How do you show a planet in the sky?
nabob21
Posts: 1,027
Hello,
I would like to create a scene where there is a planet up in the sky. I would like it to look like you are looking up through an atmosphere so that the planet is somewhat softened due to atmosheric haze in the same way that the moon is when you look at it during the day. Is there a tutorial out there that shows how this can be done, or a forum thread that gives some tips on how to do this? I have tried searching but haven't been able to find what I am looking for.
Thanks in advance for any replies.
nabob21
Daz 3D is part of 
Connect
DAZ Productions, Inc.
7533 S Center View Ct #4664
West Jordan, UT 84084
Licensing Agreement | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | EULA
© 2025 Daz Productions Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Comments
Check out Orestes, they have quite a few HDRIs with planets in them
https://www.daz3d.com/orestes-graphics#index=45&filtered=1
Hi FSMCDesigns,
Thanks for the reply. I do have several of Orestes sets and I like them very much, but I have something specific in mind, and I would like to be able to create the effect myself if possible.
Post work... I usually use one of the planet filters in Filter Forge to generate a planet close what I want.
Not a great render, but it was easy to find...
The one below was just an experiment, the lighting is pretty crappy...
Those (above) are pretty old, but the planets there are pre-rendered PNGs made using Filter Forge.
Heres an example of one of those filters... https://www.filterforge.com/filters/11450.html
Sometimes I use the program Space Engine to help me visualize what I'm looking for... I have the coordinates for a few interesting worlds saved and I can play with various setting to get an idea of what I want... I have lots of sky photos I've taken on earth, so I'll usually use those as a background, unless I need something completely alien looking... I'll use the Space Engine render as a reference and then take the Filter Forge planet render (rendered with a transparent background as a PNG) and erase whatever portion of the planet that would fade out... to simulate haze, one can alter the transparency of the planet image to make it seem faded...
I also have a bunch of cut out clouds and haze overlays that I made which I can use too... like if there is a cloud obscuring the planet.
It's also important to determine the direction that the sun would be lighting the surface of the other planet and rotate or adjust it to match that angle.
These are the kind of images you can render with Space Engine, to give yourself a better idea of what you might want to render... the old copy I have, had the fenders limited to screen size, but the newest version apparently allows you to choose your render size, which I think can be any size your computer is capable of.
There are more space based images in some of my posts on the "An OT Thread for Images" which can be found here... https://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/59113/an-ot-thread-for-images/p10
They just released a new product today that looks totally awesome:
https://www.daz3d.com/sci-fi-planetary-props-and-shader-pack
I added it to my Wishlist.
The sun and flares looks incredible, and there are half a dozen planet textures.
there is also an older product you might like:
https://www.daz3d.com/iray-outer-space
https://www.daz3d.com/solar-system-planets
This is a better example of how the kind of post work I mentioned should go... (well, the Photoshopping part)
First thing is to know where the sun is, in the case of this image sun is in the upper left. You could as I did simply paint a disk.
On the other you could create a planet in Bryce like I did, using a sphere, texture and a single light. In Bryce I rendered it out and created a mask. In a paint program I use the mask to separate the planet from the background.
McGyver, thanks for the reply and the suggestions. The video link is very helpful although I was hoping to be able to do it within Daz Studio without postwork. However having said that, you have given me some great suggestions to try if that isn't possible.
von Hobo, thanks for the links. I do have some of those products and intend to use then and that is why I was wondering how I could blend them into the sky to make them look m,more realistic. And you are correct, the new planetary prps and shader packs looks really good.
Greycat, I am not sure what image you are refering to in your comment.
In my paint program I created a sky using a simple gradient. I inserted the planet and adjusted its color to match the sky so it looks like you're seeing it through the atmosphere.
Hmm, if you really want it mabe you should buy it now. It is by a vendor that recently had most of his shaders disappear from the DAZ store.
Oh no. Thanks!
I'll get it ASAP! As in now! LOL
Hey. If nothing else, it's a good marketing technique. Make people fear your products will dissapear and they will buy them immediately.
I just got it because of this thread and for that very same reason