Universal Model Visibility Setting Mod

[Shahdoh]

I am seeing this too, right after I was recommending this to friends. They all were experiencing the same problem as well. Seems to be right at the point where it transitions from LOD's to imposters or back.

[Why485]

In general I love this mod, however I have a pretty major Hangup that keeps me from using it.

All is good until other aircraft get between 300 and 500 meters or so, where they completely vanish unless I zoom way in. Really kills it for my Messerschmitt flying.

Perhaps I have done something incorrectly with this mod?

 

I'd have to check to see if something has changed with recent patches, but assuming nothing is different, it sounds to me like you're just getting close enough that it switches to the regular models.

[x39crazy]

Yep, my thoughts as well.

Pretty bad trying to line up ponies in my revi.

[Why485]

After a quick look at the test scenario I always use, it doesn't seem like it's any different from what it used to be. It's always been an awkward band-aid onto a flawed system. The snapping between different angles in particular will create sudden changes in visibility when they should be more gradual over time. There's also the fact that no matter how visible I make an impostor, once the model gets close enough that it switches to the 3D model, that 3D model will be as difficult to see as it always has been.

 

Are you sure it used to be better? I also want to point out that in most situations, this mod will make things harder to see versus the vanilla medium/large visibility settings. The vanilla impostors are much bigger at most ranges because they don't scale with distance.

Edited June 23, 2016 by Why485

[Shahdoh]

Can't compare to a previous time, but we have been using small imposters to greater effect then with this current mod. In comparison to small imposter setting, it seems your imposters disappear sooner then the stock ones. Maybe because they are larger then small imposters? Not sure the reason, but everyone I recommended the mod to has stopped using it because of the issue.

[Why485]

Can't compare to a previous time, but we have been using small imposters to greater effect then with this current mod. In comparison to small imposter setting, it seems your imposters disappear sooner then the stock ones. Maybe because they are larger then small imposters? Not sure the reason, but everyone I recommended the mod to has stopped using it because of the issue.

 

The switch to impostors in the mod will happen at closer ranges compared to the current settings that DCS uses. At medium ranges they should be about the same, and at long ranges small should be easier to see.

 

If you want, you can try changing the maxsize in Config\Effects\impostors.lua of all the settings to 16 from 12 if you want to try the setting that vanilla uses. I was actually surprised to see that ED raised it so high, especially for small, compared to the values it used to have. That's actually a good thing, as I think the system works best with settings like that.

 

That's about all I can say, as the rest of the features are so different.

 

If small works best for you, then you should use that. This mod was never really meant to be for people to practically play with, but just a visual aid in a point I was trying to make about how flawed the current system is and ideas on how to make it work better.

[klem]

WHY485, I've been playing with the fx file that you created for the opposite reason that you created the mod, I wanted to find a playable solution to WWII/Korean eyeball dog-fighting and I don't like the way the stock imposters are rendered. We will always be up against the MkI eyeball versus monitor problem so a compromise is always going to be necessary. I understand your reasons for going 'realistic' but the DCS visibility system is flawed and IMHO the problem is not with imposters but with model rendering/contrasts at the far rendering distance where there is a 'vanishing point'. So, I also wanted to overcome the vanishing point at switch-over from imposter to model. I'm still playing with it and have actually come back around to the the stock imposter sizes (maxsize = 16) and discovered that it is more about contrast and managing it against distance than anything else. So first off, full credit to you for the fx file mod which does this.

 

Maxsize 16 seems to be about the right size for matching the imposter size to the model at switch-over although that might still change, perhaps to 14 or 15. I also introduced a general contrast factor (less or more) to be applied to the overall results of your distance/contrast calculations to tweak the overall levels. At the moment there is a stage before model rendering where the imposter(?) is a solid crude aircraft shape for the MiG-15 so I still have more work to do on contrast levels although the switch-over seems to have improved as if the imposter is being brought in earlier than before. The distant imposters seem to be different for the MiG-15 and Mustang so I have to research what imposter 3d creations are being used for these although I doubt we can change them, e.g. at longer distances the MiG imposter looks a twin engined a/c but that could be a poor and distorted representation of the wing fences.

