Realistic ANVS-9 NVG view

[PeterP]

Dear Developers - Please have a look into this thread:

NVG ANVS-9 more REAL...

 

Little summary:

We are trying here to simulate a realistic View through the tubes of the ANVS-9 NVG goggles.

We nailed already down how to maintain the aspect ratio - so that it will be always a circle if you turn them on...

post #33

post #42

 

What is - missing is a blocking ring around this circle:

Can you implement this layer ?

Nice mod but really the most of the area around the NVGs should be blacked out and not seen....

investigating right now to get this done via a .dll hooking DirectX Overlay that I can program with autohotkey to the same keyboard sequence that activates the NVG.

But I had until now no luck to get it working in 64bit DCS.

: http://www.gamedev.net/topic/359794-c-direct3d-hooking-sample/

and this

http://www.autohotkey.net/~MasterFocus/AHK/Lib/GPF/Doc/ could be a robust solution with full-screen mode.

But maybe someone of you find more time to fiddle around with this.

 

should be also be doable with VisualBasic -through opening a window on-top of DCS when you run it in "windowed mode" - but had no time to look really into this subject.

 

I have already done a PNG with transparency for the Mask:

 

without the mask:

 

with the mask:

 

but the best solution would be if the Devs would implement a second layer on-top of the NVG post-processing (that is able to track your used aspect-ratio) and do it by default inside DCS.

and a ++ would be if they implement a Z-detection that will blur everything outside of this mask - and also blur only the cockpit parts inside the NVG view - this to simulate the focus to infinity.

 

And the solution to be still able to manipulate the cockpit would be if you have a zone around the mouse-pointer that blend out this effect - so you have a sharp image - lets say...in a radius of 100 pixels around the mouse-cross-hair. -to simulate you are focusing your view in back to the cockpit - outside the NVG.

 

You showed us already that it is possible in DCS-BlackShark with the monocle ... - so how hard this could be? ;)

 

 

edit:

Update 10-17-2011, 08:31 AM

Made some progress myself:

 

Hi Folks - what you see in the video is actual in-game-capture of DCS-BS in Win7-64bit !! ( again: this is not edited!)

 

 

Please follow this link if you want to know more:

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?p=1308726#post1308726

 

 

WIP Update 10-20-2011, 03:04 PM :

 

 

giaco1 has confirmed that I'm using the right shape:

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?p=1309472#post1309472

 

Today, i spent a lot of time in my squadron equipment room with my helmets and the ANVS-9. The result is this one:

 

The modification of PeterP on Blackshark video is impressive, is exactly what i see in my NVGs. This morning i carefully paid attention to NVG FOV. I wore my helmets with the NVG and focalising on what i could and couldn't see.

I noticed that i can't see the upper portion at all (due to "baseball cup effect"), which is hidden by my helmet and by the structure of the NVG. On the contrary, I can clearly see everythings on right left and down side of the tube. Imagining the FOV as a clock, i can't see anythings from 11 oclock to 1 oclock.

Another interesting aspect is the ovalized sight: if i focus on the inner part of the tubes my sight is a little bit ovalized, on the contrary, if i look far away (as i normally do), i canonly see a unique circular tube, as i previsouly said.

 

Thank you all, expecially PeterP for awesome work with the game modification.

 

 

I'm working at pre-sets for different aspect-ratios and screen-sizes:

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?p=1310260#post1310260

 

Thank you giaco1! (cant give you +rep any more - so: can someone else do it for me?! )

 

 

According to your info I edited a new mask that fits the shape of this picture:

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?p=1310260#post1310260

 

 

 

I will include in the Mod two different versions:

 

One that will cover the whole screen (suitable for people with a small screen/resolution) - example for 16:9 :

 

 

And one that matches this "calculation":

 

And is matching also the default NVG image in vertical FOV that we have right now in the A-10

 

Default:

 

 

 

This will look like this for 16:9 and is intended for people with a great vertical FOV and high resolution. - this will give you also the "look down" ability. :

 

One sentence about broken photo-cathodes:

... as much I liked the idea in the first place... After thinking about it further I would like to drop the idea.. because to see it as it is right now in the mod - it has to be broken at the exact same place on both tubes! - when it is broken on one tube - the both images are blend together and you would hardly notice a broken photo-cathode at all... until you have the exact same damage at both tubes - comprende amigos ?!

