1,746
edits
Howto:Make nice screenshots: Difference between revisions
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Add info, tips, and screenshots
(Add tips on weather, liveries, time etc.) |
(Add info, tips, and screenshots) |
||
| Line 15: | Line 15: | ||
== Quality == | == Quality == | ||
From a broader perspective, it would be desirable if new screenshots could also showcase new FlightGear's capabilities using high quality settings. Say someone googles "VFR guide" because he wants to know something about VFR flying and comes across a bunch of screenshots of FlightGear - we'd really want to impress here so that user gets curious and tries FlightGear. Back when there were still manuals, all | From a broader perspective, it would be desirable if new screenshots could also showcase new FlightGear's capabilities using high quality settings. Say someone googles "VFR guide" because he wants to know something about VFR flying and comes across a bunch of screenshots of FlightGear - we'd really want to impress here so that user gets curious and tries FlightGear. Back when there were still manuals, almost all simulators (Falcon 4.0 for instance) had the highest detail level for all the internal screenshots, not the lowest. So that's something to keep in mind when showcasing FlightGear. | ||
A good virtual picture needs a good quality. That means: | A good virtual picture needs a good quality. That means: | ||
* [[Anti-aliasing|Enabling AntiAliasing]] (AA) | * [[Anti-aliasing|Enabling AntiAliasing]] (AA). Enabling some [[Anti-aliasing#Transparency_anti-aliasing] if using [[Category:Screenshots of overlays]] terrain overlays at low altitude. | ||
* Appealing/true colors | * Appealing/true colors | ||
* Size of the picture- not too small, not | * Size of the picture- not too small, not too big | ||
* No Gui/Menu/FPS counter etc. visible | * No Gui/Menu/FPS counter etc. visible | ||
* Full effects | * Full effects | ||
This means you need a decent computer with middle - good specs. At a minimum, you should able to run Flightgear with smooth frame rate with high anti-aliasing settings. | This means you need a decent computer with middle - good specs. At a minimum, you should able to run Flightgear with smooth frame rate with high anti-aliasing settings. | ||
Some people don't have this, so there is another solution proposed by Melchior Franz : [http://www.opensubscriber.com/message/flightgear-devel@lists.sourceforge.net/8196594.html]. | Some people don't have this, so there is another solution proposed by Melchior Franz : [http://www.opensubscriber.com/message/flightgear-devel@lists.sourceforge.net/8196594.html]. Running at a lower resolution will often improve frame-rate when AA or high shader settings cause a frame-rate bottleneck. Windowed mode will let you experiment with different resolutions. | ||
If the intention is to make a screenshot to showcase Flightgear, it's always possible to pause the sim and turn graphics settings up, and then turn settings down to resume flying. | If the intention is to make a screenshot to showcase Flightgear, it's always possible to pause the sim and turn graphics settings up, and then turn settings down to resume flying. | ||
| Line 91: | Line 91: | ||
This applies to FlightGear as well. So play a bit with the time of day, especially Dawn/Morning/Afternoon and Dusk. Play with the seasons and locations as well. In the winter near the poles, the sun is low, while near the equator the sun is standing high in the sky. As an example, this gives nice effects with the water shaders. | This applies to FlightGear as well. So play a bit with the time of day, especially Dawn/Morning/Afternoon and Dusk. Play with the seasons and locations as well. In the winter near the poles, the sun is low, while near the equator the sun is standing high in the sky. As an example, this gives nice effects with the water shaders. | ||
== Weather == | == Weather == | ||
Our weather has improved much with the addition of [[advanced weather]]. To enable it, you must open the Environment > Weather dialog, then check " | Our weather has improved much with the addition of [[advanced weather]]. To enable it, you must open the Environment > Weather dialog, then check "Detailed Weather" and click "OK". With advanced weather enabled, clouds are placed while taking the terrain and wind patterns into account, making for much more realistic cloud and weather patterns. Advanced weather works best with [[atmospheric light scattering]] enabled as well. | ||
{| class="floatright" | {| class="floatright" | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [[File:Gazelle_over_Blue_Mountains_near_Katoomba_in_Australia_with_signature_blue_haze_(FlightGear_2020.x).jpg|thumb|150px|Blue smog in Australian Blue Mountains]] | | [[File:Gazelle_over_Blue_Mountains_near_Katoomba_in_Australia_with_signature_blue_haze_(FlightGear_2020.x).jpg|thumb|150px|Blue organic smog in the Australian Blue Mountains from Eucalyptus oil released by trees]] | ||
| [[File:SOTM_2018-03_Gazelle_at_Sunset._Near_Mt._St._Helens_by_StuartC.jpg|thumb|150px|Ground haze near Mount St. Helens]] | |||
| [[File:Sunlight_streaming_through_clouds,_EC_135_over_Zurich_in_Switzerland_(Flightgear_2018.x).jpg|thumb|150px|Cloud shadows on ground and the lake, as sunlight streams through gaps in clouds]] | |||
| [[File:SOTM_2018-12_Stormy_Day_by_GinGin.jpg|thumb|150px|The convection slider affects the shape of clouds as well as physics]] | |||
