Is a patch coming to fix the loss of contrast/color reflections in clouds in 2.3?

[Noel 4,496]

I'm assuming others are seeing this since others on the P3D forum reported it and sure enough, it's dreadful.  Quite frankly this is way worse for me than the performance hit in clouds that indeed does remain an issue.  Now clouds appear drab, w/o contrast, don't reflect hues in sunrise/sunset conditions as they always did, and look so bland they look not unlike silhouettes in many situations now.   Getting quite tired of uninstalling everything though if this isn't changed it's time to go back to 2.2.  I think as w/ new Win OS', I'm going to avoid upgrading to the next full versions upon release as LM does not seem to care about doing things like making this very realistic cloud lighting behavior simply disappear from all former versions and simply ignoring it.  P3D V2 seems more and more like one ongoing alpha release that you get to pay for.

[TheFamilyMan 280]

Thanks for posting this on avsim.  I'm a lurker with p3d aspirations that wants to avoid all the wasted time and gnashing of teeth that seems to go with each successive release.  Reading this, and the other issues talked about i this forum, affirm that it's still not time for me to jump in.  The only issue that I have with FSX is that it's not P3D, but also I don't waste time, nor gnash my teeth, dealing with that.  I guess laziness and lack of inspiration is getting the better of me.  For those who aren't like me, thanks for your contributions towards furthing p3d.

[DylanM 1,069]

OP, not sure what you're seeing - have any screenshots? The cloudscape looks fantastic at sunrise / sunset on my rig with HDR enabled (I use OpusFSI with REX textures)...

 

 

 

For those who aren't like me, thanks for your contributions towards furthing p3d.

 

You're welcome?! You don't know what you're missing without trying it (particluarly as you can run it in parallel with FSX, and a monthly trial is $9)...but I'm not going to turn it into one of those threads.

[Alvega 2,124]

I hope a patch is coming shortly to fix this, otherwise i will also go back to v2.2.

 

@DylanM, you can see the screenshot here: http://www.prepar3d.com/forum-5/?mingleforumaction=viewtopic&t=8190

[Noel 4,496]

OP, not sure what you're seeing - have any screenshots?

 

No, but I'm intrigued you're apparently not seeing this.  I stumbled upon the post on P3D forum so clearly several others have seen it.   You can go here to see screenshots posted by others:

 

http://www.prepar3d.com/forum-5/?mingleforumaction=viewtopic&t=8190

Thanks for posting this on avsim.  I'm a lurker with p3d aspirations that wants to avoid all the wasted time and gnashing of teeth that seems to go with each successive release.  Reading this, and the other issues talked about i this forum, affirm that it's still not time for me to jump in.  The only issue that I have with FSX is that it's not P3D, but also I don't waste time, nor gnash my teeth, dealing with that.  I guess laziness and lack of inspiration is getting the better of me.  For those who aren't like me, thanks for your contributions towards furthing p3d.

You're welcome.  I have been a very staunch support of P3D V2.x, but quite frankly I'm tired of going thru the ritual of uninstalling the entire application PLUS multiple add ons.   I've lost my early hope & respect for the LM team as well-early on they communicated regularly about progress, and it seemed quite hopeful.  Now I rarely see anything but posts like this one:

 

http://www.prepar3d.com/forum-5/?mingleforumaction=viewtopic&t=8190

 

And no replies, no comments from LM--just paying customers crying out in the dark.  This has been the norm there in large part for several months.  In fact, I posted my own proposal about coming out w/ an interim patch to just restore the lighting effects on clouds so that we wouldn't need to spend another few hours R&Ring P3D back to 2.2 or whatever.  It was deleted outright by their 3rd party police force as they didn't like the implication in the title of the post, 'Earth to LM come in please....   I gave them $200 for this sort of treatment.   Yes, by all means, hold off on it.   Oh it has promise alright, but really it's in such a state of development what we really are is paying, not paid, beta testers, and in this situation I do not appreciate being given the mushroom treatment. 

