Hi folks,

Updated from 5.2 to 5.3 the other evening by uninstalling Client, Content, Scenery and Academic from Add/Remove Programs.

Deleted both shader folders

Ran the full 5.3 installer.  Now I dont get much time to sim, barely used 5.2 but was aware of the old bug where objects like trees, airport buildings show through clouds / haze / fog.

Disappointed to see this has not been fixed by LM.  I was aware in 5.1 discussions on Avsim and also LM forums in which Beau Hollis posted a workaround by editing the FuncLibrary.FXH file in ShadersHLSL folder.

https://www.prepar3d.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6312&t=141012#p234396

This worked to fix the problem but was never implimented in 5.2.  The workaround edit did not work in 5,2 resulting in blank aircraft preview windows and no shaders loading when attempting to start a flight.

I use Active Sky for my weather engine and have tried enabling / disabling all the fog / visibility options, the same for fog options in the sim. Cloud textures are REX Skyforce.  This problem only happens with legacy clouds but can occur with EA on if volumetric clouds are disabled.  Problem doesnt appear to show when VC are enabled.  At first I thought the issue was todays release of Envshade as it modifies the FuncLibrary file but I tested after clearing both the shader folders and reinstalling the Client so that my shaders were 100% default.  Currently happens at MK Studios EIDW as shown below also UK2000 EGCC.   Id say it probably happens elsewhere too.  Plenty of posts on Avsim, LM and Orbx forums earlier this year.

Can anyone else test and confirm they get the same, most of the surrounding buildings at EIDW appear as below.

 

Regards

 

Chris Ibbotson

Surprised no one has commented on this since its been documented earlier this year on LM forums and many others on FB are still experiencing it with a lot of their sceneries.

I have now uninstalled the entire sim, updated my Windows 10 Pro to Windows 11 Pro, allowed Windows to activate then wiped the entire system before installing a fresh copy of Windows 11.  I then installed 5.3 using the full installer. Installed some Orbx global products and MK Studios EIDW, which is where screenshot above is taken. The problem is the same even when using default cloud textures and weather engine. It's fine with EA provided Volumetric clouds are used but who wants EA as it cannot get the fundamentals right with regards to light sources (eg bright sky all round at dawn and dusk). Colours are awful too. Legacy clouds shows the above on many airports by MK Studios, UK2000, Orbx incl EGNX and LOWI. All are up to date.  Currently testing with default shaders so Envshade is no longer the problem.  Active Sky is also not installed yet nor REX Sky Force, which is what I previously used for legacy cloud textures.

Beau Hollis of LM provided a fix back in Jan 2021 which worked in 5.1 but was broken again in 5.2 and 5.3.

I know it affects third party scenery but they appear to have moved onto MSFS and have not bothered fixing their sceneries in the past 12 months due to the changes LM made to the sim in controlling zBias issues.

I cannot fly the sim in its current state its off putting being able see trees, some buildings and even runways and taxiway markings as black or white shapes through the clouds. I'm not referring to gaps in clouds but literally through them like there is a mask problem.  If I slew up and down to get various thickness of clouds the issue appears and disappears at various heights.  I will install more airports but the problem was more widespread on previous tests which is why Im curious theres been no responce to this.  I dont want to be forced down the EA road with Vol Clouds.  Pascals Sky textures, REX, Active Sky and Envshade gave me a look I was happy with and that was with EA off.

So far over 2 days LM have failed to even comment on the post.

So much for their forum being you means of gaining support.

 

Chris