Now can repaint scenery too,....

[devindh]

Hi, all.

Give some screen cap of mine,... scenery repaint like this,..........

http://www.helifreak.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=35704&stc=1&d=1200418512

And using other sim pano image (see, http://www.helifreak.com/showthread.php?t=54872, thanks Alan/AJK@HF for hosting), you can replace some default scenery,....

http://www.helifreak.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=34117&stc=1&d=1199044188

like this,.....

http://www.helifreak.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=35706&stc=1&d=1200418512

http://www.helifreak.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=35705&stc=1&d=1200418512

Happy cyber flying,.................

[CyCrow]

And here's what you need...

Included C# program will convert Phoenix mangled DDS files to normal DDS files. These use DXT1 texture compression, 2048x2048 cube maps. In addition, some sceneries have tree masks and water masks etc.

Phoenix will happily use the normal DDS files.

The included source is very simple, no GUI etc. It will compile with the free Visual Studio Express. No exe is included, as (1) This is really only for experts. (2) You shouldn't trust programs downloaded from random strangers on the net anyway. Read it and verify it doesn't wipe your harddrive.

Copyrights... This code is hereby released into the public domain. Any use is at your own responsibility. Beware that Phoenix might not like posting of derivative works, so consider asking permission before you upload your modified sceneries. Also make sure that any sceneries you find on the net is OK to redistribute if you convert them to Phoenix.

Note that the files are not "encrypted", in that case it wouldn't be this easy ;-)

// CyCrow

[sparx-]

Man you are cruel. So care to explain how to do this?

There is a scenery in AFPD called Tyson that is one of my favorites. I would love to be able to use it in Phoenix :)

SPaRX

[devindh]

Hi and thanks CyCrow, for the tool.

And you need Photoshop DDS (Nvidia texture tool) plugin to modify image, read and dl here http://developer.nvidia.com/object/nv_texture_tools.html

Import normal DDS (convert from CyCrow tool above),... edit, and save it to DXT1 - no Mipmaps format.

Cheers.

[theglennster]

Very Nice Devin good work my freind :thumbup:

I was playing around with this myself but looks like you beat me to it. :YeaBaby:

I cannot find a way of adding your own model (or scene) without overwriting an existing one. Anybody got any ideas on this as its not just a matter of adding the folder like Reflex XTR

Cheers
Glenn.

[devindh]

Hi Glenn,..thx. The Header of DDS file can be found in self of file (in near end section of file),..... like bmp file mod before. Cut and Paste to Header of itself - with HexEdit.

Yap, we must overwriting an existing one for colorsceme/variant, and for scenery too,...till now.

For me, dessertmesa and artictundra scene are twins. One must die,...:)

Cheers.

[sparx-]

I guess this one is just going to be over my head. I got something new to learn. All I want to do is take some existing flying sites which are in .jpg format and convert them to use in phoenix. Any pointers to help me figure this out will be helpful.

SpaRX

[CyCrow]

Seems it was even simpler, this version also converts bmp files. It will look for the Phoenix specific 8 byte code at the start of the file, and if it matches 0xff80402010080402, it will rearrange the file properly. Run this command line version in the a directory, and it will copy the converted files into a new directory "out".

As usual, no warranty, so use this at your own risk. Backup your phoenix dir just in case.

As for converting other sceneries, that isn't trivial. Phoenix uses cube mapping (6 images), while many other sims use spherical mapping (360x180 degrees in a single image). Converting between them requires special transformations. The collision/shadow/water geometry is also an issue. The most you can hope for is probably touching up some existing sceneries, and possibly replacing simple sceneries like arctictundra and desertmesa.

// CyCrow

[devindh]

This what Cycrow mean with cube mapping from 6 images,....

http://www.helifreak.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=35775&stc=1&d=1200511716

http://www.helifreak.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=35776&stc=1&d=1200511716



and this is spherical mapping (360x180 degrees in a single image) in other sim,.....

http://www.helifreak.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=35777&stc=1&d=1200511716



Thanks Cycrow,...

Cheers.

[devindh]

I managed the pano image to works and download know,.....:)

Using Photoshop, get rectang marquee selection, free transform, warp it, and convert a spherical mapping pano to a cube mapping like this,......

http://www.helifreak.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=35860&stc=1&d=1200598000

Since i using pano work of some person in other forum, i will try to get him permission now with credit to,... that this scenery NOW is available to DOWNLOAD here, for add-on NEW SCENERY (not repaint, yeah),.....soon.

http://www.helifreak.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=35861&stc=1&d=1200598000

Regards.