 

 

But back to the Mod:

 

I have the overlay working in the 32bit versions- but I don't get it working in 64bit for fullscreen.

 

So once again (up to now I got no reply...):

Hi Folks - what you see in the video is actual in-game-capture of DCS-BS in Win7-64bit !! ( again: this is not edited!)

 

 

 

 

Before I will tell "how to" I need some volunteers that will test for unseen bugs -and maybe help me out to streamline the installation

processes.

There will be still a different "Mask" for different aspect-ratio needed.

 

- but please hold your horses(!).

I'm still not able to do this in the DCS-64bit version....

 

So if you :

- know how to edit files in Notepad++

- have a copy of Black Shark and DCS-A10.

- know how to handle frustration....

- know how to write good bug-reports that I can recreate following you instruction.

- have at last two monitors and know how to use them in DCS to show exports of e.g. MFCDs/Abris...

- have common sense and humour!

 

not necessary but it would be helpful :

- know how to edit PNG images in Gimp (or equivalent)

- have a dual boot of WinXP and Win7 (we have to test it also in the 32bit version of DCS-A10

 

... than write me a PM with the headline "NVG-Tweak" !

 

...and please tell me also if you have C++ and/or VisualBasic programming skills (not necessary but it would be helpful -I for instance have no such sufficient programming skills...)

...and please tell me also your time-zone and when you are usually able to answer e-mails.

 

The main problem is as follows:

I have a working DLL file that is complied for 32bit programs - but it won't work in 64bit versions.

 

I have also the source-code including all project-files for Visual-C++

So please help me/us out if you know how to create a 64bit version.

Here is the source code:

http://www.mikoweb.eu/index.php?node=28

 

download : gp_source_1.5_DX9.zip

 

 

And I have made some progress in DCS-A10-64bit:

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?p=1310405#post1310405

Another WIP - this time in DCS-A1064bit windowed mode.

 

...still no luck with Fullscreen...

 

But if everyting works out like expected -I will be able to upload the files for the NVG ANVS-9 Tweak at the weekend. This will work only if you run DCS-A10/BlackShark in windowed mode for single and multi-monitor setups.

 

...and BTW: the fade-delay after you switched the NVG off is adjustable.

 

 

 

Update 10-23-2011 :

I have uploaded the

 

ANVS-9 NVG Beta v.0.1.zip Download...

 

...and I want to underline that I see this only as temporary workaround.

 

Update 11-02-2011

 

With the help of igormk

I made a new version of the NVG-Tweak that includes also a simulation of readjusting the eyes to the changing light intensity

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?p=1316581#post1316581

- and when everything will work as expected I will upload the Mod at the next weekend.

... I cancelled the blur that is visible in my test-vid, because its too unrealistic and it is very irritating when you want to use the MFCDs or click in the cockpit. It really should look at last like this to make sense at all:

But this cant be done with the tools I'm using...

This can only be done if you are able to modify direly the DirectX post-processing layer with adding a z-detection blur.

(But you should be able to test it on a 1920 Horizontal - you just have to tweak your Focus.png of DCS to fit my overlay.)

 

So I followed the advise from Igormik and tweaked the light sensitive fading a little more (I tested it with a flash-light with a green filter -holding it in front of my eyes... )

 

So if there are not more suggestions I would work on a upload including all common resolution pre-sets to be ready on Saturday.

...and also reworked the autohotkey script - so it will be much more reliable.

 

Here is the preview of the final (?) appearance :

Please watch in full-screen and 720p to be able to see all details and get a better contrast.

The first 15seconds I only show the overlay on a white background.

Please let me know if someone has a sample-sound of switching them on/off.

So I could tweak the sound .

I would be glad to hear your opinion. (I have to say the it feels very good and I will not fly without it any more in night times.)

Full Post: http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?p=1317575#post1317575

Edited November 2, 2011 by PeterP

[MTFDarkEagle]

+1 !!

