GlobalEnvTest

[BananaBob]

I've been tweeking again and had to learn about Cube maps in the process to make my own GlobalEnvTest.dds and GlobalEnv_AC_Chrome.dds and this is what I've come up. These textures are what is reflected on the aircraft, glass, and chrome parts. If anyone is interested I'll upload them. :ernae:

http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/2917/globaenvtest1eh2.jpg

http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/5126/globaenvtest2lc2.jpg

[Bruce Thompson]

Yes please Bob, what a fantastic look on that P51 I would love to try those on my system.:applause::applause::applause:

[Roger]

Yes please!

[noddy]

Looks great.

[Epsillon]

If it's good for you, it's always good for us so don't ask and UPLOAD! :costumes:

[BananaBob]

LOL, OK, will package up and upload. :ernae:

Here's a rapidshare link for those who would like to try it and give feedback. I'm looking for a programmer who can create a program to switch between these two textures because I plan on doing many different ones for different weather and scenery, something similar to Samoshin's Natural World Tree changer. http://rapidshare.com/files/157035454/Alternate_GlobalEnvTest.zip.html

Thanks,

Bob

[Vigilius]

LOL, OK, will package up and upload. :ernae:

Here's a rapidshare link for those who would like to try it and give feedback. I'm looking for a programmer who can create a program to switch between these two textures because I plan on doing many different ones for different weather and scenery, something similar to Samoshin's Natural World Tree changer. http://rapidshare.com/files/157035454/Alternate_GlobalEnvTest.zip.html

Thanks,

Bob

This would be an impressive feature, I hope you'll realize it :wavey:

[Bruce Thompson]

WOW Look at those reflections, what a difference, thank you Bob:ernae:

[Cazzie]

Hope you can get them up and I can get them before Ickie has to shut down SOH for the weekend.

Gonna be busy this weekend anyhow (if it doesn't rain). I'll be helping CAP host an R/C Fly-In at Danville Regional with donations going to the American Cancer Society.

Caz

[VCN-1]

It does wonders for the bare metal skins and chrome spinners.

Thanks for sharing your work.

VCN-1

[BananaBob]

I put it at avsim too, I like trying to make what MS has done better, sometimes that's hard to do though, lol. :ernae: Bruce, those shots rock my friend!!! :applause::applause::applause:

[MCDesigns]

Great job Bob! :ernae:

[Navy Chief]

Thank you , thank you , THANK YOU!

NC

[txnetcop]

Thanks Bob it is a definite winner!:applause::ernae::medals:
Ted

[orionll]

What exactly does this do?

Whatever it does, the screenshots look good :d!

[BananaBob]

More examples, not edited.

http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/9789/globaenvtest3ot5.jpg

http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/4275/globaenvtest4bz0.jpg

http://img391.imageshack.us/img391/6078/globaenvtest5jp9.jpg

[BananaBob]

What exactly does this do?

Whatever it does, the screenshots look good :d!

See original post. :d Thanks.

[BananaBob]

I'm going to do an evening one next, sun going down, that type. I'm pleading again for a programmer who could work with me in creating a program to easily switch between all the different GlobalEnvTest and Chrome textures I plan on doing. :wavey:

[harleyman]

Wow I really like the Chrome..Awsome look there....:ernae:


Now just need to drape it in lights like my Harley....

I just love chrome and lights.....:costumes:



Brilliant work there.......:applause::wavey:

[Bruce Thompson]

Same here Harleyman, look at this on the Spartan.:d

There's also a new AVATAR for Harleyman, can't remember where it came from.:costumes:

[BASys]

Hi Folks


WOW Look at those
Bruce -
What on earth is he doing with that cyclic ? :costumes:

Bob -
Cheers for the files.
Will play later.

ATB
Paul

[Roger]

Thanks for this Bob. A subtle but considerable enhancement to the FsX environment:applause:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y203/rogera/envmapspartan.jpg

[BananaBob]

Thanks guys, now someone find me a programmer for goodness sakes, LOL, more to come! :ernae:

[harleyman]

Same here Harleyman, look at this on the Spartan.:d

There's also a new AVATAR for Harleyman, can't remember where it came from.:costumes:



HeHe....Gotta love that..... Thanks Bruce...Classic......:ernae:



That chrome and red look fantastic on the Spartan.....:applause:

[harleyman]

Thanks guys, now someone find me a programmer for goodness sakes, LOL, more to come! :ernae:




Well I had something to say till I saw your new Avatar there........And I promptly forgot....(drools) :applause::applause::ernae:

[BananaBob]

Well I had something to say till I saw your new Avatar there........And I promptly forgot....(drools) :applause::applause::ernae:

LOL, yeah I love Gwen as you can tell, :d

[Roger]

Thanks guys, now someone find me a programmer for goodness sakes, LOL, more to come! :ernae:

I'd guess a .bat file to alter the chrome/env textures for different environments would do the job, like the one used in ORBX.

[Henry]

I'd guess a .bat file to alter the chrome/env textures for different environments would do the job, like the one used in ORBX.
that should not be hard to do
H

[hey_moe]

Hey BB....nice work.:medals::applause:

[fsafranek]

Ooh. Ooh I want that. So tired of dark chrome. And just in time. Thank you Bob.
:ernae:

[BananaBob]

Cool, I got a sticky, now I have to find someplace to flick it, LOL :costumes: Thank you guys for your support, you're the best. :ernae:

[BananaBob]

A different one for sundown or sunrise. :ernae:
http://img396.imageshack.us/img396/382/envsudwn1zd7.jpg

[Epsillon]

WHAOOUUHH!!! :applause::applause::applause:

[JT8D-9A]

Many thanks, Robert! It looks really great! :applause:
Please release the sundown or sunrise files :jump:

[MCDesigns]

The sundown one looks pretty sweet Bob!!! :ernae:

[Marlin]

Wow Bob, I'm seriously impressed with your work again. Thanks :ernae::applause::ernae:

[Spad54]

Where are the files placed? In the main FSX texture folder of in the a/c texture folder?

[BananaBob]

Where are the files placed? In the main FSX texture folder of in the a/c texture folder?

FSX Texture folder.:wavey:

[n4gix]

You do realize that you can have a "custom" file for each aircraft's livery by simply placing the file in the relevant \texture.X folder, or one that works will all liveries in an a/c set by placing it in the a/c's root \texture folder...

[BananaBob]

You do realize that you can have a "custom" file for each aircraft's livery by simply placing the file in the relevant \texture.X folder, or one that works will all liveries in an a/c set by placing it in the a/c's root \texture folder...

I didn't even think about, so that would be possible with these textures then?, I know some aircraft use a default prop texture that is sometimes in the FSX main Texture folder.

[n4gix]

I didn't even think about, so that would be possible with these textures then?, I know some aircraft use a default prop texture that is sometimes in the FSX main Texture folder.

There is a definite search order in FSX by default:

1. FSX will first look in the specific a/c's ..\texture.X folder for all files.

2. Next, FSX will check to see if there's a texture.cfg file in the ..\texture.X folder. If there is, then it will search in each of the paths listed in the texture.cfg file.

3. If no texture.cfg file is present, then FSX will default to its own \Texture folder.

Please note that the default texture.cfg file found in all the default a/c ..\texture folders include a path that simply doesn't exist on anyone's system. It is a path to the main server in ACES's own studio! :redf:

This is a corrected version. Note that some default bitmaps are actually in the sim's ..\Scenery\Global\texture folder, but this path is NOT in the default texture.cfg file!



[fltsim]
fallback.1=..\texture
fallback.2=..\..\..\..\Texture
fallback.3=..\..\..\..\Scenery\Global\texture


The texture.cfg file is where you have a method to define the alternate search paths and their order... :ernae:

[BananaBob]

There is a definite search order in FSX by default:

1. FSX will first look in the specific a/c's ..\texture.X folder for all files.

2. Next, FSX will check to see if there's a texture.cfg file in the ..\texture.X folder. If there is, then it will search in each of the paths listed in the texture.cfg file.

3. If no texture.cfg file is present, then FSX will default to its own \Texture folder.

Please note that the default texture.cfg file found in all the default a/c ..\texture folders include a path that simply doesn't exist on anyone's system. It is a path to the main server in ACES's own studio! :redf:

This is a corrected version. Note that some default bitmaps are actually in the sim's ..\Scenery\Global\texture folder, but this path is NOT in the default texture.cfg file!



[fltsim]
fallback.1=..\texture
fallback.2=..\..\..\..\Texture
fallback.3=..\..\..\..\Scenery\Global\texture
The texture.cfg file is where you have a method to define the alternate search paths and their order... :ernae:

Thanks for that info, learning something new everyday! :ernae:

[Lionheart]

Bob,

Awesome work you have done here! Cant believe I have missed this thread.

I didnt think the Sunrise/Sunset texture would be that powerful of a difference.

Concerning your 'time of day' cube-Global textures sets.... I learned that when you go to a programmer, you have to have tons of the various routes that your 'system' or work flow will utilize.

Now, what would be 'way cool' is this. Have a 'program' or config file entry, module, etc, that changes the Global texture upon factors based on;
* Time of day (Sunrise, Noon, Evening/Sunset, night).
* Weather (clear, partially cloudy, overcast, snowy, whiteout or dense fog/snow).

Then perhaps a holding spot for the textures where they would be shuffled out of from individual Cache style holding folders. (The textures would require to each have the same name, so you would need to keep them seperated by folders, so you would have a Cache distribution center of sorts).

Now, you can tell a programmer what you want, (if that is what you want).

For a new texture to load, as you already know, you have to reload your plane, (in FSX) so your 'program' or module would probably need to automatically engage the 'reload aircraft' command. That would ensure a smooth, automated process that would engage the Global maps.

The more I look at the screenshots, the more I think that Aces should be considering looking into this. Its very impressive. If they are going to the extreme measures of high realism graphics, why not have rotary Global textures that would engage. (Might be good for FS11).


