Improved Towns & Villages Mod

[doveman]

Updated the first post again with new SweetFX screenshots and all known released terrains sets + my Villages + Rocky's DTAC Trees

 

Hi

 

I was looking at the screenshots last night and now they all look different to how I recall. For instance, the second set, with just your villages mod, the ground looks darker/darker green and the texture of the ground looks rather different, when I don't think it did before and the Foxbeard screenshots were a very bright/vivid green which I didn't really like and now they're not, in fact the Toby23's screenshots have a more vivid green now.

 

I note you say you've updated with new SweetFX screenshots, so I'm wondering if you used the same settings for all of them, as otherwise it's a bit hard to tell which I prefer as I'm not sure if I'm judging the mod or the SFX settings. In fact, maybe it's best to not use SFX at all for comparison screenshots, as one lot of settings might not suit all the mods equally and it's probably quite subjective what people prefer anyway?

[Highwayman-Ed]

Hi

 

I was looking at the screenshots last night and now they all look different to how I recall. For instance, the second set, with just your villages mod, the ground looks darker/darker green and the texture of the ground looks rather different, when I don't think it did before and the Foxbeard screenshots were a very bright/vivid green which I didn't really like and now they're not, in fact the Toby23's screenshots have a more vivid green now.

 

I note you say you've updated with new SweetFX screenshots, so I'm wondering if you used the same settings for all of them, as otherwise it's a bit hard to tell which I prefer as I'm not sure if I'm judging the mod or the SFX settings. In fact, maybe it's best to not use SFX at all for comparison screenshots, as one lot of settings might not suit all the mods equally and it's probably quite subjective what people prefer anyway?

 

Compare away... ALL of the screenshots currently in the first post have been taken today at exactly the same in game time, with exactly the same visual enhancement mods (such as PeterP's HDR, Mustangs Clouds and Diveplane's shadows), using the same SweetFX 1.4 settings (PeterP's). Last night, the only shots shown with SweetFX were those of Foxbeard's version of the DTAC terrain.

Edited February 13, 2014 by Highwayman-Ed

[doveman]

Compare away... ALL of the screenshots currently in the first post have been taken today at exactly the same in game time, with exactly the same visual enhancement mods (such as PeterP's HDR, Mustangs Clouds and Diveplane's shadows), using the same SweetFX 1.4 settings (PeterP's). Last night, the only shots shown with SweetFX were those of Foxbeard's version of the DTAC terrain.

 

OK, thanks.

[docfu]

Seriously, the simple fact that you put everyone's terrain mods together so we can compare them easily is an accomplishment in and of itself, but your towns and villages mod also removes those "texture level gaps" that keep towns from looking like normal terrain.

 

Well done sir.

[*Rage*]

Updated the first post again with new SweetFX screenshots and all known released terrains sets + my Villages + Rocky's DTAC Trees

 

Love it. Thanks!

[Haukka81]

Bumb! Any new projects or updates? lets get rid rest of city textures :)

[*Rage*]

Highway-Ed

 

I hope you can make these mods compatible with EDGE-Black sea map when its released (specifically the one post 60). While Edge looks to be great the stock villages and low res terrain make my eyes bleed a little in the screenshots posted by Wags.

Edited May 16, 2014 by ///Rage

[Highwayman-Ed]

Highway-Ed

 

I hope you can make these mods compatible with EDGE-Black sea map when its released (specifically the one post 60). While Edge looks to be great the stock villages and low res terrain make my eyes bleed a little in the screenshots posted by Wags.

 

From what I understand, these MOD's should work exactly the same in the EDGE engine as I believe that the Gerogian Map is being imported in its current state without any upgrades or modifications, thus it is still a simple case of texture replacement as we have now.

 

Bumb! Any new projects or updates? lets get rid rest of city textures :)

 

Sorry to say, no. I have given up on the city tiles as there is absolutely no sense in the way that they are overlapped in some places on the map and I really don't like trying to make them look good. :(

[Haukka81]

From what I understand, these MOD's should work exactly the same in the EDGE engine as I believe that the Gerogian Map is being imported in its current state without any upgrades or modifications, thus it is still a simple case of texture replacement as we have now.

 

 

 

Sorry to say, no. I have given up on the city tiles as there is absolutely no sense in the way that they are overlapped in some places on the map and I really don't like trying to make them look good. :(

 

What about if you just use somekind of grass color for them ? or simple grey tarmac etc.. ? :)

[terminator363]

Right so which ground texture pack is the most refined?

