Friday Update 5th July - Reflection Revamp

[TheVino3]

This week I present to you a wealth of screenshots showing the recent work on improving the reflections on the aircraft yet further.
The whole reflection system has been practically redone, and allows more factors to play into the reflections, for a much more realistic looking aircraft than the first release reflections gave us.
These come at essentially no cost to performance, and while not very essential to gameplay, they improve the visual fidelity of the sim quite dramatically, which is very important for your overall feeling of immersion - especially in this day and age :thumbsup:
These have nothing to do with the Glass long distance reflections.
You may be able to see one or two other small changes to terrain, if you are a keen observer, but nothing major apart from the reflections themselves :D

Enjoy:

32603261326232633264326532663267326832693270327132 7232733274327532763277327832793280

Cheers

[Kling]

Beautiful screenshots!!! Well done!

[Dutch]

Very nice, thanks! Looks as though the ARP wardens in Deal are doing a better job these days too. :thumbsup:

[VO101_Tom]

It looks fantastic. Great work TF! :thumbsup: :salute:

[ATAG_Snapper]

Looking very, very good! :thumbsup:

[philip.ed]

The game looks absolutely stunning. Great job Team Fusion, great job.

[DUI]

Beautiful screenshots!

And thanks for the frequent Friday updates - very much appreciated!

[SG1_sandokito]

Thanks for posting this.
They're beautiful.

[92 Sqn. Philstyle (QJ-P)]

It appears that the mirage effect (merging all the rivers so the distant landscape looks like a lake) has been beaten into submission.

[RAF74_Buzzsaw]

It appears that the mirage effect (merging all the rivers so the distant landscape looks like a lake) has been beaten into submission.

Yes, the graphics members of Team Fusion have done great work on this and the overall terrain look and deserve lots of credit, we believe our distance resolution is now second to none. :D

[DAD]

Veri nice Good lake

[Macro]

nice one guys looks great!

if I have the keen eye...is it the white cliffs had a touch up?

[vranac]

Beautiful screenshots!!!

Thanks :thumbsup:

[101/7_Savas]

Looking good, thanks! :thumbsup:

[Continu0]

Nice! Kentucky Fried Chickens delivered by a Beaufighter!!!! Will it be flyable?

Jokes aside, Thanks! Looking great and we definitely need an early-morning-mission on ATAG!!!!

[Kling]

Do i see new new beaches below the cliffs? They look a bit brighter and cleaner no?!

[Blitzen]

:thumbsup:

[Dutch]

Yes, the graphics members of Team Fusion have done great work on this and the overall terrain look and deserve lots of credit, we believe our distance resolution is now second to none. :D

Now that is great news for us high altitude fans. It's always been weird that rivers get wider as you fly higher (sort of). If the 'square' of higher res terrain has also been eliminated that'll be a very very welcome addition. Thanks for that info Buzz. :thumbsup:

[Hawkzz]

Great Work guys, Planes now really blend with environment a lot better now.:thumbsup:

Hawkzz.

[Tonester]

Looks great...when mine still worked it NEVER looked that good...what vid card are you using?

[TheVino3]

Looks great...when mine still worked it NEVER looked that good...what vid card are you using?

Single GTX 580

[FTC_Snowy]

Nice work. Thank you Team Fusion.

[Furious]

Looks amazing, well done and keep it up!!

~S~

[Osprey]

Excellent. Thank you for a regular update - it's important for the community to know that things are moving forward.

[Kling]

Excellent. Thank you for a regular update - it's important for the community to know that things are moving forward.

this

[Skoshi_Tiger]

Thanks for keeping us in the loop TF!

You can add my name to the list of people wanting to fly that Beaufighter!

Keep up the good work!

[Falco]

Looks great, thanks for the update, it's great to see your passion for what we do.:salute:

[Mattias]

Here's some comparison shots from the "The Black Death" track :salute:
(please note this is still WIP, but I hope you agree it looks a bit more 3-dimensional :D)

EDIT: Just to clarify, these shots are made in a slightly earlier WIP version and the effect is quite strong.

