detailed water class

[ibanez737 2]

is it possible to edit water class in the same way you can edit VTP2 polys on land? I'm trying to create some intricate reefs, and editing the water using the regular waterclass button in Ground 2k isn't detailed enough. Thanks!-Scott

[arno 1]

I think you can place VTP polygons with a water texture if you want, but they will not behave like water. So no waves, etc.

[LuisFelizTirado 33]

Hello Scott,I just finished a project with reefs completely encircling an island.Here is how I did it:http://forums.avsim.net/user_files/60992.jpgYou must make sure that the VTP2 polygon is located on a layer below the default water. This reef works pretty well with the default water colors in FS2002, but the water textures having changed in the latest version, it can look slightly different.Here is a picture of the result in a different part of the island:http://forums.avsim.net/user_files/60993.jpgBest regards.Luis

[ibanez737 2]

Thanks for replying, Arno and Luis! That looks like a pretty interesting method. Just to clarify, the water effects work as long as the reef texture layer is below the default water texture layer? Also, the thin shoreline is a good idea, I was thinking of doing something like that with my scenery also. By the way, that scenery looks nice! Where is it, and is it available for download yet?Thanks again-Scott

[LuisFelizTirado 33]

Hello Scott,Thanks for noticing my silly mistake. You are right - the VTP reef should be on a layer above the default water, NOT below as I mentioned erroneously in my comments. Sorry for the mistake. Just put it down to creeping senility.The above project covers the entire island of Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands, and contains extensive modifications of terrain (including a corrected altitude mesh replacing the horrible default) as well as scenery objects representing the true elements of the real island (terminal, resorts, boats, tourist attractions, etc.)It is NOT high resolution scenery, so frame rates are rather good. I would be happy to send it to you if you are interested. The scenery itself is about 850 KB, but the accompanying documentation is a little over 1 MB.Best regards.Luishttp://forums.avsim.net/user_files/61310.jpghttp://forums.avsim.net/user_files/61311.jpghttp://forums.avsim.net/user_files/61312.jpghttp://forums.avsim.net/user_files/61313.jpghttp://forums.avsim.net/user_files/61314.jpg

[GHD 21]

Hey Luis,That scenery is most impressive. If/when I start making scenery instead of LWMs, I must ask you for a tutorial.If you could send the scenery to me I would be most grateful, (I'm assuming that you have broadband)Regards,George

[LuisFelizTirado 33]

Hello George,Very happy to send you the scenery - please provide a mail address. I do not have broadband; in fact, here on the farm, we only got phone service about 5 years ago! Welcome to the Third World.On reading my comments above, they clearly can confuse anyone trying to add reefs. So, please allow me to start again. Here are the simple steps to follow:Step 1: Disregard the bunk that I wrote above. It is the product of a delusioned mind.Step 2: Draw a polygon. Select the Reef texture. Make sure that it is on a layer above the water.Step 3: If you want waves, draw a shoreline with a minimal width at the edge of the reef.Step 4: Here is the correct picture:http://forums.avsim.net/user_files/61393.jpgStep 5: And this is the result:http://forums.avsim.net/user_files/60993.jpgStep 6: You might consider modifying the water class so that the reef texture is better coordinated with the surrounding water.Best regards.Luis

[ibanez737 2]

I apologize for not replying sooner, I havn't checked the Avsim forums for several days. That scenery does look very good! Very nice custom palm trees and buildings. I'd love to check it out, you can send it to my email address here: ibanez737@msn.com I'm sure that other people would want to download it too; you should upload it to Avsim after you get the finishing touches taken care of. Carribean Sceneries are always nice! Thanks for explaining your process for creating the reefs, it was very helpful! The reefs look great in FS.Happy Flying,Scott

[Guest christian]

Hi Luis,I had the same idea a while ago, and finally I'm at the stage of trying it out. However, my VTP code crashes. What are you using for the texture? I'm trying to use layer 1 and texture 055b2wa1.bmp. If I include '.bmp' in my texture list, FS2004 crashes. If I exclude '.bmp', FS2004 runs, but all VTP layers will appear blue (roads, shores, airports). Or can you reference a number for water class?Thanks for any help,Christian

[rhumbaflappy 113]

Hi Christian.The format of the default "055b2wa1.bmp" is wrong. It's 16 bit 565. If you rename it to "My055b2wa1.bmp", and reformat it to DXT1, it should work. But you can use "127" landclass number, and it should also show as reef texture.The surface acts as dirt in FS9, but a SCASM surfacetype command can cure that.Dick

[LuisFelizTirado 33]

Hello Christian,There is some inconsistency in texture formats throughout FS. Probably, future versions will eliminate many of those formats that are still around, remnants of the past.This is a pretty interesting topic. I suppose that you are still working on the beautiful Cook Islands.The method described above is pretty simplistic, and not altogether satisfactory. I have been experimenting with different ways in which to better represent the gradations of water color.For example, water color usually goes from lighter to darker as distance from land and depth increase. By drawing a number of concentric VTP2 around an island, and assigning increasingly dark water textures, it is possible to mimic this. Of course, the polygons are NOT water, as you know. But then, nobody is supposed to put their float plane down on a coral reef! Still, it looks nicer than the default.Also, I have drawn "patches" of VTP on the surrounding water using different colored water textures to show the variations due to types of bottom or coral banks.It is very important to pay attention to layers when doing this, and, evidently, somewhat tedious.A few months ago, I was finishing up a project of an island here and wanted to do the altitude mesh. So, I needed to get a look at the hyp bgl - sounds strange, I know, but it worked out all right. Anyway, using Jim Keir's great utility (thanks, Jim!), I was surprised to find that all the islands in the Caribbean already had coral reefs surrounding them in the default scenery. Of course, these reefs do not show at all in FS.Here is an image. Note the polygons surrounding the island.http://forums.avsim.net/user_files/73266.jpgI know that those are reefs because that is pretty much how I drew them. Undoubtedly, this is just another of those works-in-progress that are so common in the game. Perhaps there is some way to activate these reef polygons, and you are the person who would know.Anyway, I have not had a look at the rest of the world, but suspect that you might very well find that there are already reefs around the Cook Islands in the default hyp bgl. They are of the simplistic type, that is, just some polygons to which the reef texture can be assigned. Nevertheless, it is all very interesting and says a lot about the enormous ambitions of the FS Development Team.Best regards.Luis

[Guest christian]

Thanks Dick, you saved the day once again!Luis, thanks for the info. I found the reef texture in the texture folder (it's a line texture), but haven't actually seen that this is used in the Carribean (it's not in the South Pacific). I'm actually quite disappointed with the new water. It's not animated, nor are there reflections. So it looks a bit dull in FS2004. Not sure I'm going to follow this path. If anyone knows how to add the standard water effects, now that would be great.Cheers, Christian

[Guest christian]

Hi Luis,just had a look myself. There seems to be indeed some reef information. However, the scenery is all screwed up in FS2004. I had a look at the South Bahamas.I guess we have to wait to FS2006.Cheers, Christian