[CyCrow]

Tools needed:

Pano2QTVR: http://gardengnomesoftware.com/pano2qtvr_download.php - free version works fine.
Irfanview / Paint.NET - any simple image manipulation software.
NVidia DDS tools: http://developer.nvidia.com/object/dds_utilities_legacy.html
To edit cube maps, I used DirectX Texture Tools from Microsoft. Dowload DirectX SDK.

Procedure:
- Download Reflex scenery. It will contain a 8160x3060 Jpg file.
- Load in Irfanview and select Image->Canvas size... Add 1020 pixels to the bottom.
- Save as jpg, high quality (90-95) to avoid image degradation.
- Start Pano2QTVR and create a new project.
- Goto Project tab, select equirectangular project type. Load scenery jpeg.
- Select Convert to Cubic button. Output as JPEG, set tile size to 2048. Set base name.
- You should now have 6 2048x2048 files. Load them in irfanview to verify they are OK. You can touch them up at this point. The bottom file will have a large round hole.
- Use nvdxt -dxt1c -nomipmap -file <filename>.jpg to generate <filename>.dds textures.
- After backing up your original Phoenix directory, goto environments/arcticTundra
- replace arcticTundra[1-6].dds with your textures, adding 1 to the numbering.
- Go fly! Select arcticTundra in phoenix and test your new scenery. There are no obstacles or occlusion maps, so flat open sceneries work best.

Advanced:
- The light direction will probably be wrong. It's possible to shift/wrap the original to reorient it, matching the arcticTundra sun direction with the scenery.

- Phoenix works with 4096x4096 highres textures, at least on my graphics cards. I haven't found any very high resolution sceneries (16384x8192) on the net. Loading times also go up, but framerate seems unaffected.
- Previews are simple, just crop/scale and compress to dds. 1024x1024 for full, 64x64 for small.
- To generate proper reflection maps, there is a txt file in the phoenix dir:

+X = 1 -> flip H
-X = 3 -> flip H
+Y = 5 -> rotate 90 CW, flip H
-Y = 6 -> rotate 90 CCW, flip H
+Z = 2 -> flip H
-Z = 4 -> flip H

Use e.g. irfanview to flip and rotate the cube faces before loading the into dxtex.exe.

I tried scaling the reflection map to 512x512 cubemap, with mipmapping using dxt1c compression, no problem. Phoenix originally uses 128x128 RGB textures instead, but is flexible.

// CyCrow

[gregwee]

:clappp

Wow devindh, How did you add a new scenery? Can you tell us the steps needed to do this?

[gregwee]

Thanks to devindh's post below, new sceneries have been created.. See my post below.

[devindh]

Hi Greg,... first, sorry for my bad english, and clear explaination like Cycrow did, Thanks Cycrow.

For add a NEW SCENERY,....

http://www.helifreak.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=35861&stc=1&d=1200598000

1. Notice of 10 DIGIT of scenery name, "_import001" like 10 DIGIT of "dessertmesa"
2 Make copy of ORIGINAL "dessertmesa" folder to NEW "_import001" folder
3.Rename every file with "_import001" in beginning name of file instead of "dessertmesa",...(like foldername was, you notice this in heli files, aircraf files too)
4. Replace all of file in this folder with your created scenery, like this;
_import001cubemap.dds
_import0014.dds _import0015.dds
_import0012.dds
_import0013.dds
_import0016.dds
_import0011.dds
_import001_preview_small.dds
_import001.fly
_import001.map
_import001_preview_full.dds

5. All dds file can replaced to yours, but you can leave ????cubemap.dds still contain dessertmesa things (cause this file just related reflection maps) if you make OFF your reflection setting.

6 Now for final, using your hex editor, open _import001.map file, search in ASCII all of "dessertmesa" and replaced it with "_import001", thats all (this is WHY you have to keep 10 DIGIT for name of your new scenery/field).

7.Leave "import001.fly" like original from copy of dessertmesa ones (previously u just rename it to "_import001")


Cheers.

PS; 10 DIGIT mean like "qwertyuiop" so all file must be "qwertyuiop1.dds" and so on, i hope you understand what its mean.

[gregwee]

Thanks to the info posted by devindh and CyCrow, I've created two new scenes for Phoenix.

