Landing lights

[Guest]

I was wondering what makes the reflection of the landing lights possible to see on the tarmac - light or special code for tarmac polygon? I know already from the experimentation that landing light and reflection used in connection with other object but the plane, goes on and off depending on the altitude and distance of the observer. Ted

[arno 1]

I think it is just the code of the landing light. The scenery engine then know where to draw the light. The ground polygons are just normal.Arno

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Member Netherlands 2000 Scenery Team[a href=http://home.wanadoo.nl/arno.gerretsen]http://home.wanadoo.nl/arno.gerretsen/banner.jpg[/a]

[Guest]

Thanks Arno, If it was coding of the light responsible for wash effect, why lights do not reflect (wash) against buildings or any object positioned underneath them? I shall experiment little further to see what surfaces they reflect against and what not.Ted

[arno 1]

I think they only shine on objects that are not defined in a PerspectiveCall (so not a 3D objects). I think it is just the same as the shadow that does not show on ground polygons made with GMax, because they are then made as 3D object.Probably the shadow and the light are drawn on a specific layer by the engine and 3D objects are drawn later and therefore show no shadow/light.Arno

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Member Netherlands 2000 Scenery Team[a href=http://home.wanadoo.nl/arno.gerretsen]http://home.wanadoo.nl/arno.gerretsen/banner.jpg[/a]

[Guest]

Yes, it is probably as you say. "Landing lights" switch in FS menu affects only reflections on the ground and not landing lights itself -they remain still on. Shape of reflection wash is square which is clearly (and ugly) visible when one changes visibility option and introduce the fog. They shine on any 2D poly object on the ground including water. I think there is not much here to investigate further. But again I may be wrong....BTW, is there any way to introduce SDL macros into gMax objects converted with mkmdl? How to make the lights go off for the day?Ted

[arno 1]

You can do that by changing the BGLC code by hand. I have done something like that to let the texture change with the seasons. If you look at the GMax tips on my site (link below) you can find that piece of BGLC code. If you check on the time of day instead of season of year you could also remove a light.Arno

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Member Netherlands 2000 Scenery Team[a href=http://home.wanadoo.nl/arno.gerretsen]http://home.wanadoo.nl/arno.gerretsen/banner.jpg[/a]