[Bushmanni]

Other thing to add would be to make the NVG keep it's angular size like the BS monocle does so that if you have 40 degree FOV then the NVG would span from left screen edge to the right but with 80 degree FOV it would be only half the screen width.

[Chazz_BMF]

+ 100.000.000

 

One other thing, the NVG should be Zoomed in just a tiny bit, compared to the rest of the image. Because of the increased distance the googles are placed away from the head. But i guess it would be impossible to implement ingame?!

[kylania]

Is that really realistic? I don't mean the circle but how small a valid field of view you have with them and all the extra non NV stuff on the sides? That seems like such a narrow view I wouldn't even bother with it and just wait till morning to fly. It's like looking through a straw held in front of your face with both eyes open.

[PeterP]

Did you every tried to use small (- when I say small I also mean a small magnification) Binoculars - like the guy in the picture?!

If not- try it out and report back what you have seen.

(If you have no Binos at home - to rolls/tubes of black paper will do the same job... - if no paper rolls at hand - you can do it even with your own hands to get a feeling for it !>> )

And when you would press them against your head - to get a (very little) greater FOV you would loose the "look-down" capability because the binos blocking your whole field-of-view.

Here is a real-life video of them in action:

of course the black blocking ring is missing - because they mounted directly to the camera - but you get a good feeling that they only provide a FOV of 40°.

And when you right now using DCS on a TH system with 3x 16:9 and center the cockpit only in the middle monitor - you will have a NVG oval with roughly 120° FOV - that is far from being realistic at all!

Edited October 17, 2011 by PeterP

[PeterP]

Hi

Still I would like to see this implemented by ED on their own...

 

...but I did some significant progress alone - but please hold your horses(!).

I'm still not able to do this in DCS-64bit versions....

 

Hi Folks - what you see in the video is actual in-game-captureof DCS-BS in Win7-64bit !! ( again: this is not edited!)

 

 

 

Before I will tell "how to" I need some volunteers that will test for unseen bugs -and maybe help me out to streamline the installation

processes.

(...)

 

 

Please follow this link if you want to know more:

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?p=1308726#post1308726

Edited October 17, 2011 by PeterP

[KillaALF]

Did you every tried to use small (- when I say small I also mean a small magnification) Binoculars - like the guy in the picture?!

If not- try it out and report back what you have seen.

 

This:

 

 

Sorry to say but those NVGs look very much like binoculars, so it stands to reason that what you would see looking through them would look like what you see when looking through binoculars = not a single circle but two circles pushed into one another. And that video you posted - I'm pretty sure the camera was looking through one tube only, so of course you would get one perfect circle, but I do not think that is what the human eye would see.

[PeterP]

Thanks for your contribution, but... Sorry -

This is not realistic IMHO - unless you are peering/crossing your eyes...

Only seen in comics and bad researched Hollywood-movies.

...or bad adjusted binoculars is also a possibility.

 

edit: sure - my masking can need some improvement - but I will still listen what actual pilots/crew-members that use them say.

(You can find these description of them in the other -original- thread...)

 

Edit:

I edited your image a little to show you what is much more likely you have seen:

 

The image inside the masking will be always a circle. (as long you use optics with round lenses...)

Edited October 17, 2011 by PeterP

[AlphaOneSix]

Sorry to say but those NVGs look very much like binoculars, so it stands to reason that what you would see looking through them would look like what you see when looking through binoculars = not a single circle but two circles pushed into one another. And that video you posted - I'm pretty sure the camera was looking through one tube only, so of course you would get one perfect circle, but I do not think that is what the human eye would see.

 

Sorry, if that pic is what you see through binoculars, you aren't using them properly. But that's beside the point, that is NOT how it looks through goggles. Through goggles, you just see the circle.

[Speed]

 

Sorry to say but those NVGs look very much like binoculars, so it stands to reason that what you would see looking through them would look like what you see when looking through binoculars = not a single circle but two circles pushed into one another.

