2d panel background lighting (backlighting) [Archive]

Milton Shupe

September 23rd, 2017, 17:53

Probably a dumb question that I used to know the answer to, but I'm drawing a blank ATM-

I have a 2d panel background that needs portions backlit when panel lights are turned ON. I know how to do it with a gauge but I've never had a need to backlight the entire 2d panel before. Can I treat the panel background as I do the fuselage bmp's and make a background_L.bmp with an alpha to illuminate portions of the panel ? I couldn't find the info in the SDK's unless I overlooked something. I don't know how the night texture entry in the panel.cfg works, is that what I should be looking into ?

MaddogK,

The way used to do it was with this switch to swap to another window for the night lighted overhead panel in this case. This is from our AC500W in the library.

<Gauge Name="Night Light Swap" Version="1.0">
<Image Name="Dummy.bmp" ImageSizes="10,10"/>
<Mouse>
<Tooltip ID="">NightLight</Tooltip>
<Help ID=""/>
<Cursor Type="Hand"/>
<Click>250 (>K:PANEL_ID_TOGGLE) ! 260 (>K:PANEL_ID_TOGGLE)</Click>
</Mouse>
</Gauge>

//--------------------------------------------------------
[Window01]
file=500DOver.bmp
size_mm=940
window_size_ratio=1.000
position=0
visible=1
ident=240

gauge00=ST_500!520 Avionics Switch, 310,29,9,27
gauge01=ST_500!520 Beacon Lights, 362,30,9,27
gauge02=ST_500!520 Landing Lights, 420,30,9,27
gauge03=ST_500!520 NAV GPS Switch, 467,29,9,27
gauge04=ST_500!520 Nav Lights, 381,30,9,27
gauge05=ST_500!520 Panel Lights, 342,30,9,27
gauge06=ST_500!520 Pitot Icing Switch, 451,30,9,27
gauge07=ST_500!520 Strobe Lights, 400,30,9,27
gauge08=ST_500!ST_Fuel SelectorL, 546,22,33,32
gauge09=ST_500!ST_Lt Start Switch, 640,14,18,18
gauge10=ST_500!ST_Rt Start Switch, 785,14,18,18
gauge11=ST_500!520 Battery Switch, 234,30,9,27
gauge12=ST_500!520 Left Gen Switch, 255,30,9,27
gauge13=ST_500!520 Right Gen Switch, 276,30,9,27
gauge14=ST_500!520 Lt_Primer, 616, 30 ,9,27
gauge15=ST_500!520 Rt_Primer, 811,30,9,27
gauge16=ST_500!Right Fuel Pump Switch, 837,30,9,27
gauge17=ST_500!Left Fuel Pump Switch, 591,30,9,27
gauge18=ST_500!ST_LT Mag Switch, 659,15,51,46
gauge19=ST_500!ST_RT Mag Switch, 733,15,51,46
gauge20=ST_500!Elev_TrimD, 501,1,11,53
gauge21=ST_500!Rud_Trim2D, 853,0,90,39
gauge22=ST_500!500OverNight_Sw, 0,0,42,29

//--------------------------------------------------------
[Window05]
file=500DOverNight.bmp
size_mm=940
window_size_ratio=1.000
position=0
visible=0
ident=260

gauge00=ST_500!520 Avionics Switch, 310,29,9,27
gauge01=ST_500!520 Beacon Lights, 362,30,9,27
gauge02=ST_500!520 Landing Lights, 420,30,9,27
gauge03=ST_500!520 NAV GPS Switch, 467,29,9,27
gauge04=ST_500!520 Nav Lights, 381,30,9,27
gauge05=ST_500!520 Panel Lights, 342,30,9,27
gauge06=ST_500!520 Pitot Icing Switch, 451,30,9,27
gauge07=ST_500!520 Strobe Lights, 400,30,9,27
gauge08=ST_500!ST_Fuel SelectorL, 546,22,33,32
gauge09=ST_500!ST_Lt Start Switch, 640,14,18,18
gauge10=ST_500!ST_Rt Start Switch, 785,14,18,18
gauge11=ST_500!520 Battery Switch, 234,30,9,27
gauge12=ST_500!520 Left Gen Switch, 255,30,9,27
gauge13=ST_500!520 Right Gen Switch, 276,30,9,27
gauge14=ST_500!520 Lt_Primer, 616, 30 ,9,27
gauge15=ST_500!520 Rt_Primer, 811,30,9,27
gauge16=ST_500!Right Fuel Pump Switch, 837,30,9,27
gauge17=ST_500!Left Fuel Pump Switch, 591,30,9,27
gauge18=ST_500!ST_LT Mag Switch, 659,15,51,46
gauge19=ST_500!ST_RT Mag Switch, 733,15,51,46
gauge20=ST_500!Elev_TrimD, 501,1,11,53
gauge21=ST_500!Rud_Trim2D, 853,0,90,39
gauge22=ST_500!500OverNight_Sw, 0,0,42,29