Cloud observation and questions

[Hornit 3]

Ive had FS2K2 for about 6 months now. I have all sorts of nice add-ons etc. One of the things I have recently started using more of is clouds and weather. I have noticed a peculiarity in FS concerning how clouds get displayed and Im curious if others see this effect also. What happens is I get the cloud cover displayed only out in front of where Im headed and its only a few miles either side of my flight path. If the cover is thick enough its not so noticeable underneath the layer. Its very noticeable above it and it kind of bugs me. It happens with default clouds and the add-on packs i have tried. I have gone to 100% coverage and it still happens. Does anyone else see this? If not, what might I be doing wrong. The next question would be if this is how it is, shouldnt it get fixed? Heres a screen of what Im talking about.....http//www.flightsimmers.net/airport/hornit/cld.jpg

[Chris Willis 8]

ok here is your picture :-)First make sure your clouds density slider is at least 50 %, 75% is the default, second, to have more clouds you should use the cumulus scattered 4/8 or 5/8 etc..Ps: you should increase your clouds density slider = how many clouds quantity in %http://www.flightsimmers.net/airport/hornit/cld.jpgThanksChris Willis[link:fsw.simflight.com/FSWMenuFsSim.html]Clouds And Addons For MsFshttp://fsw.simflight.com/fsw.jpg

[Hornit 3]

:) I guess I had a typo there for that pic link....thats what happens when your tired! My cloud slider was at 100% for that shot and Im pretty sure I had at least 6/8 broken set for the layer. I still see this happen. The overcast setting properly covers up the sky with a solid layer, but I can't get the broken layers to go out farther. I always use the cumulus setting also. I notice that if I pick the cirrus option I also only see half a sky full with a solid line stoping about halfway down towards the horizon.Hornit

[Hornit 3]

Ok, I have 100% on the slider for clouds and broken at 7/8 with cumulus set, deviation about 500ft and layer is about 1500 feet. I am using WIN 98 SE, tbird at 1.4ghz and 512mb ram, Voodoo 5Here are some shots, these are your clouds Chris. Notice the doughnut effect in the first one...weird. The circle went right around my plane!http://www.flightsimmers.net/airport/hornit/cld1.jpghttp://www.flightsimmers.net/airport/hornit/cld2.jpghttp://www.flightsimmers.net/airport/hornit/cld3.jpg

[Hornit 3]

I am thinking the clouds are desigend to do this, only display in front of your flight path because from the cockpit they look fine and you dont notice this. Only in spot view do you get this effect because you can see a wider view. If anyone else can see a "full" sky of clouds in spot view I'd be interested to see a shot of it. Some settings yield slightly better results but overall the effect is the same and I think the default clouds work like this also.I am going to reinstall them to see. By the way, I tried multiple settings for graphics, multitexture on/off, antialiasing, 32 bit versus 16 etc, still did this no matter what I tried.Hornit

[Chris Willis 8]

Hi, Yes the clouds in Ms are designed to be around the aircraft, and at far distance there is no clouds, but I have said to use scattered not broken, make them higher in feet 6000 or 7000 etc feet, If you use the broken 6/8/ 7/8 , you will have problem, like your picture, use cumulus scattered 4/8 5/8, the broken appears slowy and more near the aircraft than distant. Also when you add clouds , wait little to see them give them a chance to appears. Also you should not reduce the level of your zoom to the -, normaly when you fly, you are in cockpit or the regular view.Also you can see FSW clouds shots here from Bears GOLD pick http://www.avsim.com/pages/0202/bear_2-2-02/bearracing.htm

[Guest]

This is typically what I see. I run clouds at 50 percent density and setting on cumulus/scattered. Usually 2/8; but this shot is 4/8 with no defined altitute or base; just default. They alot of time appear like this all the way around the plane; but are random. Sometimes none in front, all to one side or all to rear. Just depends. A lot of time, a nuisance as they partial block out the airport and I end up using gps till on final. I'm running that version that came out for CFS2/FS2000 last year. I think it was v3 or something like that. I've tried em' all and this set is my favorite. Running the colored thunderstorm clouds.http://www.x-plane.org/users/mgdbottled/Clouds.jpg

[Chris Willis 8]

Yes but you don't have reduced the zoom to the minist , like my picutre above, you will have very little clouds. Whats I am trying to tell , is he should have the clouds density to at least 75 and use and make them higher etc...Ps:Those was good for fs2000, but I don't like them anymore,they are 8 bit, also you can't have puffy or anything else, they are "light" cumulus. Just look the sky and see whats is about clouds. I have tons of new clouds coming similar to CFS3 clouds with more type and all high level specialy made for fs2k2 and fs sky weather. Clouds should be like Peter Sidoly style created!ThanksChris Willis[link:fsw.simflight.com/FSWMenuFsSim.html]Clouds And Addons For MsFshttp://fsw.simflight.com/fsw.jpg

[Hornit 3]

Chris, Thanks for the help. I havent found a decent setting for these beautiful clouds until now! Im at 75%, cumulus (your set) and have the level from about 2500' up to about 7500' I like seeing the detail while on the ground. It works MUCH better with these settings, it still does it slightly like before, but compared to what I had the sky looks much more realistic now. Thank you again! Is there any fix to the cirrus displaying only down about halfway to the horizon? It is fine up at the zenith, but there is a distinct demarcation line below about halfway towards the horizon where the clouds(cirrus) end. Otherwise this is a big improvement. I guess I just missed a lot of these discussions a while back.Hornit