Difference Clouds duplicated in Xara Xtreme?

**HayTay** · 26 February 2009, 11:01 PM

I'm still on my quest of learning how to duplicate certain Photoshop effects using Xara Xtreme. So far I've been more than pleased with the effects I've been able to achieve. Right now, though, I'm stumped on how to recreate 'Difference Clouds' raster effect using Xtreme with or without an Xtreme compatible filter or plug-in. You can see the effect I'm trying to achieve here: Filter>Render>Difference Clouds Example.

Fiddling with Fractal Clouds fills doesn't seem to have the same result. Also, I've been unsuccessful in my web and TG searches for a plug-in, and the plug-ins I have installed don't seem to be able to do the trick.

Any tips or suggestions for XX would be greatly appreciated,
HayTay

**steve.ledger** · 26 February 2009, 11:29 PM

ULEAD free Partical Plug in might be useful.

Eight natural particle effects for images and selections - smoke, fire, bubbles, clouds, rain and more.

Also 2D HyperClouds is an old (but works in Xtreme) freeware plugin that produces 'Difference Clouds'

**Soquili** · 26 February 2009, 11:33 PM

Hi HayTay,

Have you also played around by changing the fractal clouds fractal resolution and fractal graininess?

With the Fill Tool or the Transparency Tool selected and Fractal Clouds as the Fill/Transparency type set, right click on the shape. The Infobar will change to display the fractal resolution and graininess fields.

**instinctive.de** · 27 February 2009, 12:12 AM

Soquili: Wow. Now that's hidden pretty well. Thanks for pointing that out, I've often had the problem that fractal resolution wasn't high enough.

**HayTay** · 27 February 2009, 01:12 AM

Wow, thanks for the great response(s). I knew someone else must have had a go at this. I'm off to give each one a try and see if they're what I'm looking for.

I'll report back,
HayTay

**Albacore** · 27 February 2009, 09:42 AM

I would normally start of with two fractal transparencies,one nearly white and the other grey and depending on the type of cloud if it has a lot of moisture in it stack the lighter transparency to the back and then blend the two transparencies together. If it is a white puffy cloud the grey to the back and white to the front. I was trying to look out an example but I am on the wrong computer will try later to show examples.

DD · 27 February 2009, 12:04 PM

Soquili said: Have you also played around by changing the fractal clouds fractal resolution and fractal graininess?

Thanks for the RightClick tip, I had never noticed that before.

**jclements** · 27 February 2009, 09:28 PM

Hi HayTay:

Try looking at this posting: http://www.talkgraphics.com/showthre...ighlight=Cloud

I posted a Xara file there which you can download and experiment with.
Lots of tranparent overlays.

Regards, John

**RTW1** · 27 February 2009, 09:44 PM

I think that before everyone gets off on the wrong track, I have a hunch that HayTay wants deference clouds not for sky effects but to use to generate textures in Photoshop (or should I say Xara )such as marble or lightning bolts etc.
In short the fluffy summer clouds are not what he wants or maybe it is. More info is needed from HayTay.

**Dominique** · 27 February 2009, 10:30 PM

I have find longtime ago a tutorial for cloud creating with Xara. I dont remember wher find it but here is the picture.

They made really realistics clouds