Clarity of TGP images, how to improve?

[Fakum]

Quite some time ago there were several threads related to this very subject, they still exist, but are a couple of years old. The reason I have started a new one is just for that reason, I dont think the information provided in those threads are as valid as they once were. It could just be me, I dont know, thats why Im starting a fresh thread.

 

Here is what MY experience has been for quite a few months. Based on feedback from the older threads, I used to switch to WHOT on the TGP, max out the contrast full, then increase the brightness up to 43- 45 and I could clearly see the images and distinguish what they were. That has not been the case at all for a while for me now. When I make the same adjustments now, its totally washed out, I cant see a darn thing! For the last few nights, I have been on multiplayer and primarily orbiting the AO and finding targets and making all kinds of adjustments to see if I could find the sweet spot. I have failed miserably for some reason, it seems no matter what I do, the targets are not very clear for me at all. The way I see it, it may be due to some changes from the updates, or it could be from some graphics adjustments I made in recent months to help improve my frame rate? I simply dont know?

 

So heres my questions:

 

What setting in the graphics options have the most impact on the clarity of the TGP picture?

 

What do you use for spotting targets at night, and during the day?

 

Do you make any adjustments to Gain, Contrast, and Brightness? If so, to what?

 

 

Do you make any adj to any particular .lua file for enhancement purposes?

Thanks for any help,

[samueel]

Have you tried it on single player missions? Some multiplayer servers are running with lower graphic settings, that might be the cause.

[159th_Viper]

 

What setting in the graphics options have the most impact on the clarity of the TGP picture?

 

RES. OF COCKPIT DISPLAYS

tab on main options screen

[Fakum]

Have you tried it on single player missions? Some multiplayer servers are running with lower graphic settings, that might be the cause.

No, I have not done anything except fly on the 104th server. And I had no idea servers could be set to do that. I do not know what the 104th is set for, but I never heard anyone discuss it while I was on TS?

 

My Res of Cockpit is set at "1024 every"

[cichlidfan]

My Res of Cockpit is set at "1024 every"

 

You could reduce that and likely not notice the difference, and gain frames too!

[Blooze]

Have you tried it on single player missions? Some multiplayer servers are running with lower graphic settings, that might be the cause.

 

I don't see how a server would be able to enforce any graphics options settings other than civilian traffic and scenes so I doubt that that would be an issue. However, ambient lighting plays a big role in how the TGP views things. White hot may work better at dusk and dawn but become much too bright at high noon with no clouds. I have found that 512 resolution works best and always try each TGP mode for each mission to see what is best for that particular mission.

[Fakum]

I appreciate the feedback so far, just still dont understand why the settings in the TGP that I have used for years are now negatively effected now? I realize there could have been some update changes that created this impact, and I dont mind making changes, I just haven't found what works,,, I mean I have tried all kinds of adjustments,, i just dont get it right now,,,

[Haukka81]

I think that compared to real life we have already way too good tgp..

[Yurgon]

Quite some time ago there were several threads related to this very subject, they still exist, but are a couple of years old. The reason I have started a new one is just for that reason, I dont think the information provided in those threads are as valid as they once were. It could just be me, I dont know, thats why Im starting a fresh thread.

 

You're right, the TGP imagery changed with some patch. I don't remember which one it was and couldn't find it in the change logs with a quick search, but there was definitely a major change. Before, with WHOT I used to be able to spot just about everything; after, it became much harder.

 

From what I've read, I think the new images are closer to the real thing, but I don't know for sure.

[Fakum]

You're right, the TGP imagery changed with some patch. I don't remember which one it was and couldn't find it in the change logs with a quick search, but there was definitely a major change. Before, with WHOT I used to be able to spot just about everything; after, it became much harder.

 

From what I've read, I think the new images are closer to the real thing, but I don't know for sure.

 

Thank you, so I am not alone,,, Its not my PC apparently,, thanks

[zaelu]

Maybe what you see on youtube videos are edited videos re-compressed and rescaled at lower resolution and lower bitrate so "classified" things should not be distinguished very easy.

 

Also afaik the details of the TGPs in DCS are controlled by some lua files. For example if you set you video distance to high it will be high.lua from \config\terain\

 

example:

 

infrared =

{

landDetail = 0.8;

landDarkness = 1.0;

riverDarkness = 0.7;

roadDarkness = 1.5;

runwayDarkness = 1.7;

}

 

For DCS A-10C it could ve several other script files in scripts folder from module like \Mods\aircraft\A-10C\Cockpit\Scripts\TGP\TGP.lua.

 

 

example:

 

use_synthetic_IR_effect = true -- false

 

ir_sharpness = 0.0002 -- sharpness of TGP IR image, Float - 0...1.

ir_levels_count = 8 -- TGP IR image levels count, Int.

ir_gains_count = 8 -- TGP IR image gains count, Int.

ir_init_gain = 4 -- initial IR image gain value, Int - 0...8.

ir_init_level = 4 -- initial IR image level value, Int - 0...8.

 

Obviously, playing with those settings will/might alter the image you see... :)

[Auger73]

Actually for this pod you're right it's too crisp. IRL IR signatures are more washed out around the edges. See this:

 

I strongly suspect the pilot was actually looking at a better image on their monitor than what is represented in this video. The letters in the video sort of drift around a little bit and warp (watch "TGP" at the bottom), which leads me to believe that there have been problems with the recorded media. There are even moments of rippling in the recording, which shows that there are clearly some external factors going on.

[Eddie]

I strongly suspect the pilot was actually looking at a better image on their monitor than what is represented in this video. The letters in the video sort of drift around a little bit and warp (watch "TGP" at the bottom), which leads me to believe that there have been probhlems with the recorded media. There are even moments of rippling in the recording, which shows that there are clearly some external factors going on.

 

You suspect wrongly. The CCD and FLIR sensors in the LITENING are 1024x1024, that is all. The additional factor to consider is that the MFDs in many older Gen4 aircraft are actually lower resolution that that as well. As for the recodording, yes there are issues as you'd expect with an analogue tape recording (as in most aircraft), but it's still not as crisp as in DCS.

[gavagai]

I strongly suspect the pilot was actually looking at a better image on their monitor than what is represented in this video. The letters in the video sort of drift around a little bit and warp (watch "TGP" at the bottom), which leads me to believe that there have been problems with the recorded media. There are even moments of rippling in the recording, which shows that there are clearly some external factors going on.

 

Agree with this, but I think the point is that IR necessarily has worse resolution because of the longer wavelengths compared to visible light.