Getting MAX reflections @ 2x Low (and high)

[Slotback]

Here's another shot.

http://www.simviation.com/yabbuploads/C ... 59-343.jpg

[NickN]

Age matters not

Education and what you do with it does and my hat is off to anyone no matter what age who finds their interests and educates themselves in it.

School is only one small factor in life however, if you resist school no matter how mundane you may think it is right now, you resist learning. when you resist learning, you resist success

remember that, it will follow you for the rest of your life.



Finding what it is you are passionate about and then gearing your education to that is a major key to success.


I could care less if Str1ker is 12, he has my respect. Not just for what he is doing with this but how he has placed a direction in his education and enjoys what he does.

I can dive in many things but I am not a graphics code expert. It just goes to show that we all have our niche.


Thanks for the update str1ker. Unfortunately I am not at home and had to make an unexpected trip to LA so I was unable to work with the file in SP2. I will be in SoCal for a few days and then I have to go to Washington DC so I will not be home for a few weeks (I told you I was tied up

[Ashton Lawson]

Yeah, 15.

[Ashton Lawson]

Yes, I know, it's a double post, but I need it for dramatic effect...

So, how's this for chidish:
IT WORKS!!!!!

Turns out, my program was doing nothing wrong!

[Flying Mouse]

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..

Ok both sites require adding a security code before access is granted, simple right I mean the code is infront of you.

Well I dont get it, I enter the code and get "Invalid Code" then 60 secs start all over.

Must I use spaces?

Is it only for certain countries?

...cause I aint getting to the file :\

Mouse  :'(

[Hagar]

[quote]Ok both sites require adding a security code before access is granted, simple right I mean the code is infront of you.

Well I dont get it, I enter the code and get "Invalid Code" then 60 secs start all over.

Must I use spaces?

Is it only for certain countries?

...cause I aint getting to the file :\

Mouse

[Ashton Lawson]

Or, you could wait for my addon which makes things so much simpler.

It should be ready in two days (for beta testing).  Three days at most.

I have the file editing working, now I only need to create an installer, and the autobackup feature.

Yes, it works fine on XP, SP1.  SP2 testing will go under way either today, or tommorow.  Vista compatibility is also something I'm getting help with by members on FlightSimWorld.com

All is looking very sweet 8-).

[macca22au]

Str1ker I have three grandsons of whom I am proud. And you are in the same age group.

But in your case your talent is ageless.  I would venture that it is precocious.

I look forward to the final product, but I also look forward to an early and great future for you in the world of IT.

Stick close to people like NickN, I suspect they can be useful sounding boards technically, but they can be of more help in assisting you in surviving the non-linear rigours of the industry.

[UU]

[quote]
I'm a 15-year old
programmer!
LOL.

[Ashton Lawson]

Thanks.

[NickN]

I downloaded the file here so I could post this...


specularFactor = fSpecularBlend*(pow(fSpecularBoost*saturate(float2(dot(vSurfaceNorm, vHN),fSunMoonInterpolant * dot(vSurfaceNorm, vHN2))), fSpecularPower));

[Ashton Lawson]

Hmm.  Interesting.

Anyway, I've determined that SP2 shouldn't be a problem, provided you only run in DX9 mode.

From what I know, the shader file format seems to be different from the DX9 format, which means, Water20.fxh should remain and be used for DX9.  That means, SP2 should pose no threat.

However, the issues come when you decide to modify the DX10 water shader, and make that modable through this program of mine.

So, SP2 shouldn't be a problem.  Besides, Mango's a Beta Tester for Acceleration, so once the program runs with no errors on that comp, we shall all see the compatibility (lol, rhymes).

As for the blocking effect, yeah it is annoying, but you can't fix it without sacrificing performance.  It's to do with the resolution of the EnvMap.  The smaller it is, the crappier it looks, but it performs way better.  The higher the resolution, the more the GPU has to draw, and fill, therefore it'll be smoother, but your performance would go down quite a bit.

If you still want to persue this, the thing to look for would be something like envRes.  That will most likely be set at maybe 512, possibly 1024.  But make sure you only work in binary numbers (1,2,4,8,16,32,64,128,256,512,1024,2048,4096,etc.).

(why do I need to explain binary to you?  You already know it...)

BTW, in your dangerous thinking mode, you can do what you want, but take into account what you'll be doing to get rid of the blockin.  You'll be making the water even more of a performance hog...

[macca22au]

Ah but here's the rub:

Many of us have installed Vista with its many. many problems in order to be DX10 ready, and bought the DX10 video cards.

So I for one wouldn't want to revert to dx9 to run your mod.

So far FSX has bought us,

those who have stuck to FS9.
those who didn't install SP1,
those who have XP and therefore DX9 (the majority I think),
those who have Vista for DX10,
those with the video cards for DX10,
and those who will install Acceleration
- and then there will be a two new groups who bypassed Acceleration; one that doesn't have DX10 cards and so will only install SP2, and those with appropriate cards who will also install the Dx10 patch.

I wonder if Microsoft really knows what it has done.  No wonder add-on makers keep delaying products until the platform gets more certainty.

[NickN]

[quote]Hmm.

[Ashton Lawson]

Hmm, don't quite see how the actually contents of the EnvMap will change the blocking, but whatever.