I just noticed that not only do you get shadows in the VC, you also get sunlight on the windows. I've seen the effect before (of course) but it wasn't until know that I really nocited and figured out what it was. I am doing a dawn flight right now and I noticed when I looked at the shadow falling on the upper part of my left window (sun at the right) that the lower part of the window was a lot lighter, as if the scenery outside is lighter, but it isn't the scenery, it is the sunlight shining on your window that makes the window er... lighter. Darned, I wish I knew how to say this in proper English. Let's put it in other words: you do not only get shadows, you also get light! Er... let's make a picture...

 

Here is the picture. The upper part of the left window has a shadow on it, at least, that's how it seems. However, when you look at it (and when you position the camera outside of the plane) you discover that what you see there isn't really a shadow falling on the upper part... it's the light falling on the lower part! That upper part of the window is simply very transparent because of the lack of light. The lower part however has light falling on it and that makes the window less transparent and it makes the scenery look lighter while the scenery really is as dark as it is on the top.

 

 

In other words (sigh...) what you see isn't shadow but light. Know what I mean? At the same time you ALSO see shadows in the VC itself. It's not just ONE shadow that's falling over the VC, it's light AND shadows AND reflections of it all... When you see it moving it's really awesome. And it makes all those remarks about Flight not being better graphically then FSX a real joke.

 

Bummer, wish I could find the words to say this properly... I hope you know what I mean. Again, seeing this all in motion is awesome!!!

 

EDIT

Another picture. The scenery as you see it on the right is how you see it when you position a camera outside of the plane. On the left you can clearly see the LIGHT shine on the windows. So it's not just a matter of puting some grey shadow over everything to make it look as if the light is shining, because that would ONLY make things darker. But you clearly see things also get lighter: you simply see the light shining on the windows. Know what I mean?

 

 

I love it.

Yep. The cockpit lighting effects, including on the canopy or windows, are a big contributor to Flight's convincing sensation of flying. Things like those are what you expect to see, because they are what you really would see. They are obvious in their absence (in other sims), but you may not even consciously notice them at first when they are included... It just feels "right" even if you're not sure why.

Yep. The cockpit lighting effects, including on the canopy or windows, are a big contributor to Flight's convincing sensation of flying. Things like those are what you expect to see, because they are what you really would see. They are obvious in their absence (in other sims), but you may not even consciously notice them at first when they are included... It just feels "right" even if you're not sure why.

 

Exactly! It felt right all the time but it wasn't until now that I noticed how good everything is implemented!

 

BTW While I am at it another HUGE improvement is that the shadows also work on the autogen! In FSX you could have pretty shadows on hills and so on but the trees would really stick out. But when I fly in Flight over trees towards the low sun, those trees look dark, almost black, but when I look around on the trees behind me they are bright green due to the sunlight falling on them. Awesome stuff. So immersive and so great. I can't go back to another sim, really, just because of this eye candy.

 

Trees at the right (you can hardly see them):

 

 

Trees at the left (with the ground overshadowed btw!):

 

 

Here is a 100% screenshot (click on it) to show you the difference in one shot: at the right you have very dark trees and at the left you see the sun shining on them.

 

 

All this combined with that light haze that speeds across your airplane with the Low and threatening weather theme makes it so immersive...

 

EDIT

Only drawback is the constant shimmering/flickering of the shadows/light in the VC... I don't really understand why it moves all the time... Pity.

Have you seen the scratches yet? If you look at the sun through the window you'll see very subtle window scratches. Very good detail if you ask me.

Yes indeed - I fly many jobs at dawn and have been noticing all the above for some time now, it truly is gorgeous.

Hi Folks

 

Only drawback is the constant shimmering/flickering of the shadows/light in the VC...

I don't really understand why it moves all the time... Pity.

Jeroen -

If they're flickering badly,

you need to reduce one/some of your graphics settings.

 

 

 

To see what AllFiredUp's refering to -

if you havn't already done so,

try flying the Icon A5 Landing Challenge # 3.

 

 

 

HTH

ATB

Paul

If they're flickering badly,

you need to reduce one/some of your graphics settings.

 

Hm, any idea which one...? I don't really feel like lowering anything...

 

BTW I first saw those scratches in the awesome kayak rescue mission, That flight made me an Flight-addict.

Hi Folks

 

Jeroen -

YMMV,

but for me, its got to be SCENERY DENSITY.

Weather/visibility makes up for that.

 

Kayak Recue's weather/time of day, is stunning,

as is IIRC, RV 6A Landing Challenge # 4

 

Looking forward to additional weather themes for Alaska.

 

HTH

ATB

Paul

but for me, its got to be SCENERY DENSITY.

Weather/visibility makes up for that.

 

Kayak Recue's weather/time of day, is stunning,

as is IIRC, RV 6A Landing Challenge # 4

 

Looking forward to additional weather themes for Alaska.

 

I already have Density at High instead of Max. I won't go any lower. BTW I remember trying various lower settings: the only difference was that at low settings EVERYTHING seemed to move constantly instead of just the shadows, haha!

 

Yes, I also thought about that: Alaske MUST come with new weather themes! Snowstorms and so on! If so I wonder how this works with various regions... I also wonder how you can switch from Hawaii to Alaska: I don't hope you have to scroll the map to get there... All in all Alaska MUST introduce some new options and possibilities...

Hi Folks

 

I already have Density at High instead of Max.

I won't go any lower.

Seriously - Please try SCENERY DENSITY at MEDIUM, or even LOW.

 

Recently I've been flying, mainly Clandestine Jobs,

with ALL GRAPHICS SETTINGS set on LOW,

excepting WEATHER, which is on HIGH,

and surprisingly,

the visual appearance is still good,

and very much better than expected.

 

 

 

BTW

I remember trying various lower settings:

the only difference was that at low settings

EVERYTHING seemed to move constantly

instead of just the shadows, haha!

Whilst I couldn't quantify it -

Yes, agreed

at GRAPHICS SETTINGS with everything set to LOW

when flying at extremely low altitudes

the terrain and associated autogen, sometimes jumps sideways.

 

 

 

HTH

ATB

Paul

Unfortunately, this actually highlights how stupid they are being with Flight - they go to all the trouble of making a brilliant depiction of flying in a cockpit (which it undeniably is) and then release a bunch of planes with no freaking cockpits.

 

Al

One of the many advantages to finally switching the graphics rendering to the vid card is the enormous improvement in Transform and Lighting. It just looks so much better. :Peace:

 

Al, please avoid personal characterizations. It is very unpleasant.

 

Best regards.

Luis

Al, please avoid personal characterizations. It is very unpleasant.

 

Best regards.

Luis

 

How is my post a personal characterisation? Does it mention anyone by name? Nope, so it is not a personal charactisation; it is a comment about the mixed up development of Flight, in adding a great feature and then not using that feature to best advantage. However, writing a response to it stating that I am being 'very unpleasant' certainly is a personal characterisation, don't you think? Moreover, you are not a forum moderator, thus making personal judgements about my posts is both unwarranted and unnecessary.

 

Al

Al is right, the cockpit lighting and shadow are awesome, really don't understand why they release planes without cockpit..

LuisFelizTirado, on 18 April 2012 - 07:13 PM, said:

 

Al, please avoid personal characterizations. It is very unpleasant.

 

How is my post a personal characterisation?

 

Perhaps he's talking about an earlier version of your post.

 

Hook