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Transparency in photoscenery at night.

dazz

dazz

Messages
38
Hi everyone. I'm trying to replicate something I did a long time ago in a different project for FSX, where I made some photoscenery for an island, but during in night time it was partially transparent so that the default terrain lighting could be seen through the photoreal terrain like this:

ws8XRRb.png


I'm trying this for my inf file:

Code: 
[Source]
   Type = MultiSource
   NumberOfSources = 4
   
[Source1]
   Type = BMP
   Layer = Imagery
   SourceDir = "."
   SourceFile = "L16X63340X63383Y50824Y50851.BMP"
   Variation = Day
   Channel_BlendMask = 3.0
   SamplingMethod = Gaussian
   ulyMap =  37.4225259345632
   ulxMap = -6.03149414062501
   xDim =  1.07288360595709E-05
   yDim =  8.52405589535465E-06
   
[Source2]
   Type = BMP
   Layer = Imagery
   SourceDir = "."
   SourceFile = "L16X63340X63383Y50824Y50851-N.BMP"
   Variation = Night
   Channel_BlendMask = 4.0
   SamplingMethod = Gaussian
   ulyMap =  37.4225259345632
   ulxMap = -6.03149414062501
   xDim =  1.07288360595709E-05
   yDim =  8.52405589535465E-06
   
[Source3]
   Type = BMP
   Layer = None
   SourceDir = "."
   SourceFile = "L16X63340X63383Y50824Y50851-WD.BMP"
   SamplingMethod = Gaussian
   ulyMap =  37.4225259345632
   ulxMap = -6.03149414062501
   xDim =  1.07288360595709E-05
   yDim =  8.52405589535465E-06
   
[Source4]
   Type = BMP
   Layer = None
   SourceDir = "."
   SourceFile = "L16X63340X63383Y50824Y50851-BLK.BMP"
   SamplingMethod = Gaussian
   ulyMap =  37.4225259345632
   ulxMap = -6.03149414062501
   xDim =  1.07288360595709E-05
   yDim =  8.52405589535465E-06

[Destination]
   DestDir = "."
   DestBaseFileName = "Sevilla"
   DestFileType = BGL
   LOD = Auto
   UseSourceDimensions = 1
   CompressionQuality = 85

L16X63340X63383Y50824Y50851-BLK.BMP is just a pitch black image for testing purposes. I thought that would make the photoscenery completely transparent during the night, but it looks like this instead:
I'm sure I'm missing something obvious here, but I've tried a number of things already to no avail. Any ideas, please?

Eayo2Dz.png
 
Hello:

To learn procedures for making more accurate scenery in local FS world areas, you may wish to review this tutorial: :teacher:


Terrain Design

sendfile.php

File Description:
Terrain Design for Flight Simulator X

This simple illustrated document explains the basic concepts in Flight Simulator X terrain, and how to change them using SBuilder for FS X. Make new water bodies, roads, vehicle traffic, airport flattens, remove autogen, add more detail - anybody can do it easily and quickly.
My most sincere apologies - I am unable, for lack of free time, to offer support of any kind. For questions or problems, please post in the Avsim scenery design forum.

Filename: terrain_design_for_flight_simulator_x.zip
License: Freeware
Added: 14th December 2009, 13:29:15
Downloads: 16648
Author: Luis Feliz-Tirado
Size: 3991kb

https://library.avsim.net/esearch.php?CatID=fsxsd&DLID=141643



To make more accurate FS scenery, you are likely to also encounter these topics at some point as well:

Make photo-real ground textures

sendfile.php

File Description:
It is very easy to create your very own high-resolution, custom (photo-real) ground textures. This document explains the concepts and techniques and illustrates the use of SBuilderX with which you can quickly and easily download aerial images and make this type of scenery. So, why hesitate? Make Flight Simulator scenery as real as it gets! Very sorry - no support of any kind is offered. Please do not write. For any questions, please post in the Avsim Scenery Design Forum.

