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Which the release of FS2020 we see an explosition of activity on the forun and of course we are very happy to see this. But having all questions about FS2020 in one forum becomes a bit messy. So therefore we would like to ask you all to use the following guidelines when posting your questions:
- Tag FS2020 specific questions with the MSFS2020 tag.
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Any other question that is not specific to an aspect of development or tool can be posted in the General chat forum.
By following these guidelines we make sure that the forums remain easy to read for everybody and also that the right people can find your post to answer it.
iluminating pannels
- Thread starter mobiusone
- Start date
Me too!
I do my first plane now brothers, and sometimes I think that FSX is a unholy thing!
The software-priest of microsoft dont want to tell us the last truth about
our holy grail.
And we all want to see the light, not only at night panels!
Greetings
The great moment is coming
I do my first plane now brothers, and sometimes I think that FSX is a unholy thing!
The software-priest of microsoft dont want to tell us the last truth about
our holy grail.
And we all want to see the light, not only at night panels!
Greetings
The great moment is coming
n4gix
Resource contributor
- Messages
- 11,674
- Country
Which version of FS?
For FS2002 and FS2004, the techniques involved have been throughly documented and described since May of 2004 at least:
http://www.freeflightdesign.com/tutorials.html
VC Lighting Tutorial: gmax VC_Lighting_Tutorial.zip 2.0M Bill Leaming 07MAY04
For FSX, the technique used for FS9 is no longer supported. Virtual Cockpit lighting in FSX now involves at least four areas of interest, all of which must work in synchronicity:
1) VC gauge polys now have constant brightness backlighting (full intensity).
2) All gauges must have "night time alternate bitmaps" to compensate for the effects of #1 above.
3) Night time alternate bitmaps for the 2d panel must be created and specified in the panel.cfg file, to compensate for the combined effects of #1 and #2 above.
4) Portions of the VC panel textures not supplied by or covered by "gauge polygons" reside in the \texture folder and must be specified in the FSX Material applied to the parts in the model file (Max/GMax).
In summary, it is a rather complex process that requires close coordination between the 3d modeler, the gauge programmer, and the graphics artist. A close study of both the default C208b and the Goose is recommended for illustrative examples of how the new system works.
For FS2002 and FS2004, the techniques involved have been throughly documented and described since May of 2004 at least:
http://www.freeflightdesign.com/tutorials.html
VC Lighting Tutorial: gmax VC_Lighting_Tutorial.zip 2.0M Bill Leaming 07MAY04
For FSX, the technique used for FS9 is no longer supported. Virtual Cockpit lighting in FSX now involves at least four areas of interest, all of which must work in synchronicity:
1) VC gauge polys now have constant brightness backlighting (full intensity).
2) All gauges must have "night time alternate bitmaps" to compensate for the effects of #1 above.
3) Night time alternate bitmaps for the 2d panel must be created and specified in the panel.cfg file, to compensate for the combined effects of #1 and #2 above.
4) Portions of the VC panel textures not supplied by or covered by "gauge polygons" reside in the \texture folder and must be specified in the FSX Material applied to the parts in the model file (Max/GMax).
In summary, it is a rather complex process that requires close coordination between the 3d modeler, the gauge programmer, and the graphics artist. A close study of both the default C208b and the Goose is recommended for illustrative examples of how the new system works.
Last edited:
n4gix
Resource contributor
- Messages
- 11,674
- Country
XML gauges or C gauges?
In XML gauges, if there are bitmaps with the same root_name_night.bmp in the .CAB file, they will automatically be used instead of the daytime bitmaps.
For example:
There is another bitmap in this gauge (from the Cessna208B_XML.cab file) named "altimeter_background_night.bmp" that will be "swapped automatically" by the sim at the appropriate time.
For C gauges, it's a bit more complicated (but not much!). The alternate night time bitmaps must be included in the .h and .rc files explicitly, and the resource number is precisely 40,000 (decimal) higher than the daytime bitmap's resource number.
