Guys,Vin will have to comment because he's the one that did the optical wizardry that makes the collimated HUD work, but I'm going to bet that refracting light is not something that can be done. We can't modify the fundamental aspects of how the sim's graphics engine works - it doesn't support light refraction effects. (this is the same reason you can't do heat blur from engines realistically)

Honestly, I'm not sure how old some of you guys are, but you really ought to learn some basic manners. I'm sure indeed that PMDG have got a lot on there plate, and I'm also sure PMDG will ignore such suggestions if they feel they have no merit. Like how certain self-righteous individuals that believe they are the forum police, should not read the topic, not comment, and go away and fly the NGX. Much better than responding to a topic they aren't interested in, merely to berate another forum member. It's trouble making like this that PMDG can do without, not suggestions they can easily ignore if they think they are without merit. I moderate a different forum, and I can tell you that any such disrespect, ill manners, self-righteousness, and trashing of posters suggestions, is dealt with very harshly. Theres no need for it, it just gives the forum a bad name. Leave the guy alone and go and do something more useful. Martin Wilby

Amen.

The man is entitled to his opinion. Not everybody knows that big letters are equivalent to shouting (and some people do not see too well either). Like the guy said - let us behave like gentlemen. Enjoy the bird. I certainly do.

Not everybody knows that big letters are equivalent to shouting (and some people do not see too well either). Like the guy said - let us behave like gentlemen. Enjoy the bird. I certainly do.

These aging eyes actually appreciated the font choice.Also its always been THE USE OF ALL CAPS THAT'S CONSIDERED YELLING

These aging eyes actually appreciated the font choice.Also its always been THE USE OF ALL CAPS THAT'S CONSIDERED YELLING

Agreed

I am an albino with a visual acuity of 20/200. That's why I use big letters sometimes. It helps take the strain off my eyes. You need to see how ridiculously close I sit to my monitor. I always joke about wearing my monitor as a pair of glasses.________________________________________________________________________________

Guys, Vin will have to comment because he's the one that did the optical wizardry that makes the collimated HUD work, but I'm going to bet that refracting light is not something that can be done. We can't modify the fundamental aspects of how the sim's graphics engine works - it doesn't support light refraction effects. (this is the same reason you can't do heat blur from engines realistically)

This is not truly a refraction. It's a workaround that 'deceives' the viewer into thinking that there is refraction, but there isn't any at all.

Guys. Its a no. Drop it. That's the way it has been done, PMDG has said no.

Guys. Its a no. Drop it. That's the way it has been done, PMDG has said no.

Really?? Where?? The last time that I checked, Ryan stated that Vin would have to answer. Matt

My goodness the performance hit from calculating light refraction...ohh my. Real neat look into it though Smasher. Worth the effort regardless.

Really?? Where?? The last time that I checked, Ryan stated that Vin would have to answer. Matt

"but I'm going to bet that refracting light is not something that can be done. We can't modify the fundamental aspects of how the sim's graphics engine works - it doesn't support light refraction effects."

Like how certain self-righteous individuals that believe they are the forum police, should not read the topic, not comment, and go away and fly the NGX.

I suspect the forum police (and those who appear to speak on PMDG's behalf) are hoping that by participating like this will one day land them a beta testers job. I think PMDG are smarter than that.

"but I'm going to bet that refracting light is not something that can be done. We can't modify the fundamental aspects of how the sim's graphics engine works - it doesn't support light refraction effects."

I believe that the inability to refract light in FSX has been since established. I wish you guys can patiently read my post, then you'd understand that I'm suggesting an illusion, not an actual refraction. Look at the examples I gave with the light textures. Let me give another instance here. think about how the night textures of an airport are especial the apron. The floodlights on the pole do not really shine the light on the ground of the apron. it's just textures, or if could borrow that word again, an illusion. Also the light reflection on the aircraft body close to the landing lights (I mean prior to the volumetric landing lights), These are 'baked' into the textures to create an illusion. So, here it's just two textures back to back (or should I say superimposed on each other), one thick, one thin, but each only visible from one side. Just read my explanation again and it will make more meaning.

But it's not just the textures that need changed. The actual physical VC model would need to be changed otherwise the textures wouldn't align with the model. And to recreate perfectly, as we fold it away, it goes back to normal, meaning that bit of model we removed to simulate the refraction, has to be added back on. This then adds more demand to an already overly demanding product, which is at the max of FSX animations.

But it's not just the textures that need changed. The actual physical VC model would need to be changed otherwise the textures wouldn't align with the model. And to recreate perfectly, as we fold it away, it goes back to normal, meaning that bit of model we removed to simulate the refraction, has to be added back on. This then adds more demand to an already overly demanding product, which is at the max of FSX animations.

Not really. I'm talking about edge textures of the combiner, and it shows even when the combiner is down, so they don't need to model only when it's in motion. I did that just in order to emphasize the thickness. compare these pics, looking at the edges of the glass: They're all in the operational mode. You'll see that the NGX HGS features a more prominent thickness. Here is another explanation of my theory in a crude drawing. For the sake of simplicity, I've represented the combiner as a rectangular piece of glass:

I know what you're meaning. The HGS frame is part of the model. You can't hide some of the frame (which isn't textures, it's the model) without altering the model on the fly when you extend/retract. The textures just cover the model. If you adjust the depth of the textures on the other side of the glass, the textures will look shorter, but there will be a bit of untextured model still there.