Post by AirCoaster on Feb 5, 2009 15:33:21 GMT -5
Hi gang,
First of all, I would like to say thanks for visiting this forum. And please be advised that some of the old threads here have been deleted because of longevity, and relativity. I will also delete some other threads as the related materials cover those subjects created in those threads. I want this forum to have a good flow to it as far as the materials presented.
A Look at Scenery in FSX and FS9
Introduction: Personal Opinion
It's truly amazing to see the advancements in technology of the each new simulator as the months roll by. When we are first introduced to the newest technologies that are involved in any new sim version, we usually are given the bare bones information, and left to figure how to use it. Some folks understand it, and some don't, and bless those folks who do. These folks who do understand and are flight simulator
enthusiasts take this information and put it to good use, namely, producing applications that help to improve content design work flow.
When I was first offered the forums to show the struggle of a veteran scenery designer working in FSX I was using a very crude method of assembling scenery. Hand coding from the SDK can be a daunting task when you would like to create something quick and simple. I would hate to think about creating a large project using hand coding. Now, a year or so later from launch of FSX we are seeing some excellent design and content creation tools coming from the community.
What I Would Like to Accomplish in This Forum
What I would like to do in this forum is to present some of these tools to show how I create the different aspects of scenery creation in FSX. I am certain there are many approaches to creating scenery in FSX, but what I will be discussing here is my methods, and maybe some of you may pick up on how to handle the processes, and make something to call your own.
I would like to take you through step by step procedures of creating your own airport, and some of the other aspects of creating scenery in FSX and FS9. I would also like to see some feedback from my readers, so I can get some idea what you would like to see and any problems you may have. If I know the answer I will try to explain it as best I can. If I don't know the answer, I will try to find the answer, and/or allow someone else to give their input. All posts will be allowed except argumentative posts as this is a forum showing the way I approach scenery creation. If you have something to contribute, please contribute positively. I will not accept negative or argumentative posts.
I am not an expert, only a veteran since FS98, and I have a very thin knowledge of the internal workings of the simulators, and the internal workings of tools used to create scenery. For some of your questions regarding tools and the simulator you may be referred to the specific designer of the tool, to FSInsider, or one of the many FS related forums for the answers.
Tools Available that I Use
Airport Data and Ground Polygon Editors
At the time of this post, I am using ADE (Airport Design Editor) by Jon Masterson (Scuffyduck) and associates. This has proven to be an excellent tool in the short time I have been using it. I just
recently found that ADE works well with Vista x64 OS. I believe AFCAD would still work in FSX, although you would need one of the ground polygon applications made for FSX like FSX-KML, or SBuilderX to create the ground polys and flattens for the airports, otherwise you will have some issues with the default mesh and the airport data for runways and taxiways.
Object Placement Tools
Although FSX with FSX SDK has an object placement tool which comes with the SDK, and can be installed to work in conjunction with the FSX UI, I find Instant Scenery a very intuitive tool for placing objects in FSX and FS9. Instant Scenery is payware at a low price, and mimics the Object Placement tool in FSX, but has some very nice enhancements that allow for fine tuning, and object selection in both FSX and FS9.
In Conclusion
As we move through the next few session I hope you will learn something about scenery creation. I would also hope that any of our resident scenery creators here at The Old Hangar would add there opinions to this forum as we go along. Like I said, I am no expert, but I do enjoy creating scenery, and I am certain the others here who also enjoy creating scenery would be willing to share their knowledge too. Variety is a blessing in scenery creation, and sharing knowledge from one person to another can make the whole experience worth the while.
The next session will focus on getting started with creating your own airport in FSX or FS9. We will be focusing on the preparations needed to get the data we need to locate our airport, and what part of that data will be use in the applications we will use.
Thanks for reading. I hope you plan to join us in our adventures into scenery creation.
I would also like to thank the administration, specifically Roger, here at TOH forums for allowing me to moderate and manage this forum.
First of all, I would like to say thanks for visiting this forum. And please be advised that some of the old threads here have been deleted because of longevity, and relativity. I will also delete some other threads as the related materials cover those subjects created in those threads. I want this forum to have a good flow to it as far as the materials presented.
A Look at Scenery in FSX and FS9
Introduction: Personal Opinion
It's truly amazing to see the advancements in technology of the each new simulator as the months roll by. When we are first introduced to the newest technologies that are involved in any new sim version, we usually are given the bare bones information, and left to figure how to use it. Some folks understand it, and some don't, and bless those folks who do. These folks who do understand and are flight simulator
enthusiasts take this information and put it to good use, namely, producing applications that help to improve content design work flow.
When I was first offered the forums to show the struggle of a veteran scenery designer working in FSX I was using a very crude method of assembling scenery. Hand coding from the SDK can be a daunting task when you would like to create something quick and simple. I would hate to think about creating a large project using hand coding. Now, a year or so later from launch of FSX we are seeing some excellent design and content creation tools coming from the community.
What I Would Like to Accomplish in This Forum
What I would like to do in this forum is to present some of these tools to show how I create the different aspects of scenery creation in FSX. I am certain there are many approaches to creating scenery in FSX, but what I will be discussing here is my methods, and maybe some of you may pick up on how to handle the processes, and make something to call your own.
I would like to take you through step by step procedures of creating your own airport, and some of the other aspects of creating scenery in FSX and FS9. I would also like to see some feedback from my readers, so I can get some idea what you would like to see and any problems you may have. If I know the answer I will try to explain it as best I can. If I don't know the answer, I will try to find the answer, and/or allow someone else to give their input. All posts will be allowed except argumentative posts as this is a forum showing the way I approach scenery creation. If you have something to contribute, please contribute positively. I will not accept negative or argumentative posts.
I am not an expert, only a veteran since FS98, and I have a very thin knowledge of the internal workings of the simulators, and the internal workings of tools used to create scenery. For some of your questions regarding tools and the simulator you may be referred to the specific designer of the tool, to FSInsider, or one of the many FS related forums for the answers.
Tools Available that I Use
Airport Data and Ground Polygon Editors
At the time of this post, I am using ADE (Airport Design Editor) by Jon Masterson (Scuffyduck) and associates. This has proven to be an excellent tool in the short time I have been using it. I just
recently found that ADE works well with Vista x64 OS. I believe AFCAD would still work in FSX, although you would need one of the ground polygon applications made for FSX like FSX-KML, or SBuilderX to create the ground polys and flattens for the airports, otherwise you will have some issues with the default mesh and the airport data for runways and taxiways.
Object Placement Tools
Although FSX with FSX SDK has an object placement tool which comes with the SDK, and can be installed to work in conjunction with the FSX UI, I find Instant Scenery a very intuitive tool for placing objects in FSX and FS9. Instant Scenery is payware at a low price, and mimics the Object Placement tool in FSX, but has some very nice enhancements that allow for fine tuning, and object selection in both FSX and FS9.
In Conclusion
As we move through the next few session I hope you will learn something about scenery creation. I would also hope that any of our resident scenery creators here at The Old Hangar would add there opinions to this forum as we go along. Like I said, I am no expert, but I do enjoy creating scenery, and I am certain the others here who also enjoy creating scenery would be willing to share their knowledge too. Variety is a blessing in scenery creation, and sharing knowledge from one person to another can make the whole experience worth the while.
The next session will focus on getting started with creating your own airport in FSX or FS9. We will be focusing on the preparations needed to get the data we need to locate our airport, and what part of that data will be use in the applications we will use.
Thanks for reading. I hope you plan to join us in our adventures into scenery creation.
I would also like to thank the administration, specifically Roger, here at TOH forums for allowing me to moderate and manage this forum.