First one is the "Elmshorner Modellbau Club eV" from Reflex.
http://www.helifreak.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=35907&d=1200649464

The second one is the open field scene that is available from this post (http://www.helifreak.com/showthread.php?t=54872).
http://www.helifreak.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=35908&d=1200649464

You can download the "Elmshorner Modellbau Club eV" scene from here (http://ares.locusin.com/phoenix/ElmshornerV1.zip), and the open field scene from here (http://ares.locusin.com/phoenix/FreeStyleFld.zip).

Steps:
1. Download the zip files from the link above.
2. Unzip it into "C:\Program Files\PhoenixRC\resources\environments\" with the default folder names included in the zip files.
3. Start Phoenix! :)

Hope you guys enjoy it. :)

[flyboy320]

Thanks gregwee, that's what I've been waiting for, someone to upload new sceneries, and thanks to everyone else who has helped in this thread :noteworthy

[HFG]

Someone needs to paint the HF logo on the white billboard on the freestyle field.

[gregwee]

Someone needs to paint the HF logo on the white billboard on the freestyle field.

HF logo added to the scenery.. :lol:

You'll need to download the Free Style Field (http://ares.locusin.com/phoenix/FreeStyleFld.zip) zip file again, then replace "FreeStyleFld2.dds" in "C:\Program Files\PhoenixRC\resources\environments\FreeStyleFl d\" directory.

http://www.helifreak.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=36157&d=1200924678

[raptor3dpilot]

Would it be too gay if I told you guys I love you???

Man this is awesome work!!

[seaky]

I've ported one of my favourite scenery from RefleXTR

Available from here:
see page 4
Just put zip contents to Program Files\PhoenixRC\resources\environments\ directory

bye,
seaky

[devindh]

Thats my fav too Seaky, nice, btw, you can use cubemap dds file (copy, rename, paste, just that) from REALFLIGHT too. It have same resolution but file size bigger cause it have some mipmaps in there, but be aware not to posting it here, due copyrights issue,.....

Cheers.

[Steel Butcher]

Thanks to the info posted by devindh and CyCrow, I've created two new scenes for Phoenix.

First one is the "Elmshorner Modellbau Club eV" from Reflex.

The second one is the open field scene that is available from this post (http://www.helifreak.com/showthread.php?t=54872).


You can download the "Elmshorner Modellbau Club eV" scene from here (http://ares.locusin.com/phoenix/ElmshornerV1.zip), and the open field scene from here (http://ares.locusin.com/phoenix/FreeStyleFld.zip).

Steps:
1. Download the zip files from the link above.
2. Unzip it into "C:\Program Files\PhoenixRC\resources\environments\" with the default folder names included in the zip files.
3. Start Phoenix! :)

Hope you guys enjoy it. :)



Is your server up? I can't d/l them.



.

[raptor3dpilot]

Would you be able to use some of the sceneries on this website to create new environments?

http://www.szenerien.de/HELI-X-Szenerien/

[raptor3dpilot]

I've ported one of my favourite scenery from RefleXTR

Available from here:
http://seaky.synapsys.hu/phoenixrc/seakymap01.zip
Just put zip contents to Program Files\PhoenixRC\resources\environments\ directory

bye,
seaky


Hey I recognize this place!!! This is the North Las Vegas, Nevada flying field off of Decatur and the 215. :D They are not fans of helicopter fliers there though. I remember about 2 years ago Reflex asked me to go out and measure the runway, pits, and about 90% of the pits area so they could make it into a Reflex map. I never heard anything back from them as far as if they ever made it... but here it is! You guys are flying in Las Vegas. :D

[devindh]

Would you be able to use some of the sceneries on this website to create new environments?

http://www.szenerien.de/HELI-X-Szenerien/

Yes, I can, but cant post it here,... and warning to all of us, pano image have a copyrigths to publish,..

Not posting something illegal, you must get a permission and give credit to creator for use it. Apologize me, i just make a proof that it can used in phoenix,.... some hex editing to *.map files done to get a better default start position to Heli/Plane.

http://www.helifreak.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=36831&stc=1&d=1201463599

http://www.helifreak.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=36832&stc=1&d=1201463599

Heli-X, Realflight and Phoenix have same cubic mapping,... need some flip horizontal to the images.
Reflex images need some convert from sphere mapping to cubic mapping.

Cheers.