[ACKNOWLEDGED]DDIs still almost impossible to read and MPCD too dark

[Subferro]

Do any of the mod cockpits help with this issue? Might work as a stopgap while waiting on an official plan. Are mod cockpits MP compatible even?

[speed-of-heat]

most cockpit mods are compatible with mp if they are done in save games.

 

afaik none of them adjust the brightness of the MFD's

[wilbur81]

It’s a nice idea but I think we’re seeing that more complexity is not the answer. A simple return to the old readability would be fine.

 

^^Agreed... 100%. :thumbup: And this pic shows just how bright that bad-boy can look in broad daylight. Thanks for posting evidence. :smilewink:

 

Edited June 12, 2020 by wilbur81

[Harker]

I helped some guys out with adjusting font color and brightness here https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=275858

It might help some people, as a temporary solution. TL;DR, you can modify the materials.lua file located in DCS World\Mods\aircraft\FA-18C\Cockpit\Scripts\. I'm not sure if that will break IC though, you'll have to test that.

[Harker]

The recent situation with the lighting change also makes another issue very apparent, namely the fact that the DDI font, in DCS, is not on the actual DDIs, but on the glass in front of them, for some reason. That creates all sorts of visual issues, such as the DDI reflection showing behind the letters and the recent update only made the issue clearer.

[Subferro]

I bring up mods less because of brightness but more because some of them seemed to change the DDI texture. Making the DDI more black and less green might also fix readability

 

Like this:

 

https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3306396/

[speed-of-heat]

It kind of fails on two fronts though I have never tried it, it breaks ic is one, and you have to leave reflections on being the other...

[speed-of-heat]

I helped some guys out with adjusting font color and brightness here https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=275858

It might help some people, as a temporary solution. TL;DR, you can modify the materials.lua file located in DCS World\Mods\aircraft\FA-18C\Cockpit\Scripts\. I'm not sure if that will break IC though, you'll have to test that.

 

I don’t think this one will I will play later today.

[speed-of-heat]

The recent situation with the lighting change also makes another issue very apparent, namely the fact that the DDI font, in DCS, is not on the actual DDIs, but on the glass in front of them, for some reason. That creates all sorts of visual issues, such as the DDI reflection showing behind the letters and the recent update only made the issue clearer.

 

Agreed, not sure how that is fixable by us without breaking ic...btw nice mod!

[Harker]

It kind of fails on two fronts though I have never tried it, it breaks ic is one, and you have to leave reflections on being the other...

You don't have to have SSLR enabled, if that's what you're saying. The roughmet texture I added generates reflections either way. So there shouldn't be any noticeable (probably zero) performance loss with the mod.

As for IC, it fails exactly because I add a custom texture. You can opt to not use the f18c_cpt-displayglass_refl_Roughmet.tga and then you can install the textures through Saved Games and be able to pass IC. It's just that you'd have flat, black DDIs like that, without any reflections.

[Harker]

Agreed, not sure how that is fixable by us without breaking ic...btw nice mod!

Thanks!

It's not fixable even if you break IC or at least I haven't found a way to fix it. If you use my mod, you don't see the problem, because I've made the protective glass non-transparent. You don't see the DDIs at all. The font is wrongly displayed on the protective glass (which I've turned into an LCD display), so it looks "correct" with the mod, but that mistake is what makes the mod possible in the first place. And of course I'd prefer that it got fixed, even if it broke my mod.

[speed-of-heat]

You don't have to have SSLR enabled, if that's what you're saying. The roughmet texture I added generates reflections either way. So there shouldn't be any noticeable (probably zero) performance loss with the mod.

As for IC, it fails exactly because I add a custom texture. You can opt to not use the f18c_cpt-displayglass_refl_Roughmet.tga and then you can install the textures through Saved Games and be able to pass IC. It's just that you'd have flat, black DDIs like that, without any reflections.

 

I will give that a go ! Thanks

[speed-of-heat]

yep that works a treat!