[uboats]

Is this compatible with 1.2.8 u1?

[Lizzard]

Is this compatible with 1.2.8 u1?

 

it should be, because 1.2.8 u1 changed nothing on the Map

[Highwayman-Ed]

What about if you just use somekind of grass color for them ? or simple grey tarmac etc.. ? :)

 

I tried that and the city's looked crap I'm afraid, even worse than normal... If you want to do it yourself, replace the textures town_1 , 2 and 3 with a transparent texture, but that also means that the city lights wont show on the ground at night...

 

Right so which ground texture pack is the most refined?

 

Depends on what you like to fly.

 

If you stay below 2,000 ft typically or fly rotary wing primarily, go for my complete pack

 

If you fly fixed wing, I prefer the mix with Foxbeard's terrain and Rocky's Trees - Removed

 

If you fly both, get both and swap them out with JSGME when you need to! ;)

 

Is this compatible with 1.2.8 u1?

 

These packs will be compatible with ANY release prior to EDGE, and even then nothing should change as far as textures go with the Georgian map, so it should continue to work then.

Edited August 1, 2014 by Highwayman-Ed

[Devrim]

Hi.

 

"Your complete pack" link removed?

[Kal-El]

@Highwayman-Ed, or Anybody. Hello . I really like Toby23's Enhanced Terrain in the op spoiler pictures, I will try to achieve just that. Are you using Sweetfx? If you are, do you mind sharing your settings? I'm using this http://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/585372/ setting. I have a split screen I cant removed. I have tried subs 1 with 0 on the #use split screen effect on the sweetfx settings but it did not work.

I'm thinking it may be outdated. Once again I would be happy if I can get those graphics in my game. Thank You. :helpsmilie:

Edited August 1, 2014 by Thunderchiff

[Falcon_S]

@.. I have a split screen I cant removed. I have tried subs 1 with 0 on the #use split screen effect on the sweetfx settings but it did not work.

... :helpsmilie:

 

To disable splitscreen you need only this:

#define USE_SPLITSCREEN   [color="Red"]0[/color] //[0 or 1]

Double check your DCS World/bin folder and search for SweetFX_settings.txt file. Check your admin rights too before edit file.

[Skulleader]

Hello,

 

I use "Highways Villages Mod II" + "DCSEnhancedTerrain-LowlndSlow-v1-2" with DCS V1.2.9 and no problems.

Please can you tell me if your Mod work fine with V-1.2.9 ?

 

Thanks in advance, Skull.

[Highwayman-Ed]

Please can you tell me if your Mod work fine with V-1.2.9 ?

 

All versions working fine with 1.2.9

 

@

Are you using Sweetfx? If you are, do you mind sharing your settings

 

Yes I am, I'll post them up later when I can get to my PC.

 

"Your complete pack" link removed?

 

I was tidying up my GoogleDrive earlier in the week, I may have accidentally moved it.

 

Edit just checked, all links seem ok, can you check again or pm me the link you're having trouble with please?

Edited August 1, 2014 by Highwayman-Ed

[Skulleader]

All versions working fine with 1.2.9

 

Thanks ^^

[Kal-El]

To disable splitscreen you need only this:

#define USE_SPLITSCREEN   [color=red]0[/color] //[0 or 1]

Double check your DCS World/bin folder and search for SweetFX_settings.txt file. Check your admin rights too before edit file.

 

Yes I have tried that and its not working for me. Take a look..

 

 

Game:

Author:

SweetFX version: 1.5.1

Description:

Please note when tweaking settings that higher numbers does not always equal better (nor does lower).

Finding the best settings for your game and your taste is about finding just the right amount to apply.

If you made a good setttings preset please share it with your friends, on forums and websites,

and/or submit it to the SweetFX Settings Database : http://sfx.thelazy.net/games/

This description field and the above Game and Author fields are here so you can fill in your own details for the presets you create.

Just delete this description and fill in your own and then share it with the world.

Hope you enjoy my mod.

- CeeJay.dk

S3TUP

/*-----------------------------------------------------------.

/ Choose effects /

'-----------------------------------------------------------*/

// Set to 1 for ON or 0 for OFF

#define USE_SMAA_ANTIALIASING 0 //[0 or 1] SMAA Anti-aliasing : Smoothens jagged lines using the SMAA technique.

