Here's a
link to the package for alpha-testing (there's so much trickery involved, I don't really dare to push this yet...)
* package extracts in $FGRoot and contains revised effects, shaders, nasal file, GUI and model definitions for the individual segments.
* modify your preferences,xml Earthview section to
- Code: Select all
<earthview>
<cloudsphere-flag type="bool" userarchive="y">true</cloudsphere-flag>
<cloud-shadow-flag type="bool" userarchive="y">true</cloud-shadow-flag>
<overlay-texture-flag type="bool" userarchive="y">true</overlay-texture-flag>
<mrd-flag type="bool" userarchive="y">true</mrd-flag>
<cloudsphere-angle type="double" userarchive="n">0.0</cloudsphere-angle>
<show-n1 type="bool" userarchive="n">true</show-n1>
<show-n2 type="bool" userarchive="n">true</show-n2>
<show-n3 type="bool" userarchive="n">true</show-n3>
<show-n4 type="bool" userarchive="n">true</show-n4>
<show-s1 type="bool" userarchive="n">true</show-s1>
<show-s2 type="bool" userarchive="n">true</show-s2>
<show-s3 type="bool" userarchive="n">true</show-s3>
<show-s4 type="bool" userarchive="n">true</show-s4>
<show-dummy type="bool" userarchive="n">false</show-dummy>
<normalmapping type="bool" userarchive="y">false</normalmapping>
</earthview>
(I don't want to supply a file overwriting your preferences with mine)
* normal map go into Models/Astro/Textures/ with the other, the expected names are normalmap_earth_XY.png - you *must* supply some normal maps - get them from Chris or
FGAddonThis should fix a couple of things:
1) textures are only loaded when actually seen (because now surfaces are only loaded when seen) - memory and startup-time friendly
2) Dawn zone of the planet is better modeled
3) Clouds appear volumetric when cloud shadows are generated
4) Optional normal mapping is available
5) The skydome got some cosmetics blurring the upper edge of the atmosphere close to the actual skydome edge]
6) improved horizon computation fixes some no-show tiles at high altitude
This
is as far as I got out (some 4000 km altitude) before numerics started to eat away the atmosphere.
Low altitude skies look okay to me, so I don't think this messes anything up badly, but please keep an eye open! This really is an alpha version, I won't vouch for anything except that it seems to run okay for me. But I need feedback now...