% to let the lava texture of the other terrain appear randomly. I've add some lights, and some spheres with a cloudy texture..

her is the bryce window

This is a test for a (small) volcano.. For the lava particles I've used a symetric terrain, With a bright red / yellow texture (ambiance 100% diff 100%) In the terrain editor I've set the terrain resolution to 512 and the level to 0, then I've add some "pikes" and I've croped it.

here is the Bryce window

and the terrain editor window

I've used some spheres in the middle of the volcano with a red and yellow fuzzy light texture. It's up to you now Cheers

This is a very clear advice you gave Catlin Pidjy. We don't need some lava but we are impressed by your tutorial!

I would say that's cool, but actually hot would be a better word.

I always have had dificulties creating lava. This is a great help. thank you. Any chance on a lava-lake tutorial? (where the lava is not to rocky yet or not rocky at all)

Cheers pidjy, I'll now go into a dark corner with my computer and you'll see me again in a few months. Thanks very much for the tutorial, should come in useful for lots of things. The working title I have for my image is "When the world was young," so its more of a firey hell than a volcano but the same principals apply. Catlin

You made the lava creating very easy to understand. Your tuts rock man. Thanks for the cool share. 8) ~Swade~

Thanks, I have an image in mind and this will come in handy...

A very clear and concise tut pidjy. Thanks for sharing it. Cie