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Struggling to make the seasons?

Posted: Sun Oct 22, 2017 2:25 pm
by Gibbon_X
Hello there

I spoke to you a while back when i was having difficulty with my night lighting, I did manage to get the LM work using a TIF in the end, since then I have been trying to make the seasons but I'm finding it really hard, I have tried to add seasons using a BMP but it doesn't work for me, it comes up with an error for incorrect header maybe because I saved the BMP using Gimp 2.8? So I then tried to save them as a tiff which seemed to work in ReSample but when I load in the sim my photoreal ground image is missing and I have water over all the land. I have searched high and low for a clear tutorial or info on this problem but have come to a dead end. I have never made seasons before so i'm flying blind, could really do with your help on this as it's the last part to finishing my scenery and it's driving me crazy. I'm using Window 10 64, SbuilderX 313 and p3d v4.

Here is my last working INF, contains night lighting but NO seasons

[Source]
Type = MultiSource
NumberOfSources = 4

[Source1]
Type = BMP
Layer = Imagery
SourceDir = "."
SourceFile = "L17X129477X129523Y84969Y85000.BMP"
Variation = Day
Channel_BlendMask = 3.0
Channel_LandWaterMask = 4.0
NullValue = 255,255,255
SamplingMethod = Gaussian
ulyMap = 53.3497316
ulxMap = -2.1903992
xDim = 5.36441988031914E-06
yDim = 3.20316162109348E-06

[Source2]
Type = TIFF
Layer = Imagery
SourceDir = "."
SourceFile = "L17X129477X129523Y84969Y85000_LM.TIF"
Variation = Night
Channel_BlendMask = 3.0
Channel_LandWaterMask = 4.0
NullValue = 255,255,255
SamplingMethod = Gaussian
ulyMap = 53.3497316
ulxMap = -2.1903992
xDim = 5.36441988031914E-06
yDim = 3.20316162109348E-06

[Source3]
Type = TIFF
Layer = None
SourceDir = "."
SourceFile = "L17X129477X129523Y84969Y85000_B.TIF"
SamplingMethod = Gaussian
ulyMap = 53.3497316
ulxMap = -2.1903992
xDim = 5.36441988031914E-06
yDim = 3.20316162109348E-06

[Source4]
Type = TIFF
Layer = None
SourceDir = "."
SourceFile = "L17X129477X129523Y84969Y85000_W.TIF"
SamplingMethod = Gaussian
ulyMap = 53.3497316
ulxMap = -2.1903992
xDim = 5.36441988031914E-06
yDim = 3.20316162109348E-06

[Destination]
DestDir = "."
DestBaseFileName = "Photo01"
DestFileType = BGL
LOD = Auto
UseSourceDimensions = 1
CompressionQuality = 100

Here is my none working INF for the seasons

[Source]
Type = MultiSource
NumberOfSources = 6

[Source1]
Type = BMP
Layer = Imagery
SourceDir = "."
SourceFile = "L17X129477X129523Y84969Y85000.BMP"
Variation = Day
Channel_BlendMask = 3.0
Channel_LandWaterMask = 4.0
NullValue = 255,255,255
SamplingMethod = Gaussian
ulyMap = 53.3497316
ulxMap = -2.1903992
xDim = 5.36441988031914E-06
yDim = 3.20316162109348E-06

[Source2]
Type = TIFF
Layer = Imagery
SourceDir = "."
SourceFile = "L17X129477X129523Y84969Y85000_LM.TIF"
Variation = Night
Channel_BlendMask = 3.0
Channel_LandWaterMask = 4.0
NullValue = 255,255,255
SamplingMethod = Gaussian
ulyMap = 53.3497316
ulxMap = -2.1903992
xDim = 5.36441988031914E-06
yDim = 3.20316162109348E-06