Vanilla:
http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s497/MusseMus77/2Vanilla_zpsb2aeecc7.png (http://s1054.photobucket.com/user/MusseMus77/media/2Vanilla_zpsb2aeecc7.png.html)

TF WIP:
http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s497/MusseMus77/2TFWIP_zps63f1340c.png (http://s1054.photobucket.com/user/MusseMus77/media/2TFWIP_zps63f1340c.png.html)

Vanilla:
http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s497/MusseMus77/5Vanilla_zpsefb2f9a7.png (http://s1054.photobucket.com/user/MusseMus77/media/5Vanilla_zpsefb2f9a7.png.html)

TF WIP:
http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s497/MusseMus77/5TFWIP_zpsf08e03de.png (http://s1054.photobucket.com/user/MusseMus77/media/5TFWIP_zpsf08e03de.png.html)

Vanilla:
http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s497/MusseMus77/3Vanilla_zpsb7f2398a.png (http://s1054.photobucket.com/user/MusseMus77/media/3Vanilla_zpsb7f2398a.png.html)

TF WIP:
http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s497/MusseMus77/3TFWIP_zpsf9cf93db.png (http://s1054.photobucket.com/user/MusseMus77/media/3TFWIP_zpsf9cf93db.png.html)

Vanilla:
http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s497/MusseMus77/10Vanilla_zps4ecf3946.png (http://s1054.photobucket.com/user/MusseMus77/media/10Vanilla_zps4ecf3946.png.html)

TF WIP:
http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s497/MusseMus77/10TFWIP_zps6e75c510.png (http://s1054.photobucket.com/user/MusseMus77/media/10TFWIP_zps6e75c510.png.html)

Vanilla:
http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s497/MusseMus77/8Vanilla_zps994d977e.png (http://s1054.photobucket.com/user/MusseMus77/media/8Vanilla_zps994d977e.png.html)

TF WIP:
http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s497/MusseMus77/8TFWIP_zpse3721d36.png (http://s1054.photobucket.com/user/MusseMus77/media/8TFWIP_zpse3721d36.png.html)

Cheers/m

[9./JG26_Brigg]

amazing work guys keep it up.:salute:

[Kling]

Great photos Mattias!!!

[Uwe]

Those planes look polished!

[TWC_SLAG]

Since the low level clouds are cumulus, they should have a flatter base denoting the altitude at which the temp and dew point are close enough to turn the rising water vapor into a cloud. They then "boil" up from that base. They shouldn't look like a bunch of cotton balls stuck together.

Other than that, I have got to give you guys credit for your devotion in making CoD better and better.

Thank you for your efforts,

Binky9

[Wulf]

Yes Mattias, I agree. The aircraft in the screen shots look as though they are actually part of environment. As the game currently stands, the aircraft appear more like cut outs that have been pasted over an existing backdrop. That's great work. Thanks.

[Gix]

Well, as far as I see, planes looks now too "white" with this. Especially on mid day screenshots. All around looks better, but its like there are now too much reflection on planes.

[Mattias]

Thanks for all kind comments :salute:


Well, as far as I see, planes looks now too "white" with this. Especially on mid day screenshots. All around looks better, but its like there are now too much reflection on planes.

It's still WIP and the overall level will be tweaked to suit everyone's perception of how an aircraft looks during a sunny day :)

EDIT: Just to clarify -the effect in the shots I posted are a bit overdone. I'm not arguing against that :D The 110's in Vinos original post are newer and better balanced :thumbsup:
http://bf1o91.tripod.com/photo/fighter/page2/bf110.jpg

Cheers/m

[Continu0]

You are right, it looks more 3D!

On some screens it looks perfect, on others it is a litte bit too much. I am confident that you will find the perfect pitch!

[steeldelete]

excellent! Thanks for your efforts!