#define USE_FXAA_ANTIALIASING 1 //[0 or 1] FXAA Anti-aliasing : Smoothens jagged lines using the FXAA technique. WIP - Currently only works in DX9 and you need to use the FXAA injector dlls.

#define USE_EXPLOSION 0 //[0 or 1] Explosion : Scatters the pixels, making the image look fuzzy.

#define USE_CARTOON 0 //[0 or 1] Cartoon : "Toon"s the image. (Interferes with SMAA, CRT, Bloom, HDR and Lumasharpen)

#define USE_ADVANCED_CRT 0 //[0 or 1] Advanced CRT : Simulates an old CRT TV display. (Interferes with SMAA, Cartoon, Bloom, HDR and Lumasharpen, and it has a very high performance cost)

#define USE_BLOOM 0 //[0 or 1] Bloom : Makes bright lights bleed their light into their surroundings (relatively high performance cost)

#define USE_HDR 0 //[0 or 1] HDR : Not actual HDR - It just tries to mimic an HDR look (relatively high performance cost)

#define USE_LUMASHARPEN 1 //[0 or 1] LumaSharpen : Also sharpens the antialiased edges which makes them less smooth - I'm working on fixing that.

#define USE_LEVELS 0 //[0 or 1] Levels : Sets a new black and white point. This increases contrast but causes clipping. Use Curves instead if you want to avoid that.

#define USE_TECHNICOLOR 0 //[0 or 1] TECHNICOLOR : Attempts to mimic the look of an old movie using the Technicolor three-strip color process (Techicolor Process 4)

#define USE_DPX 0 //[0 or 1] Cineon DPX : Should make the image look like it's been converted to DXP Cineon - basically it's another movie-like look similar to technicolor.

#define USE_MONOCHROME 0 //[0 or 1] Monochrome : Monochrome makes the colors disappear.

#define USE_LIFTGAMMAGAIN 0 //[0 or 1] Lift Gamma Gain : Adjust brightness and color of shadows, midtones and highlights

#define USE_TONEMAP 0 //[0 or 1] Tonemap : Adjust gamma, exposure, saturation, bleach and defog. (may cause clipping)

#define USE_VIBRANCE 1 //[0 or 1] Vibrance : Intelligently saturates (or desaturates if you use negative values) the pixels depending on their original saturation.

#define USE_CURVES 1 //[0 or 1] Curves : Contrast adjustments using S-curves.

#define USE_SEPIA 0 //[0 or 1] Sepia : Sepia tones the image.

#define USE_VIGNETTE 0 //[0 or 1] Vignette : Darkens the edges of the image to make it look more like it was shot with a camera lens. May cause banding artifacts.

#define USE_DITHER 0 //[0 or 1] Dither : Applies dithering to simulate more colors than your monitor can display. This lessens banding artifacts (mostly caused by Vignette)

#define USE_BORDER 0 //[0 or 1] Border : Makes the screenedge black as a workaround for the bright edge that forcing some AA modes sometimes causes.

#define USE_SPLITSCREEN 0 //[0 or 1] Splitscreen : Enables the before-and-after splitscreen comparison mode.

[Falcon_S]

Thunderchiff

 

Check here or we can help you here about SweetFX: http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=97626

Edited August 1, 2014 by Falcon_S

[Kal-El]

Thunderchiff

 

Check here or we can help you here about SweetFX: http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=97626

 

Rodger! Thanks. :pilotfly:

[Highwayman-Ed]

Thunderchiff, please find my Sweetfx settings for version 1.51 attached

SweetFX_settings.txt

[kazereal]

All files, links and screenshots updated, all taken with Diveplane's Shadows, Mustang's Clouds, PeterP's HDR and SweetFX 1.4 with PeterP's settings in Spring.

 

Thanks a whole lot for all contributors in making these!

I finally decided to give it a try and what a difference.. :shocking:

 

The "strecthed" look of textures is gone and visual estimatation of altitude is much improved. Now low-level flying is actually possible without crashing instantly, there is so much more visual "depth" on the ground.

 

Also my loading times seem to be hugely improved since repacking those zips with reduced level of compression in them.

It might be worth to implement in DCS installer to repackage all textures after installing DCS..?

Or leave them completely uncompressed if the engine supports it? (That is, if there is enough space in the harddrive to leave them uncompressed..)

 

Anyway, thanks a bunch, eager to see how it will look like in EDGE.. :thumbup:

[shagrat]

No need to compress. I would recommend to use JSGME to manage the modded textures, else every update 're-downloads the textures! And even the zips are quite big ...