[Source3]
Type = TIFF
Layer = Imagery
SourceDir = "."
SourceFile = "L17X129477X129523Y84969Y85000_FA.TIF"
Variation = September,October,November
Channel_BlendMask = 3.0
Channel_LandWaterMask = 4.0
NullValue =
SamplingMethod = Gaussian
ulyMap = 53.3497316
ulxMap = -2.1903992
xDim = 5.36441988031914E-06
yDim = 3.20316162109348E-06

[Source4]
Type = TIFF
Layer = Imagery
SourceDir = "."
SourceFile = "L17X129477X129523Y84969Y85000_HW.TIF"
Variation = December,January,February
Channel_BlendMask = 3.0
Channel_LandWaterMask = 4.0
NullValue =
SamplingMethod = Gaussian
ulyMap = 53.3497316
ulxMap = -2.1903992
xDim = 5.36441988031914E-06
yDim = 3.20316162109348E-06

[Source5]
Type = TIFF
Layer = None
SourceDir = "."
SourceFile = "L17X129477X129523Y84969Y85000_B.TIF"
SamplingMethod = Gaussian
ulyMap = 53.3497316
ulxMap = -2.1903992
xDim = 5.36441988031914E-06
yDim = 3.20316162109348E-06

[Source6]
Type = TIFF
Layer = None
SourceDir = "."
SourceFile = "L17X129477X129523Y84969Y85000_W.TIF"
SamplingMethod = Gaussian
ulyMap = 53.3497316
ulxMap = -2.1903992
xDim = 5.36441988031914E-06
yDim = 3.20316162109348E-06

[Destination]
DestDir = "."
DestBaseFileName = "Photo01"
DestFileType = BGL
LOD = Auto
UseSourceDimensions = 1
CompressionQuality = 100


Many thanks.

Re: Struggling to make the seasons?

Posted: Mon Oct 23, 2017 1:44 am
by GaryGB
Hello:

Hopefully Luis Feliz-Tirado will reply here soon; Luis was, of course, referring to one of his excellent "must-have" tutorials:

"Make photo-real ground textures in FSX" based on this very informative original thread:

http://www.ptsim.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=3435


...and as subsequently revised on that general topic, cited here:

http://www.ptsim.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=2402

http://www.ptsim.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=2388


...and also available here:

https://library.avsim.net/esearch.php?C ... LID=140539


I noticed this thread and your prior thread here:

http://www.ptsim.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=2411


IIUC, I see a possible issue with how GIMP converts and saves files for either BMP or TIF formats;


FYI: I addressed this in a couple of threads at FSDeveloper.com:

http://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/thread ... ng.435956/

http://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/thread ... 912/page-4


AFAIK, this issue with GIMP was also subsequently updated by an otherwise un-announced "edit" to a prior post by Tiberius Kowalski in this very informative (and long) thread on: "How to create photoreal scenery for FSX"

...under: "PART III - Watermasks and Blendmasks (continued)"

https://www.flightsim.com/vbfs/showthre ... ost1690202

"22) Check "Do not write color space information" under Compatability Options and "24 bits" under Advanced Options and then click "Export"


Hope this info may help with both the "Night" / "_N" (aka "LightMap" / "_LM") file name suffixes, and the general issue of how to implement a Night texture file version via SBuilderX until Luis (aka "LFT") has an importunity to reply here, and perhaps hopefully elaborate further on Night texture implementation procedures here.

I would also appreciate a clarification by either Luis Sa' or Luis Feliz-Tirado as to whether SBuilderX: :?:

* sees and uses either the _LM or _N file name suffixes

* requires source files with those file name suffixes to be in [SBuilderX install path] \Tools\Work subfolder

* requires source file name preceding suffixes to be "L*.BMP" or "L*.TIF" matching DAY Map file name in INF.

GaryGB

Re: Struggling to make the seasons?

Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2017 5:20 pm
by luisfeliztirado
Hello,

Your non-working inf file indicates that the Blend and Water Masks are respectively Channels 3 and 4.

