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AWESOME contrail request

PostPosted: Tue May 13, 2014 1:04 pm
by Speed of flight
I have a request for info about something that's bothered me in FSX for years.
Ever really look at your contrails? They've left a lot of room for improvement. Although thankful they're present, I certainly would like to know how to improve them.
If you've flown in the sim, then you know that they look something like this:

Image

But in reality, they have life, volume, and seem to have behavior patterns, where they swirl around from the wingtips, curl over, and continue to curl long after the airplane has passed. There's physical/scientific terms for all these effects and phenomena, but for simplicity...

Image

The detail is poor as stock, and I'm sure that the current effect file is all that needs to be edited. I don't really know how to do much of this. I've tried blender, and a few other programs, but it seems like all I can do with it is eliminate unsuccessful attempts at changing something.

(Edit) I am aware of a couple 3rd-party programs that modify these effects, but none have really "hit the nail on the head", so to speak.
Does anybody know how to "decode" the parameters of FX files? Not really change the image associated with it, but rather modify the file that tells the image how to behave? I know they have a structure in the .fx notepad file, but I don't know which line or parameter makes the thing do what.
If stock airplanes and AI stuff had great contrails, it would add so much to the sim. I think that it may be simpler than I think, but I don't know.

Coaching, anyone?

Re: AWESOME contrail request

PostPosted: Sun May 18, 2014 4:17 am
by garryrussell
3D effects are in a way little seperate 3D models that behave in a pre defined way. Configuring them can make changes but only within the parameters of the effects limits.

To make effects work truly realistically would entail very complex base effect models and they would take up enormous amounts of resources to the point where some systems may not be able to run them.

For what you want, you'd need to redesigned the whole base effect and the way it interacts with the base coding of the game. This is not a modifcation that can be done simply and perhaps not even something that could be achieved in any practicle form.

You would have to start with a completly black sheet and extensive knowledge of exactly how FS is coded.

Re: AWESOME contrail request

PostPosted: Sun May 18, 2014 6:57 am
by OldAirmail
:clap: :clap: :clap:

Magnificent!

Clearly and concisely written.

If I had a hat, I'd take it off to you. :D