Base images for UK airfields... [Archive]

letsgetrowdy

May 20th, 2010, 05:24

Hi guys,

Does anyone here have the technology or know-how to just create a non-seasonal base image for airfields in the UK? No autogen/objcts/static aircraft wanted - just a base image. It would be a nice idea for people to have a set handy, so that non Gen X users can use the airports that have been uploaded online for Gen X users. They can then install the base image under any downloaded airport of their choise.

I just say this as I saw Trevor Clark's gorgeous looking Rougham Airfeild on flightsim.com, but it is only for people with Horizon...
So my question is; how does one extract just that base image of rougham from Satelite image to then use it in FSX?
bearing in mind if this is out of my fairly primitive reach then I fully understand.

Cheers guys.

falcon409

May 20th, 2010, 05:46

. . . .Does anyone here have the technology or know-how to just create a non-seasonal base image for airfields in the UK? No autogen/objcts/static aircraft wanted - just a base image. It would be a nice idea for people to have a set handy, so that non Gen X users can use the airports that have been uploaded online for Gen X users. They can then install the base image under any downloaded airport of their choice. . . . . .Cheers guys.
Getting just the photoimage wouldn't pose much of a problem other than getting his permission to use it. If you download that scenery and look in the scenery folder there will be a bgl with "photo" as part of the file name. That would be the satellite imagery.

The problem would come when you load that into your sim and discover that the default objects don't come anywhere close to lining up with the image, probably the rwy and taxiways will be way off as well. So unless you have the programs to fix those problems, just getting a satellite image won't do you much good.

letsgetrowdy

May 20th, 2010, 05:56

Hi, Ed

The scenery that Trevor uploaded includes no satellite image/photo BGL, just the airfield objects. This is because he uses the Horizon Generation X scenery, which covers the whole of the UK, so when he uses it, it already has a base image, which won't show up on your PC if you don't have Gen X too. By creating a seperate stand-alone BGL base image, this would eliminate the need to have Gen X to display the scenery. Also, as Gen X is satellite, the airfield objects that trevor has placed are correctly alinged with a correctly positioned aerial photo, so any additional image won't displace them.

falcon409

May 20th, 2010, 06:00

Hi, Ed

The scenery that Trevor uploaded includes no satellite image/photo BGL, just the airfield objects. This is because he uses the Horizon Generation X scenery, which covers the whole of the UK, so when he uses it, it already has a base image, which won't show up on your PC if you don't have Gen X too. By creating a separate stand-alone BGL base image, this would eliminate the need to have Gen X to display the scenery. Also, as Gen X is satellite, the airfield objects that trevor has placed are correctly aligned with a correctly positioned aerial photo, so any additional image won't displace them.
Ahh, ok, I'm not familiar with GenX, hence the dumb answer, lol. The only other way would be to use SBuilderX to retrieve the satellite images. That's not always a given either as sometimes getting a decent satellite image is a shot in the dark. There is also the USGS Seamless Server, but in my short experience with that, it's more trouble than it's worth.

letsgetrowdy

May 20th, 2010, 06:25

Ahhh!!!! Just downloaded\installed SBuilderX and have realised that I'm in way over my head... This is going to take days to do! I have looked at some tutorials, which are very useful but also very long-winded. I may have to abort this, I simply don't have the time/skill/experiance to make this...

Oh well, thanks for your help Ed.

falcon409

May 20th, 2010, 07:01

Ahhh!!!! Just downloaded\installed SBuilderX and have realised that I'm in way over my head... This is going to take days to do! I have looked at some tutorials, which are very useful but also very long-winded. I may have to abort this, I simply don't have the time/skill/experience to make this...

Oh well, thanks for your help Ed.
I promise you, while it appears a bit daunting at first, I can now (given the images are worth capturing) capture a satellite image, color adjust, make the "blur" mask and have the image sitting in FSX in less than 30minutes.

It's a case of getting past that first big learning curve and then you're off and running. The tutorials are very poor for SBX and most everyone will tell you the same thing, they are sorely lacking, but once you catch on, you'll be amazed at how simple the process actually is. There are 7 basic steps to get the image onto the screen in SBX, the rest are very easy image editing steps. I can walk you through it if you'd like. . .it's a great skill to have.

letsgetrowdy

May 20th, 2010, 07:17

Wow, ok, I it isn't a problem Falcon, I'd love it if you could talk me through this...

falcon409

May 20th, 2010, 07:28

Ok, I'm going to list the steps in a PM rather than take up space here.:salute:

guzler

May 20th, 2010, 08:45

I think this would be a good sticky Falcon, I would be interested in reading it too. Not that I have time at the moment, but would love to have a dabble at some point with scenery design using photo tiles.

IanP

May 20th, 2010, 09:04

Ummm... This is kind of a good place to start?

