FORUM ALERT X-Plane 10: Clouds & Datarefs - Questions

[efis007 884]

Thanks Murmur.  :wink:

I have used .dds for clouds_puff0 to 5, not .png.

 

A question: why clouds_puffs.png have 8 column?  what is it for?

[Murmur 3,941]

A question: why clouds_puffs.png have 8 column?  what is it for?

 

As far as I know, cloud_puffs.png is not currently used (at least, I could not find where it is used). Maybe it has been put there for a possible future use?

[The_avionics_guy 3]

The weird horizontal layering in the blue color for the sky depends on texture "gradient color uniformity."

If the color is not uniform they see small horizontal stripes.

Example, this gradient is not uniform:

 

 

"Is this a limitation from X-Plane?"      Yes Sir!

 

Each X-plane sky texture is 128 horizontal pixels x 32 vertical pixels.

 

With 32 vertical pixels are generated 32 individual horizontal stripes on the texture, this graphic artifact is inevitable.

 

The trick to have a nice sky gradient... with 32 pixel only... is to make more "smooth color stripes" possible.

 

The X-plane sky is very similar to the microsoft FS sky.

X-plane, FS9, FSX, etc, use too small textures to represent the sky dome.

 

640 x 160 pixels (ie 128 x 32 multiplied by 4) would be preferred to represent the sky dome without graphical artifacts.

128 x 32 pixels are too few. 

Can you please show me how to do it?i really hate the sky gradient in xplane.

THanks in advance 

[efis007 884]

It is very simple.
Search "blue sky gradient" with google, observes all  photos, and save your favorite sky.
example this: http://freeios7.com/wp-content/uploads/freeios7.com_apple_wallpaper_blue-blue-sky_iphone4.jpg

Import image into Photoshop (or similar), cut gradient as you like...

... and create new image.

If sky color gradient is not uniform, uniformize color with "blur filter".


Resize image to 128 x 32 pixels.


Now import into photoshop x-plane sky_color.png, insert your gradient, and save sky_color.png.
Enjoy

[Lynk 4]

But the "master image"(with all the layers) can't be at a higher resolution? 

[efis007 884]

Another technique is use "photoshop gradient tool" to create a new smooth sky.

Search sky image with google, example this... http://wallpaperspics.com/thumbs/25/f/wallpaper-airplane-desktop-plane-gallery-255055.jpg ... and import image into photoshop. Next create new empty project 1280 x 320 pixel.



Select gradient tool...



... and capture some point on photo (usually 2 or 3 points are enough).



Draw your gradient on new project.



This is the result.



Resize image to 128 x 32 pixels.
Enjoy



Paste your sky texture on x-plane sky_color.png

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But the "master image"(with all the layers) can't be at a higher resolution?

Yes, absolutely.
it is preferable to use a large master image, not small image.

[Murmur 3,941]

Yes, absolutely.

it is preferable to use a large master image, not small image.

 

Maybe he's referring to the actual .png texture used by X-Plane. Unfortunately, it can only be 128x32 pixels (for each skydome texture).

[The_avionics_guy 3]

Thanks efis007, i really appreciate your help.

[Lynk 4]

Maybe he's referring to the actual .png texture used by X-Plane. Unfortunately, it can only be 128x32 pixels (for each skydome texture).

Yes that is what I meant,thanks

[Humpty 751]

I use Murmur's scripts and the sky texture, not that I understand any of the script.

 

There is a .lua script for the clouds @.org by the developer of Ultra Weather XP.  I have not yet tried it because being on a 2nd gen laptop it does not work well with the clouds in Xplane and no HDR .

[efis007 884]

Link?

[Humpty 751]

Link?

 

Here

 

http://forums.x-plane.org/index.php?/forums/topic/106529-ultra-weather-xp-v15-script/

[efis007 884]

I have downloaded Ultraweather script.

 

Why in the script there are 4 identical strings?   

[Lynk 4]

Is it possible to modify RTH to include the line codes from the UWX script?

[Humpty 751]

Is it possible to modify RTH to include the line codes from the UWX script?

 

I stopped using RTH for the moment due to system limitation.  But you can try and paste those lines at the end of the RTH script and check if it works.

 

I am also using a light datarefs from Murmur , its probably gives better daylight i think.  So when I used the light dataref of Murmur with the UWX script I got clouds where there were none when using UWX script but it came with a hard hit on the fps. So currently using UWX script seems good to me. 

 

Clouds I use are the Clouds Gold Edition X Beta II 1.3