Bill

[BananaBob]

Thanks Bill, maybe you could write the program? LOL :d Here's one I'm working on for island flying, still a WIP though.

http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/1065/islandsenv1ry3.jpg

[chinookmark]

Cool work! I was looking at the files ... Do you know when the sim uses GlobalEnvTest, and when it uses Chrome? I also found envmap.bmp in the texture folder, IIRC that was the name of the reflective texture in FS2002. Do you know if FSX uses that? Could be another file to play with.

[n4gix]

Cool work! I was looking at the files ... Do you know when the sim uses GlobalEnvTest, and when it uses Chrome? I also found envmap.bmp in the texture folder, IIRC that was the name of the reflective texture in FS2002. Do you know if FSX uses that? Could be another file to play with.

All maps are defined by the modeler who built the model! FSX makes no assumptions here, if it isn't explicitly used in the model, it "ain't gonna happen!" :icon_lol:

A large part of the problem with the entire environmental map scheme is that it cannot be too specific. The default env map just looks rediculous when applied to an a/c that spends most of its time over water, for example... :isadizzy:

[BananaBob]

That's why I'd like to have a program that has for example, 3 textures that are triggered by the time of day, morning, noon, and evening, then this can be broken down into possibly seasons and weather themes then, anything is better than the one or two textures that are used now for all conditions, I know it would be possible to have real time reflections all the time but the processing power to have this would probably be pretty high. I can do all the textures, I just need someone to write the programs which I know nothing about. :kilroy:

[Fireball6]

Oh Bob, look what you`ve done ....... that is so beautyfull looking !:jump: Thank you so much for thatBananaBob, :applause:

[ICDP]

All maps are defined by the modeler who built the model! FSX makes no assumptions here, if it isn't explicitly used in the model, it "ain't gonna happen!" :icon_lol:

A large part of the problem with the entire environmental map scheme is that it cannot be too specific. The default env map just looks rediculous when applied to an a/c that spends most of its time over water, for example... :isadizzy:

This is the problem with the env files in FSX. It is not an easy task to create a cube map that looks ok over all terrain. In the end you need to make a generic GLobalEnv file that doen's look "that" out of place over water or land and that you can't see to much detail in. Even the fact that clouds are included in a cube map can be problematic but unavoidable.

[chinookmark]

I think BB's map is pretty good all around. Unless I'm zoomed in really close looking for smudges and fingerprints on the chrome, I don't even really notice the mountains and clouds. It just looks sharper and shinier.

I think the water in the Liberator pic would be more noticeable, but it looks way cool.

For fun, could you do a city one, too? You know, for all those traffic and news copters buzzing around Gotham City and Metropolis.

[empeck]

I have one question BananaBob - your textures are just simple dds-bitmaps, or dds-cubemaps?

[BananaBob]

I have one question BananaBob - your textures are just simple dds-bitmaps, or dds-cubemaps?

They are cube maps, I found out the hard way when I opened it with another program and starting messing with it, I then installed the SDK and used it's editor.

I will be doing a city one, already have one planned. :ernae: Nice shot too Fireball! :ernae:

[Fireball6]

The Reflections on the glass are awesome - after i`ve installed your GlobalEnvTest-files. It makes this very nice chopper just look a little better (my opinion) :wavey:

[BananaBob]

The Reflections on the glass are awesome - after i`ve installed your GlobalEnvTest-files. It makes this very nice chopper just look a little better (my opinion) :wavey:

Yeah, this chopper is what really got me going on these textures, the default MS textures, on the windshield, had this ugly fake grass all over it and I thought, "Man, I got to change this crap", but I wasn't thinking the word crap, LOL!

[BananaBob]

For city flying.

http://img393.imageshack.us/img393/3310/cityenv1ap4.jpg

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/6185/cityenv2mh5.jpg

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/8638/cityenv4li6.jpg

[BananaBob]

http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/8083/cityenv3ma9.jpg

[icarus]

good topic...after 2 days i make also my personal version, it was hard find the program working well but seems now i have maked a personal version. I think mine works better with metal and glass.

http://www.icarusgold.com/ICARUSREFLEX.jpg

http://www.icarusgold.com/ICARUSREFLEX2.jpg

i will experiment more i just started ....seems i have to prepare another patch for the Gamma...:running::costumes:

[icarus]

emprovement:making a dds cubemaps with desert terrain the light on chrome surface change as should be, with the same texture daylight result good too.

desert terrain dds cube map day

http://www.icarusgold.com/ICARUSREFLEX3.jpg


desert terrain dds cube map SUNSET

http://www.icarusgold.com/ICARUSREFLEX4.jpg

[chinookmark]

That's just too cool! I've got an idea that I want to try, but I just got off a 16 hour work day. If I go to bed right now, I can get 6 hours of sleep before I do it again. Maybe tomorrow.

[BananaBob]

This is my final for the default Globalenv and Chrome textures, I can always do specific ones that I'll put up for various aircraft, but I'll upload these for default ones, just clouds and a mountain range made from a real panorama photograph.

http://img362.imageshack.us/img362/3514/finalenv1og1.jpg

http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/3573/finalenv3tl6.jpg

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/6028/finalenv4vd1.jpg

[Fireball6]

Wow - looks excellent Bob :jump:

[jankees]

I love it Bob!

[JT8D-9A]

Robert, have you uploaded your latest version?