Smooth Gauge Technology

[mendiola_loyola]

Dear all:

I have read about FSX smooth gauge technology and i'm wondering if FSX SDK allow us to create smooth gauge.

I have seen that default Cessna 172 panel has a low refresh rate on gauges and needles.

Is there a way to improve the guages refresh rate to get smooth movement on gauges?

I would like to get a smooth gauge movement like Project magenta IFR gauges for exampe.

Thanks.
Alfredo Mendiola Loyola
Lima, Perú

 

[lionheart]

Hello Alfredo,


I think I can ansere this one.

Yes...

The 'newest' SP2 SDK does support Smooth Gauges.


Definition of Smooth Gauges: Use of 3D elements to create gauge operations. Does not include font-driven gauges and pure graphics such as the FS GPS, as no 3D elements are used to depict measure.

Basically, you have gauges, which you can adjust their resolution to be extremely fine and good (any size textures you want). Then, you program the parts (needles) to have part code that commands the part to do needle work, such as a Air Speed Indiactor Needle.

I dont think you can really 'tune' them that much, aside from lag and the likes, (code entry). Otherwise, its at the mercy of the Sims frame rates. (Poor sim performance of 7 FPS will not have smooth gauges).

The Accelleration SP2 parts list (animation manager) will have almost all the gauges you will need. Some might have to be created.

I hope that helps.



Bill

 

[tomerh]

Try to build element that shows digital speed with decimal like 100.453 knots on the XML airspeed gauge.
put this elemeng below some elements to eliminate this element

than you will see smooth gauge

 

[Geoff_D]

Dear all:

I have read about FSX smooth gauge technology and i'm wondering if FSX SDK allow us to create smooth gauge.

I have seen that default Cessna 172 panel has a low refresh rate on gauges and needles.

Is there a way to improve the guages refresh rate to get smooth movement on gauges?

I would like to get a smooth gauge movement like Project magenta IFR gauges for exampe.

Thanks.
Alfredo Mendiola Loyola
Lima, Perú

In the REAL world, your Cessna 172 panel Gauges are "FAR FROM SMOOTH" .. they tend to jump about, stick a little, overcome that friction, and then jump a small amount to the next position .. Vibrate with the engine .. etc etc.

So, maybe the unsmoothness of the default MS guages is a BETTER SIMULATION than a new fancy gauge that is super smooth and fluid in its operation ..... ??

Geoff

 

[virtuali]

In the REAL world, your Cessna 172 panel Gauges are "FAR FROM SMOOTH" .. they tend to jump about, stick a little, overcome that friction, and then jump a small amount to the next position .. Vibrate with the engine .. etc etc.

Which is more than enough reason to USE "smooth" gauges technology so, you can even add these effects, and have them still looking believable, without being constrained by SDK bitmap rotations resolution.

What makes "smooth" a smooth gauge, it's not just refresh rate, it's mainly the rotation accuracy which, in the traditional SDK 2D gauges made with rotated bitmaps, is snapped to 1 degree intervals, which is not an issue with real 3d gauges, or GDI+ (or any other similar vector graphic method) graphics, which also has antialiasing, to achieve sub-pixel accuracy, which allows to "see" those fractional rotation increments.

Of course, when you have accurate rotations available, adding vibration effects, inertia effects, damping, reading errors, jumps, etc., becomes all more effective.

best regards,

Umberto Colapicchioni - VIRTUALI s.a.s.
http://www.fsdreamteam.com