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FSX Alpha Test Level and Transparency

tgibson

tgibson

Resource contributor
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us-california
Hi,

I originally asked this over at the ModelConverterX forum. Arno didn't know, and suggested I ask it here.

I have a question about transparency. I have been using the Set Default Transparent template in ModelConverterX (MCX) to set my blurred prop material settings after conversion to FSX. I have been getting some complaints that the blurred props are completely transparent with some liveries painted by others. I have discovered that these painters used a darker alpha channel for their blurred prop texture than the livery I was using within MCX. I also notice that when I use the Set Default Transparent template, the Alpha Test Level changes, based on the alpha channel in that texture. For my blurred prop texture it's set at 100, while for their livery it's set at 66. When I set it to 66, their blurred props are now visible, AND my blurred props look the same as when set at 100.

So I did another test and set the Alpha Test Level to 1. Their blurred props look the same, my blurred props look the same, and now there is no danger of them becoming transparent no matter how dark they set the alpha channel (unless they set it to 0, to purposely make them transparent).

So my question: is there *something else* that setting the Alpha Test Level value to 1 for all transparent objects does that I'm not aware of? Is it a bad thing? At 100 and at 1 I still see the clouds through the props, and at certain angles my startup effect smoke does not appear behind the props (but at certain angles it does). I don't see much difference.

Thanks,
 
Last edited:
OK, I will assume there are no drawbacks to doing this. I looked at several situations in aircraft and in scenery objects and saw either no difference or 1 looks better.
 
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