Dictionary

THIS IS A WORK IN PROGRESS… CHANGES OFTEN!!

The idea is to have a standard way of decribing a sunset.

OK.. this is where it gets technical….

The sky is broken up into 4 sectors, with dividing lines running north to south.

Sector 1 is 30 degrees up from western horizon
Sector 2 is the next 30 degrees
Sector 3 the next 30 degrees
Sector 4 is from directly overhead to eastern horizon.

So the overall simple syntax is like this…….

Sector, Percentage, Formation , Height, Colour , Effect
eg : 1, 30, Mottled, High, Fairy Floss

Lets try a real example..,,
syntax 1
Sector 1,30, Solid, Brilliant Orange

Sector 1, 30, Solid, Bright Pinks

Sector 2, 80 Thick, Low, GreyBLue
syntax 2

Sector 1, 20, Whispy, Orange, Sun

Sector 2,20, Whispy, Mid, Duotone Silver/Grey, Sky

Eclippse

Graduation

Jet Trails

Reflections

Sky (Background) Assume it’s BLUE.

Moon

Birds

Haze 1 – 5

As with the colours, we have used some standard terms to describe the group that a formation may belong too, and then extra terms to isolate a particular arrangement. If a cloud group is in sector 2,3 or 4, it should be followed by a Low, Mid or High to indicate the height. Clouds in sector 1 (near the sun) are considered too low for a true indication of height.

Fluffy

Mottled

Scalloped

Whispy

There are no Saturation, Intensity or Hue “Numbers” as you would expect. The Two word combination of colour and strength is enough.

Bruise Must consist of at least 3 Lavenders
DuoTone Made up of two colours, not including sky. Silver and grey are common, but red and orange normally have too many variants.
Fairy Floss (Cotton Candy) The Pink colour of
Galah Pinks and Greys which are the hue of the Australian Galah
Grey
Lavender
Pastelle That wish washy colour of water paints. When you see it, you know you have got a pastelle.
Silver
White
Dark
Strong
Very Strong
Irradescent About the highest saturation you are going to get.