[Guest]

Found that specularity of the planes (objects) is posible, and played with some of them. I think that with proper texture (skins) like alfa chanel, we could have specular map (and files calls some alfa texture).



That means more realistic metalic shine of the planes, maybe even panels, rivets, dents, metal fatigue in relief and much more detail.



Unfortunately that requires much more knowledge then I have, so here is some screenshots from my testing and some files if someone wants to try it. I can make that alfa texture if that will be needed. For some reason it didnt work with US markins/skins and I didnt have time to try it with custom skins. Dont afects FPS at all.

IMO it is worth of investigation and it would be great to see that for all planes

Screenshots are not edited at all (except resize).

Files:

http://rapidshare.com/files/68559860/Sp ... t.rar.html

And screens:

[Whizz]

The effect is lovely.

[Klemm]

But a bit too strong IMO. Not all planes were this shiny, it helps with visibility, but its just plain unrealistic, sorry. Dont wanna rain on your parade here, just sayin'. It would be cool to get the effect for some planes but not for others. Is that possible? For the P-51 and P-47 perhaps, most of 'em had silver finish.

[Alex29]

I like it!!

[fozzy]

All your shots are at 12.00pm in perfect weather, what is the effect like on a cloudier day?

[Trooper117]

Looks very good on the all metal/unpainted finished aircraft.. But the effect doesn't look right on the camouflage paint jobs!..

[III/JG52_Torpe]

I'm with Klemm, only silver aluminium planes had this level of specularity, as Hartmann said in his memories, only americans had this sun-effect from far

[Guest]

All your shots are at 12.00pm in perfect weather, what is the effect like on a cloudier day?

Spit is on Fly_Zo desert Crimea at 9, B17 is on Normandy at 6:30 in the morning, rainy weather and the rest QMB Smolensk and Okinawa, mixed weather and times of the day, but you are welcome to try it in whatever time and weather you want


It is posible for every plane, and it is a bit unrealistic because light spreads equaly on all plane's surfaces. That's what specular map is for, to show to the "light" on which spots on the plane exactly to "shine" and how much to shine, for ie. shine on rivets and panel lines and dont shine on canvas ailerons or fins.

This effect is much more usefull for portraying bumpines of rivets, panels and metal imperfections then shiniynes, for P51 and P47 we need REFLECTION, and thats not posible in il2 for sure.

And in case that someone learn how to open that TGA and TGB files from the simulation we could make specular maps (maybe skins with alfa chanels) and have it much more realistic and with that "relief" bump efect on rivets, panels metal fatigue.

Here is little ilustration, see how surfaces are indeed very imperfect, full of bumps and scratches. (somewhere almost like a pilow) And this "specularity" maybe can make it look more realistic in this sim. (feel it under your hand )

[elephant]

I do agree that is a great improovment and the only drawback IMHO is that it points out the, relatively to newer games, lower polygon 3dmodels. :?
The Spitfire wings look so toylike in the pics.
So, may be, you have to to experiment more with the specularity figures per plane and with specially prepared skins.
A great disovery you did undoubtly.

[Guest]

Great work m8! Any chance of a P51?

[Guest]

this is awesome ! i didnt know this was possible

are thoses pictures from il2 are they after you play with the alfa chanels ?

[Guest]

are thoses pictures from il2 are they after you play with the alfa chanels ?

I didnt play with them at all, I just set gloss and specularity in .mat files, and it sims that is posible for every object and terain textures too, so MAYBE beside plane bumpines and more lifelike surfaces, we could have even some grass or tree shine, but dont get me for that, thats way beyond my knowledge of the matter.

My idea is to have some specially prepared skins (as elephant said it) as alfa chanels cause .mat is calling on some textures as alfa chanels. problem is those skins are in unopenable tga or tgb format :x Then they would look less like toys (low poligon guilty)

More or less I dont know what I am doing, but keeping experimenting and learning

If nothing, it will be at least set of shiny ones P51, P47, B29, Liberator . . .

[Martin98]

THAT IS TOO BEAUTIFULL!!!

you are a genius!!! thank you very much!!!

[Zoltann]

Well Done!!!!

Another GREAT improvement I think!

Brilliant work, thanks!!

zoltann :lol: :wink:

[Guest]

well thats cool m8 just do what you can - im sure you will work out the other tga's another time - looking forward to your first mod