Hi guys

 

 

 

See the picture below, u will notice an amazing effect we dreamly need it some day.

 

Its a light reflect on the aircraft body at the gate or parking point which not seen in any lighted scenery is fsx.

 

Its so amazing real effect we miss !!!!

 

 

 

 

Thx

I think it's called per pixel lighting. A similar effect is found here

Not possible in FSX unfortunately, the only way to light up an aircraft is either via thunderstorm lightning or internal aircraft effects/texturing. It might be possible in future versions of P3D but I don't think we'll see this effect anytime soon.

 

FYI that screenshot is from X-plane.

Not really possible in FSX as it is part of the rendering process.

 

FSX effects system can use a similar technique but it is very limited.

 

eg the internal cockpit lighting on most FSX default aircraft includes an effects file to illuminate the interior (ie fx_vclight.fx). This is done by setting the LIGHT parameter in the EMITTER section to 1. The effect will now emit light which will be rendered onto the aircraft.

 

There are a number of limitations of this system though:

 

1. You can't really control the size of the light beyond adjusting the brightness of the light.

 

2. It is only rendered onto the aircraft and never onto scenery.

 

3. It is only rendered if the effect is attached to the aircraft. You can't attach the effect to a scenery object or place it as scenery and have it light the aircraft.

 

Interesting thing to note about the picture. The aircraft is not casting a shadow under the ramp light. Now, if it would cast a shadow then it would be truely fantastic night lighting.

What airport is it in Xplane ?

I have mucked round with fx_vclight.fx a little bit to see how lighting effects alter when the "light" is put into different positions. I noticed that it can illuminate the aircraft nose exterior to a limited degree. I assume multiple lights at different points could illuminate wing front edges etc.  I dont know much about this though. Is it possible to link this effect so as to activate when the aircraft has both (1) cabin lights on and (2) is at a gateway.

Robb

 

You can use multiple emitters in the fx file to create a larger light spread and theoretically you could program a gauge to use an used light system (eg logo lights) to come on when the aircraft is parked although you won't get the effect of the aircraft moving into a light source.

 

Note that this form of lighting is rather cpu intensive as there are a lot of calculations involved with multiple light sources.

 

The nav and beacon effects files also use self illumination to light up parts of the aircraft when they are on.

Here is an example of an FSX aircraft with an effects file attached to the front to simulate the effect of the apron lights ( a quick and simple effect mod so colours and size and position could be afjusted for a better look). Problem is, the effect is attached to the aircraft and so moves with the aircraft and it is difficult (or to be more accurate, impossible) to know exactly when the aircraft is located under a scenery light.

 

That looks a whole lot better than an unlit aircraft on the tarmac silohetted against overhead lights.. I was wondering though if the fx_vclight.fx is used, could the light effect be controlled by a panel switch.

It certainly could be controlled by one of the FSX lighting variables (in fact it would have to be) under the LIGHTS section of the aircraft.cfg.

 

You would set the type to one of the following (depending if any are free)

 

1=Beacon

2=Strobe

3=Nav

4=Cockpit

5=Landing

6=Taxi

7=Recognition

8=Wing

9=Logo

10=Cabin

 

But, of course the light will be attached to the aircraft.

 

You could use a key combo to activate/deactivate the light.

 

I was also wrong before about being able to resize the lights. You can make them larger. There just seems to be a minimum size though. I was also wrong about being able to have multiple light sources in one effect file. Seems you can only have one. But you can use multiple entries in the [LIGHTS] section in the aircraft.cfg to make multiple lights.