 

I'll keep tweaking over the next week or so and see what I can come up with. At the moment my imposters are still too dark at distance. Also, although the switch-over seems to be dictated by model size, it seems the size of imposter that actually first renders can be adjusted using IMP_MIN_DISTANCE so that it can begin to be scaled down at distances closer than the most distant model rendering and so allows imposter first-render size tweaking, i.e. the closest imposter doesn't have to render at MaxSize.

 

I know our objectives are completely different but thanks for the fx file.

Edited June 23, 2016 by klem

[hollywoodvillain]

Just came across this thread looking for answers to this. Thank you Why485. Could someone point me to a post where ED has officially spoken of this issue? Noticing the dates I would be extremely disappointed if this has not been addressed somewhere yet.

[x39crazy]

Hasn't to my knowledge

[Why485]

Just came across this thread looking for answers to this. Thank you Why485. Could someone point me to a post where ED has officially spoken of this issue? Noticing the dates I would be extremely disappointed if this has not been addressed somewhere yet.

 

ED has never officially spoken on this issue.

[hollywoodvillain]

Wow. IMO fixing this issue doesn't belong on some wishlist, its a fundamental flaw that absolutely needs to at the very least be acknowledged. As of now its a complete deal breaker if left untouched.

[Aginor]

I agree with that. I hope there is an official change to that soon.

 

In the meantime: Thanks for the mod! It isn't perfect, but still much better IMO.

[Captain Orso]

Could it be that this mod got broken since the last 1.5.4 ob update? I can't really compare, but I just have a subjective feeling :huh:

[RabidRider]

I have a similar impression. Hope ED fixes this themselves.

[alonpet]

IT'S A PITY THAT THE UNIVERSAL VISIBILITY DOESN'T' WORK ANYMORE with the new DCS update.

 

can anybody find a solution?

i can't see the objects ,it's awful!!!

 

pleaseeeee help....

[MaxDamage]

How do i know this mod is working? because it doesnt seem to be woeking. I cant see anything, i have only a 22 inch monitor.

[Why485]

How do i know this mod is working? because it doesnt seem to be woeking. I cant see anything, i have only a 22 inch monitor.

 

This mod is no longer relevant because the impostor system isn't used by DCS as of 1.5.5.

[klem]

IT'S A PITY THAT THE UNIVERSAL VISIBILITY DOESN'T' WORK ANYMORE with the new DCS update.

 

can anybody find a solution?

i can't see the objects ,it's awful!!!

 

pleaseeeee help....

 

For what it's worth...

 

https://forums.eagle.ru/showpost.php?p=2953831&postcount=293

[ESAc_matador]

For me the visibility now is really good. You can see enemies from really long. I fact, too long but without those sudden change of size.

[shagrat]

For me the visibility now is really good. You can see enemies from really long. I fact, too long but without those sudden change of size.

I second that. Much better, than the spontaneous "blob" effects...

Now when the glare and reflections coming, that will be a nice overall solution to visibility.

[IzoAzlion]

Is this mod working? I don't feel that it is...

[98abaile]

Is this mod working? I don't feel that it is...

4 posts above you, the creator himself explained why the mod is now redundant.

[gavagai]

This mod is no longer relevant because the impostor system isn't used by DCS as of 1.5.5.

 

What has replaced it? I can't find the relevant info.

[OnlyforDCS]

Im looking to enable the Impostor shaders again, or something like it. Anyone have any ideas on how to do that.

 

The new system ED has implemented favors HIGH resolution and HIGH contrast monitors and with my eyesight problems I can't compete.

 

Online I play on special servers, but I would like something that would help me to practice against AI in single player.

 

Thanks for any and all assistance.

[zaelu]

I have 4k monitor (I use native 3840x2160) and I don't feel at all favored. My team mates see faster the contacts (Online on Burning Skies servers, dot on or off) and they use 1080p or less.

 

Imposters are gone... hopefully for good. A failed experiment as expected by many.