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Creating 3D Cloud Motion From a Still Image

By Aharon Rabinowitz
April 27, 2009

In this tutorial, Aharon Rabinowitz shows you how to take a 2D image of clouds and use it to create realistic 3D cloud motion, in just a few simple clicks. No cutting up of the image needed! This Tip was sent to us by Noel Powell after he watched our weather replacement tutorials.

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37 Responses

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  1. Joey said

    Great tutorial! Alot easier than slicing it up into different layers.
    One question. Did you record this at 4 in the morining? You sounded totally different and had tons of ums and uhs. Somthing was a little off from the usual. But, great tutorial nonetheless!

  2. erdinc said

    thanks for tut..thats what i am looking for.

  3. Actually – I did this without a script. Usually I have a set script and just read from it and then record the video, but I’m trying to get more comfortable doing them off the cuff. I figured the tip was so simple, it wouldn’t be a big deal. But I’m glad you’re paying attention.

  4. Nice tutorial Aharon. Just wondering, were you traveling on alligator alley? If so, whereabouts were you in Southwest FL? I live near naples, ft myers, estero…always cool to hear when people are passing through

  5. We drove from Sarasota (Lido Key, actually, where I stay a few times a year) and went across to my parents in Miami Beach. Alligator alley is a little out of the way for that trip, but we did take it the last time just to check it out. Didn’t see any gators, but probably a good thing.

  6. You can see another example of this technique being used here under the post “Progress!” link

  7. kirankun said

    Nice! Thanks Andrew

  8. Dude – Look at the top! I’m Aharon – not Andrew!

  9. VUONG VU said

    simple, but amazing effects. Aharon, MASTER of After Effects. I thought youre the one who designed this software. How can you know every single detail of the software? i wish i can be just 1/100 of your skill . Where did you learn these? How long to make a normal person become a master of AE?

  10. I think everyone’s parents live in Miami Beach ( my grandparents live there ).

    To the guy above who wrote Thanks Andrew – wtf man? Do you not know who’s website you are on???? lol

  11. Jim Hines said

    That is such an elegant solution. My approach would have been much more convoluted. Thanks to you and Noel for sharing it.

  12. Chris said

    Aharon, thanks for the tip! That was an issue that I was wrestling with on several occasions and I never came up with a solution.

    Noel, that “David and The Lion” stuff looks awesome!!! I really dig your character animation test too!

  13. Aharon Rabinowitz thanks

  14. zerox said

    That’s a really nice solution! In the past I made the cloudlayer 3D and rotated it then, but this is a so much better way. : )

  15. VinnyMac said

    Awesome! Just when you think you figured everything out, someone comes up with something better.

  16. Chip said

    Wow…. sometimes it’s the most simple things that make the best results. Thanks for the tip guys.

  17. Olf42 said

    Great tut! Such a simple idea but really effective, thanks for sharing.

  18. Stanislav said

    po rumochke po malenkoi
    nalei nalei nalei
    po rumochke po malenkoi
    chem poiat loshodei

    nice song, nice tut ))
    thx for knowledge
    from Russia with love )))

  19. Hi Aharon, This is Chandan Kumar Here. See my video tutorial inspired by you but definitely done in a totally different way, since there is always another way.This one is dedicated to you.
    http://vfxrider.com/after_effects.html

  20. This is a very old trick.
    Albert Whitlock did it in “In The Way West” (1967) and again in “the Hindenberg” (1975).

  21. sajantk said

    Great thkns

  22. Austin Umoren said

    ur works are supperb ,wonderfull

  23. Hi Aharon,
    Thanks for this tutorial. I watched this a while ago and remembered it recently while working on a website project.

    I took the principles of this technique and used them in an Adobe Flash project to create some nice cloud motion.

    It’s nice and simple and very effective.
    I have credited you in the article which you can view below.

    http://bit.ly/8LC6rt

    All the best.
    Markos

  24. Markos – well done. Nice application of the technique for a different host app.

  25. very nice tutorial…

    keep up the good work

  26. The excellent lesson, has learnt a lot of new, thanks!

  27. muhsen said

    Thanks. Great fake moving cloud. thanks again.

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