NO, NO, NO! You've been watching too many movies ;) I hate it when game devs make cartoonish binoculars. Your brain combines the two images from binoculars into one image. Looking through binoculars looks just like looking through a monocular, except you're using your whole visual system rather than just half, so you are able to perceive things better through binoculars. You only see two partially intersecting circles in video games, movies, and cartoons. Never in real life. After all, you have two eyes. Saying you should see two circles pushed together with binoculars is like saying you should see double images because you have two eyes.

 

Now, when you fix your eyes on something outside of binoculars (say, at something in your cockpit), your eyes no longer combine the images, and you would see each side. But the image through the NVGs better damn well be a circle.

 

 

BTW, +1 to this wish on the wish list!!! That "With Mask" screenshot PeterP made looks AWESOME!

Edited October 17, 2011 by Speed

[PeterP]

Before we start here a discussion "how" it should shaped like without big reference -

I would like to invite you all to discuss the "shape-thingy" here in detail : http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?p=1308780#post1308780

Because this is exactly what I have to nail down before working further on the DLL hooking method you can see in the vid I posted.

 

@kylania and KillaALF

please don't take this what has been said as a personal bashing... -I know you wanted to help!

To be honest: There was a time I did also believe that looking trough a binocular looks like seeing tow circles... but that was probably at a age where my eyes where still standing too near together to use the big binos from my father properly..... ;)

Edited October 17, 2011 by PeterP

[PeterP]

WIP Update:

 

giaco1 has confirmed that I'm using the right shape:

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?p=1309472#post1309472

 

Today, i spent a lot of time in my squadron equipment room with my helmets and the ANVS-9. The result is this one:

 

The modification of PeterP on Blackshark video is impressive, is exactly what i see in my NVGs. This morning i carefully paid attention to NVG FOV. I wore my helmets with the NVG and focalising on what i could and couldn't see.

I noticed that i can't see the upper portion at all (due to "baseball cup effect"), which is hidden by my helmet and by the structure of the NVG. On the contrary, I can clearly see everythings on right left and down side of the tube. Imagining the FOV as a clock, i can't see anythings from 11 oclock to 1 oclock.

Another interesting aspect is the ovalized sight: if i focus on the inner part of the tubes my sight is a little bit ovalized, on the contrary, if i look far away (as i normally do), i canonly see a unique circular tube, as i previsouly said.

 

Thank you all, expecially PeterP for awesome work with the game modification.

 

 

I'm working at pre-sets for different aspect-ratios and screen-sizes:

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?p=1310260#post1310260

 

Thank you giaco1! (cant give you +rep any more - so: can someone else do it for me?! )

 

 

According to your info I edited a new mask that fits the shape of this picture:

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?p=1310260#post1310260

 

 

 

I will include in the Mod two different versions:

 

One that will cover the whole screen (suitable for people with a small screen/resolution) - example for 16:9 :

 

 

And one that matches this "calculation":

 

And is matching also the default NVG image in vertical FOV that we have right now in the A-10

 

Default:

 

 

 

This will look like this for 16:9 and is intended for people with a great vertical FOV and high resolution. - this will give you also the "look down" ability. :

 

One sentence about broken photo-cathodes:

... as much I liked the idea in the first place... After thinking about it further I would like to drop the idea.. because to see it as it is right now in the mod - it has to be broken at the exact same place on both tubes! - when it is broken on one tube - the both images are blend together and you would hardly notice a broken photo-cathode at all... until you have the exact same damage at both tubes - comprende amigos ?!

 

 

But back to the Mod:

 

I have the overlay working in the 32bit versions- but I don't get it working in 64bit for fullscreen.

 

So once again (up to now I got no reply...):

Hi Folks - what you see in the video is actual in-game-capture of DCS-BS in Win7-64bit !! ( again: this is not edited!)

 

 

 

 

Before I will tell "how to" I need some volunteers that will test for unseen bugs -and maybe help me out to streamline the installation

processes.

There will be still a different "Mask" for different aspect-ratio needed.

 

- but please hold your horses(!).

I'm still not able to do this in the DCS-64bit version....

 

So if you :

- know how to edit files in Notepad++

- have a copy of Black Shark and DCS-A10.

- know how to handle frustration....

- know how to write good bug-reports that I can recreate following you instruction.

