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Help with shadows

LucaITW

LucaITW

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4
Country
italy
G'day gents, new member here but long time CFS3 modeller.

I've recently made the switch over to FSX and I'm facing a few problems. As you can see from the images, I've got strange shadow issues, but only down low. In fact, if I gain altitude (~2000m) all problems are gone and the model is ok, self shadowing works perfectly.

Anybody has a clue as to why that happens? (yep, all the meshes are manifold)

Here's a few screenies...

shadows_1.jpg


shadows_2.jpg


shadows_5.jpg


shadows_6.jpg


Thanks in advance!
 
Done that and the result was no open edges! Also see that only the fuselage and the left engine cast shadows, all the other parts don't! This is puzzling to say the least!:rolleyes:
 
2 things to look at.

1. you may have no open edges and still come across "manifold geometry" issues if you enclose more than a single space in your mesh ie the mesh folds over itself somewhere or a single mesh has been devided into 2 objects

2 (More likely) You may have "volume shadow" switched on in the materials properties of an exterior model. Shadows are automatic on an exterior model and this will confuse poor old fsX. I believe the volume shadow option was intended for VC models displayed in dx10

If that doesn't cure it, look for polys that are facing the wrong way ("invert normals" and "make transparent" come in handy), lie underneath otherpolys or have impossible geometry (all vertices in a straight line or single point)
 
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Bingo!!

Thanks Bluebottle! I had volume shadows switched on in the material setting, now everything works as it should!

Have one on me!:coffee:
 
Just for the sake of having complete information, the requirement for using manifold geometry for the "exterior model's shadows" was depecrated as of FSX RTM. However, that said, having manifold geometry is still a "good thing" as it's less likely to have "detached shadows" when displayed in the sim.

Only the "vc shadows" in the interior model retains the manifold geometry requirement. :wizard:
 
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