I have made a new version of Cloud Shadows available for download - version 1.3.

To Update simply use the URL that you were sent when you purchased to get the new version. Note that this version is delivered as a zip containing the installer, manual and installation notes.

It addresses the two outstanding issues:

• Shadows on water will move if you change altitude at dusk.
   
• Hard edged shadowline on hillsides

It also adds a new features

 

• METAR Option - when shadows cannot be shown (e.g below 1000ft) then the cloud coverage is used for lighting to avoid for example a transition when landing from overcast to full sunlight.   (This is optional and disabled by default)

Autogen was meant to be shaded  but it didn't work in 1.3.  However I have now created  a new build 1.4 in which it does work, so please download it.

Dear Steve,

I just purchased your Cloud Shadows utility and FSX ALWAYS crashes at the flight loading screen.

The white loading window with the exclamation mark comes up but the progress bar doesn't show, and FSX crashes with an 'app not responding' message.

I removed all ReShade dll's and files, cleared shader cache, but the only way to load the flight is choosing NOT TO LET dx10SimC.dll run upon sim startup.

 

Unfortunately what the dx10SimC.dll is conflicting with is beyond me.

 

I do own version 3.2 of the Fixer and succesfully followed instructions to install Cloud Shadows.

 

Happy to give you more info on my setup and FSX installation, hoping you can look into this.

 

EDIT: I just completely uninstalled DX10Fixer and Cloud Shadows and will try too see what happens if I re-install them.

So far the presence of the dx10SimC.dll seems to be what is preventing my sim from running.

At my last attempt, even choosing not to run the .dll wouldn't let me start a flight. Had to uninstall the Fixer's library to get in an aircraft. I'm quite puzzled.

EDIT: after fully uninstalling both Cloud Shadows and the Fixer and re-installing them back anew, I was finally able to load the sim properly and have cloud shadows display correctly.

 

Sorry for having brought this up in the new version thread.

 

I have a feeling the initial conflict might have been related to ASN16, since the program was giving me strange module messages I had never seen before.

But alas, right now the issue seems solved.Will test a few flights in the next days.

 

p.s the shadows do look excellent, especially over water! Pls keep up the good and essential work, Steve, for us stubborn FSX flyers!

Update was easy peasy and the shadows look great!  Thanks Steve!

 

Greg

Hi Steve,

 

thanks for the update, autogen shading looks great. one thing though, the autogen trees don't seem to shade as well as the buildings, this is expected, right?

 

Oh dear, you are correct.  Indeed its worse than that - the autogen logic isn't working at all!    I have stared at it numerous times and convinced myself that it was working - when it never can have been.

 

Oh well will be fixed in 1.4 then (sorry)

Hi Steve,

 

thanks for the update, autogen shading looks great. one thing though, the autogen trees don't seem to shade as well as the buildings, this is expected, right?

 

 

Curious, what altitude were you at and were you zoomed for this shot?

 

Thanks

 

Greg

 

a=2k agl

z=1.5x

SteveFx, thanks for confirming the autogen shadow issue.  I noticed this too and spent a little time trying to figure out what I did wrong...glad to know it was not something I oops doing.

Steve, thanks again for a wonderful, revolutionary product for FSX.  I just purchased Shadows this evening.

 

I'm still not quite clear what the METAR option is used for.  It uses local station cloud coverage to determine if the ground should be darker or lighter?

Kyle, cloud shadows cannot always accurately be generated

e.g. when

a) the aircraft is below 1000 ft or

b) distant mountains,

c) terrain above the aircraft.

 

Without the metars option these areas or scenarios will appear as sunlit.

 

The metars option shades them based on the average cloud coverage.

 

In overcast or broken conditions this will hopefully improve the overall appearance

I have released a 1.4 which fixes the autogen issue...

It certainly does Steve and it works like a dream!

 

Now if you could manage tool tips too...ha ha only joking :-)

perfect.

 

 

didn't know what i was missing without the ground shadows.

 

 

Hello Steve,

 

It seems to me that Cloud Shadows version 1.4 breaks the Orbx lights fix, I see no cloud shadows and the lights are back to

black squares.

I have uninstalled version 1.4 but left the Fixer version 3.2 and the black squares are gone again.