Lazy Cloud User Manual

☁️ What is Lazy Cloud?

Lazy Cloud is a Blender tool for quickly importing and adjusting cloud assets. Its core purpose is to make cloud scene setup templated and one-click. It provides:

• Fast cloud Collection selection and import from Assets Library thumbnails
• Automatic cleanup of old LC_ cloud Collections to keep the scene clean
• Quick cloud transform controls (position, rotation, uniform scale, reset)
• Centralized management for Cycles / EEVEE volume parameters
• One-click application of recommended rendering settings (Auto)

📋 System Requirements

• Add-on Name: Lazy Cloud
• Author: MeiU
• Add-on Version: 2.0.1
• Minimum Blender Version: 3.4.1
• Panel Location: View3D → N Panel → Lazy Cloud

Install the Add-on

Enable the Add-on

Search for Lazy Cloud in the Add-ons list and enable it.

Verify Asset Path

The add-on reads from Assets Library inside the add-on folder. Make sure it contains category folders, thumbnails (png/jpg), and Assets.blend.

Select Category and Thumbnail

In the Lazy Cloud main panel, choose a category (including ALL), then pick the cloud asset from thumbnails.

Click ADD to Import Cloud

The add-on loads the matching Collection from Assets.blend. If other LC_ Collections exist, it removes older ones automatically.

Adjust in Tools → Cloud Control

You can directly adjust visible LC_ objects using Location Z / Rotation / Uniform Scale, and use Reset Transform for one-click reset.

Click Auto When Needed

When settings deviate from recommended values, a red Auto button appears in Tools. Click it to apply recommended parameters automatically.

• Category Dropdown: Switch by Assets Library subfolder or use ALL view
• Thumbnail Browser: Navigate previous / next thumbnail
• ADD: Import cloud Collection with optional automatic World replacement
• X: Remove all LC_ cloud Collections

Cloud Control

• Controls the first visible LC_ object (position, rotation, scale)
• Reset Transform restores defaults (location z=100, zero rotation, scale reset)

Settings

• World Nodes: Automatically applies Sky_World_001 / Sky_World_002 on import
• Camera Settings: Quick Clip End adjustment synced to all cameras
• Volume Settings: Shows matching volume controls for Cycles/EEVEE

• Reads LC_MAT_ shader group nodes from LC_ objects
• Lets you expand categories and edit shader inputs directly
• Ideal for fast cloud look refinement (density, detail, color, etc.)

• Built-in quick links: Discord / Twitter X / Website
• Quick access to Documentation

⚙️ Auto Button Logic

Auto detects your current render engine and applies matching recommended values:

• Cycles: Clip End + Volume Bounces + Fast GI (if supported)
• EEVEE: Clip End + recommended volumetric shadow / sampling / TAA settings
• Other engines: Applies at least the recommended Clip End value

📌 Recommended Value Highlights

• Clip End: 100000 (prevents clipping in large cloud scenes)
• Cycles Volume Bounces: 8
• EEVEE Volumetric Samples: 10 (version-dependent)
• EEVEE TAA Samples: 64

❌ Issue: Nothing imports after clicking ADD

Check:

• A category and thumbnail are selected
• Assets Library/Assets.blend exists
• Thumbnail filename (without extension) matches the Collection name

❌ Issue: Volume settings are not visible

Check:

• A visible LC_ cloud object exists in the scene
• The render engine is Cycles or EEVEE
• Advanced EEVEE volume options are available in your Blender version

❌ Issue: Scene is laggy or noisy

Suggestion:

• Start with Auto to apply balanced recommended values
• Lower EEVEE volume samples or reduce material volume intensity
• Keep only necessary LC_ objects and shader variations

💡 Recommended Workflow

1. Select cloud category and asset, then click ADD
2. Adjust overall position and scale in Cloud Control
3. Apply recommended render parameters with Auto
4. Fine-tune material nodes in Cloud Effects
5. Finalize lighting and post-processing after look approval

⚠️ Note

Volumetric rendering performance varies significantly by hardware and Blender version. Start from Auto, then fine-tune sampling and shadow settings for your best quality-performance balance.