Getting MAX reflections @ 2x Low (and high)

[NickN]

I have to give credit where credit is due... this was posted by David Roch at AVS**

A very talented guy named Ingvarr has released a new file to improve the shader effects for water.
The result is absolutely stunning and shows all FSX potential with DirectX9.
A warm thanks to you Ingvarr

Installation is very easy:
1) Download "Water20.fxh" from http://depositfiles.com/files/2111633 or http://rapidshare.com/files/63610098/Water20.fxh.html
(free download)

2) Back up your original Microsoft Games/Microsoft Flight Simulator X/ShadersHLSL/Terrain\Water20.fxh and replace it with the new one.

3) Delete the whole TERRAIN folder's content you'll find here:
FOR XP users,
Go to C:/Documents and Settings/YOUR NAME/Local Settings/Application Data/Microsoft/FSX/Shaders/Terrain

FOR VISTA users,
Go to C:/Users/YOUR NAME/AppData/Local/Microsoft/FSX/Shaders/Terrain

All Shaders files (Terrain and Water) will be recompiled on next run so don't worry :--)

Here are some screens with the new effects (Bloom effect ON + FEX):
Enjoy!

Makes sure the water slider is on 2x Low. If you bump it to 2x High you can get this:





Larger image here: http://www.simviation.com/yabbuploads/reflections1.jpg



Which is a significant jump in reflective response

HOWEVER

PLEASE NOTE: By doing the above you are increasing the reflective water significantly and because of that, the water color and other FX you may be using which are NOT default such as FEX may produce some strange results.

In my opinion this hack is a good idea but it also is TOO reflective and will cause flickers and shimmers AND causes the color of the water to lose its quality, especially when running FEX or other water enhancement.




Right now this is NEW so follow the directions carefully and make sure to BACK UP the file noted. Simply put the original file back and delete the noted folder (again) to alllow FSX to build a new shader database and restore the original reflections.



I noticed no frame rate loss by testing this hack but to tell you the truth, I am torn by the shimmers it creates and the lose of color/bottom details add-ons like FEX produce. There may be ways to overcome that which I must investigate to see but for now, it is what it is..

[NickN]

NOTE TO STR1KER:

If you manage to reduce distant shimmers and increase the local reflections please post it here


The only problems I see with this hack is it provides so much reflection, add-on textures that change water color and depth to a more realistic tone are washed out and the shimmer effect is too high

[Ashton Lawson]

Hey Nick,

Might as well post what I posted back at FSW:


Quick Preview of my Water Shader Editing Program

Here's the preview screens that'll be shown to see what kind of effects you can achieve:

Low-Angle Reflections


High-Angle Reflections


Specular Lighting
(Yeah, this doesn't show well, but it's pretty hard to portray this)

I would start a new topic, but I only want to do that once It's ready to be uploaded to FSW, AVSIM.

I only need to work on some minor settings now.

Anyway, the title screen will change, depending on what you change, to a preview and comparison of, for example, maximum sun specular or minimum sun specular.

It'll have visual things in it to help anyone who hasn't used it, which is, at the moment everyone.

Right, now my non 'Ctrl + C' 'Ctrl + V' writing.
This program works.  However, like all programs, it's going through a one-two day long beta period.  Basically it works on XP, but I'm checking compatibilty on Vista, and making an icon for it.

In case I haven't explained, this program will be able to modify Ingvarr's Water20.fxh file, to achieve different effects.  As the first screen may indicate, you can change distant reflections, high-angle reflections, and specular reflections (light reflection).

I've often found that many parts of the water in FSX can get annoying, like shimmering.  This little program will let you adjust the water to your liking, possibly eliminating the shimmering.

So there you have it.  I let you know when it's done, where to download it, possibly here, definately at FSW and AVSIM.

[NickN]

Excellent


The main problem is how much color/detail (especially tropical water detail) the current posted file washes out. I like the approach and I am also thinking the ENV files in the scenery\world\texture folder need some work. Right now they are very bright and I believe that in combination with the shader tweak is what causes the wash-out.

Also, those ENV files have quite a bit of digital 'blocking' to them which in my opinion is also adding to some reflections having a 'boxy' effect, and, the new moon ENV is way too bright because it forces an entire body of water to glow at night, just like it did in FS9. I reworked the ENV's for FS9 and I see the changes they made in FSX but do think the brightness/contrast needs to come down on a few of them, and, some smoothing performed to de-block the image being used.


I do not want to mess with the ENVs until I have a way of working the shaders and that is why I locked onto this tweak so quick.

You guys just opened the door to some really interesting changes. FEX does not manipulate the ENV files and one of the problems I have run into with water is the lack of wide-range change as weather and overcast does not seem to make like it did in FS9. By re-working the ENVs and now having shader tweak control, that opens the door to creating some very dynamic environmental changes around water -AND- land. Depth perception, color changes based on cloud cover, etc.

