Best application to create and render clouds and skyboxes?

#1

Hello.

What is the best program out there to create clouds either with placing VDBs around or generating it procedurally inside and rendering them as skyboxes with realistic lighting and atmosphere settings?

#2

Every 3D package that can do volumetrics should be good for the job. You can even create skyboxes from within Unity. There is an addon for that available. https://forum.unity.com/threads/released-skybox-creator-video-and-image-skybox-creation-urp-hdrp-supported.823224/

What you might need to have is a conversion software that can convert between cube mapping and equirectangular mapping. Tools like pano2vr. Dunno what is state of the art at the moment. It’s ten years that i have created my last skybox. I would go with a skydome nowadays anyways. Fewer distortions than a sky cube. Every hdri is good enough here.

#3

Hi CactusonFire. I have a few recommendations for software that is good for generating photoreal clouds and cloudscapes procedurally:

Terragen:

Embergen:

And then there is also Houdini which is a great software package for generating procedural models and simulations.

I hope my list was useful to you :slight_smile: .

#4

Thanks for creating this thread. I think Terragen or Terragen 4 is the right solution hereof. Though I am not a big fan of its hectic procedure but it could be still easy to manage. On the other hand, if we discuss Skyboxes then the majority of the 3D development community is preferring Skydomes over Skyboxes.

On the other hand, Skybox security is still something beneficial for the development community. Yes, I am working on a Docker deployment project and getting guidance from here https://blog.back4app.com/deploy-docker-container/ and considering Skybox Security to create a more protected environment. Withal, I am not sure whether Skybox Security works for Docker applications or not.

#5

There are various software programs available that allow you to create realistic clouds in 3D environments. Some of the most popular ones include:

  1. Houdini: This 3D animation and visual effects software is well-known for its procedural modeling capabilities, and it also has powerful tools for creating realistic clouds. Houdini allows you to create clouds procedurally using its volumetric tools and render them as skyboxes or using other methods. Its PBR rendering capabilities can help you achieve realistic lighting and atmospheric effects.

  2. Blender: This free and open-source 3D software has a strong community and a wealth of plugins and add-ons available. The Blender Cloud Generator add-on can help you create realistic clouds procedurally, and the software’s Eevee and Cycles rendering engines can help you achieve realistic lighting and atmospheric effects.

  3. Vue: This software is designed specifically for creating natural landscapes and environments, and it has powerful tools for creating clouds and atmospheric effects. Vue’s cloud generation tools can be used to create realistic clouds procedurally or by placing VDBs. The software also has realistic lighting and atmospheric effects built-in.

  4. Terragen: This software is designed specifically for creating realistic landscapes and environments. It has tools for creating clouds and atmospheric effects, and its powerful rendering engine can help you achieve realistic lighting and atmospheric effects.

  5. World Machine: This software is designed for creating realistic terrain and landscapes, but it also has tools for creating clouds and atmospheric effects. World Machine can be used to create procedural clouds or to place VDBs, and its rendering capabilities can help you achieve realistic lighting and atmospheric effects.