For example:
In XML gauges, if there are bitmaps with the same root_name_night.bmp in the .CAB file, they will automatically be used instead of the daytime bitmaps.
For example:
Code:
<Image id="altimeter_background.bmp" Name="altimeter_background.bmp">
<Transparent>True</Transparent>
</Image>There is another bitmap in this gauge (from the Cessna208B_XML.cab file) named "altimeter_background_night.bmp" that will be "swapped automatically" by the sim at the appropriate time.
For C gauges, it's a bit more complicated (but not much!). The alternate night time bitmaps must be included in the .h and .rc files explicitly, and the resource number is precisely 40,000 (decimal) higher than the daytime bitmap's resource number.
For example:
Code:
#define ATT_background 0x3100 // 12544 (decimal)
#define ATT_background_night 0xcd40 // 53544 (decimal)
Code:
ATT_background BITMAP DISCARDABLE "res\\Attitude_spare\\bezel_mask.bmp"
ATT_background_night BITMAP DISCARDABLE "res\\Attitude_spare\\bezel_mask_night.bmp"Lol...
Wait Wait!
I said: Im a newbie in gauge creation.
That means: I know almost nothing about it.
So lets start. I think, many invisible read will like it too, LOL.
You said that there are two different kinds of programming languages gauges can be made of.
XML
and
C.
When should I use what. Or better: What are the advantages or disadvantages of both forms. I believe in the system, that when things exists
that people dont use, they vanish out of mind.
In reality I see that the developers use both. I think, they have specials
reasons.
I have special reasons too. I want to create nice gauges, that dont kill
frame rates and are easy to do.
But If I find wonderland....lets see.
On second look I would like to understand how the numerical flight data is
transformed in rotating and blinking things, digits and colorful lamps.
Currently that is magic for me, and I hope you can bring in some more light
in those mysteries my friend.
Greetings
Wait Wait!
I said: Im a newbie in gauge creation.
That means: I know almost nothing about it.
So lets start. I think, many invisible read will like it too, LOL.
You said that there are two different kinds of programming languages gauges can be made of.
XML
and
C.
When should I use what. Or better: What are the advantages or disadvantages of both forms. I believe in the system, that when things exists
that people dont use, they vanish out of mind.
In reality I see that the developers use both. I think, they have specials
reasons.
I have special reasons too. I want to create nice gauges, that dont kill
frame rates and are easy to do.
But If I find wonderland....lets see.
On second look I would like to understand how the numerical flight data is
transformed in rotating and blinking things, digits and colorful lamps.
Currently that is magic for me, and I hope you can bring in some more light
in those mysteries my friend.
Greetings
n4gix
Resource contributor
- Messages
- 11,674
- Country
Well, to begin with I'd suggest reading the posts in these forums, and fee free to ask questions in one of them. This forum is intended for "Graphics" questions and answers:
Freeflight Design Shop - Panel Questions Forum:
http://www.aerodynamika.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=Panels
AVSIM - Aircraft and Panel Design Forum:
http://forums.avsim.net/dcboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=122
Flightsim.com - Panel & Gauge Design Forum:
http://forums.flightsim.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=31
XML Gauge Tutorials:
http://www.fs2x.com/Tutorials.htm
http://www.homepages.mcb.net/bones/04fs/tutorial/XML.htm
...and of course the Gauge forum here, although it's a bit of a wasteland at the moment...
http://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=63
Freeflight Design Shop - Panel Questions Forum:
http://www.aerodynamika.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=Panels
AVSIM - Aircraft and Panel Design Forum:
http://forums.avsim.net/dcboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=122
Flightsim.com - Panel & Gauge Design Forum:
http://forums.flightsim.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=31
XML Gauge Tutorials:
http://www.fs2x.com/Tutorials.htm
http://www.homepages.mcb.net/bones/04fs/tutorial/XML.htm
...and of course the Gauge forum here, although it's a bit of a wasteland at the moment...
http://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=63