Gradated Alpha Texture possible?
Hey Everyone.
First post, but I hope to be active as there's plenty to learn about Maya.
Anyway, I am making an atmosphere texture for a planet (Maya 09, and rendering in Mental Ray) and I was wondering if there was a way to use an alpha channel texture to create the clouds, thereby making them opaque, semi transparent, and fully transparent depending on the thickness of the atmospheric conditions. I know I can do it with particles, and I know how to create an alpha channel texture for a solid object or a smooth gradation, but not one that's opaque or transparent depending on the texture it's referencing. I guess theoretically you could layer multiple layers with alphas applied to get this effect, but I was wondering if there was an easier way that I haven't been able to find as of yet.
Thanks in advance for any help.