<table width="100%" align="center" bgcolor="#aaccee" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" align="left">Category: Flight Simulator X - Scenery Design (http://library.avsim.net/index.php?CatID=fsxsd) </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="*" align="left"> Make photo-real ground textures </td> <td align="right" nowrap="nowrap">  http://library.avsim.net/images/ZipDive.png (http://library.avsim.net/zipdiver.php?DLID=140539) http://library.avsim.net/images/Download.png (http://library.avsim.net/download.php?DLID=140539) </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table width="100%" border="0"> <tbody><tr> <td> http://library.avsim.net/sendfile.php?Location=AVSIM&Proto=file&ImageID=246383 </td> <td width="*"> File Description:
It is very easy to create your very own high-resolution, custom (photo-real) ground textures. This document explains the concepts and techniques and illustrates the use of SBuilderX with which you can quickly and easily download aerial images and make this type of scenery. So, why hesitate? Make Flight Simulator scenery as real as it gets! Very sorry - no support of any kind is offered. Please do not write. For any questions, please post in the Avsim Scenery Design Forum.
</td> </tr> </tbody></table>
<table width="50%" align="center" bgcolor="#aaccee" border="0"><tbody><tr> <td width="25%">Filename:</td> <td width="75%">make_photo-real_ground_textures_in_fs_x.zip</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="25%">License:</td> <td width="75%">Freeware</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="25%">Added:</td> <td width="75%">21st November 2009</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="25%">Downloads:</td> <td width="75%">9941</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="25%">Author:</td> <td width="75%">Luis Feliz-Tirado</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="25%">Size:</td> <td width="75%">2143kb</td></tr></tbody></table>

IanP

May 20th, 2010, 09:06

...these two might help as well.

<table width="100%" align="center" bgcolor="#aaccee" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" align="left">Category: Flight Simulator X - Scenery Design (http://library.avsim.net/index.php?CatID=fsxsd) </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="*" align="left"> Terrain Design </td> <td align="right" nowrap="nowrap">  http://library.avsim.net/images/ZipDive.png (http://library.avsim.net/zipdiver.php?DLID=141643) http://library.avsim.net/images/Download.png (http://library.avsim.net/download.php?DLID=141643) </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table width="100%" border="0"> <tbody><tr> <td> http://library.avsim.net/sendfile.php?Location=AVSIM&Proto=file&ImageID=248755 </td> <td width="*"> File Description:
Terrain Design for Flight Simulator X

This simple illustrated document explains the basic concepts in Flight Simulator X terrain, and how to change them using SBuilder for FS X. Make new water bodies, roads, vehicle traffic, airport flattens, remove autogen, add more detail - anybody can do it easily and quickly.
My most sincere apologies - I am unable, for lack of free time, to offer support of any kind. For questions or problems, please post in the Avsim scenery design forum.
</td> </tr> </tbody></table>
<table width="50%" align="center" bgcolor="#aaccee" border="0"> <tbody><tr> <td width="25%">Filename:</td> <td width="75%">terrain_design_for_flight_simulator_x.zip</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="25%">License:</td> <td width="75%">Freeware</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="25%">Added:</td> <td width="75%">14th December 2009</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="25%">Downloads:</td> <td width="75%">11572</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="25%">Author:</td> <td width="75%">Luis Feliz-Tirado</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="25%">Size:</td> <td width="75%">3991kb</td> </tr> </tbody></table>
<hr> <table width="100%" align="center" bgcolor="#aaccee" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2"> <tbody><tr> <td colspan="2" align="left"> Category: Flight Simulator X - Scenery Design (http://library.avsim.net/index.php?CatID=fsxsd) </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="*" align="left"> Using the Autogen Annotator </td> <td align="right" nowrap="nowrap">  http://library.avsim.net/images/ZipDive.png (http://library.avsim.net/zipdiver.php?DLID=140537) http://library.avsim.net/images/Download.png (http://library.avsim.net/download.php?DLID=140537) </td> </tr> </tbody></table>
<table width="100%" border="0"> <tbody><tr> <td> http://library.avsim.net/sendfile.php?Location=AVSIM&Proto=file&ImageID=246378 </td> <td width="*"> File Description:
The Autogen Annotator is a powerful tool for modifying the autogen of default ground textures or adding autogen to custom (photo-real) ground. This document illustrates the use of the tool, and includes a pictorial guide to all autogen object types. Very sorry - no support of any kind is offered. Please do not write. For any questions, please post in the Avsim Scenery Design Forum.
</td> </tr> </tbody></table>
<table width="50%" align="center" bgcolor="#aaccee" border="0"><tbody><tr> <td width="25%">Filename:</td> <td width="75%">using_the_autogen_annotator_264833.zip</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="25%">License:</td> <td width="75%">Freeware</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="25%">Added:</td> <td width="75%">21st November 2009</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="25%">Downloads:</td> <td width="75%">871</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="25%">Author:</td> <td width="75%">Luis Feliz-Tirado</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="25%">Size:</td> <td width="75%">8930kb</td></tr></tbody></table>

guzler

May 20th, 2010, 13:14

Great stuff Ian, thanks.