1. Get PNW.2. Get REX and install New Blue for daytime skies.3. Set the day to June 20, somewhere at noon.4. Use these FSX-weather settings (do NOT set visibility to unlimited: this rather low visibility setting, which is usually used for cloudy days with not too good weather, will make things in de (near) distance a little but hazy and more blue, which is exactly what you see on photograhps made on sunny days)):5. Use these clouds settings (just one small layer of cirrus: I use REX Cirrus Set 21):6. Use these ENB settings (instead of making things darker, which is the most common setting for ENB on most computers, these settings (based for 99% on Jigsaw's settings (on the Orbx forum)) makes things lighter and brighter):

[PROXY]EnableProxyLibrary=0InitProxyFunctions=0ProxyLibrary=[GLOBAL]UseEffect=1AlternativeDepth=1AllowAntialias=1BugFixMode=0SkipShaderOptimization=0QuadVertexBuffer=0EnableShaders_3_0=1UseMRTRendering=0AdditionalConfigFile=enbseries2.ini[EFFECT]EnableBloom=1EnableOcclusion=0EnableReflection=0EnableMotionBlur=0EnableWater=0EnableShadow=0DepthBias=0EnableDepthOfField=0[INPUT]KeyUseEffect=123KeyBloom=120KeyOcclusion=121KeyReflection=122KeyCombination=16KeyScreenshot=44KeyShadow=119KeyWater=118KeyShowFPS=106[REFLECTION]ReflectionPower=100ChromePower=100UseCurrentFrameReflection=1ReflectionQuality=1ReflectionSourceSpecular=50ReflectionSourceTFactor=50UseAdditiveReflection=1ReflectionDepthBias=0UseLowResReflection=1ReflectionSinglePass=1UseEnvBump=0EnvBumpAmount=100EnvBumpOffset=100ReflectionFlip=0[BLOOM]BloomPowerDay=0BloomFadeTime=400BloomConstantDay=1BloomQuality=0BloomScreenLevelDay=95BloomCurveDay=0BloomPowerNight=18BloomConstantNight=0BloomCurveNight=0BloomScreenLevelNight=20BloomAdaptationScreenLevel=24BloomAdaptationMultiplier=100BloomAllowOversaturation=1BloomMaxLimit=100[SSAO]UseFilter=1OcclusionQuality=2FilterQuality=1DarkeningLevel=30BrighteningLevel=30IlluminationLevel=30AdditiveIlluminationLevel=30UseAmbientOcclusion=1UseIndirectLighting=1FadeDistance=50UseForAlphaTest=0UseForAlphaBlend=0[COLORCORRECTION]DarkeningAmountDay=0ScreenLevelDay=70ScreenLevelNight=1DarkeningAmountNight=15GammaCurveDay=0GammaCurveNight=-2ColorSaturationDay=3ColorSaturationNight=0UsePaletteTexture=0[WATER]UseWaterDeep=0WaterDeepness=20WaterQuality=0[SHADOW]ShadowFadeStart=40ShadowFadeEnd=80ShadowAmountDay=100ShadowAmountNight=30ShadowScreenLevelDay=60ShadowScreenLevelNight=20ShadowQuality=1UseShadowFilter=0FilterQuality=2ShadowBlurRange=30[ENGINE]ForceAnisotropicFiltering=0MaxAnisotropy=8ForceDisplayRefreshRate=0DisplayRefreshRateHz=60[MOTIONBLUR]MotionBlurQuality=1MotionBlurVelocity=0MotionBlurRotation=0[PERPIXELLIGHTING]SpecularColorMin=0SpecularColorMax=100SpecularColorMultiplier=100SpecularGlossinessMin=0SpecularGlossinessMax=100SpecularGlossinessMultiplier=100[DEPTHOFFIELD]DOFQuality=2DOFNumberOfPasses=1DOFFocusRange=50DOFBlurinessRange=10

That's it. To make it complete, get the Carenado F33A Bonanza (those white wings make it even sunnier, and do turn on the cockpit light with the knob on the ceiling!) and TrackIR together with EZdok Camera (I use the default movement settings: it just adds that little touch of realism which is missing in default FSX).With this setup I finally get the impression the sun is actually shining in FSX. You get that 'warm hazy light view' (you can almost see the earth heating up) with brighter greens below you and more blueish colors in the distance. I am curious what you all think of it. If you got any better ideas to make the sun SHINE in FSX, let me know! ;)

one great idea would be to put some pictures on the photo forum so we can see all the flying goodness. :(

Yeah, I would love to see a few sample pics as well with this setting.

