diff --git a/src/definition/SurfaceMaterial.cpp b/src/definition/SurfaceMaterial.cpp
index 306f4c1..c48e731 100644
--- a/src/definition/SurfaceMaterial.cpp
+++ b/src/definition/SurfaceMaterial.cpp
@@ -59,8 +59,4 @@ void SurfaceMaterial::copy(SurfaceMaterial *destination) const {
     destination->hardness = hardness;
     destination->reflection = reflection;
     destination->shininess = shininess;
-    destination->validate();
-}
-
-void SurfaceMaterial::validate() {
 }
diff --git a/src/definition/SurfaceMaterial.h b/src/definition/SurfaceMaterial.h
index 0b89557..843535b 100644
--- a/src/definition/SurfaceMaterial.h
+++ b/src/definition/SurfaceMaterial.h
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ class DEFINITIONSHARED_EXPORT SurfaceMaterial {
     void save(PackStream *stream) const;
     void load(PackStream *stream);
     void copy(SurfaceMaterial *destination) const;
-    void validate();
 
   public:
     Color *base;
diff --git a/src/definition/TextureLayerDefinition.cpp b/src/definition/TextureLayerDefinition.cpp
index f43c9bc..4f84db3 100644
--- a/src/definition/TextureLayerDefinition.cpp
+++ b/src/definition/TextureLayerDefinition.cpp
@@ -30,8 +30,6 @@ TextureLayerDefinition::~TextureLayerDefinition() {
 void TextureLayerDefinition::validate() {
     DefinitionNode::validate();
 
-    material->validate();
-
     // Update zone height range
     if (auto scenery = getScenery()) {
         TerrainDefinition *terrain = scenery->getTerrain();
diff --git a/src/definition/VegetationModelDefinition.cpp b/src/definition/VegetationModelDefinition.cpp
index a0a5703..fad75d3 100644
--- a/src/definition/VegetationModelDefinition.cpp
+++ b/src/definition/VegetationModelDefinition.cpp
@@ -13,13 +13,11 @@ VegetationModelDefinition::VegetationModelDefinition(DefinitionNode *parent) : D
     solid_material->reflection = 0.002;
     solid_material->shininess = 1.0;
     solid_material->hardness = 0.3;
-    solid_material->validate();
 
     foliage_material = new SurfaceMaterial(Color(0.4, 0.8, 0.45));
     foliage_material->reflection = 0.007;
     foliage_material->shininess = 2.0;
     foliage_material->hardness = 0.2;
-    foliage_material->validate();
 
     randomize();
 }
diff --git a/src/definition/WaterDefinition.cpp b/src/definition/WaterDefinition.cpp
index 0f13b5d..1c17f72 100644
--- a/src/definition/WaterDefinition.cpp
+++ b/src/definition/WaterDefinition.cpp
@@ -103,9 +103,6 @@ void WaterDefinition::validate() {
     foam_material->reflection = 0.1;
     foam_material->shininess = 1.5;
     foam_material->hardness = 0.2;
-
-    material->validate();
-    foam_material->validate();
 }
 
 void WaterDefinition::applyPreset(WaterPreset preset, RandomGenerator &random) {
diff --git a/src/render/software/CloudBasicLayerRenderer.cpp b/src/render/software/CloudBasicLayerRenderer.cpp
index 7b4e350..6d3b9a8 100644
--- a/src/render/software/CloudBasicLayerRenderer.cpp
+++ b/src/render/software/CloudBasicLayerRenderer.cpp
@@ -171,17 +171,19 @@ Color CloudBasicLayerRenderer::getColor(BaseCloudsModel *model, const Vector3 &e
     double transparency_depth = (ymax - ymin);
 
     SurfaceMaterial material(COLOR_WHITE.scaled(8.0));
-    material.ambient = 0.8;
     material.hardness = 0.0;
-    material.reflection = 0.2;
     material.shininess = 3.0;
-    material.validate();
 
     segment_count = findSegments(model, start, direction, 30, transparency_depth, max_length, &inside_length,
                                  &total_length, segments, 0.001);
     for (i = segment_count - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
         const Vector3 &location = segments[i].start;
-        col = parent->applyLightingToSurface(location, model->getNormal(location, 1.0), material);
+        Vector3 normal = model->getNormal(location, 1.0);
+
+        material.ambient = 1.0 - normal.getNorm() * 0.2;
+        material.reflection = 0.2 * normal.getNorm();
+
+        col = parent->applyLightingToSurface(location, normal.normalize(), material);
 
         col.a = (segments[i].length >= transparency_depth) ? 1.0 : (segments[i].length / transparency_depth);
         result.mask(col);
diff --git a/src/render/software/clouds/BaseCloudsModel.cpp b/src/render/software/clouds/BaseCloudsModel.cpp
index 4210acd..ff38bed 100644
--- a/src/render/software/clouds/BaseCloudsModel.cpp
+++ b/src/render/software/clouds/BaseCloudsModel.cpp
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #include "BaseCloudsModel.h"
 
+#include "Maths.h"
 #include "CloudLayerDefinition.h"
 #include "Vector3.h"
 
@@ -46,5 +47,5 @@ Vector3 BaseCloudsModel::getNormal(const Vector3 &location, double quality) cons
     normal = normal.add(_getPseudoNormal(this, location, VECTOR_WEST, base_density, precision));
     normal = normal.add(_getPseudoNormal(this, location, VECTOR_NORTH, base_density, precision));
     normal = normal.add(_getPseudoNormal(this, location, VECTOR_SOUTH, base_density, precision));
-    return normal.normalize();
+    return normal.normalize().scale(Maths::smoothstep(0.0, 1.0, normal.getNorm()));
 }