From f96c2087d9f12f2fc87168b1572408a396902b85 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Joachim Dick <62520542+JoaDick@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Wed, 11 Mar 2026 08:19:42 +0100
Subject: [PATCH] New smooth effect: Color Clouds (#5268)

* New Effect: Color Clouds

ColorClouds: Random start points for clouds and color

ColorClouds: new config option 'More red'

* ColorClouds: Incorporated review comments

- Support for color palettes
- Use perlin16() instead of inoise16()
- Use cos8_t() instead of cos8()

* ColorClouds: incorporated more review comments

* ColorClouds: incorporated final review comment
---
 wled00/FX.cpp | 80 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 wled00/FX.h   |  3 +-
 2 files changed, 82 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/wled00/FX.cpp b/wled00/FX.cpp
index f2ee0d4a..4399dbc1 100644
--- a/wled00/FX.cpp
+++ b/wled00/FX.cpp
@@ -5036,6 +5036,85 @@ uint16_t mode_aurora(void) {
 }
 static const char _data_FX_MODE_AURORA[] PROGMEM = "Aurora@!,!;1,2,3;!;;sx=24,pal=50";
 
+
+/** Softly floating colorful clouds.
+ * This is a very smooth effect that moves colorful clouds randomly around the LED strip.
+ * It was initially intended for rather unobtrusive ambient lights (with very slow speed settings).
+ * Nevertheless, it appears completely different and quite vibrant when the sliders are moved near
+ * to their limits. No matter in which direction or in which combination...
+ * Ported to WLED from https://github.com/JoaDick/EyeCandy/blob/master/ColorClouds.h
+ */
+uint16_t mode_ColorClouds()
+{
+  // Set random start points for clouds and color.
+  if (SEGENV.call == 0) {
+    SEGENV.aux0 = hw_random16();
+    SEGENV.aux1 = hw_random16();
+  }
+  const uint32_t volX0 = SEGENV.aux0;
+  const uint32_t hueX0 = SEGENV.aux1;
+  const uint8_t hueOffset0 = volX0 + hueX0; // derive a 3rd random number
+
+  // Makes a very soft wraparound of the color palette by putting more emphasis on the begin & end
+  // of the palette (or on the red'ish colors in case of a rainbow spectrum).
+  // This gives the effect oftentimes an even more calm perception.
+  const bool cozy = SEGMENT.check3;
+
+  // Higher values make the clouds move faster.
+  const uint32_t volSpeed = 1 + SEGMENT.speed;
+  
+  // Higher values make the color change faster.
+  const uint32_t hueSpeed = 1 + SEGMENT.intensity;
+  
+  // Higher values make more clouds (but smaller ones).
+  const uint32_t volSqueeze = 8 + SEGMENT.custom1;
+  
+  // Higher values make the clouds more colorful.
+  const uint32_t hueSqueeze = SEGMENT.custom2;
+
+  // Higher values make larger gaps between the clouds.
+  const int32_t volCutoff   = 12500 + SEGMENT.custom3 * 900;
+  const int32_t volSaturate = 52000;
+  // Note: When adjusting these calculations, ensure that volCutoff is always smaller than volSaturate.
+
+  const uint32_t now = strip.now;
+  const uint32_t volT = now * volSpeed / 8;
+  const uint32_t hueT = now * hueSpeed / 8;
+  const uint8_t hueOffset = beat88(64) >> 8;
+
+  bool doGammaCorrection = false; // WLEDMM gamma correction only needed when color is _not_ from a palette
+  if (SEGMENT.palette == 0) doGammaCorrection = true;
+  for (int i = 0; i < SEGLEN; i++) {
+    const uint32_t volX = i * volSqueeze * 64;
+    int32_t vol = perlin16(volX0 + volX, volT);
+    vol = map(vol, volCutoff, volSaturate, 0, 255);
+    vol = constrain(vol, 0, 255);
+
+    const uint32_t hueX = i * hueSqueeze * 8;
+    uint8_t hue = perlin16(hueX0 + hueX, hueT) >> 7;
+    hue += hueOffset0;
+    hue += hueOffset;
+    if (cozy) {
+      hue = cos8_t(128 + hue / 2);
+    }
+
+    uint32_t pixel;
+    if (SEGMENT.palette) { pixel = SEGMENT.color_from_palette(hue, false, true, 0, vol); }
+    else { hsv2rgb(CHSV32(hue, 255, vol), pixel); }
+
+    // Suppress extremely dark pixels to avoid flickering of plain r/g/b.
+    if (int(R(pixel)) + G(pixel) + B(pixel) <= 2) {
+      pixel = 0;
+    }
+
+    if (doGammaCorrection) pixel = gamma32(pixel);
+    SEGMENT.setPixelColor(i, pixel);
+  }
+  return FRAMETIME;
+}
+static const char _data_FX_MODE_COLORCLOUDS[] PROGMEM = "Color Clouds@!,!,Clouds,Colors,Distance,,,Cozy;;!;;sx=24,ix=32,c1=48,c2=64,c3=12,pal=0";
+
+
 // WLED-SR effects
 
 /////////////////////////
@@ -12155,6 +12234,7 @@ void WS2812FX::setupEffectData() {
   addEffect(FX_MODE_COLOR_SWEEP_RANDOM, &mode_color_sweep_random, _data_FX_MODE_COLOR_SWEEP_RANDOM);
   addEffect(FX_MODE_RUNNING_COLOR, &mode_running_color, _data_FX_MODE_RUNNING_COLOR);
   addEffect(FX_MODE_AURORA, &mode_aurora, _data_FX_MODE_AURORA);
+  addEffect(FX_MODE_COLORCLOUDS, &mode_ColorClouds, _data_FX_MODE_COLORCLOUDS);
   addEffect(FX_MODE_RUNNING_RANDOM, &mode_running_random, _data_FX_MODE_RUNNING_RANDOM);
   addEffect(FX_MODE_LARSON_SCANNER, &mode_larson_scanner, _data_FX_MODE_LARSON_SCANNER);
   addEffect(FX_MODE_COMET, &mode_comet, _data_FX_MODE_COMET);
diff --git a/wled00/FX.h b/wled00/FX.h
index c718c092..d43c47a8 100644
--- a/wled00/FX.h
+++ b/wled00/FX.h
@@ -399,7 +399,8 @@ static uint8_t strip_getPaletteBlend();  // forward declaration: little helper t
 #define FX_MODE_PS1DSPRINGY            227
 #define FX_MODE_PARTICLEGALAXY         228
 
-#define MODE_COUNT                     229
+#define FX_MODE_COLORCLOUDS            229
+#define MODE_COUNT                     230
 
 typedef enum mapping1D2D {
   M12_Pixels = 0,