---
title: "Volumetric Clouds"
url: "https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/OSKYSHADER-ID_SKY_GROUP_VOL_CLOUDS.html"
section_path: "Create Menu > Physical Sky > Volumetric Clouds"
element_id: "OSKYSHADER"
group_id: "ID_SKY_GROUP_VOL_CLOUDS"
description: "The bounding box is the area of a volumetric cloud that will be rendered. A bounding box is automatically created when a cloud is painted and corresponds …"
---

## Volumetric Clouds

> **Tip:** Tip:Volumetric cloud setting are no longer supported. They will still be evaluated when an older scene is loaded and the following settings can be used to modify them.

### Show Bounding Box

Parameter ID: `SKY_SHOW_CLOUD_BOX`

The bounding box is the area of a volumetric cloud that will be rendered. A bounding box is automatically created when a cloud is painted and corresponds to the cloud's dimensions in 3D space.

Bounding boxes can be rescaled interactively. Simply select the Move Tool and drag the orange grabbers.

### Editor Color

Parameter ID: `SKY_CLOUD_EDITOR_COLOR`

This is the color of a cloud's bounding box, which is not selected in the editor.

### Editor Quality

Parameter ID: `SKY_CLOUD_EDITOR_QUALITY` · Range: [0..100%]

Volumetric clouds are depicted in the editor as cloud density points . Since these clouds use a lot of memory, you can lower the level of detail with which they are depicted.

As soon as you switch to the Cloud Tool, new rules apply (**Quality** in the **Display** tab).

> **Tip:** This setting does not affect the quality of the rendered volumetric clouds.

### Adjust Altitude

Parameter ID: `SKY_VOL_CLOUDS_ADJUST_ALTITUDE`

Activating this option places the volumetric clouds in such a manner as to reflect the curvature of the earth, more or less a partial sphere. This hemisphere's diameter measures 2x(earth radius + cloud altitude). You can find the exact earth radius in the **Sky** tab.

If the default earth radius is used, the effect of this function will be limited.

### Receive Shadows

Parameter ID: `SKY_VOL_CLOUDS_RECEIVE_SHADOWS`

If this option is active, volumetric clouds can receive shadows from 2D clouds, other volumetric clouds as well as other objects in the scene that cast shadows.

### Sample Size

Parameter ID: `SKY_VOL_CLOUDS_SAMPLE_SIZE` · Range: [0..+∞m]

The lower the value entered here, the better the quality of the rendered cloud and the longer the render times will be.

If your cloud looks too square or too choppy, this is most likely due to **Sample Size** being too high.

### Edge Noise

Parameter ID: `SKY_VOL_CLOUDS_EDGE_NOISE_NOISE`

Noise is used to vary the edges of volumetric clouds. This helps them look less homogeneous.

![Image: 004237.jpg](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/004237.jpg)\
Various noise types.

Here you can select from numerous [Noise](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/XSLANOISE-ID_SHADERPROPERTIES.html.md)) types ( [Channel Shaders](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/5834.html.md)).

You can also click on the small button to the right of the selection to select a noise type visually.

### Contrast

Parameter ID: `SKY_VOL_CLOUDS_EDGE_NOISE_CONTRAST` · Range: [0..100%]

The higher the contrast, the more visible the noise structure will be.

### Scale

Parameter ID: `SKY_VOL_CLOUDS_EDGE_NOISE_SCALE` · Range: [0..+∞%]

![Image: 004238.jpg](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/004238.jpg)\
Top, large **Scale** value, bottom, low **Scale** value (using the same noise type).

Use this setting to scale the noise. The higher the value, the smoother the edge of the cloud will be.

### Noise Speed

Parameter ID: `SKY_VOL_CLOUDS_EDGE_NOISE_SPEED` · Range: [0..+∞%]

If a value greater than 0 is entered here, the clouds will billow, i.e., their edges will slowly change.

### Lights

Parameter ID: `SKY_VOL_CLOUDS_LIGHT_LIST`

Drag all lights that should affect the volumetric clouds into this field. If this field is left empty, the volumetric clouds will only be affected by the sun and moon.