Earth cloud formation animation creation....

[thethule]

Phew! That was a title and a half!
Hi everyone, i was wondering if i could ask for opinions on this matter. I have just received a brief from our client that describes the opening shot being of the earth with its cloud formations swirling, and getting thicker and denser as they do. Basically, describing global warming. Now, i have no problem creating a photoreal earth, but im a bit stuck on getting this animated map created. I looked all morning in vain on the interweb for a satellite animation we could buy, but nothing. So i have decided to try to paint one in combustion. We own a cd with D1 cloud footage, and i was hoping to overlay them (ive picked the best clips) on a still of earth clouds that i already have, basically like a mosaic, with lots of feathering etc...and using swirls in combustion to create localised vortexes. Does this seem like a good idea? I could use advice from texture painters who are more knowledgeable than me (not difficult, its not my field), or maybe even if someone knows of one that i can buy/download. Thanks a lot guys.


Regards,


Marc Khachfe

[Hallock]

Tell your client that temperatures won't be able to melt the ice caps for a good 500 years, barring nuclear war

[trixian]

eh...and tell your client that cloud density / thickness have nothing to do with global warming.

[thethule]

Good point christian. lol
Anyway the client is only paying for 3 days of my time now, so i think its going to have to be a crappy after effects swirl motion. I tried mosaic-ing cloud footage and it will definately work, but i will need more than a few days to make it look sweet. Anyway, thanks for your replies. The annoying thing is now that the budget has been reduced, i dont get to render in Vray with lovely displacement for the earth and clouds.

Regards,

Marc

[travistlo]

http://www.solarviews.com/eng/earth.htm

here is a link for some resources..not sure ho much they will help, but i hope they do.

Almost at the bottom (3/4 down) there are links for animations of the clouds. see if they help, they are kinda small and quality isnt that great.

Hope it helps a little.
Travis

[thethule]

Hi Travis,

Thanks for the link, unfortunately i had seen it already and those animations werent much good. But thanks anyway mate.


Regards,

Marc