Ankor's Shaders February 2025 Released!

[greycap.raf]

This makes no bloody sense at all... I have a separate W40 install, technically similar to the main one as it's a clone of it with different aircraft and missions, and it works. Both installed in the same way. The next thing, begin transplanting files one by one.

EDIT - I bet nobody could see this one coming. I certainly didn't. Not your fault Daniel, of all the gazillion moving parts in this puzzle it was *drumroll* a somehow crooked terrains/MeshBuilderBudgets.xml - that doesn't even have one single word about clouds in it! Apparently the detail rings somehow affect them too.

But it works.

 

[gecko]

Really!? Wow, I definitely didn't expect that! Can you post the one that gave you issues so I can compare?

Anyways, I'm glad you're sorted!

 

[greycap.raf]

Unfortunately it got overwritten in the process, but it was an untouched example from the package just like the one that replaced it. Probably just corrupted somehow during the extraction and copying.

 

[gecko]

Too bad, might have learned something useful there. I'm shocked CFS3 would even start with that file corrupted. The only link I can think of is that CFS3 does reference terrain elevation when determining what altitude to put the clouds, so if it was having trouble getting info about the mesh, maybe it couldn't define an altitude for the clouds and didn't generate them.

 

[gecko]

Sorry if this has been mentioned already, but step 2 of the installation instructions for part one should say:

2. Copy the everything ("effects", "shaders30", and "terrains" folders as well as the other files) in the 'Main Files' folder to your main CFS3 directory, overwriting existing files. Make sure you followed step 1 and made backups first!

The only files it currently mentions are d3d8.ini and d3d8.dll, but I'm told the others (lightning.xml, etc.) are required too.

Noted, will update the readme.

Question: I'm not clear on what loading the missions files from part 2 does?

They are optional, and change the background weather when you are in the menus. Every several sessions you will see new weather conditions in the main menu.

 

[Pat Pattle]

Superb! Rain in the UI!

 

[sixstrings5859]

Thanks to all who put in so much time and effort to bring this outstanding work for us to enjoy ! We owe so much to so few ! Regards, scott

 

[Adger]

Hi Gecko can i ask about "
Performance Enhancements
-Multi-Processor CPU Management
-Modern Rendering Optimizations
-Cfs3config.exe No Longer Needed Everytime Video Drivers Update
-Auto Generates Mip Maps"

Where are the files regarding the Multi-Processor CPU Management situated or is it in the overall package? Many thanks

 

[MajorMagee]

There are some weather conditions (e.g. Clear Winter Day) where the default haze setting of 0.4 in fog.fx seems to be too strong. I've tried different values, and have settled on #define HazeDensity 0.2 for those days when the air should lack any noticeable haze.

Default 0.4



Edited 0.2

 

[MajorMagee]

More experimenting with HazeDensity and discovered that it changes pretty smoothly through the range of values to include negative numbers!

Default 0.4


Neutral 0.0


Super Clear -0.4


Small negative values like -0.1, and -0.2 still show some haze in the distance, but less than what you get with 0.0.

 

[gecko]

Hi Gecko can i ask about "
Performance Enhancements
-Multi-Processor CPU Management
-Modern Rendering Optimizations
-Cfs3config.exe No Longer Needed Everytime Video Drivers Update
-Auto Generates Mip Maps"

Where are the files regarding the Multi-Processor CPU Management situated or is it in the overall package? Many thanks

It is part of the dll, and has been for quite some time. Those features are not new, and have been part of previous releases of the shaders for CFS3 as well as already incorporated into WOFF and WOTR for several years.

 

[gecko]

More experimenting with HazeDensity and discovered that it changes pretty smoothly through the range of values to include negative numbers!

Default 0.4
View attachment 162102

Neutral 0.0
View attachment 162103

Super Clear -0.4
View attachment 162104

Small negative values like -0.1, and -0.2 still show some haze in the distance, but less than what you get with 0.0.

Nice! I had never tried using negative values, but it clearly doesn't break the equations. Since it is a float value, you can adjust it with as much precision as you like, not just .1 increments. There is an upper limit where it starts to create strange results, noted in the readme. Personally your -0.4 setting looks a bit too clear, as though operating with not a molecule of air between you and those distant mountains, but enjoy your experimenting. You can dramatically change the look of the conditions with that one setting, and I've had great fun trying out different values in different conditions.

 

[gecko]

Fantastic stuff, Thanks Gecko,Ankor and anyone else involved in this project.. Quick question if i may. I own BHAH II +OTT and WOTR BOF, is there anything "more" in the 6 parts above that are not in the 2 OBD titles as of yet? Many thanks

I'm sorry I missed your original post Adger. Of the six parts, parts 3 and 4, the shorelines and the water colors are not part of WOFF+OTT or WOTR+BOF. I do have them installed in my copies however. As WOFF/WOTR are sensitive to RAM load, I can't promise that you won't have anomalies from using them there, since they are larger file sizes than the default files, however, I am personally not having any issues having them installed.

 

[gecko]

Nvidia RTX 4070, more specifically the MSI Ventus 3X version, and the latest 572.42 drivers. One of the most common cards out there and certainly not a problem with raw power for this use application.

Now that you have it running, what framerates are you getting with that card and what is your screen resolution? If I'm ever able to upgrade, that's the one I have in mind.

 

[greycap.raf]

I was actually just about to post, from a different - but related - subject. There's no doubt that I have more than enough grunt with a factory overclocked 4070 and an old but powerful i7 9700K that boosts to 4,9 GHz, but the performance isn't that stellar. Depending on the clouds, upwards of 50 fps or so on a 3440x1440 screen and every setting cranked up as high as it goes, but the GPU is still basically just idling along and the CPU uses two cores at best.

So there's a ton of headroom to be unleashed, but even with the multi-core feature it's not utilized to anywhere near full potential. Modern games stress the GPU hard enough to get to around 50°C but CFS3 barely breaks 30°C which tells a lot about how lightly loaded it is.

Strongly recommended though, an excellent card. It runs modern AAA games at 60+ fps all day long on the ultrawide resolution.

 

[gecko]

Good to know. My 2060 is always maxed with heavy weather and framerate suffers in overcast weather at low level, so it's good to know CFS3 can use more. I do wish it could fully harness all that extra power though. I think ultrawide puts a particularly higher load due to the expanded FOV. I know Andrey made optimizations in the past that allowed more load to be transferred to the GPU, but I don't know what kind of limits he ran into.

 

[Adger]

I'm sorry I missed your original post Adger. Of the six parts, parts 3 and 4, the shorelines and the water colors are not part of WOFF+OTT or WOTR+BOF. I do have them installed in my copies however. As WOFF/WOTR are sensitive to RAM load, I can't promise that you won't have anomalies from using them there, since they are larger file sizes than the default files, however, I am personally not having any issues having them installed.

No problem at all mate, thank you for all your hard work 2 last questions if that's okay? ( WOFF WOTR )

1. Could you point me in the direction of the files or ini,s that would let me tinker with the dawn/dusk lighting and the sunrises/sunsets if applicable..? I always back up any files that I may change and i do any changes at my own risk. Thank you once again

2. In rare cases I have low fog shimmering if that's the correct description , any advice regarding this thank you