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P3D v2 Effects over a runway not visible

F

flightpumpkin

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22
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switzerland
Hi all,

I have made new runway lights based on effects for several airports in P3D (v2.2).
For the effects I have use a Type=25 effect type.

All the effects beside the runway laying over normal ground are displaying correctly. Only the (for example) approach and touch down zone lights laying over the runway are not displaying. As if there is a problem with the Ztest / Zwrite of those effects. Looks like the engine is rendering the effects first and then the runway. (see the attachment)
If I use effect Type=19 then they display all correctly but the blooming is by far not that nice as by using Type 25.
SDK: 25=light 19=normal

Thankful for any help


Capture.PNG
 
And some additional info...

This only happens on runways that have been retextured (like some of the Add-on scenery used to do).
Means if I have the default runway out of scenery design tools like AFX or ADE or simply deactivate the Add-on scenery and use the default AFCAD file than the effects are displaying all as they should.

So something is configured in the retextured runways that makes the overlaying effects dissapear (by rendering the runway at last). Or something conflicts with the alpha / blending?!

How can I force my BGL / MDL to render last?
 
Hi Dave,
Thx for your answer, but this only partly cover my problem. I'm not using default lights, I am using effect files that are placed manually. But it looks like, that these .fx files have lower render priority as well than the ground poly over the default AFCAD.
My solution so far is not using ground polys at all.
 
flightpumpkin said:
Hi Dave,
Thx for your answer, but this only partly cover my problem. I'm not using default lights, I am using effect files that are placed manually. But it looks like, that these .fx files have lower render priority as well than the ground poly over the default AFCAD.
My solution so far is not using ground polys at all.
Click to expand...
I know it is long time ago, since you posted that message, but I got exactly the same problem now. Have you found any solution for it in the meantime?
 
My solution for this problem is simple. I don't use effect based runway lights anymore. Instead of this I made my own billboard lights in 3DS Max and shaded them with glowing material. looks almost the same. And it fixes two problems at once. The one mentioned in this thread and the other one is that there is a limit of effect files that can be displayed in P3D (maybe FSX as well). An airport like EDDF for example with all runway lights on is far over that limit.
This limit is for type 19 effects only type 25 dosn't have that limit (as far as I found out). But what I miss for the type 25 effects is the possibility to set runway lights at high, mid and low intensity.

If you like I can post a screenshot of my lights. Let me know.
 
Last edited:
flightpumpkin said:
My solution for this problem is simple. I don't use effect based runway lights anymore. Instead of this I made my own billboard lights in 3DS Max and shaded them with glowing material. looks almost the same. And it fixes two problems at once. The one mentioned in this thread and the other one is that there is a limit of effect files that can be displayed in P3D (maybe FSX as well). An airport like EDDF for example with all runway lights on is far over that limit.
This limit is for type 19 effects only type 25 dosn't have that limit (as far as I found out). But what I miss for the type 25 effects is the possibility to set runway lights at high, mid and low intensity.

If you like I can post a screenshot of my lights. Let me know.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the answer. Is there a limit of the number of effect files or the number of effects? My airport is smaller than EDDF so I will probably not have that problem. But I place all effects in one object and hope that helps.
A screenshot of your lights is really appreciated. In the past I always preferred BGL-Lights because of the visibility in larger distances.
 
jdberg said:
Thanks for the answer. Is there a limit of the number of effect files or the number of effects? My airport is smaller than EDDF so I will probably not have that problem. But I place all effects in one object and hope that helps.
A screenshot of your lights is really appreciated. In the past I always preferred BGL-Lights because of the visibility in larger distances.
Click to expand...

Hello:

Perhaps this linked info might help identify what limits may be applicable for your light Effect type based on "Type Number", total "Emitters" used in each of your *.Fx files etc. ?

http://www.fsdeveloper.com/wiki/index.php?title=Apron_lighting_using_effects_and_GMax

http://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/threads/street-lights-like-ultimate-terrain.6674/

http://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/threads/rotate-to-aircraft-problem.3028/

http://blogs.technet.com/b/torgo3000/archive/2006/01/25/418037.aspx

GaryGB
 
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Hello Gary,
thanks for the links, I will check them in detail. The effect itself shows up perfect in FSX and it does not have the problem with the ground poly in FSX.
It is only a P3D V2.x problem when the effect disappears behind the poly
Jörg
 
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