So what's going on at REX?

[RamonB 449]

I have REX Plus Essentials is it ok for use in P3d 3.2 or do I need an update?

Same question here!

 

I searched REX forums, but found no definite answer.

[rstough 531]

It seems REX is altering the Cloud.fx shader file and is making the low level cloud scale bigger.

 

GetScreenQuadPositions(quad, width*0.67, height*0.67);

 

Unless LM has made .67 rather than .50 the new default in 3.2?

 

It does seem any changes I make to the cloud.fx file are now overwritten each time I change cloud texture sets using REX TD, which is very annoying. Hopefully overcome by making the file Read Only

You can disable this change by unchecking the Low Level Clouds option within the Options window.

I have REX Plus Essentials is it ok for use in P3d 3.2 or do I need an update?

REX Essentials is fine with P3D v3.2. 

Same question here!

 

I searched REX forums, but found no definite answer.

REX Essentials works fine.   No changes there.

@Everyone -  Thank you all for your patience and kind words.  Enjoy!  Now on to the other projects.

[RamonB 449]

 

 

REX Essentials works fine.   No changes there.

Thanks Reed

[Novation 534]

Popcorn fixed? Will have to update when I get home.

 

By making your clouds bigger.

 

You can disable this change by unchecking the Low Level Clouds option within the Options window.

 

 

Meaning I won't be installing new low level texture sets

 

Maybe REX should have an option to rescale the clouds rather than force it on you. Scaling the clouds to this size, while looking nice, and eliminating some of the more obvious repeating, or popcorn effect, will adversely affect peoples performance, and may also cause issues with cloud positioning when using a weather engine.

 

My sweet spot for a scale is 0.60, so I have changed it back and made the cloud.fx file read only, which still allows textures to be swapped, but stops REX messing with the shader file.

[Samaritano 305]

By making your clouds bigger.

 

 

Meaning I won't be installing new low level texture sets

 

Maybe REX should have an option to rescale the clouds rather than force it on you. Scaling the clouds to this size, while looking nice, and eliminating some of the more obvious repeating, or popcorn effect, will adversely affect peoples performance, and may also cause issues with cloud positioning when using a weather engine.

 

My sweet spot for a scale is 0.60, so I have changed it back and made the cloud.fx file read only, which still allows textures to be swapped, but stops REX messing with the shader file.

 

Interesting. Novation can you share how to make that change? I would like to compare the size of low level clouds with this change.

[Novation 534]

Interesting. Novation can you share how to make that change? I would like to compare the size of low level clouds with this change.

 

Go to your P3D directory and open ShadersHLSL and then open cloud.fx in notepad++ scrolling down to line 311 which looks like the line below.

 

GetScreenQuadPositions(quad, width*0.50, height*0.50);

 

You need to change to numbers in red, keeping them the same to maintain the correct dimensions. The P3D default is 0.50 and REX TD changes it to 0.67. You can use any number you like, the bigger the number, the bigger the low level, cumulus clouds become. A number of 1.0 will make the clouds twice the size. The cloud size has quite an impact on performance, although that will depend on your rig.

[vgbaron 3,701]

Meaning I won't be installing new low level texture sets

As I understand it, this would happen every time you INSTALL a new low level cloud set. If you install the one you want, then uncheck the low level clouds and nothing will change. After that, if you WANT to change the low level clouds, reenable the setting, install and disable again.

 

Vic

[Novation 534]

As I understand it, this would happen every time you INSTALL a new low level cloud set. If you install the one you want, then uncheck the low level clouds and nothing will change. After that, if you WANT to change the low level clouds, reenable the setting, install and disable again.

 

Vic

 

Yes that's understood. But as its only adding new low level textures that forces the change to the shader it seems odd advice to say the way around it is to deselect low level clouds and not install any. I want to install and try new sets, but I don't want REX to dictate what size they will be for very good reasons. There should be a tick box to opt out of the scaling for those reasons posted above. People who have been running with the clouds at LM's default values may wonder why they have lost performance after using REX TD.

