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GMax - Ground polygons questions

F

Fergo

Messages
83
Country
brazil
Hi!

First Question:
I've finally did my ground polygon with gmax, but I'm having some troubles with the scale. I have a 1024x1024 bmp here that covers a part of the airport ( something around 1m/pixel ). So, in GMax, I set the units to Meters and create a plane with 1024m x 1024m, to keep the scale, but when i go into FS, the polygon is extremely big, I don't know exactly, but goes over 10Km x 10Km ( or more ). What am I doing wrong?

Second Question:
Ok, lets say that I have my scale problem fixed, so now, how can I align the polygon in the scenery ( it seems very difficult, because in this case we don't have any visual editor do take some references, etc... )? Any suggestions on how to do that, or make it easy?

Third Question:
Nice, scale and postioning done. Now the markings. I've noticed that the markings are not done directly into the texture, because its low resolution. So, what is the best way to put that markings? How you guys do it?

Thanks again people!
Regards,
Fergo
 
My guess is that you do not have your System Unit Scale set to 1 unit = 1 meter.

Customize > Preferences...

system_units_scale.gif


Lou
 
Hi Fergo,

Fergo said:
Ok, lets say that I have my scale problem fixed, so now, how can I align the polygon in the scenery ( it seems very difficult, because in this case we don't have any visual editor do take some references, etc... )? Any suggestions on how to do that, or make it easy?
Click to expand...

When placing a photo, you should always know the lat/lon of at least one point on the image. If you then place this point at the 0,0 coordinate in GMax, you can easily place it at the correct location in the scenery as well.

Fergo said:
Nice, scale and postioning done. Now the markings. I've noticed that the markings are not done directly into the texture, because its low resolution. So, what is the best way to put that markings? How you guys do it?
Click to expand...

I think it is easiest to export these in a seperate BGL file and then place that one at a different layer. That way they will display correctly without flickering.
Some time ago I posted a little example of some ASM code that can be used to load different layers for ground polygons. I'll try to find that code again and post it here as well.
 
Hi,

here is an idea how to position your gmax scenery in FS world. It seems a bit complicated at the first time but it doesnt :)

For markings you can use the loft technique (search in the forum for this) but this make a lot of performance loss at a big airport due to lot of polygons. The better way to create the markings with simple polygons, you can use the arc and line tool for this and some gmax tricks to make surface from them. Unfortunately it takes a lot of time but this is good method.
 
These markings are probably done as polygons. That means that you don't use one big polygon with a texture of the marking on top, but make a polygon for each marking. This thus uses more vertices, but can give a much better result.
 
Thanks! Now i understand. But in large airpots, this method would cause some fps loss won't it? If each taxiway marking, "apron roads", floor signs, etc.. are made using polygons, this could get a little lagged on FS. ( or not? )

FeRgO
 
Fergo said:
Thanks! Now i understand. But in large airpots, this method would cause some fps loss won't it? If each taxiway marking, "apron roads", floor signs, etc.. are made using polygons, this could get a little lagged on FS. ( or not? )

FeRgO
Click to expand...

Yes of course but if you do it well the performance loss is not too much. For example each taxiway centerline or sideline is a separated polygon but when you create an apron road it can be done with one polygon insted of separated road side-lines and road center-lines.
 
Hum, in this case, I should make a texture containing the side and centerlines and then apply this texture on the polygon. Is that right?

Fergo
 
Fergo said:
Hum, in this case, I should make a texture containing the side and centerlines and then apply this texture on the polygon. Is that right?
Click to expand...

Yes, that is right.

About the performance. Well of course this would cost some fps, but that is the choice you make. Either you have nice looking markings at the cost of some fps, or it looks less nice and your performance is a little better.

You can't expect to make a very detailed scenery, running at a better performance than the default scenery of MS :).
 
Hum, you're right...
Ok, i've done some markings, but my loft is parcially working. How can i control the widht of the loft? I select the loft, click on "Get Object" ( or something like that ), select the line and it creates the loft automatically. Where can i say the width of the loft?

Fergo
 
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