That one was difficult to master... Took a lot of time, but I think I finally got it properly figured out. In the end I have actually modeled and rendered different interiors in full 3D in Blender, matching correct perspective of the MSFS SDK sample. Then converted it to flat image and edited in Photoshop, created front transparent image for tinted windows with occasional blinds, then created several materials to combine it, plus some creative UV mapping and voila! Looks just like a modelled 3D interior when moving. Amazing!

The rooms look totally 3D in motion, but in reality these are just 2 images: transparent smoked-glass window with blinds, and the flat room image behind it. MSFS magic make it seem like a 3D room behind the glass. Just as long as there is nothing too close to the image edges as it would become too distorted when looking from the side. Glass does proper reflections and tint in the daytime, with interior faintly visible, like it should be. I created another parallax material with a very blurred background to use for generic windows - used on the glass door here. It creates some movement and sense of depth and even has vague human shapes, so it adds depth without having to match or repeat interiors for every window. Just move UV map a little for each window and it looks different enough not to look repetitive.

This is one of several variation of interiors of generic airport office rooms that I have created using some free models from all over the place and some custom modeling and lighting and texturing with PBR materials. Took way too long for what is essentially a simple scenery building window, but the result looks stunning in motion, especially at night when the same room image repurposed as an "emission" texture makes it glow at night. And if I keep making sceneries (hopefully, if there is enough demand for Canadian GA airports) I can reuse those variations and quickly create new ones.

Edited November 21, 20205 yr by Roman Design
Added a Video!

Yes I've seen some airport developers using the parallax technique to make interiors look a bit more realistic. It's amazing what you did there! Love your work!

2 hours ago, captain420 said:

Yes I've seen some airport developers using the parallax technique to make interiors look a bit more realistic. It's amazing what you did there! Love your work!

Thanks! I tried different approaches, compositing images and stock photos in Photoshop, and it worked to a point, but it was not perfect, and the weird perspective those images use is very challenging to make a believable interior. Finally I resigned to having to render a whole 3D interior, playing with a camera lens to create the correct wide-angle perspective for it to work in MSFS. Hard work has paid off, at least in the looks, if not in sales yet 🙂 I'm just one guy trying to make MSFS better LOL!

I have added a video demonstrating how it looks in motion on my lowly GPU.