In fact, you have a Fall bitmap in Channel 3 and a Winter bitmap in Channel 4, whereas the Blend and Water Masks are in Channels 5 and 6.

You could try making those corrections to the inf file.

Best regards.
Luis

Re: Struggling to make the seasons?

Posted: Sun Oct 29, 2017 5:35 pm
by Gibbon_X
Hi Luis

https://puu.sh/vD8fo/b5e916353e.jpg

Yes you were correct about the water and blend mask being assigned to the wrong channels, I corrected that and it seems to go through ok now. I've checked it in the sim and my season are working, I just need to match the season colours a little better then I think I'm finally done. It's been the most challenging thing I've done in the sim but also enjoyable "in parts :oops: " and rewarding. Thx to all you guys over here that help with advice on making scenery especially you Luis. No doubt I'll be speaking to you again in the future.

Here is a copy of my final working .INI file in case it helps anyone else with their seasons. All files where exported from Gimp 2.8, ADE for all ground objects, excludes, runway, taxi markings and aprons and of course SbuilderX for my all Photo Imagery.

[Source]
Type = MultiSource
NumberOfSources = 6

[Source1]
Type = BMP
Layer = Imagery
SourceDir = "."
SourceFile = "L17X129477X129523Y84969Y85000.BMP"
Variation = March,April,May,June,July
Channel_BlendMask = 5.0
Channel_LandWaterMask = 6.0
NullValue = 255,255,255
SamplingMethod = Gaussian
ulyMap = 53.3497316
ulxMap = -2.1903992
xDim = 5.36441988031914E-06
yDim = 3.20316162109348E-06

[Source2]
Type = TIFF
Layer = Imagery
SourceDir = "."
SourceFile = "L17X129477X129523Y84969Y85000_LM.TIF"
Variation = Night
Channel_BlendMask = 5.0
Channel_LandWaterMask = 6.0
NullValue = 255,255,255
SamplingMethod = Gaussian
ulyMap = 53.3497316
ulxMap = -2.1903992
xDim = 5.36441988031914E-06
yDim = 3.20316162109348E-06

[Source3]
Type = TIFF
Layer = Imagery
SourceDir = "."
SourceFile = "L17X129477X129523Y84969Y85000__FA.TIF"
Variation = September,October,November
Channel_BlendMask = 5.0
Channel_LandWaterMask = 6.0
NullValue =
SamplingMethod = Gaussian
ulyMap = 53.3497316
ulxMap = -2.1903992
xDim = 5.36441988031914E-06
yDim = 3.20316162109348E-06

[Source4]
Type = TIFF
Layer = Imagery
SourceDir = "."
SourceFile = "L17X129477X129523Y84969Y85000_HW.TIF"
Variation = December,January,February
Channel_BlendMask = 5.0
Channel_LandWaterMask = 6.0
NullValue =
SamplingMethod = Gaussian
ulyMap = 53.3497316
ulxMap = -2.1903992
xDim = 5.36441988031914E-06
yDim = 3.20316162109348E-06

[Source5]
Type = TIFF
Layer = None
SourceDir = "."
SourceFile = "L17X129477X129523Y84969Y85000_B.TIF"
SamplingMethod = Gaussian
ulyMap = 53.3497316
ulxMap = -2.1903992
xDim = 5.36441988031914E-06
yDim = 3.20316162109348E-06

[Source6]
Type = TIFF
Layer = None
SourceDir = "."
SourceFile = "L17X129477X129523Y84969Y85000_W.TIF"
SamplingMethod = Gaussian
ulyMap = 53.3497316
ulxMap = -2.1903992
xDim = 5.36441988031914E-06
yDim = 3.20316162109348E-06

[Destination]
DestDir = "."
DestBaseFileName = "Photo01"
DestFileType = BGL
LOD = Auto
UseSourceDimensions = 1
CompressionQuality = 100

Re: Struggling to make the seasons?

Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2017 12:52 am
by luisfeliztirado
That is beautiful work! Congratulations.

Best regards.
Luis