[Oersted]

Great comparison shots, the difference really shows!

[TheVino3]

Something that people should realize (also dont worry im not being snappy :D ) is that aircraft (and most objects actually IRL, but for now im talking aircraft) are really really reflective, not necessarily glossy/shiny/smooth, but the colour an object appears to a human eye is hugely affected by the environment around it...I mean hugely. If I had my way every object in the game would get the same treatment we are giving the aircraft, but for now thats not happening :)

For instance,
3302
anyone remember this?

The game currently barely simulates this at all, except for the sky colour reflections we put in the first release, but they dont really do justice to the sheer amount of colour change objects experience. As a consequence, they look like, as already said, "cutouts" placed in an environment - which is what we are fixing.

People shouldnt expect that the base colour of the aircraft will always be mostly visible, as that just flies in the face of the definition of reflection "The throwing back by a body or surface of light, heat, or sound without absorbing it." - which as far as light is concerned means a change of colour of the object reflecting the light - and this is often quite a dramatic colour change. I feel these new reflections simulate this quite well.

Also, as Mattias' picture demonstrates quite clearly (as do countless others, as well as any video of an aircraft), reflection off an aircraft (or any object) does often, at certain angles, give a very white appearance to the reflecting part :thumbsup:

None of this is too say, however, that we aren't going to listen to feedback about our work. We fully intend to take on any and all criticisms, its just important that people keep the above mentioned in mind, and do some photo comparisons of your own if you truly feel that something is really wrong.

Cheers, and thanks for all the interest!

[Katdog5]

gettin very sessy in here

[Mattias]

Since the low level clouds are cumulus, they should have a flatter base denoting the altitude at which the temp and dew point are close enough to turn the rising water vapor into a cloud. They then "boil" up from that base. They shouldn't look like a bunch of cotton balls stuck together.

Other than that, I have got to give you guys credit for your devotion in making CoD better and better.

Thank you for your efforts,

Binky9

:salute: Blinky,

TF improved the cloud apperance for the last patch and I'm happy to say we're making good progress in making them even better for the upcoming one :thumbsup:

No promises yet of course -as usual we need to make sure all changes/improvements comes at no or very little cost in performance/FPS.

Cheers/m

[coolhand3011]

Well, as far as I see, planes looks now too "white" with this. Especially on mid day screenshots. All around looks better, but its like there are now too much reflection on planes.

Screenshot 10 really looks a little off. I think it's because the reflection values from the sky on the aircraft are brighter than the values of the actual sky/clouds in the backdrop. It has a really overdone HDR photo feel because of it. I think it should be matched closer to the reflections in the water below seeing as that is also a reflective body reflecting the sky.

I know it's a WIP screeny but I just wanted to echo that about the midday shots. The beaufighter in the evening and some the other ones are jaw droppingly gorgeous though! Thanks for all the hard work that is going into this. Can't wait to see more in the next update. :thumbsup:

[Uwe]

of course judgment should be reserved for the release, but they look amazing-and obviously are in factory fresh livery.
Id like to see some shots of the heavily weathered aircraft too, but Im patient!

[SepiaX]

Brilliant, I can not sleep. Great job :flying:

[startrekmike]

I really like the amount of visual pop you have brought out with the new reflections, it really changes the overall feel of visuals in a postive way.

Keep up the good work.

[JAMF]

IMHO the aircraft look a bit too hazy at the close up shots. Lighting from below could be toned down a bit too, but minor niggles, as the improvements are much better from before.

[312_Jura]

Looks marvellous, can't wait for it!
Great job!

[SIDWULF]

mattias your pics are quite blurry.

The original post...those screens look almost real...incredible.

[Tomsk]

Screenshot4.jpg

Wow! I realize the update was about aircraft reflections, but that is exactly what that part of the world looks like in the evenings in the summer (I grew up in Kent), the sun on the waves, the color of the sea, the slight haziness, absolutely perfect guys.