Sunset Dramatic

Sunset Dramatic paints warm, golden clouds across a surface, as if lit by a low evening sun. It is built from a real cloud photograph that drifts and warps over the shape, recolored between a dark brown shadow tone and a glowing orange-gold light.

How it works

The material reads a cloud image several times at slightly different speeds and offsets, and uses noise to bend it, so the clouds slide and roll instead of sitting still. Their brightness is turned into a shade value that also swells and dips over time, so light seems to pulse through the clouds. That shade then blends between Cloud Color (the shadows, a deep brown here) and Light Color (the lit parts, a warm orange-gold). The result is opaque.

Settings

• Cloud Color sets the shadow tone; Light Color sets the lit tone. Swap them for any time of day.
• Use Original Image switches the recoloring off and shows the cloud photograph in its own colors.

Use it for

Golden-hour skies on a large sphere, romantic and travel scenes, warm hero backdrops and cinematic intros. For a purple, magical version see Mystical Purple; for a full sky system with a moving sun, use the time of day controls.