Yes, I thought about that (obviously) but I had the idea screenshots didn't do justice to what I see when I look around in FSX: everytime when I made a screenshot I thought 'This isn't it', while when I looked around while flying it did look good. If you know what I mean. :( But I will see if I can make some. ;) Don't expect a totally transformed GSX though. :(EDIT:Here are two examples (animated gifs to make the differences more obvious). They focus mainly on the ENB settings though (mind you, my 'usual ENB settings' already have the darkening effect toned down a little: usually things get even darker when you use common ENB settings found around the internet). You will have to test out the 'advantage' of the lower visibility yourself. Maybe some like unlimited more, but to ME a lower visibility creates some sort of heat haze idea (which isn't that obvious in these examples btw: I should made a picture with more mountains nearby, I guess). Do to the size I post them as links.Example 1Example 2EDIT 2:And here is an example of default FSX (PNW) with unlimited visibility and 'sunny ENB' with lower visibility. Yes, of course it IS haze that you see, but to ME it gives the impression of heat. (Just say 'It's heat! It's heat!' about 20 times and you'll believe it :( .) To ME it looks like the effect heat and sunshine can have in real life, where things get 'hazy' and more blue in the distance.Example 2

Hmmm never liked the ENB stuff. I think the default looks better personally!

Hmmm never liked the ENB stuff. I think the default looks better personally!

As it is with every recipe: not everyone may like it! :(

Great ENB settings Jeroen. :(

Very nice!jja

Thanks for the ENB settings, it's a keeperJose De Campos

The Gifs really do show the difference well. I've set up a new ENB file with your settings and will try it out. Thanks for sharing!EDIT: Unfortunately it was WAY too bright for me. Also, I had some strange "Blocks" showing up initially, which soon went away when I moved the view around.

Hmmm never liked the ENB stuff. I think the default looks better personally!

I used to feel the same at first. It took me a lot of going in and out of the house to the computer to match what I was seeing out side, but once I got it dialed in, with the help of NickN's EMB settings, I have it about where I feel the sim looks more like what I see when I go outside. With the EMB I think the some of the best settings are the ones that dont alter the default view to much, just a little to reflect the brightsness and glare you get in the atmosphere, especially when there is a lot moisture in the air.

EDIT: Unfortunately it was WAY too bright for me. Also, I had some strange "Blocks" showing up initially, which soon went away when I moved the view around.

Those blocks are weird...! About it being way too bright: as I said, it of course also depends on your monitor settings. I guess I should have added to my OP (totally didn't think of that, sorry!) that I lowered brightness, contrast and gamma using the nVidia control panel in order to get nice blacks and deep colors on my monitor (for working in Photoshop). So I sort of manually calibrated my monitor. This of course changes how things look in FSX and with ENB on my computer! If I use the default control panel settings, FSX becomes a lot brighter indeed (with or without ENB). I can hardly imagine anyone using default settings for brightness etc. because things are always too bright for me by default (on any computer). But that may be due to the fact that I'm a graphics designer so I always work with (more or less) calibrated monitors. I guess most people don't think about changing those settings and work with a desktop that's way to bright... ;) And yes, that of course makes FSX way too bright too... Should have though of that.Anyway, setting my drivers to default (brightness etc.) and using a common ENB ini still isn't the same for me: it's the combination of lower driver settings and these ENB settings that do the trick. But of course YMMV! :( For who is interested (but remember these settings are good for MY monitor: your brand may give totally different results): my desktop color settings are:Brightness 40%Contrast 40%Gamma 0.85

I've often wondered how many actually calibrate their monitors. It's a good practice and even a simple calibration can improve what one sees significantly.To get the ball rolling, here's a simple but effective calibration image. Calibrate your monitor

I've often wondered how many actually calibrate their monitors. It's a good practice and even a simple calibration can improve what one sees significantly.To get the ball rolling, here's a simple but effective calibration image. Calibrate your monitor

Thanks for the tool Cheeso. I think that graphics artistis for print media mainly do the calibration and probably get a calibration tool from their printer.jja

J van E, I haven't had a chance re-test in regards to the "blocks" but I'll check in a little while to see if they are still a problem with your ENB settings. I'm currently working with "bojote" regarding a problem with my water settings.Thanks for the link, Cheeso! My monitor is definitely calibrated well enough to pass the shade/color tests presented there!