Hey there,
I’ve come up with a theory and would like to hear your feedback on this one.

Maya fluids are incredible to render clouds and explosions, but using the most default workflow to create Clouds doesn’t really look like real clouds. The clouds do look the same all over the container. That’s because you are using a build in texture.

It takes more that one fluid container to create a typical cloud deck.
(like this image)

As you can see, we have three types of clouds, the one at the bottom, then the nice cumulus types inde background and the dark ones at the top.

Creating the second ones is tricky. The clouds are looking like an explosion and that is the key to create those clouds.

I would say that if you want to create such clouds, you may would start with a 3d container with an emitter. Then use an expression to randomize the density on the first row.

Let the emitter emit some fluid and then somewhere in the middle of the timeline stop the animtion, remove all dynamics and start tweaking the result with the build in texture in the Fluid. (this should look like a fluid container that has several fluid sprays. )

It works actually the same as creating the atomic bomb in the visor, expect that you re-shade the whole, to create the clouds.

I would say this make sense. What do you think? And do you have better solutions?
I like to hear you comments!

regards,
station2

update:
i tried my theory, and it works.
Result just needs tweak to get a realistic shading, but the basic is correct.

It’s a good theory, but in my experience the only time its really a good thing to use fluid clouds is if you’re going to being going through and in entire cloud bank in a single uncut shot. Otherwise what has worked well for me has just been painted clouds. The Gorillaz “El Manana” video is really a good example of all painted clouds: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cyhASfUgWw

Anyways, your image is a good start for clouds, but 3d container clouds are terribly expensive to render so it’s really a matter of necessity. There are many ways to render good clouds its just a matter of whats needed for the animation.