 

Anyway the best way to prevent it, should you wish to, is the make the cloud.fx file read only as stated.

[Jim Robinson 122]

We also have the ShadersHLSL.cfg in the %programdata%\Lockheed Martin\Prepar3D v3 folder so you could put your desired copy of cloud.fx into an external folder somewhere, declare it with priority over the default in the ShadersHLSL.cfg, and let REX overwrite the one in the default folder to it's heart's content with no effect.

[Novation 534]

We also have the ShadersHLSL.cfg in the %programdata%\Lockheed Martin\Prepar3D v3 folder so you could put your desired copy of cloud.fx into an external folder somewhere, declare it with priority over the default in the ShadersHLSL.cfg, and let REX overwrite the one in the default folder to it's heart's content with no effect.

 

 

That sounds like great advice Jim but would be be good enough to explain how to give priority to your desired shader file please :smile:

[Jim Robinson 122]

By default the ShadersHLSL.cfg should look like this:

[Entry.0]
Title=Default Shaders
Path=ShadersHLSL
Required=True
Active=True

...so you'd just put your custom cloud.fx in a folder of your choice somewhere, I put mine in D:\P3Dv3 Addon Content\ShadersHLSL and then just added that path as [Entry.0] which gives it priority over default. Like this:

[Entry.0]
Title=Tweaked Shaders
Path=D:\P3Dv3 Addon Content\ShadersHLSL
Required=True
Active=True

[Entry.1]
Title=Default Shaders
Path=ShadersHLSL
Required=True
Active=True

Jim

[Guest]

0.67 will certainly impact anyone using SGSS AA with cloud density set to high on a cloudy overcast day.  I manually manage the REX files but agree it would be good to see some type of option in REX UI to prevent the changing of the shader files.

 

Cheers, Rob.

[Novation 534]

Jim

 

 

Great info. Thanks Jim.

 

0.67 will certainly impact anyone using SGSS AA with cloud density set to high on a cloudy overcast day.  I manually manage the REX files but agree it would be good to see some type of option in REX UI to prevent the changing of the shader files.

 

 

I don't have particularly powerful hardware by current standards, so even using the in-sim AA at 4x coupled with multiple cloud layers will be affected by having the clouds scaled to this degree.

 

I don't want to rag on REX though, as I love most of their products, but developers do need to be careful of making one size fits all type changes to our base sims files.

 

I know a lot of people have experimented with the cloud scale after LM accidentally set it to 1.0 causing a few issues, so perhaps it would be better to make a recommendation, or slider, so it can be tuned to individual hardware.

[GSalden 4,688]

By default the ShadersHLSL.cfg should look like this:

[Entry.0]Title=Default ShadersPath=ShadersHLSLRequired=TrueActive=True

...so you'd just put your custom cloud.fx in a folder of your choice somewhere, I put mine in D:\P3Dv3 Addon Content\ShadersHLSL and then just added that path as [Entry.0] which gives it priority over default. Like this:

[Entry.0]Title=Tweaked ShadersPath=D:\P3Dv3 Addon Content\ShadersHLSLRequired=TrueActive=True[Entry.1]Title=Default ShadersPath=ShadersHLSLRequired=TrueActive=True

Jim

Very good idea Jim.

 

I made a batch file on my desktop that copies back the default cloud.fx file which I saved elsewhere.

However, my favorite Cumulus cloud is from FEX and I have another batch file that copies that one into P3D.

 

This is with size 0.50/0.50

 

[rstough 531]

0.67 will certainly impact anyone using SGSS AA with cloud density set to high on a cloudy overcast day.  I manually manage the REX files but agree it would be good to see some type of option in REX UI to prevent the changing of the shader files.

 

Cheers, Rob.

I am answering Rob's post here, but I know others have asked this question about having something on the REX UI to allow for dynamic modification of the cloud sizes.   Many of this will be handled by Environment Force when it is released on the fly, but in the meantime we will look into this.  We may offer this function as a Public Beta first before we proceed to do a full release.  We have our development meeting scheduled for Monday.  This will be on the top of the list.  I will  keep everyone advised here.