Cloud bugs - strange pattern, LOD edges

[SirJ]

I love those new clouds!!

Two things I discovered which I have not seen mentioned before (Syria Map):

 

1. Overcast and Rain 3: (not seen in any other overcast and Rain preset)

In any other than ULTRA-Clouds setting the higher cloud appear in a strange pattern. In pic01_* you can see it. The ULTRA-Setting looks like the middle part of the clouds - no repetitive and strangely angled pattern. The position of those pattern is identical in every nonULTRA setting.

 

2. Box of detailed Clouds around the plane:

It looks like there is a box around the plane in which higher detailed clouds are rendered. The edge seems to stick to the plane. This is way more promenent in motion than on pictures - thus highlighted by the red lining. (pic02* - pic04*)

This is present in all Cloud settings, just barely visible in ULTRA, promenent in the other.

Until now found in all Overcast and Rain presets. Not tested in the other presets.

 

But again - those clouds are awesome!!

All the best

 

 

 

f16_cloud_bug.trk

Edited April 15, 2021 by SirJ
added trk-file

[Fever]

I see the same thing. Running 3 monitors with bezel correction using nvidia surround. 

[sirrah]

On 4/15/2021 at 9:57 AM, SirJ said:

I love those new clouds!!

Two things I discovered which I have not seen mentioned before (Syria Map):

 

1. Overcast and Rain 3: (not seen in any other overcast and Rain preset)

In any other than ULTRA-Clouds setting the higher cloud appear in a strange pattern. In pic01_* you can see it. The ULTRA-Setting looks like the middle part of the clouds - no repetitive and strangely angled pattern. The position of those pattern is identical in every nonULTRA setting.

 

2. Box of detailed Clouds around the plane:

It looks like there is a box around the plane in which higher detailed clouds are rendered. The edge seems to stick to the plane. This is way more promenent in motion than on pictures - thus highlighted by the red lining. (pic02* - pic04*)

This is present in all Cloud settings, just barely visible in ULTRA, promenent in the other.

Until now found in all Overcast and Rain presets. Not tested in the other presets.

 

But again - those clouds are awesome!!

All the best

 

 

 

f16_cloud_bug.trk 338.53 kB · 1 download

 

 

Can confirm having seen the pattern from screenshot 1 in VR (Reverb (G1)

[Flappie]

This issue has been reported already.

[Squiffy]

Thanks just saw this today after the update. Really pronounced when viewing dogfights or target lock view externally. You can see the rectangular box in all the strange clipped edges on the clouds, matched to the aircraft/camera center point. So much so you can see gaps in the clouds with sky showing through. I'll grab a screenshot.

[Squiffy]

Maybe this is a different issue but here is what I see. I'll check my settings too.

 

Edited May 5, 2021 by Squiffy
add text

[Squiffy]

Another in cockpit view. Got a game crash on loading the viewing track afterward in game. Error report sent via DCS.

Edited May 5, 2021 by Squiffy

[jetsimace]

I also having patterns in distant clouds (horizontal lines) in DCS OpenBeta 2.7.1.6430 - please see attached screenshot (gives an idea but in reality it looks worse)
My resolution is 3440 x 1440

Edited May 22, 2021 by jetsimace

[Flappie]

I think we all have these patterns. It's how 2.7 clouds are done so far.

Next time it happens, attach the track so we can see if we all get the same result.

[Aluminum Donkey]

It isn't really a bug, it's how she goes.

 

I'm fine with it as long as they fix the clunky looking clouds near the center of the HUD. It's really noticeable when you roll a bit. They're still a massive improvement over the old clouds!

 

AD

[Raven (Elysian Angel)]

On 5/6/2021 at 1:15 AM, Squiffy said:

Maybe this is a different issue

It isn't :) It's the exact same thing which was mentioned in the list of Known Issues in the original 2.7 patch notes.

[Squiffy]

On 5/25/2021 at 11:09 AM, Raven (Elysian Angel) said:

It isn't It's the exact same thing which was mentioned in the list of Known Issues in the original 2.7 patch notes.

DOH!  Thanks! 

[Squiffy]

But you know, the notes don't really address the "skybox" issue and edge dithering, not on the horizon, not VR. Maybe these points were meant to be more broad?

