Reports of Update - P3Dv4 Going to 4.4 w/ PBR

**rvn817j** · November 26th, 2018, 16:13

See link to FSElite article - https://fselite.net/news/fselite-exc...OpjP21055mlNrk

**TuFun** · November 26th, 2018, 18:35

Prepar3D SDK

New Features

Updated modeling tools to support creating Physically Based Rendering (PBR) content.
Added material scripting support to PBR materials.
Added PBR support to autogen tools utilizing Materials.xml/spb.
Engine supports mixed materials enabling content to have PBR and non-PBR materials on the same object.
PBR materials can be previewed in real time within 3DS Max.
Model version will automatically update if PBR is used to prevent models from loading in previous versions.

**roger-wilco-66** · November 26th, 2018, 21:58

That's awesome news, thanks for the head up.
Can't wait to check that out.

Cheers,
Mark

**jeansy** · November 26th, 2018, 22:14

a huge leap forward

**dhazelgrove** · November 27th, 2018, 02:29

Does anyone know the route/method for updating P3D?

Dave

**rvn817j** · November 27th, 2018, 03:42

Originally Posted by dhazelgrove

Does anyone know the route/method for updating P3D?

Dave

This is a continuing subject of debate from one update to another. I usually wait several weeks after the release until there has been lots of experience feedback. One way to update is to replace the old "client" with the new "client". If there is new content like the Captain Sim C-130, one needs to also update the "content". If I recall correctly, last time there were scenery updates, so the "scenery" also needed to be updated. We may be looking at a wholesale replacement.

Here's a link to the LM update instructions - https://www.prepar3d.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=120861 .

A quick internet search will give you numerous results for this subject. I also read the LM instructions and a couple others before I venture into my update. (I won't mention my success rate because I do not want to be jinxed.)

***Navy Chief*** · November 27th, 2018, 04:18

Will any aircraft, scenery, or add-on that is working in 4.3, be compatible with 4.4? This is really going to suck, if not. Especially when talking about older aircraft and scenery. NC

If my favorite aircraft, i.e. A-7E, will not work in 4.4, then I might have to reconsider the update.

***Daube*** · November 27th, 2018, 05:45

The addition of PBR will not have any impact on any aircraft/scenery/object/effect that is not "PBR aware".
Objects that do not include any PBR features will just display as they always did.
Objects that got modified to include PBR textures will look fabulous.

Concerning the correct method to update P3D:
- Go to your windows control panel and navigate to the screen where you see and can uninstall your applications
- There will be 4 entries corresponding to P3Dv4. Select the one that explicitly mentions "client".
- Uninstall it
- If you want to get the updated default planes with PBR effects, you can also uninstall the line that mentions "content".
- In your account on the Prepar3D website, download the latest "client.msi" after clicking the line that says "+ Individual components".
- If you have uninstalled the content, please also download the content-related files: content.msi, cont1.cab and cont2.cab.
- Launch the content.msi to install the 4.4 content.
- Launch the client.msi to install the 4.4 client.
- Your P3D is now successfully updated.

You'll have to check your various addons to see if they work well and if they didn't get any file overwritten. This is only for addons that were installed inside the P3D folder. "External" addons will be fine. And to be honnest, "internal" addons will most likely be fine as well

**Dino Cattaneo** · November 27th, 2018, 06:08

...well, moving to PBR may be a good reason for me to abandon FSX compatibility.
It is getting harder and harder to maintain backward compatibily as this basically means not being able to use the any of the new features that LM has introduced over the years - and that very few people utilize.

***blanston12*** · November 27th, 2018, 06:34

When a new version comes out I usually wait a few weeks for my favorite add-on to update themselves and then do a full uninstall and reinstall, installing just the client means you don’t get the fixes in the aircraft or scenery. All the other add-on installed in the main folder remain so you don’t need to reinstall them.

**Dino Cattaneo** · November 27th, 2018, 06:49

...just my two cents on the PBR.
PBR is definitely a step forward, but I have seen a lot of unrealistic expectations and some statements that are technically wrong.
First thing is that PBR is a generic name for the approach in rendering the materials, but the implementation may vary quite a lot. For one, DCS implementation is great, X-Plane implementation is good...and FSW had PBR and almost nobody noticed.
Second thing, upgrading aircrafts or objects to PBR is doable but requires some work. Some of the texture sheets can be reused, others must be redone. It is not necessary to change UVW coordinates, nor it is mandarory to use Subtance Painter or similar applications (although they help A LOT!). And in the end the result will depend on the skill of the artist.

PBR will allow us designers to make a significant step forward...but do not expect P3Dv4.4 to look much better than from P3Dv4.3 right from the start.

Then, for the compatibility, for my planes there will be the usual delay with Tacpack - I guess it will take some time to get it updated...so updating to P3Dv4.4 will mean a (temporary) inability to use weapons and sensors.

***RobM*** · November 27th, 2018, 07:24

I wonder if the upgrade will break Tacpack again?

I'll be waiting a bit, in particular to see how the new texture and photo rendering rendering updates effect Orbx scenery,
but it looks like there's lots of useful fixes.