[exodus1977 37]

No, but I'm intrigued you're apparently not seeing this.  I stumbled upon the post on P3D forum so clearly several others have seen it.   You can go here to see screenshots posted by others:

 

http://www.prepar3d.com/forum-5/?mingleforumaction=viewtopic&t=8190

You're welcome.  I have been a very staunch support of P3D V2.x, but quite frankly I'm tired of going thru the ritual of uninstalling the entire application PLUS multiple add ons.   I've lost my early hope & respect for the LM team as well-early on they communicated regularly about progress, and it seemed quite hopeful.  Now I rarely see anything but posts like this one:

 

http://www.prepar3d.com/forum-5/?mingleforumaction=viewtopic&t=8190

 

And no replies, no comments from LM--just paying customers crying out in the dark.  This has been the norm there in large part for several months.  In fact, I posted my own proposal about coming out w/ an interim patch to just restore the lighting effects on clouds so that we wouldn't need to spend another few hours R&Ring P3D back to 2.2 or whatever.  It was deleted outright by their 3rd party police force as they didn't like the implication in the title of the post, 'Earth to LM come in please....   I gave them $200 for this sort of treatment.   Yes, by all means, hold off on it.   Oh it has promise alright, but really it's in such a state of development what we really are is paying, not paid, beta testers, and in this situation I do not appreciate being given the mushroom treatment. 

 

LM responded:

 

Sorry for the lack of response in this thread guys. The extreme variation of lighting across clouds in 2.2 was actually a bug. It looked particularly nasty in densely overcast weather where it would result in broad stripes across the cloud cover, and even in lighter cloud cover, a lot of sprites which would be dark for no reason. It certainly adds more variation, but it isn't correct. That being said, it is pretty easy to re-enable it.

Change line 313 in cloud.fx from

GetPointDiffuse( Out.diffuse, position, spriteCenter.xyz );

to

GetPointDiffuse( Out.diffuse, position, groupCenter.xyz );

Zach Heylmun

Software Engineer - Prepar3D® Team

[Richard Sennett 2,499]

LM responded:

 

Thank you for posting

[Noel 4,496]

 

 

It certainly adds more variation, but it isn't correct. That being said, it is pretty easy to re-enable it.
Change line 313 in cloud.fx from
GetPointDiffuse( Out.diffuse, position, spriteCenter.xyz );
to
GetPointDiffuse( Out.diffuse, position, groupCenter.xyz );
Zach Heylmun
Software Engineer - Prepar3D® Team

 

Thank you Zach I will give it a whirl.  Is there any scaling potential, or is it all or none?

[Sesquashtoo 2,846]

I'm assuming others are seeing this since others on the P3D forum reported it and sure enough, it's dreadful.  Quite frankly this is way worse for me than the performance hit in clouds that indeed does remain an issue.  Now clouds appear drab, w/o contrast, don't reflect hues in sunrise/sunset conditions as they always did, and look so bland they look not unlike silhouettes in many situations now.   Getting quite tired of uninstalling everything though if this isn't changed it's time to go back to 2.2.  I think as w/ new Win OS', I'm going to avoid upgrading to the next full versions upon release as LM does not seem to care about doing things like making this very realistic cloud lighting behavior simply disappear from all former versions and simply ignoring it.  P3D V2 seems more and more like one ongoing alpha release that you get to pay for.

I totally agree with you!  Over the Andes this morning, I hit violent thunder and lightning storms....and yet...the clouds were as white as cotton puff balls. You are right...in v2.2, you would have the real-world darkening of the under-belly of the cloud as it held water vapor to the bursting point.   There are no longer any ominous cloud depictions as you head into foul weather.. 

 

I'm going to alter that line, as well....much more preferred.  

 

Post Edit:  Rain clouds, now look like rain clouds again! 

[toby23 136]

What I saw in the screenshots showing the effect in v2.2 looked like what I remember from Mogwaisoft Shade. I wonder if LM could incorporate this kind of subtle lighting on the clouds too?

[z06z33 763]

Can we get this pinned or something.

[exodus1977 37]

Thank you Zach I will give it a whirl. Is there any scaling potential, or is it all or none?

I'm not zach. I just cut and pasted his response from the LM board (from the link you posted earlier).

[spirit_66 2]

 

 

LM responded:

Thanks for posting.

Spirit

[Selcuk73 0]

Thank you very mutch!
Selcuk.

[Sesquashtoo 2,846]

I'm not zach. I just cut and pasted his response from the LM board (from the link you posted earlier).

Thank you for doing that!  I used that info to edit the Cloud.fx file....and Happy Camper, once more....