HDRI skies above the clouds for aviation and aerospace renderings
- 16 HDRI dome skies carry the above-clouds tag, priced from $0 for one free sample to $99 for the bundle.
- The skies are computer generated, not photographed, so there is no real capture location or time of day.
- Resolutions run up to 16384px; examples include HDRI Dome: loc00184-22 and loc00184-9 Above the Clouds.
- A separately sold zDepth map lets you blend an aircraft or spacecraft model into the clouds when compositing.
- All variants are compatible with Unity and Unreal and licensed for commercial use.
This collection covers computer-generated sky domes shot from above a cloud layer, for renders that place an aircraft or spacecraft above the clouds instead of under them. Resolutions run from 4096px to 16384px, with prices from $0 for one free sample to $99 for the bundle of all 15 domes. A zDepth map, sold separately from the base sky, helps composite a 3D aircraft model into the cloud layer at the correct depth.
Products
HDRI Dome: loc00184-23 Above the Clouds
HDRI Dome: loc00184-22 Above the Clouds
HDRI Dome: loc00184-20 Above the Clouds
HDRI Dome: loc00184-18 Above the Clouds
HDRI Dome: loc00184-17 Above the Clouds
HDRI Dome: loc00184-16 Above the Clouds
HDRI Dome: loc00184-15 Above the Clouds
HDRI Dome: loc00184-14 Above the Clouds
HDRI Dome: loc00184-9 Above the Clouds
HDRI Dome: loc00184-8 Above the Clouds
HDRI Dome: loc00184-7 Above the Clouds
HDRI Dome: loc00184-6 Above the Clouds
HDRI Dome: loc00184-4 Above the Clouds
HDRI Dome: loc00184-1 Above the Clouds
HDRI Dome: loc00184-5 Above the Clouds
Above the Clouds Bundle 01 (zDepth not included)
What is in this collection
16 published products carry the above-clouds tag: 15 individual HDRI domes plus one bundle covering the set. The skies are computer generated rather than photographed, so each scene is available at resolutions up to 16384px. Two examples: HDRI Dome: loc00184-22, which reaches 16384px and also has a free 8192px sample, and HDRI Dome: loc00184-9 at up to 8192px. All variants are licensed for commercial use and compatible with Unity and Unreal.
Blending the aircraft into the clouds with the zDepth map
A zDepth map stores, for every pixel of the rendered sky, its distance from the camera instead of a color value. A compositor reads this per-pixel distance and compares it with the distance of a 3D object placed in the same scene, then masks the object behind any sky pixels that are actually closer to the camera. Without a depth pass, a sky image has to sit entirely behind or entirely in front of the 3D model. With one, an aircraft or spacecraft can appear to fly between cloud formations at different distances instead of in front of a flat backdrop. For this collection, the zDepth map is a separate purchase from the base sky file.
Sun and exposure for aircraft renders
Because these skies are computer generated, sun position and exposure are set when the file is produced rather than fixed by a real photograph. The files are high dynamic range, so the sun disk and the shadowed side of the clouds both stay recoverable from one exposure setting. Match the sky's exposure to the aircraft's own materials first, then adjust the sun angle for the shot instead of relying on a fixed time of day.
Free sample
HDRI Dome: loc00184-22 Above the Clouds is available as a free 8192px sample. Download the free sample. The free file carries the same commercial-use license as the paid variants.
