Thanks(PS: best may mean visually and also performance wise).Ghiom

This is the best there is: HDE - High Definition Environment, v2.0 Download ID: 146315Filename: hdev2.zipLicense: FreewareAdded: 9th April 2010Downloads: 29898Author: Pablo DiazSize: 24180kb Available from the AVSIM library. I've been using these since they were released and I'm very happy with the results.

ThanlsWill try it.Ghiom

This is the best there is: HDE - High Definition Environment, v2.0 Download ID: 146315Filename: hdev2.zipLicense: FreewareAdded: 9th April 2010Downloads: 29898Author: Pablo DiazSize: 24180kb Available from the AVSIM library. I've been using these since they were released and I'm very happy with the results.

Use it since day one and have never regret it. A truly awesome work!

Agreed on HDEv2, but if you find your frame rates in the crapper in heavy cumulus try using the "3-Cumulus- NORMAL (512x512)32bit" or "5-Cumulus-LOW (256x256)" cumulus01.bmp supplied rather than the full HD one. You won't notice much visually, but it makes a big difference in performance in heavy clouds. Jim

I'll add my vote to this package completely transforming the appearance of clouds in FS9. Yes, sometimes the frame rates do drop in heavy cloud but it never lasts that long and they always stay higher than 15 with my (now modest) system.

Excellent freeware.

Yes I have I have this installed and I am very happy with the results. This is what lead me to posting a recent topic titled 'Rex - Do I really need it?' as I am still unsure if I really do need Rex (although the majority of the replies was YES), but HDEv2 is such a good freeware product in some ways it would be a pity to uninstall it if I buy REX. Hmmmmm.....I am still sitting on the fence with this one!

I am finally using the free "soft horizon" package. It provides the best visual effect for smooth/blended horizon.Ghiom

I am finally using the free "soft horizon" package. It provides the best visual effect for smooth/blended horizon.Ghiom

Sounds interresting. Where did you get it?

Sounds interresting. Where did you get it?

http://www.library.avsim.net/search.php?SearchTerm=softhr07.zip&CatID=root&Go=SearchGhiom

Hmm... interesting. I considered using Soft Horizon a year or so ago but heard it wouldn't work with HDE v2. Can I assume you've had no problems with it? Which clouds do you use from HDE v2? I think it may have been a compatibility thing with one set of cloud textures and possibly the render-to-texture option in FS9 but I've forgotten over the intervening period. if it works ok with your setup I may give it a try. Cheers,D

Yes I have I have this installed and I am very happy with the results. This is what lead me to posting a recent topic titled 'Rex - Do I really need it?' as I am still unsure if I really do need Rex (although the majority of the replies was YES), but HDEv2 is such a good freeware product in some ways it would be a pity to uninstall it if I buy REX. Hmmmmm.....I am still sitting on the fence with this one!

Get off the fence and spend no money!! Pablo Diaz's clouds (as mentioned above) are the best and they are FREE. Also think about how and why you want real or simulated weather conditions. A real pilot has to fly in the weather God gives!! In the sim one can practice certain procedures easily with the weather conditions pre-set in the sim. But if you want to fly in real weather get a weather engine that does just that and no more. FSMetar is a good example and that too is FREE.You simply won't get better clouds than what's already been mentioned. So why spend money ?vololiberista

Hmm... interesting. I considered using Soft Horizon a year or so ago but heard it wouldn't work with HDE v2. Can I assume you've had no problems with it? Which clouds do you use from HDE v2? I think it may have been a compatibility thing with one set of cloud textures and possibly the render-to-texture option in FS9 but I've forgotten over the intervening period. if it works ok with your setup I may give it a try. Cheers,D

Hmm... interesting. I considered using Soft Horizon a year or so ago but heard it wouldn't work with HDE v2. Can I assume you've had no problems with it? Which clouds do you use from HDE v2? I think it may have been a compatibility thing with one set of cloud textures and possibly the render-to-texture option in FS9 but I've forgotten over the intervening period. if it works ok with your setup I may give it a try. Cheers,D

Soft horizons is fantastic but with HDE it reverses the effect of the clouds on the horizon.vololiberista

I considered using Soft Horizon a year or so ago but heard it wouldn't work with HDE v2. Can I assume you've had no problems with it?

Soft horizons is/are a set of sky textures and HDEv1 and HDEv2 both also include sky textures, so whichever you install last will be the ones you see in the sim. HDE also includes cloud textures which is really what all the hype is about, so if you installed HDE first, then soft horizons, you'd see the HDE cloud textures but you'd still have the soft horizons. Personally my choice is to use the HDEv2 clouds with the HDEv1 sky textures. The v1 sky textures have a dirty horizon look, especially in the afternoons, that to me just looks killer :) Jim