Prepar3D Tweak Assistant (PTA)

[jeff20 52]

thank you for this brilliant tool

 

just downloaded v2.0

 

instructions very clear

 

applied Adams preset thank you

 

just donated worth every penny

 

thanks again

 

jeff20

[KNOSSOS 122]

Many thanks Jeff! Enjoy!

[Adamski_NZ 976]

Yuri! I may be missing the blindingly obvious ... but is it possible to *independently* change clouds shadow strength and regular terrain/topography shadow strength?

[Flic1 1,015]

Can I import my current settings from the previous version to this easily or do you manually have to reset everything??

 

Thanks for your hard work as always Yuri!

[KNOSSOS 122]

Yuri! I may be missing the blindingly obvious ... but is it possible to *independently* change clouds shadow strength and regular terrain/topography shadow strength?

Not special tweak for this now. I know some adjustment that allows to lighten up clouds shadows separately. But it's impossible to make them darker.

You can try this adjustment by using new custom tweak ablitity in PTA 2.0 beta.

In Cloud.fx find the block

return float2(1.0f-cColor.a,In.z);

and replace it with 

return float2(1.05f-cColor.a,In.z);

(or 1.06...1.1, but slighlty). Higher value means brighter shadow.

I'll try to find universal solution for separate clouds shadows adjustment: it have been asked too often. And add in PTA as a built-in tweak if it possible.

 

 

Can I import my current settings from the previous version to this easily or do you manually have to reset everything??

No, so many internal changes, it's no possilble, sorry.

But you can use 1.62 and 2.0 at the same time for awhile - just to look at 1.62 parameters:

Before start PTA2.0 in PTA1.62 use menu command "Restore original P3D shaders".

When original shaders restored to sim, make install procedure of PTA2.0 - to allow the tool to find original shaders.

After that you can start 1.62 anf 2.0 simultaneously to see at paramters.

Hope it helps.

[GSalden 4,723]

Yuri, when lightening the terrain will the cloud shadows also be brightness ?

I have set them seperately but my photo ground scenery is too dark in winter so I lightened it from 1.0 to 1.12..

The intensity setting of the clouds shadows are the same.

 

Thanks,

Gerard

[KNOSSOS 122]

Only if you set the ambient light higher.

When you make lit areas of terrain brighter by increasing Diffuse sunlight, the shadows become relatively deeper. When you decrease Ambient sunligth the shadows (unlit areas) become deeper.

Increasing diffuse light together with decreasing ambient light make the constrast between lit and shadowed areas stronger.  

I tried to illustrate this relationship in Terrain lighting tweak images in PTA2.

 

Regards,

[GSalden 4,723]

Thanks for explaining

[Adamski_NZ 976]

Not special tweak for this now. I know some adjustment that allows to lighten up clouds shadows separately. But it's impossible to make them darker.

I'll try to find universal solution for separate clouds shadows adjustment: it have been asked too often. And add in PTA as a built-in tweak if it possible.

 

Thanks, Yuri. I actually wanted to make them slightly darker - more prominent (!) without over-darkening terrain shadows in general. I take it that we can't go smaller than 1.0 for 1.0f-cColor.a?

 

However - I suspect the downside of darkening clouds shadows separately would be quite murky terrain all round in cloudy conditions.

 

Just to check though - I'm not referring to cloud shading within the clouds themselves - but the shadows cast on the terrain.

 

Great work!!

 

Adam.

[KNOSSOS 122]

 

 

I take it that we can't go smaller than 1.0 for 1.0f-cColor.a?

Yes we are dealing with clouds shadows on terrain, not shading of clouds themselves. The values below 1.0 bring the artefacts and actually useless.

[Adamski_NZ 976]

Here's one for Yuri - a classic Russian aircraft ...

 

 

PTA gives us so much control over the lighting: this is with the new 2.0 beta - which is simply awesome!

 

Adam.

[kiwi_biplane 636]

Here's one for Yuri - a classic Russian aircraft ...

PTA gives us so much control over the lighting: this is with the new 2.0 beta - which is simply awesome!Adam.

I agree with you. 2 PTA is a unique tool for the control of lighting, color, haze, and much more.

 

 

 

 

[KNOSSOS 122]

Here's one for Yuri - a classic Russian aircraft ...

Wow. I travelled quite a lot by this bird in good old times. As a passenger of course. A big fun and a real challenge for the vestibular apparatus.

 

 

I agree with you. 2 PTA is a unique tool for the control of lighting, color, haze, and much more.

Many thanks, Gennadiy, stunning shots!

[edpatino 1,991]

Excellent shots.

Without objection, PTA should be named the "Application of the Year 2016".

Thanks Yuri.

Cheers, Ed

[aviator8 9]

Here's one for Yuri - a classic Russian aircraft ...

 

 

PTA gives us so much control over the lighting: this is with the new 2.0 beta - which is simply awesome!

 

Adam.

 

That's look awesome, do you any have any presets for 2.0 you can share with us  :wink: