Skies for FS2004 - successes & shortcomings
Posted: Sat Dec 01, 2018 1:23 pm.
Additional thoughts regarding my 4 uploads thus far https://simviation.com/1/browse-Scenery-39-0 along with plans for future releases. In the future, if you don't find these uploads on the linked page then clicking through to the next page or two should locate them all. Presently they're all listed together at the top of the page.
* Serene Skies for FS2004 - 10 different sets of daily-rotating full skies in 1 package. These are all calm, muted, and peaceful daytime skies representative of atmospheres containing particulates and/or higher humidity conditions. Have dealt with reducing the highly-oversaturated default sky textures, especially the Sunrise and Sunset colors that are so incredible at first but then grow overpowering after a while, also reducing the length of time it takes for the pre-Sunrises & post-Sunsets. Night Skies have a very subtle and realistic presentation and illumination to them.
* Overcast Skies for FS2004 - 3 sets of specialty skies, each set containing only 1 sky for displaying uniformly across all 10 sim days. Designed for flying below or in the clouds, 5/8 to 7/8 cloud density settings working well. Thin Overcast is for winter snowing conditions as well as those lighter rain days. Moderate Overcast is for heavier low pressure fronts that can bring precipitation for days. Thick Overcast is for those heavy-duty storms that will turn on the street lights at noon, intense with thunderstorm conditions. Night Skies are also a bit deeper.
* Bright Skies for FS2004 - 3 sets of skies, each set containing only 1 sky for displaying uniformly across all 10 sim days. For lower altitude VFR flying days, relfective of clearer and cleaner atmospheric conditions. Sunrises and Sunsets are more colorful and dramatic although the aircraft, clouds, terrain, trees, and waters are rather inaccurately colored at certain times and illumination transitions are awkward here and there. Each set has subtle perspective and hue variations to them, working well in a variety of weather conditions. Good sets overall for casual daytime and nightime flying.
* HighFlyer Skies for FS2004 - 3 sets of specialty skies, each set containing only 1 sky for displaying uniformly across all 10 sim days. Primarily for atmospheric illumination and color levels aiming to better represent 35,000 feet altitude. These are each very compromised sets, Sunrise and Sunset times transitions are not very good, especially the times before Sunrises and immediately after Sunsettings. Lower alititudes are not represented very well. Set 2 is the most balanced set overall, Set 1 is the lightest and Set 3 is by far the darkest and murkiest. The deepest nighttime textures with less illuminations.
These first texture sets are only a start and are far from being perfect. With all going well, my winter projects will be taking on Version 2 of each of these initial texture sets, going through the tonal pixel markers during Sunrise and Sunset times for better accuracy and representations for even lighting transitions as well as better color hue tonal marker displaying for aircraft, clouds, terrain, trees, waters, etc. The goal is to design and produce the most realistic sky sets yet.
Thank you to all simmers giving these initial sky set tectures a go of it. Happy flights to you all.
.
Additional thoughts regarding my 4 uploads thus far https://simviation.com/1/browse-Scenery-39-0 along with plans for future releases. In the future, if you don't find these uploads on the linked page then clicking through to the next page or two should locate them all. Presently they're all listed together at the top of the page.
* Serene Skies for FS2004 - 10 different sets of daily-rotating full skies in 1 package. These are all calm, muted, and peaceful daytime skies representative of atmospheres containing particulates and/or higher humidity conditions. Have dealt with reducing the highly-oversaturated default sky textures, especially the Sunrise and Sunset colors that are so incredible at first but then grow overpowering after a while, also reducing the length of time it takes for the pre-Sunrises & post-Sunsets. Night Skies have a very subtle and realistic presentation and illumination to them.
* Overcast Skies for FS2004 - 3 sets of specialty skies, each set containing only 1 sky for displaying uniformly across all 10 sim days. Designed for flying below or in the clouds, 5/8 to 7/8 cloud density settings working well. Thin Overcast is for winter snowing conditions as well as those lighter rain days. Moderate Overcast is for heavier low pressure fronts that can bring precipitation for days. Thick Overcast is for those heavy-duty storms that will turn on the street lights at noon, intense with thunderstorm conditions. Night Skies are also a bit deeper.
* Bright Skies for FS2004 - 3 sets of skies, each set containing only 1 sky for displaying uniformly across all 10 sim days. For lower altitude VFR flying days, relfective of clearer and cleaner atmospheric conditions. Sunrises and Sunsets are more colorful and dramatic although the aircraft, clouds, terrain, trees, and waters are rather inaccurately colored at certain times and illumination transitions are awkward here and there. Each set has subtle perspective and hue variations to them, working well in a variety of weather conditions. Good sets overall for casual daytime and nightime flying.
* HighFlyer Skies for FS2004 - 3 sets of specialty skies, each set containing only 1 sky for displaying uniformly across all 10 sim days. Primarily for atmospheric illumination and color levels aiming to better represent 35,000 feet altitude. These are each very compromised sets, Sunrise and Sunset times transitions are not very good, especially the times before Sunrises and immediately after Sunsettings. Lower alititudes are not represented very well. Set 2 is the most balanced set overall, Set 1 is the lightest and Set 3 is by far the darkest and murkiest. The deepest nighttime textures with less illuminations.
These first texture sets are only a start and are far from being perfect. With all going well, my winter projects will be taking on Version 2 of each of these initial texture sets, going through the tonal pixel markers during Sunrise and Sunset times for better accuracy and representations for even lighting transitions as well as better color hue tonal marker displaying for aircraft, clouds, terrain, trees, waters, etc. The goal is to design and produce the most realistic sky sets yet.
Thank you to all simmers giving these initial sky set tectures a go of it. Happy flights to you all.
.
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