Quick And Easy Volumetric Clouds Using 3ds Max

(This tutorial takes estimated 2 mins if you have a basic knowledge of max but if not Ive included step-by-step pictures)


1. Open Max or If opened already reset it to a blank scene.
First we are going to create the blue hemisphere atmosphere.
2. Create a sphere. With the setting of Radius 50.0 and 32 segments.
3. Goto the modifier panel and add a "normal" modifier and make sure "flip normals" is selected.



4. Now add a edit mesh modifier.



5. Under the selection panel of the edit mesh modifier select vertex.
6. Now select the bottom half vertexs leaving only a top dome half.



7. Add a "UVW Mapping" Modifier. Make the mapping spherical.



8. Hit "m" to bring up the material editor.
9. Using a blank map under the maps for "diffuse color" click and hit gradient
10. Settings, (You can experiment for your own look if you want)
Color 1: Hue:170 Sat:255 Value:104
Color 2: Hue:146 Sat:185 Value:218
Color 3: Hue:133 Sat:73 Value:220
Color 2 Postion: 0.36
11. Apply that to the sphere..



12. Create panel> Helpers> Atmospheric Apperatus> Box gizmo.
13. Create various size and shapes but make sure they rest at the same height in the sky or sphere. Also make sure it fits inside the radius of the sphere
(I personally create all the box gizmos then group them to move them around.)



14. Goto Rendering> Enviroment> Atmosphere> Effects> Click the "add" button.
15. Click add volume fog.
16. Hit "pick gizmo". then hit "h" and select all the box gizmos.



17. Settings



18. Render! Warning! Dependant on your processor may take awhile to render these clouds
19. Play with as needed varying on what you need this effect for.



Hope this helps some of you and find it to be useful.

A scene from a animation I did doing the clouds this day.