An atomizing gas, such as steam, and a hot fluid comprising a hot liquid to be atomized, are passed under pressure, through separate fluid conduits in a heat exchange means, in which the hot liquid heats the steam to a superheat temperature, by indirect heat exchange. The superheated steam is then injected into the hot fluid, which comprises a two-phase fluid comprising steam and the hot liquid, subsequent to the superheated steam injection. The two-phase fluid is passed through an atomizing means, such as an orifice, into a lower pressure atomizing zone, which causes the steam to expand and atomize the liquid into a spray of liquid droplets. The two-phase fluid is formed before or as a consequence of the superheated steam injection and is preferably steam-continuous when passed through the atomizing means. This process is useful for atomizing a hot feed oil for a fluid cat cracking (FCC) process.