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Lights and Direction

12bPilot

12bPilot

Messages
611
Country
switzerland
Hi all,

I'm building some non ICAO approach light system for Sion LSGS, so I had to use custom lights.
I used Dick's light code and successfully applied frequency control. Now, how can make them appear only when you approach them by their "face side" and not backside. (Sort of oriented light) . I don't want them to appear, when I'm approaching the reciprocal runway.
In SCASM, I'd take a Vector Jump. in BGLC?? separationplane?? no problems with rotation with that??

Jeff
 
Hi Jeff,

SEPERATION_PLANE is indeed the BGLC version of the VectorJump command. So you could use that.

It does not respond to the rotation of your object in the XML code (but no other command does that, so that is a problem with the new format). But for your lights that should not be a too big problem, you can create them for that specific runway. If you look in the VGDS tutorial you can find some examples of how I used the SEPERATION_PLANE command.
 
Hey Jeffrey,

Would it be possible for you to share you coding regarding the seperation_plane.
I am wanting to do the same thing you have done and can't seem to figure out how to get it done.

I'd truly appreciate it.

Thanx

Sean E.
 
Hi Sean,

In the VGDS tutorial you can find some code samples where I use the SEPARATION_PLANE command. Maybe that can help you to get it working?
 
I think I am starting to understand the process. It's still fuzzy....
I do have one question.....

Is it possible to place two SEPERATION_PLANEs on the same object?

I am askin because with a single one, it contrains it at 180 facing (if I am understanding it correctly).
If you could use two planes it would show only at the visible angle between the two planes?

Is my logic correct?

Sean E.
 
Hi Sean,

Yes, each SEPARATION_PLANE command just checks on which side of the virtual plane you are and then performs a certain code (either jump to the label or continue with the code below). So you can use as many as you want in your source. I think I used about 30 or so in my docking systems.

And yes, with one plane you do indeed get angles of 180 degrees for the visibility. So if you want different angles, you need to use multiple planes.
 
Hmm, I looked into the tutorial, but it's about textures/objects only. Is there a way to assign this PLANE to an fx (either attached in GMax or placed via XML)?
 
Hi Thorsten,

I think the answer to this is no.

Effects attached in GMax can not be given any condition (only with the effect parameters you can enter). No tweaking like CAT is possible :(.

And as this is a command for in your MDL file, it can not be used in the XML file either.

I am not an effects expert, but would it not be possible to edit the fx file to give it certain limitations/conditions?
 
No, as far as I know, that's not possible. Well, actually, why not? Of course, I always thought of lights which are rotated to the user, which is more realistic. But it sure must be possible not to rotate them. Thanks. :)

Anyway: How do you usually do lights - as planes in GMax? Is that possible (maybe with the "self-illumination"-option for materials)?
 
Horst18519 said:
Anyway: How do you usually do lights - as planes in GMax? Is that possible (maybe with the "self-illumination"-option for materials)?
Click to expand...

I have not played with lights much lately, but when I last did so I used the BGL_LIGHT command mainly.

Using planes that emit light is also possible, but I have no idea how well (or bad :)) that looks.
 
One more try: If I create an object with attached effects and tweak it with mdl-tweaker so that it's only visible at positive x-values (i.e. from one side only), shouldn't it lead to the result I'm looking for?
 
Nope, conditions like that do not work on attached effects. They only affect the objects defined in the BGL section of your MDL file.
 
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