Known Issues

• Users may see some vertical ‘jittering’ when looking at distant clouds - This is more visible in VR and we are working to resolve it as a priority.
• There are Anti-aliasing artefacts visible under some conditions when clouds are low on the horizon.
• The lighting effects on the clouds, especially when the sun is low on the horizon is still very much a WIP, and will be improved.
• Currently as part of the initial release, clouds do not affect LOS for the AI.
• The legacy fog effects are not suitable for use with the new clouds - a new fog layer using the new technology will follow.
• Thunderstorms and lightning effects will follow in future updates.
• Using SLAM/AGM-65E alongside targeting pod can in some circumstances result in some ground units becoming semi-transparent to the targeting pod. This is currently a priority item to resolve.
• We have greatly improved many of the visual effects, and some tuning of brightness still remains to be completed.
• Night vision goggles do not provide sufficient illumination with no moonlight.
• Dedicated server window can hang when minimised.
• MP. Ping info missing (always zero) in player's list.

[Wacky]

On 5/28/2021 at 10:35 PM, Squiffy said:

But you know, the notes don't really address the "skybox" issue and edge dithering, not on the horizon, not VR. Maybe these points were meant to be more broad?

Known Issues

• Users may see some vertical ‘jittering’ when looking at distant clouds - This is more visible in VR and we are working to resolve it as a priority.
• There are Anti-aliasing artefacts visible under some conditions when clouds are low on the horizon.
• The lighting effects on the clouds, especially when the sun is low on the horizon is still very much a WIP, and will be improved.
• Currently as part of the initial release, clouds do not affect LOS for the AI.
• The legacy fog effects are not suitable for use with the new clouds - a new fog layer using the new technology will follow.
• Thunderstorms and lightning effects will follow in future updates.
• Using SLAM/AGM-65E alongside targeting pod can in some circumstances result in some ground units becoming semi-transparent to the targeting pod. This is currently a priority item to resolve.
• We have greatly improved many of the visual effects, and some tuning of brightness still remains to be completed.
• Night vision goggles do not provide sufficient illumination with no moonlight.
• Dedicated server window can hang when minimised.
• MP. Ping info missing (always zero) in player's list.

Alas, the issue with "anti-aliasing artefacts visible under some conditions when clouds are low on the horizon" appears to be back in the latest DCS update 2.9.17.12034!
This is especially visible when the sun is low, on the horizon opposite to the sun in the F-16C free flight mission on the Kola map, or in the F/A-18C free flight mission on the Syria map. Zooming in (using the scroll wheel when the clickable mouse cockpit mode is off), the anti-aliasing artefacts disappear and zooming out again, they reappear. This seems to be independent of the visibility range setting and even with clouds set to "ultra".

Please note that version 2.9.13.6818.2 does not exhibit this issue, so maybe this was reintroduced with core changes and/or new terrain additions in later versions.

ED, could you please look into this?

Thank you and keep up the good work!

 

 

[BIGNEWY]

On 7/2/2025 at 1:09 PM, Wacky said:

Alas, the issue with "anti-aliasing artefacts visible under some conditions when clouds are low on the horizon" appears to be back in the latest DCS update 2.9.17.12034!
This is especially visible when the sun is low, on the horizon opposite to the sun in the F-16C free flight mission on the Kola map, or in the F/A-18C free flight mission on the Syria map. Zooming in (using the scroll wheel when the clickable mouse cockpit mode is off), the anti-aliasing artefacts disappear and zooming out again, they reappear. This seems to be independent of the visibility range setting and even with clouds set to "ultra".

Please note that version 2.9.13.6818.2 does not exhibit this issue, so maybe this was reintroduced with core changes and/or new terrain additions in later versions.

ED, could you please look into this?

Thank you and keep up the good work!

 

 

Hi, 

Necroed a 4 year old thread  

can you please provide any screenshots of what you are seeing. And attach your dcs log 

thank you 

[Wacky]

On 7/9/2025 at 5:14 PM, BIGNEWY said:

Hi, 

Necroed a 4 year old thread  

can you please provide any screenshots of what you are seeing. And attach your dcs log 

thank you 

Thank you for getting back on this! ED Support has kindly helped in the meantime and disabling DLSS upscaling solved the issue in my case.

Thanks again and best regards