Viral Growth
Infection system tests in Houdini
Process
I was testing out infection systems in Houdini, learning how to use the solver for accumulation effects etc. I used NASA texture maps for the rendering.
RAW vs processed NASA albedo texture
NASA cloud map
I combined the layers and rendered them in Nuke on a sphere, with a directional light, no fancy shading really neccesary
Beauty render from Houdini of the infected planet
Transition map to blend between the two renders
Infection system, using some noises to break up path of growth
Displacement map, using a solver to accumulate values from the infection attributes
Displaced sphere geometry