West Lafayette, IN -- The clouds are lifting for computer graphics designers who tediously animate clouds.

An engineering student at Purdue University has created new computer software that greatly improves the visual quality of computer animated clouds, explosions, smoke, steam and fog.

The old methods, says software creator Joshua Schpok, involved manipulating "zillions of particles" or capture a real cloud and move it around manually which would take hours.

But with this new technology Schpok says it's like "gobs of fluid you can push around."

The program has commercial uses for movie effects, computer games and graphics.

For now it's still unknown when movie fans will see the new effects on movie screens.

Schpok says he won't immediately flood the market with the steam-making software, but says several artists have already approached him about using it.

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