- have at last two monitors and know how to use them in DCS to show exports of e.g. MFCDs/Abris...

- have common sense and humour!

 

not necessary but it would be helpful :

- know how to edit PNG images in Gimp (or equivalent)

- have a dual boot of WinXP and Win7 (we have to test it also in the 32bit version of DCS-A10

 

... than write me a PM with the headline "NVG-Tweak" !

 

...and please tell me also if you have C++ and/or VisualBasic programming skills (not necessary but it would be helpful -I for instance have no such sufficient programming skills...)

...and please tell me also your time-zone and when you are usually able to answer e-mails.

 

The main problem is as follows:

I have a working DLL file that is complied for 32bit programs - but it won't work in 64bit versions.

 

I have also the source-code including all project-files for Visual-C++

So please help me/us out if you know how to create a 64bit version.

Here is the source code:

http://www.mikoweb.eu/index.php?node=28

 

download : gp_source_1.5_DX9.zip

 

 

And I have made some progress in DCS-A10-64bit:

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?p=1310405#post1310405

Another WIP - this time in DCS-A1064bit windowed mode.

 

...still no luck with Fullscreen...

 

But if everyting works out like expected -I will be able to upload the files for the NVG ANVS-9 Tweak at the weekend. This will work only if you run DCS-A10/BlackShark in windowed mode for single and multi-monitor setups.

 

...and BTW: the fade-delay after you switched the NVG off is adjustable.

 

Edited October 20, 2011 by PeterP

[Speed]

That looks awesome PeterP, and I'd love to use it, and I WOULD use it, except- I don't run in windowed mode... if I were to run it in windowed mode, is there a way to make the game take up my FULL screen? Or do I have to tolerate looking at the Windows task bar, a Windows window border, and all that crap?

[hassata]

Appreciate all the work P.

[PeterP]

@Speed

How about trying it out?! ;) -Its only one click in the options-menu...

 

Anyway...

... if you run windowed mode at the same resolution like your desktop -there will be no window-borders at all!- DCS will cover the whole screen.

Make sure you turn "aero" on in windows -this will give you a better frame-rate.

 

I Hope this windowed workaround is only a temporary solution - and ED will include it into the sim by default.

 

But I didn't gave up - I'm still looking for a working full-screen workaround for 64bit versions myself.

 

 

Appreciate all the work P.

Thanks! - will maybe find at Sat the time to convert every possible aspect-ratio in files that will work with this tweak and load the mod up...

Edited October 20, 2011 by PeterP

[PeterP]

I have uploaded the

 

ANVS-9 NVG Beta v.0.1.zip Download...

 

...and I want to underline that I see this only as temporary workaround.

[PeterP]

Update!

 

With the help of igormk

I made a new version of the NVG-Tweak that includes also a simulation of readjusting the eyes to the changing light intensity

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?p=1316581#post1316581

- and when everything will work as expected I will upload the Mod at the next weekend.

... I cancelled the blur that is visible in my test-vid, because its too unrealistic and it is very irritating when you want to use the MFCDs or click in the cockpit. It really should look at last like this to make sense at all:

But this cant be done with the tools I'm using...

This can only be done if you are able to modify direly the DirectX post-processing layer with adding a z-detection blur.

(But you should be able to test it on a 1920 Horizontal - you just have to tweak your Focus.png of DCS to fit my overlay.)

 

So I followed the advise from Igormik and tweaked the light sensitive fading a little more (I tested it with a flash-light with a green filter -holding it in front of my eyes... )

 

So if there are not more suggestions I would work on a upload including all common resolution pre-sets to be ready on Saturday.

...and also reworked the autohotkey script - so it will be much more reliable.

 

Here is the preview of the final (?) appearance :

Please watch in full-screen and 720p to be able to see all details and get a better contrast.

The first 15seconds I only show the overlay on a white background.

Please let me know if someone has a sample-sound of switching them on/off.

So I could tweak the sound .

I would be glad to hear your opinion. (I have to say the it feels very good and I will not fly without it any more in night times.)

Full Post: http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?p=1317575#post1317575

Edited November 2, 2011 by PeterP