Hi Mates,

I am in the process to end my quest of textures to enhance my P3DV4 visuals, in order to enjoy the sim instead of searching, buying, installing, trying...

But before I might want to make a last attempt with REX 4 Texture Direct and Soft Clouds Enhanced as it is on sale $16.22 until July 14.

Here's my story:

1) I have decided to stay away from shaders as AC addons makers like PMDG or Aerosoft do not recomment them for potential conflicts with the VC. Notheless, by curiosity I made an attempt with ENVSHADE because it was just ON/OFF and requires no further settings. But I was not happy, so end of the story.

2) I tried ENVTEX: I was only interested by the dawn and dusk skies. The day sky was not bright enough for me on a sunny day compared to the default sim. And I did not like the clouds.

3) I then tried REX SKyForce 3D. I was not interested at all by the weather engine as I use ASP4. I like the skies but not the clouds.

4) I stay away of ASCA because it is too cartoonish for me.

That is why I'm considering a last attempt with REX 4 Texture Direct and Soft Clouds Enhanced to have a combo with skies, clouds, water, sun, moon which would satisfy me.

I confess that I like the default P3D clouds. They are a bit cartoonish but not too much like ASCA. So I'm a looking for a little improvement. On the other hand I don't like textures that are too photoreal like in some products because it clashes too much with the graphics style of the sim. Yeah, I know, I'm difficult.

To conclude, I would be intested to hear folks who have gone through several products and ended up with REX 4 Texture Direct and Soft Clouds Enhanced.

hi Tony,

REX SF gives you REX Soft Clouds (imo the best looking and natural-looking) So its pointless buying the older product along with Soft clouds. The only thing you're adding to your options is watercolours/taxiway textures that REX Direct brings.

 

I use Active Sky 2016 (now ASP4) and REX 4 Texture Direct with Soft Clouds (now Enhanced Edition) for years and i am still very happy with it.

Thank you guys for your feedback. Much appreciated! Good to know that the REX SF gives REX Soft Clouds. I was not aware. I'll take that into account in my decision.

I use REX 4 texure direct for all textures except for clouds and have done for years. I must admit that my experience of ASCA is very different to yours. For me they are the most relaistic of all cloud textures maybe except for REX sky force.

 

Hi Tony,

 

I‘m a happy user of the combo you are referring to: ASP4 + REX TD&SC.

As always it is very difficult to predict if it is satisfying your standards and taste. But for the mentioned sales price it is surley a no brainer in my opinion.

 

It is unclear for me: does ASCA come with sky textures/sun/moon?

I use REX 4 TD + Soft Clouds (mainly clouds) combined with ENVTEX (for skies, waters, wave effects, aurora, sun, moon) and so far I'm very pleased with the results. All that with ASP4.

Cheers, Ed

You've asked an impossible question in a way. We can't use our eyes to tell you what you will like. This is a purely subjective thing. I, for one, prefer ASP4 & ASCA for the best interaction - they were designed to work together . Others have different preferences.

This really is one of those subjects where youmjust have to keep mixing and matching until YOU get what nYOU like to see. What I like has no bearing other than it's something to try. My opinion is no better than anyone elses.

Vic

Hi Vic,

Regarding the "it's only up to you" for textures addons, I've already read your thinking in another thread but it does not hurt to say again 😉

Sure I know it is subjective but you know, it is in human nature to seek for other opinions to help for decision on certain matters.

That can help if for example someone says "I like" ASCA because it is cartoonish and you like cartoonish style too.

That said, thank you for voicing your preference.

My question has been answered, thank you to all.

 

That's the thing, I don't find the ASCA cloud sets cartoonish at all, for the most part. As with other cloud programs, there are many I like and many I do not. There are a great many ASCA sets that are fantastic. I use full dynamics so they get mixed around and I occasionally get a set that's not my preference but I get that with all the other cloud programs also.

Vic

Here I use ASCA clouds at 256 resolution :

- max framerate 

- nice soft look because of that

 

Surely 1024 clouds can make it look nicer for screenshots :

 

Edited July 6, 20196 yr by GSalden

Inspired by this thread, I bought myself ASCA (currently at 30% off) and must say that it looks very good. Absolutely uncomplicated in full dynamics mode. It takes about 20 seconds to show the clouds after P3D is loaded, but that is absolutely ok.

So far I am very excited.

For ASCA, are there many choices for choosing the sky colours, with options for Dawn, Day and Dusk?

 

I use REX SF and EF only now. I have ASCA but I haven't used it since EF introduced the weather smoothing feature which I now use in combination with the SF weather engine. It is a huge improvement over SF weather engine alone which continued to have the jarring weather injections. Now the injections are smooth. It's not perfect but it is way better than before and completely satisfying. It's nice just to have two programs handling all the  texture/shader weather injection.

 

 

Edited July 7, 20196 yr by Lenny777