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Description
We've released version 2.0 of SilverLining, our C++ library for real-time, physically-based rendering of the sky, 3D volumetric clouds, and weather effects. This new release features a new type of cloud - stratocumulus - rendered used GPU ray-casting; this new cloud type is featured in the images above.
With GPU ray-casting, truly 3D, volumetric clouds of very high densities become possible, with per-pixel lighting. A fragment program casts rays from the camera through each fragment of the cloud layer's bounding volume, compositing together color, opacity, and lighting information as it passes through the clouds. The clouds themselves are stored as 3D textures, with an ancillary 3D noise texture used to provide fractal detail.
These new cloud types augment SilverLining's existing cumulus cloud types (cumulus congestus, cumulus mediocris, and cumulonimbus) which render the underlying volume data using billboard splatting. Splatted clouds are featured in the SilverLining Demo and our Gallery.
We provide sample integration code for OpenGL 1.4, OpenGL 3.2, DirectX 9, DirectX 10, and DirectX 11, as well as for the Ogre, OpenSceneGraph, SceniX, and Carmenta engines. Visit Sundog's website for a free evaluation SDK and more information, and feedback is welcome!