|} | |} | ||
The advanced weather simulation is very sophisticated. There are many properties of atmosphere state that are currently not exposed by the GUI, or are not practical to expose. These properties are randomised each time AW is initialised. Live METAR reports are a vague, limited, rounded off, variable quality, hint at atmospheric state very close to an airfield given at varying intervals intended for airfield operation. | This is an old [https://www.flightgear.org/tours/advanced-weather-v1-4-in-flightgear-2-6/ 2012 article] on how the advanced weather system works and is driven by terrain. It's definitely is worth reading. | ||
Environment > Weather > Detailed weather > Advanced options dialogue has a lot of options that affect weather. The cloud shadows options is there. The ground haze and haze structure simulates moisture. The smog slider should also be used for the organic smog of forests in areas such as the Blue Mountains of Australia, the Blue Ridge mountains of USA, and some forests in countries like France or Italy. Turning up convective conditions and turbulence will affect cloud shape as thermals get stronger and narrower. | |||
The [[Weather#Weather_pattern_scales|scale sliders]] in the Advanced options dialogue affect how quickly the weather changes over space. For instance it's easier to get a single storm cell with skies mostly clear elsewhere by making the scales smaller. | |||
The advanced weather simulation is very sophisticated. There are many properties of atmosphere state that are currently not exposed by the GUI, or are not practical to expose. These properties are randomised each time AW is initialised. Live METAR reports are a vague, limited, rounded off, variable quality, hint at atmospheric state very close to an airfield given at varying intervals intended for airfield operation. Therefore, when using METARs to drive weather there are a lot of properties that unavoidably need to by randomly guessed by Advanced Weather. Pressing "Apply" in the Weather dialogue for a given weather condition or a METAR will create a new random set of properties. | |||
== Environment == | |||
Nature is always changing, often in cycles. This [https://www.flightgear.org/tours/simulating-the-ever-changing-scenery/ article] from 2015 details some ways in which Flightgear simulates this constant change. Since that article has been written things like Auroras have been added. The settings are in Menu > Environment > Environment settings. To control volcanic activity (March 2020), fly near a [[Volcanoes|listed volcano]] and goto Environment > Volcanoes to see a list of volcanoes in the region. | |||
The position of the sun, planets, and moon follow reality and are driven by Flightgear's accurate celestial simulation. The arc the sun describes will vary according to time of year and how far away from the equator you are. In winter the arc of the sun keeps lower the further you move towards the poles. Moon phases vary in a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_phase monthly cycle]. Remember the moon is visible during the day too, and can create some striking views especially when zoomed in a bit. | |||
There is a 2nd type of grass that is currently [[FlightGear_Newsletter_February_2015#ALS_Volumetric_Grass|turned on through XML]] as it looks bad without ALS renderer (March 2020). It's used in some sceneries like the [[User:Wlbragg#Kansas_Custom_Scenery|Kansas/Midwest scenery]] to add smaller plant layers on top of grass. More examples and instructions in [https://forum.flightgear.org/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=34547 this] forum thread. | |||
Remember to experiment with the snowline and snow thickness. The snowline is set by default to the METAR weather at the moment. Snow can stay around for weeks. The actual thickness of snow and the snowline depends on the history of snowfall and weather over a period. It's impossible to know that from the METAR. See Environment settings > 'Set maximum snow level from METAR', 'snowline', and 'snow thickness'. The right sun angle can bring out detail in snow. | |||
<gallery mode="packed"> | |||
File:Seasons_transition_from_summer_to_autumn_at_Innisbruck,_Austria_(Flightgear_2019.x).jpg|Transition of seasons from summer to autumn | |||
File:BK_117_on_the_shore_of_lake_Zurich,_Switzerland_(Flightgear_2018.x-19.x).jpg|The moon is visible at daytime. Changing date slightly changes phase | |||
File:Aurora_Borealis_and_Sun_halo_in_Northern_Norway_in_Autumn_(Flightgear_2019.x).jpg|Aurora Borealis and Sun halo in northern Norway (sun below the horizon). The rays of the low sun are red, making the halo red | |||
</gallery> | |||
=== Notable optical and lighting effects === | |||
Flightgear has a very sophisticated light simulation. This [https://www.flightgear.org/tours/the-magic-of-light-and-haze/ 2014 article] describes just some of what was simulated at the time. Here are a few things to watch out for (March 2020): | |||
* Sun halos: 22 degree ring around the sun. Halos occur frequently, upto a 100 days per year. | |||
* Rainbows: in rain volumes forming a 40 degree ring around the point opposite the sun (anti-solar point). Heavier downpours with larger droplet sizes makes bows more intense. | |||
* Aurora: A ring around both magnetic poles at all times of the year. Usually visible at latitudes above 60 degrees. Large disturbances in the magento-sphere by solar activity can cause Auroras to be seen further towards the equator. | |||