Filename: make_photo-real_ground_textures_in_fs_x.zip
License: Freeware
Added: 21st November 2009, 23:20:06
Downloads: 17714
Author: Luis Feliz-Tirado
Size: 2143kb



How to create photoreal scenery for FSX
https://library.avsim.net/esearch.php?CatID=fsxsd&DLID=140539


Using the Autogen Annotator

sendfile.php

File Description:
The Autogen Annotator is a powerful tool for modifying the autogen of default ground textures or adding autogen to custom (photo-real) ground. This document illustrates the use of the tool, and includes a pictorial guide to all autogen object types. Very sorry - no support of any kind is offered. Please do not write. For any questions, please post in the Avsim Scenery Design Forum.

Filename: using_the_autogen_annotator_264833.zip
License: Freeware
Added: 21st November 2009, 16:18:51
Downloads: 4220
Author: Luis Feliz-Tirado
Size: 8930kb

https://library.avsim.net/esearch.php?CatID=fsxsd&DLID=140537


You may also wish to review at least the first few pages of this (long) very informative thread by Tiberius et al:

https://www.flightsim.com/vbfs/showthread.php?250762-How-to-create-photoreal-scenery-for-FSX:


For info regarding transparency in the creation of custom photo-real land class using SBuilderX, see:

https://www.google.com/search?q=sit...BUIgBUJIBATGYAQCgAQHAAQE&sclient=gws-wiz-serp


For info regarding Night and/or Light Map (aka "_LM") textures in the creation of custom photo-real land class using SBuilderX, see:

https://www.google.com/search?q=site:www.fsdeveloper.com+SBuilderX+night&ei=ZFoOZJmMMYWZptQP-puW8A4&ved=0ahUKEwiZzrKWwNf9AhWFjIkEHfqNBe4Q4dUDCA8&oq=site:www.fsdeveloper.com+SBuilderX+night&gs_lcp=Cgxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAQDEoECEEYAVC4B1jtD2DwJmgBcAB4AIABUYgBoQGSAQEymAEAoAEBwAEB&sclient=gws-wiz-serp

Hope this helps with the learning process on this topic. :)

GaryGB
 
Last edited:
GaryGB said:
Hello:

[...]

GaryGB
Click to expand...

Thanks, Gary. I already knew about that technique in the tutorial for night textures (darken daylight textures and add amber light spots), but that's not what I'm trying to do here.
For some reason the blend mask for the night textures doesn't seem to work at all with what I have in my INF file.

EDIT: If I use the same blend mask for both night and day textures, it works. I have no idea what's going on

Code: 
[Source]
   Type = MultiSource
   NumberOfSources = 3
   
[Source1]
   Type = BMP
   Layer = Imagery
   SourceDir = "."
   SourceFile = "L16X63340X63383Y50824Y50851.BMP"
   Variation = Day
   Channel_BlendMask = 3.0
   NullValue = 255,255,255
   SamplingMethod = Gaussian
   ulyMap =  37.4225259345632
   ulxMap = -6.03149414062501
   xDim =  1.07288360595709E-05
   yDim =  8.52405589535465E-06

[Source2]
   Type = BMP
   Layer = Imagery
   SourceDir = "."
   SourceFile = "L16X63340X63383Y50824Y50851-N.BMP"
   Variation = Night
   Channel_BlendMask = 3.0
   NullValue = 255,255,255
   SamplingMethod = Gaussian
   ulyMap =  37.4225259345632
   ulxMap = -6.03149414062501
   xDim =  1.07288360595709E-05
   yDim =  8.52405589535465E-06
   
[Source3]
   Type = BMP
   Layer = None
   SourceDir = "."
   SourceFile = "L16X63340X63383Y50824Y50851-WN.BMP"
   Channel_BlendMask = 3.0
   SamplingMethod = Gaussian
   ulyMap =  37.4225259345632
   ulxMap = -6.03149414062501
   xDim =  1.07288360595709E-05
   yDim =  8.52405589535465E-06

[Destination]
   DestDir = "."
   DestBaseFileName = "Sevilla"
   DestFileType = BGL
   LOD = Auto
   UseSourceDimensions = 1
   CompressionQuality = 85
 
