Tips for creating 3D clouds

The first step is to create the model for the clouds, and it’s a good idea to make it an irregular shape, as this will look more realistic. However, that depends on what effect we want the 3D art to achieve.

After we have created the model, we can create the cloud material. To do this, we have to open the Node Editor panel and the shaders: Texture Coordinate, Mapping, Image Texture (or a default texture), Hue Saturation Value, Invert, Volume Absorption, Volume Scatter, Add Shader, Emission, another Add Shader and at the end, the Material Output. 

After that, we have to connect them. We can start from the Texture Coordinate; here we have to connect the term Window with the Vector Mapping. In Mapping we have to change the values of the Scale X and Y; this value depends on the texture that we use for this material. In my case, I used the default texture in Blender, Wave Texture, as this is perfect for giving more imperfections to our clouds.

So, now we have to connect the Mapping with the Image Texture (or a default texture), and then connect the latter with the Hue Saturation Value and change the value Saturation to 0. Now we can connect this one with the Invert and insert a value of 0.400.

After that we have to connect the Invert with the Volume Scatter, in the point Anisotropy of the Shader. Then connect together the Volume Absorption with the Volume Scatter (to do this we use the Add Shader). Now we have to connect the Shader Emission with the Add Shader, and to do this, we can use another Add Shader. To the Emission we can insert a Strength value between 1.000 and 2.000. After this value, we can finally connect the last Add Shader with the Material Output, in the point Volume. This creates the cloud material you see in this image.

This article was originally published in 3D World magazine issue 210. Buy it here.