I still see remnants of the wave animations from FEX with this tweak but they are being overridden by it. One of the things that makes FSX different from FS9 is wave animation. I am hoping this can be tweaked so it will allow the dynamic animations reflect the FEX selections.

At the same time, I assume what you are doing is static, in other words this can not be changes on the fly without a flight reload?

If it can, you may have just hit on a real gem because that opens the door to dynamic reflections based on weather control and xml manipulation.



Anyway... rock on and do keep us posted


This tweak is the best visual upgrade I have seen since UT and FEX. Those on budget hardware will be able to enjoy the same reflections the better hardware produces, as long as it meets certain minimum shader specs. At the same time if this can be dynamically controlled, I would bet the entire world is about to get a facelift.

[NickN]

I do want to recommend one feature... make sure the default shader file (or code) is backed up automatically and can be restored to FSX default in one click. I do not know if that requires automatic delete of the terrain shader folder and allowed to re-write, but in any case many will feel much more confident about trying this if they know they can restore to FSX default with no hassles.

[Ashton Lawson]

No problem.  I'll add that feature in too.

And like I said over at FSW, +1 day until BETA...

[Slotback]

Nice.

[Ashton Lawson]

Nice.

And once my program's finished, you'll be able to change all reflection aspects of the water easily without having to go deep into the computer .

Update, I've hit a small hitch with the file writing, so that will be corrected at some point.

However, the file backup and autorestore feature is in.  Unfortunately, it relies on the writing system, which means the small hitch will be in there too.  So, I revert you to the previous paragraph...

[NickN]

It seems tweaking the min and max fractal corrected much of the color wash-out, recovered the dynamic waves, recovered overcast sky and time of day changes, and, by pin-point tweaking I was able to get the reflections to show in a much better pattern with a much lower threshold for altitude.

I am not a graphics script kiddie but I took a few shots at the code

I use Rio, Bora Bora and Seattle as the benchmark for color, depth and day changes... these are the Rio shots mid day with and without weather involved


Also, I am getting these results on 2x Mid instead of 2x High



I noticed the MIN fractal variable is very sensitive and changes the depth of the color based on time of day and overcast with little change in the value.























The ENV files definitely need to be tweaked because those are having a defined effect on the results based on time of day and weather running. I was getting times where it is too washed out with a lower sun and too dark with the sun high in the sky. I think once the ENVs are tweaked this add-on will provide the perfect touch for fine tuning.



I have not tested this yet with SP2 but will when I get home. There were some graphics changes made in SP2. I should have booted that install and checked that yesterday. I hope SP2 does not bring this to a halt

[john_uk]

looking good their nick. can you please hold onto your Sp1 cfg for the water reflections and things. because im considering buying FEX tomorrow and that would then nock out my lil hack thingy i installed today.

[NickN]

looking good their nick. can you please hold onto your Sp1 cfg for the water reflections and things. because im considering buying FEX tomorrow and that would then nock out my lil hack thingy i installed today.

FEX will require the right water theme to play as I have it above.

You will see the theme I tweaked and uploaded in the FEX brower list which you will have to download and then implement in FEX. Its called:

Depths of Tropics 2

by NickN

The color balance is much better with this tweak enabled. I was going to re-work the ENV reflection files to finish tweaking it when this popped up so it is a double bonus.


Installing FEX has nothing to do with what we are discussing. However, FEX theme colors, wave animations and depths will have a profound effect on what this changes. You will need to experiment with what works on your system.

As for the file posted above, it has the max fractal set too high. I manually reduced it and got much better results as you can see above but it is not quite right yet. Str1kers tweaker should put the finishing touches on that but the only thing I am concerned about now is I did not test this with SP2/Acceleration. If they changed certain files, this will no longer work with SP2 installed. There are those who are testing this in Vista and since they were on the beta team they have SP2/Accel running with this so I hope I see the same results in XP.


I would suggest before anyone upgrade to SP2 or Acceleration they put the original Water20.fxh file back, flush out the terrain folder, boot FSX and allow it to write the new shaders, then close and install Acceleration. After that, you can resume.

[Ashton Lawson]

Dare I tell the secret to the specular level?

[Ashar]

How the heck did you manage all that at the age of 15 Str1ker?

I can't wait to see what you create once you get more experienced....

[Ashton Lawson]

Great, you just blew my cover.

I feared that if my age ever got out, one of two things would happen:
Either people gain a lot of respect for me, or the lose all of it.

The first being, 'Whoa!

[Flying Mouse]

Str1ker is 15?  :o

Str1ker for president  ;)