How to Make Realistic Clouds using Maya Fluids

Software: Maya
Author: Avi Morgan
Author Website: http://www.avimorgan.com/



PART I - CLOUDS

01. Create a 3D Fluid Container: "Fluid Effects" -> "Create 3D Container".





02. Access the Attributes of the 3D Container.



03. Set the 'Container Properties' to the following values:

X Resolution: 75
Y Resolution: 10
Z Resolution: 75
X Size: 25
Y Size: 05
Z Size: 25



04. Set the 'Contents Method' attributes to the following values:

Density: Off (zero)
Velocity: Off (zero)



05. Set the 'Shading' attributes to the following values:

Transparency (R, G, B): 0.090
Edge Dropoff: 0.50



06. Set the 'Color' attributes to the following values:

Point 1 -- Position: 0.00 / Selected Color: White
Point 2 -- Position: 0.75 / Selected Color: Grey
Point 3 -- Position: 1.00 / Selected Color: Black



Color Input: Y Gradient



07. Set the 'Opacity' attributes to the following values:

Point 1 -- Position: 1.00 / Selected Value: 0.95
Point 2 -- Position: 0.80 / Selected Value: 0.80
Point 3 -- Position: 0.60 / Selected Value: 0.60
Point 4 -- Position: 0.50 / Selected Value: 0.35
Point 5 -- Position: 0.45 / Selected Value: 0.00



Set the 'Opacity Input' to "Constant", and the 'Input Bias' to "0.03".




08. Set the 'Shading Quality' to "3.00".




09. Set the 'Textures' attributes to the following values:

Texture Color: On
Texture Opacity: On



Amplitude: 0.95
Ratio: 0.40
Frequency Ratio: 2.75
Depth Max: 4
Inflection: On
Frequency: 1.95




Finished with the clouds!



Now let's make the sky...

PART II - SKY
01. Create another 3d Fluid Container.






02. Access the Container's attributes.



03. Set the 'Container Properties' to the following values:

X Resolution: 25
Y Resolution: 05
Z Resolution: 25




Set the Size of this container so that it's large enough to encompass your clouds.




04. Set the 'Contents Method' attributes to the following values:

Density: Off (zero)
Velocity: Off (zero)




05. Set the 'Shading' attributes to the following values:

Transparency (R, G, B): 0.85

Edge Dropoff: 0.35




06. Access the 'Color' Subsection and set the 'Selected Color' to Black.




07. Set the 'Incandescence' attributes to the following values:

Point 1 -- Position: 0.000 / Selected Color: R 0.50, G 0.75, B 3.000
Point 2 -- Position: 1.000 / Selected Color: R 0.85, G 0.90, B 1.000




08. Set the 'Incandescent Input' to "Y Gradient," and the 'Input Bias' to "-0.25".




09. Access the 'Opacity' Subsection and set the value of both points to "0.85".




10. To emphasize the shading of the clouds, access the 'Lighting' Subsection and set the 'Self Shadow' on. Adjust the Opacity level to your desire.



That's it for creating a realistic sky with clouds!

 

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