As far as the updating itself goes, if all is ok, I'll update client and content; that didn't effect any of my third party add-on
planes in the past (apart from the ones that required Tacpack), and so hopefully won't this time either.

As for updating scenery, I won't bother: the fixes and updates are all for default P3Dv4 scenery, and my flight sim world
is covered in Orbx, in some places 3 or 4 Orbx layers deep.

From previous experience when I did the scenery update once before, upgrading the P3Dv4 scenery component will over-write
Orbx Global and Orbx HD trees, so both of those would need to be re-installed, and that's just not worth the time to me.

- Rob

**Montie** · November 27th, 2018, 07:32

Hopefully one or more default aircrafts have been updated with PBR materials so we can sample it right away.

**Dino Cattaneo** · November 27th, 2018, 07:33

...the update is almost granted to break Tacpack compatibility. We'll need VRS to update it again.

I'd expect that all of the existing content and add-ons will render exactly the same as they do now.

**Dino Cattaneo** · November 27th, 2018, 07:36

Originally Posted by Montie

Hopefully one or more default aircrafts have been updated with PBR materials so we can sample it right away.

Looking at the release notes, seems that the F-16 model will be updated to support PBR, but it may be just a "quick" update. May be it will not that meaningful in terms of what the PBR can achieve.

**Javis** · November 27th, 2018, 08:45

For anybody interested : here's a collection of threads about PBR and what it can do/mean for our hungry eyes (thanks Gordon & Rick for the initiative !

) :

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforum...w-in-Photoshop

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforum...ng-to-P3D-Soon!

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforum...12402-PBR-Prep

cheers,
jan

**pilto von pilto** · November 27th, 2018, 14:54

Originally Posted by Dino Cattaneo

...just my two cents on the PBR.
PBR is definitely a step forward, but I have seen a lot of unrealistic expectations and some statements that are technically wrong.
First thing is that PBR is a generic name for the approach in rendering the materials, but the implementation may vary quite a lot. For one, DCS implementation is great, X-Plane implementation is good...and FSW had PBR and almost nobody noticed.
Second thing, upgrading aircrafts or objects to PBR is doable but requires some work. Some of the texture sheets can be reused, others must be redone. It is not necessary to change UVW coordinates, nor it is mandarory to use Subtance Painter or similar applications (although they help A LOT!). And in the end the result will depend on the skill of the artist.

PBR will allow us designers to make a significant step forward...but do not expect P3Dv4.4 to look much better than from P3Dv4.3 right from the start.

Then, for the compatibility, for my planes there will be the usual delay with Tacpack - I guess it will take some time to get it updated...so updating to P3Dv4.4 will mean a (temporary) inability to use weapons and sensors.

This.

I am literally going to copy this entry modify it a little and stick it in as a response to help desk emails. Perfectly worded. Thanks.

**UnknownGuest12** · November 27th, 2018, 16:36

Are they kidding me? Just finished reinstalling 4.3 on my new rig...here I go again...

***Navy Chief*** · November 28th, 2018, 05:22

No mention of 4.4 on Lm's site. Am guessing just another rumor?

**n4gix** · November 28th, 2018, 07:14

Originally Posted by Navy Chief

No mention of 4.4 on Lm's site. Am guessing just another rumor?

Not a rumor at all. v4.4 may or may not be released today as it depends on the results of the beta testers to validate the release candidate.

**pilto von pilto** · November 28th, 2018, 16:23

That's intelligent LM !! Kudos.

2 material types. The usual and a Prepar3dpbr material. That's very nice.

Direct link : http://www.prepar3d.com/SDKv4/sdk/mo...materials.html

I'm off to convert something.

**TuFun** · November 29th, 2018, 00:18

Reading this from one aircraft developer...

"I do want to be really specific on one point: When we roll out the updates for each product to make it PBR enabled in Prepar3D v4.4, we will be moving the required version" to v4.4. If you wish to remain with P3D v4.0-v4.3 for some reason, you are best advised to make sure you don't install any updates after we move the requirements, as they will not be compatible with versions earlier than v4.4. You will lose the ability to enjoy any forward updates as we will not be continuing to support outdated minor updates in P3D v4, choosing instead to keep our products compatible with the very latest version from Lockheed Martin."

https://www.avsim.com/forums/topic/5...he-days-ahead/

**roger-wilco-66** · November 29th, 2018, 02:01

Seems like I have some work ahead of me, plugging in Quixel PBR maps into the 3dsmax material editor :-)

Sounds like fun!

Cheers,
Mark

**TuFun** · November 29th, 2018, 14:01

Next step for LM would be self reflections along with PBR like this with current air combat sims.

**jeansy** · November 29th, 2018, 17:57

Originally Posted by TuFun

Next step for LM would be self reflections along with PBR like this with current air combat sims.

Its out there, and its only been >48hrs

Its all up to the developers to do it now, they have the SDK and directions, its just a matter of time

This will be the norm from now from the devs who no longer support FSX, and maybe some devs will do the same and purely focus on P3D and DCS/XPlane where PBR is standard

my only fear is that devs who incorp PBR in to upcoming releases will start charging more for the new base line, however its not proven yet