Last edited:
Trying something different now. I should have used separate blend & water masks, so just did:

Code: 
[Source]
   Type = MultiSource
   NumberOfSources = 3
  
[Source1]
   Type = BMP
   Layer = Imagery
   Variation = Day
   SourceDir = "."
   SourceFile = "L16X63340X63383Y50824Y50851.BMP"
   Channel_BlendMask = 2.0
   Channel_LandWaterMask = 3.0
   ulyMap =  37.4225259345632
   ulxMap = -6.03149414062501
   xDim =  1.07288360595709E-05
   yDim =  8.52405589535465E-06
  
[Source2]
   Type = BMP
   Layer = None
   SourceDir = "."
   SourceFile = "L16X63340X63383Y50824Y50851-B.BMP"
   SamplingMethod = Gaussian
   ulyMap =  37.4225259345632
   ulxMap = -6.03149414062501
   xDim =  1.07288360595709E-05
   yDim =  8.52405589535465E-06
  
[Source3]
   Type = BMP
   Layer = None
   SourceDir = "."
   SourceFile = "L16X63340X63383Y50824Y50851-W.BMP"
   SamplingMethod = Gaussian
   ulyMap =  37.4225259345632
   ulxMap = -6.03149414062501
   xDim =  1.07288360595709E-05
   yDim =  8.52405589535465E-06

[Destination]
   DestDir = "."
   DestBaseFileName = "Sevilla"
   DestFileType = BGL
   LOD = Auto
   UseSourceDimensions = 1
   CompressionQuality = 85

This is Source1
f9U5vzS.png


Source2 is the blend mask:
klkG6a9.png


Source3 is the water mask:
MDBM1Cx.png


I also added the variant type so that the photo layer only shows up during the day, but I still get this crap at night, why is there something at all? This is so frustrating.
Also, TmfViewer says there's no night variant in the compiled bgl. No idea what's going on.

LqMthy7.png
 
Last edited:
The IMGUR-linked images above are not original *.BMP source file types, and are instead PNG's that are not compatible with FSX SDK Resample.

Thus, I believe it may be best to add the project's actual .BMP source files to a ZIP archive, then insert a link in this thread to that ZIP file via a online file download site, so that the internal graphic attributes of the original textures and mask channels can be evaluated.

One can otherwise only discern a certain small amount from channel designations, SamplingMethod, and NullValue in the *.INF file text above. ;)

GaryGB
 
Last edited:
GaryGB said:
As the IMGUR-linked images above are PNG's that are derived- rather than original *.BMP source- file types which are incompatible with FSX SDK Resample, I believe it may be best to link to the project's actual source files added to a ZIP archive, via a online file download site, so that the internal graphic attributes of the textures and mask channels can be evaluated.

One can otherwise only discern a certain small amount from channel designations, SamplingMethod, and NullValue in the *.INF file text above. ;)

GaryGB
Click to expand...

Those images were taken with the windows snipping tool directly from the bmp's as shown in photoshop, not sure if that's enough fidelity or not though.
Thanks again, Gary, here's the zip file with the relevant files in case you want to have a look.

mega.nz

File on MEGA

mega.nz mega.nz

Interestingly, I opened one of the bgl's from my old project, the one where I managed to get that transparency working at night somehow, and it doesn't even have a night variation in it. No idea how I did it.

EDIT: Forgot to mention the above scenery is right next to LEZL in Spain.
 
Last edited:
Hi dazz,

The script looks good to me, the way I found to get some night effect with photoreal is to use a little gray instead of white in the blendmask image. For example in the image I use this RGB code 233,233,233.

7qCYUuoKRV.jpg
 
Walter Almaraz said:
Hi dazz,

The script looks good to me, the way I found to get some night effect with photoreal is to use a little gray instead of white in the blendmask image. For example in the image I use this RGB code 233,233,233.
Click to expand...

Gracias, Walter! I tried that, but unfortunately it's not working here. I don't know, I think there may be something wrong with my FSX install.
 
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