* Clouds: Colour change of high (cirrus) clouds with angle because of the way ice crystals interact with light - try a low sun. The "silver lining" at edges of clouds. | |||
* Ground and surfaces: Lighting of water, puddles, snow, and ice. Water includes rain, fog, and ice on canopies. Snow can build up on flatter surfaces, including roofs. Experiment with the sun at low angles, snow thickness, and sunlight that is reddish or yellowish at sunrise/sunset. | |||
<gallery mode="packed"> | |||
File:SOTM_2020-01_The_Goddness_of_Love_%26_Beauty_in_iridescence_by_eatdirt.jpg| Colour change due to scattering by ice crystals | |||
File:Eurocopter_EC135_over_wet_volumetric_grass_in_Innsbruck_Airport_(LOWI),_Austria_(Flightgear_2018.x).jpg| Reflection of light from the sun by puddles at lower sun angles | |||
File:Bell_412_over_a_snowcapped_Mount_Etna_in_Sicily_in_winter_(Flightgear_2019.x)_02.jpg| Thin clouds close to the sun show a peak in the intensity of light scattered in the forward direction. Snow is lit by the yellowish light from the low sun. | |||
File:SOTM_2018-11_Windows_85_Simulator_by_GinGin.jpg|At low angles dust on glass surfaces can be seen on craft which support it like the Shuttle and EC145 | |||
C172p-frost.jpg|Frost on windows | |||
File:SOTM_2019-06_Catching_the_rainbow_by_F5SLQ.png|Rainbow | |||
File:Silver_lining_of_clouds,_EC135_over_Zurich_in_Switzerland_(Flightgear_2018.x).jpg|'Silver lining' in the fringes of clouds | |||
</gallery> | |||
<br clear=all> | |||
== Locations == | == Locations == | ||
| Line 109: | Line 160: | ||
As an example for showing an aircraft just for presentation, use an "empty" background like the sky, sea or desert. If you want to show the aircraft during operation you could choose some of FlightGear's better airports like [[EHAM]], [[LFPG]] as the background, or some of the more detailed custom sceneries. | As an example for showing an aircraft just for presentation, use an "empty" background like the sky, sea or desert. If you want to show the aircraft during operation you could choose some of FlightGear's better airports like [[EHAM]], [[LFPG]] as the background, or some of the more detailed custom sceneries. | ||
== Picking the right | == Picking the right livery and aircraft configuration == | ||
{| class="floatright" | {| class="floatright" | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [[File:C172p-preview5.jpg|150px]] || [[File:C172p- | | [[File:C172p-preview5.jpg|thumb|150px|C172P, White and blue livery]] | ||
| [[File:C172p-preview4.jpg|thumb|150px|C172P, green and grey livery]] | |||
| [[File:SOTM-Mar19.jpg|thumb|150px|Low sun colouring the Gazelle over Madrid]] | |||
| [[File:C172p-preview13.jpg|thumb|150px|Craft light & intensities can make a difference]] | |||
|} | |} | ||
The right colour scheme for the scene can make a huge difference. Liveries in FlightGear can often be changed mid flight. | The right colour scheme for the scene can make a huge difference. Liveries in FlightGear can often be changed mid flight. The first two shots of the c172p show the difference it makes. If the liveries were swapped in the two screenshots, the result would be less pleasing to the eye. The light from a low sun is yellowish or reddish. This can add to the colour of shinier surfaces or glass depending on angle. Things like afterburners or spotlights affect colour too. | ||
<br clear=all> | <br clear=all> | ||
== Hoping to stumble upon the right shot versus changing what you can control to increase your chances of finding a good shot == | == Hoping to stumble upon the right shot versus changing what you can control to increase your chances of finding a good shot == | ||
Nature can create an almost infinite combinations of environment state, weather and lighting conditions. Flightgear's simulation follows nature. A particular combination can be rare indeed. A casual google will find many articles written about how long nature and landscape photographers using a physical camera have to wait! In a simulated environment like Flightgear there is a huge advantage when we can control the environment or even time itself. | |||
[https://mymodernmet.com/professional-photography-tips-albert-dros/ This] article and its' [https://petapixel.com/2018/06/18/how-i-wait-years-to-get-my-photos/ reference] article are just the first search results, but they talk well about how people taking nature photos with a physical camera "brainstorm" about possible combinations of environment, weather, and lighting that go well together. People have to do all they can to try to increase their chances of being in right place at the right time to see something interesting. The article talks about waiting years to get foggy weather at a specific location or waiting 3 years to get a combination of ground haze/sunrise/tulips. One account is about returning year after year for the 1 week during which the sunsets exactly in the middle of the arch of a bridge while hoping for clouds that moved away from the camera. These photographers may never get the exact intensity or combination they seek, but they can hope for something interesting. Some events like unusual weather, huge geomagnetic storms, or volcanic eruptions may happen once or a few times in a lifetime. The chances of then finding a particular combination of weather or environment is almost zero. | |||
