Using a Cloud Diagram to Help Reference Height!

In addition, by doing your own diagrams, you will also know where the clouds are in the atmosphere in respect to other clouds and atmospheric depth.

You will use a lot of the techniques learned throughout the website such as layering, blending techniques, airbrushing, and color correction tools available in your digital art program of choice.

So without further ado, let’s begin making those diagrams!

First, create a large canvas and use the gradient tool to fill it in. You want a nice light blue to dark blue gradient going upwards. Paint some simple mountains at the bottom to signify your horizon.

1. High cloud diagram

Make sure to have each cloud shape in its own separate layer for manipulation purposes.

These high clouds are fairly easy to paint and consist of three different types of clouds: cirrus, cirrocumulus, and cirrostratus. As these clouds are fairly far apart in the diagram, you can just grab each cloud you have already constructed and paste it on the main canvas.

The key here is to manipulate each of the different types of high clouds to blend in with the blue atmosphere. Think about altering the size and shape of each cloud with the tools you have already learned.

2. Middle cloud diagram

The middle section consists of altocumulus clouds and altostratus clouds.

In this section, we are not only manipulating the shapes of the clouds, but we are also manipulating color and layer organization. As the clouds have different textures, trying to merge it seamlessly becomes a challenge.

There are several things to try an attempt. For one, you can preserve the transparency of each individual cloud section. Then, paint over it with the background color so it merges into the blue atmosphere.

Once that is completed, begin to erase around the edges with a soft eraser. The larger the size of the eraser, the smoother the edges become.

3. Low cloud diagram

Each different type of clouds will present its own challenges as you create your cloud diagram. As before, you will need to use as many tools as possible to get it to merge properly.

The challenge here is to paint clouds that do not have a definite shape. For example, the stratus clouds are basically shapeless mist and fog. That means you will need to have an object around it to show the existence of these clouds.

Your horizon will come in handy here. Use it to paint a suggestion of a mountain or hill. Then, use a soft brush to paint around the base of the mound to create stratus clouds.

As well, think about how each different shaped cloud will interact with one another. For example, Cumulus clouds are separate bundles that hover on top of the nimbostratus layer.

It is the same with stratocumulus clouds hovering over the nimbostratus clouds. Use layer opacity to figure out how to show all the different types of clouds.

4. Cumulonimbus cloud diagram

The last diagram consists of painting cumulonimbus clouds. As the name suggests, these clouds are huge and will range from the horizon point all the way to where cirrostratus clouds are.

One difference between the cumulonimbus clouds you have painted before, and the one you are about to do, is the inclusion of an anvil top.

To paint the anvil top, use the smudge tool and begin to ‘fan out’ the peak of the cumulonimbus cloud. It’s easier with the smudge brush set on the strongest setting. Even with a little bit of digital paint, the smudge brush can fill an entire canvas if necessary.

Note: clicking on the small image above will bring up a larger version of the diagram for you to reference.

Once all the clouds are in place, begin to add text as well as measuring units to help you define scale. Move the clouds around if necessary. This is where having different layers are helpful.

When everything is done, you should have a nice cloud diagram ready to reference. Like this lesson suggests, always remember to build a good foundation of artistic knowledge for yourself and to have fun doing it!

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