 

It is easy with an existing cockpit mod i used

 

1 )(https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3309130/) your mileage may vary. download a cockpit and the modify it as follows

 

2 )download https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3306396/

 

3 ) copy just the files from textures into the texture files for your cockpit

 

4 ) edit using a suitable editor (notepad++, or visual studio code), description.lua

a) search for the line {"f18c_cpt-displayglass", 0, "f18c_cpt-displayglass_refl", false};

b) immediately after that line, insert a new line containing:

{"f18c_cpt-displayglass", 13, "f18c_cpt-displayglass_refl_Roughmet", false};

c) save the file

 

5 ) copy the cockpit to your saved games directory (or use OVGME or MODMANFX)

 

6 ) go into game and select the cockpit from the special menu in options under FA-18

 

7 ) fly with fully resplendent non washed out LCD's

 

Optional,

8 ) if you want the other functionality from @Harkers very cool mod, delete the textures directory and apply as normal

Edited June 13, 2020 by speed-of-heat

[imacken]

The recent situation with the lighting change also makes another issue very apparent, namely the fact that the DDI font, in DCS, is not on the actual DDIs, but on the glass in front of them, for some reason. That creates all sorts of visual issues, such as the DDI reflection showing behind the letters and the recent update only made the issue clearer.

 

Yes, and this issue has made the Spitfire landing gear lights invisible! OT, I know, but...

[Harker]

yep that works a treat!

 

It is easy with an existing cockpit mod i used

 

1 )(https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3309130/) your mileage may vary. download a cockpit and the modify it as follows

 

2 )download https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3306396/

 

3 ) copy just the files from textures into the texture files for your cockpit

 

4 ) edit using a suitable editor (notepad++, or visual studio code), description.lua

a) search for the line {"f18c_cpt-displayglass", 0, "f18c_cpt-displayglass_refl", false};

b) immediately after that line, insert a new line containing:

{"f18c_cpt-displayglass", 13, "f18c_cpt-displayglass_refl_Roughmet", false};

c) save the file

 

5 ) copy the cockpit to your saved games directory (or use OVGME or MODMANFX)

 

6 ) go into game and select the cockpit from the special menu in options under FA-18

 

7 ) fly with fully resplendent non washed out LCD's

 

Optional,

8 ) if you want the other functionality from @Harkers very cool mod, delete the textures directory and apply as normal

Wait, you got the new texture (displayglass_refl_Roughmet.tga) to work through Saved Games? I tried one time and it didn't work. If so, do you mind PMing the description.lua you used?

[speed-of-heat]

here you go !

description.lua

[BIGNEWY]

The team will be taking a look at this.

 

thanks

[Subferro]

I did something similar. I found just files for black DDIs and using the description.lua from someone else’s mod cockpit and the default textures made a SavedGames cockpit that only changes the DDIs, no additional reflection.

 

A bigger difference came from editing the materials.lua. Interestingly they have a commented out line giving {204, 255, 0, 255} as the value specified for the real Hornet DDI color. I changed the one in use to {204, 350, 0, 255} and it’s much more readable. A little neon but not bad. Next I need to find a good balance for the amber and red to match.

[speed-of-heat]

thanks BIGNEWY

[Subferro]

Ok I give up. I can’t find the controllers for red and yellow on the DDI/AMPCD. I can find references to it in the various subpages, but can’t actually find where the color is set.

[BMGZ06]

thanks BIGNEWY

 

I tried this edit out with the same cockpit mod you use and I see no difference in the sunlight. They are still washed out. I also used your description.lua. I have the modded pit selected as well.

[speed-of-heat]

I tried this edit out with the same cockpit mod you use and I see no difference in the sunlight. They are still washed out. I also used your description.lua. I have the modded pit selected as well.

 

 

Did you apply the textures from Harkers mod and copy them to the cockpit? Did you select the cockpit that was modified by Harkers texture files in game from the special options menu for the f18?

[speed-of-heat]

For clarity I don’t use reflections, so I can’t vouch for the rest of the mod. But the screen contrast is wonderful

[Arbil]

If only our pilot body (head) would cast a shadow and follow our VR or TrackIr movement

 

That would add greatly to immersion and would solve the unreadable ddi's/mfd's while respecting realism

 

This would be absolutely wonderful. Doesn't it do this in the F14, I haven't flown it in so long I can't recall.

[speed-of-heat]

which is great if you can fly with shadows enabled and still doesn't address the actual problem