Unlike taking photos with a physical camera, you don't have to hope you are in the right spot, looking in the right direction, with the right weather and lighting exactly right for that direction. | Unlike taking photos with a physical camera, you don't have to hope you are in the right spot, looking in the right direction, with the right weather and lighting exactly right for that direction. We have god-like control over time, environment settings, weather, and lighting. The landscape is harder to control as relocating or approaching from another direction does take time. | ||
If you are flying and find a particularly striking location or view suitable for a particularly good spot, it's always possible to imagine if it would be better with different approach direction, environment settings, weather and lighting. Experimenting with different settings can help. The previous weather can be restored when you resume your flight. The flight recorder lets you look through the historical flight path and change weather (some craft support this better than others). | If you are flying and find a particularly striking location or view suitable for a particularly good spot, it's always possible to imagine if it would be better with different approach direction, environment settings, weather and lighting. Experimenting with different settings can help. The previous weather can be restored when you resume your flight. The flight recorder lets you look through the historical flight path and change weather (some craft support this better than others). | ||
The sim can be paused at any time. This lets you to easily switch view, tweak Field of View, change environment settings etc. There are two different clocks | [[File:Lightning_strike_showing_illumination_of_nearby_clouds_(Flightgear_2019.x)_01.jpg|thumb|150px|'Catching' lightning by slowing physics time and then pausing]] | ||
The sim can be paused at any time. This lets you to easily switch view, tweak Field of View, change environment settings etc. There are two different clocks in Flightgear. The environmental clock controls things like the sun, moon and their lighting. The physics clock is used for the physics that can affect your craft. Weather is also part of physics. You can watch a sunrise while flying among mountains with 600x environmental time-acceleration without crashing. The sim must be unpaused for Advanced Weather to be re-initialised with new random properties and populate clouds. The sim must also be briefly unpaused to let change of environment time affect the scene lighting. Slowing physics time down can help you change weather without your craft going past the landscape. In fact if you slow down physics time, you can 'catch' lighting by pausing, and then take a screenshot. | |||
Lighting in the atmosphere is all about angles. Time, sun position, moon phase, view direction relative to the sun. You can use this knowledge to make it more likely you see what you are looking for. For instance rainbows are light scattered back by a rain volume. Rainbows form a circle around the point opposite the sun | |||
Lighting in the atmosphere is all about angles. Time, sun position, moon phase, view direction relative to the sun. You can use this knowledge to make it more likely you see what you are looking for. For instance rainbows are light scattered back by a rain volume. Rainbows form a circle around the point opposite the sun. Using this, you can increases the odds of a good rainbow screenshot by flying when the sun is low, and approaching interesting scenery in a direction that places the scenery between the point opposite the sun and your camera. Of course, the point opposite the sun has to be in a rain volume too. Flying when the sun is low is simply a good way to spot rainbows. If you found an interesting scene you want to showcase like an airport, you can always try to put the sun in a good spot by changing time of day/year and re-initialise weather until you get a rain volume where you want! | |||
== Colors and whitebalance == | == Colors and whitebalance == | ||
As in real life, in FGFS the pictures often have to be corrected in colors and white balance. This can be done with almost any image editor. In [http://www.gimp.org GIMP] this can be done through <tt>Layers > Colors > Brightness and contrast</tt>. | As in real life, in FGFS the pictures often have to be corrected in colors and white balance. This can be done with almost any image editor. In [http://www.gimp.org GIMP] this can be done through <tt>Layers > Colors > Brightness and contrast</tt>. | ||
| Line 132: | Line 189: | ||
== Conclusion == | == Conclusion == | ||
When keeping this all in mind, you can make some stunning pictures. Try and play with as much you can, look at real images to get hints or try to copy a real life image in FlightGear. All this will help you to take good pictures! | When keeping this all in mind, you can make some stunning pictures. Try and play with as much you can, look at real images to get hints or try to copy a real life image in FlightGear. All this will help you to take good pictures! | ||
(''Note: the screenshots used in the page aren't all examples of artistic shots (March 2020). A few of them illustrate a particular aspect of FG with haze/smog turned down, or were what was available at hand. See the screenshots of the month category for better examples'') | |||
== User experiences == | == User experiences == | ||