FlightGear Newsletter March 2017: Difference between revisions

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[[File:Blackout shaders.png|640px|Blackout shaders in effect]]
[[File:Blackout shaders.png|640px|Blackout shaders in effect]]
=== Faster canvas text drawing ===
The [[Canvas_Nasal_API#updateText | updateText()]] method is now available in the canvas API. This is intended to reduce property I/O and improve performance in situations where a display item changes only rarely rather than per frame (like AP mode strings or a course selection). The updateText() method only writes the property if the text string has actually changed from the last update cycle.


== In the hangar ==
== In the hangar ==

Revision as of 06:07, 30 March 2017

This newsletter is a draft.

Please feel free to add content that you think will be of interest to the FlightGear community.
You can read the latest newsletter at FlightGear Newsletter February 2016.


Magagazine.png
Enjoy reading the latest edition!
Please help us write the coming edition!
March 2017

Development news
ALS HUD effect
G-force ALS tunnel-vision and greyout
In the hangar
Updated Pilatus PC-9M and Fokker Dr.1
Updated Helicopter EC130 B4 / EC130 T2 (H130)

Scenery Corner
Community News

Contributing
Translators required
FlightGear logos
Screenshots
Screenshot of the Month

Development news

ALS HUD effect

The atmospheric light scattering rendering framework adds support to render canvas-based head-up displays in a more plausible way so that they look like light projected on glass and less like symbols printed onto the surface.

Comparison between a bare canvas HUD (left) and the ALS HUD shader run over it (right)

The effect also includes all the features of the glass effect (scratches, glare, icing, fogging, damage,...) and is based on running a blur and color post-processing over the canvas image. It is easy to add to any canvas HUD. Read more...

G-force ALS tunnel-vision and greyout

If running in ALS with ALS filters enabled, there will now instead of just the screen go black at high G-force also be tunnel-vision and greyout.

Blackout shaders in effect

Faster canvas text drawing

The updateText() method is now available in the canvas API. This is intended to reduce property I/O and improve performance in situations where a display item changes only rarely rather than per frame (like AP mode strings or a course selection). The updateText() method only writes the property if the text string has actually changed from the last update cycle.

In the hangar

Updated Pilatus PC-9M and Fokker Dr.1

Both the Pilatus PC-9M and the Fokker Dr.1 have undergone a cosmetic update by applying all the appropriate shaders. In both cases this was the reflection shader and the bumpmap shader and in case of the PC-9 also interior cockpit glass shaders. The Fokker Dr.1 is close to finished and the Pilatus PC-9M will get the 'detailed Cessna C-172P' treatment in the coming months.

Pilatus PC-9M in reflective factory demonstrator livery
Fokker Dr.1 heading home

Updated Airbus Helicopter EC130 B4 / EC130 T2 (H130)

The EC130 B4 helicopter has received a younger sibling model the EC130 T2 or H130 (the new Airbus designation).

H130 Air Zermatt

The new H130 has a modified instrument panel, stronger engine, modified doors on right side and other small changes to the fuselage. Several new liveries for the new model were added including a beautiful Air-Zermatt version.

Updates/additions for both variants include a full autostart capability which is enabled after 5 flights (previous 15), an improved FDM for more stable hover behaviour, Co-Pilot, Passenger and a Patient model in EMS variant. Passengers and new Luggage can be added by click animations and even Skis can be put into the baskets. MP behaviour was improved, Tooltips with feedback like fuel amount, refuelling via mouse-wheel and fixes for FG 2017 were done.

Scenery corner

Juneau International Airport

Catalanoic has added buildings and 3D objects to Juneau International Airport (PAJN, JNU) in Alaska, USA.

Community news

Contributing

Translators required

En.gif The FlightGear Wiki still needs help for translating it into various languages. If you are interested in making the FlightGear Wiki multilingual, you can start by looking at Help:Translate.
Fr.gif Le wiki de FlightGear a toujours besoin d'aide pour être traduit en différentes langues. Si vous êtes intéressé par le rendre multilingue, commencez par lire Help:Traduire.
De.gif Das FlightGear Wiki benötigt immer noch Hilfe bei der Übersetzung in verschiedene Sprachen. Wenn Du Interesse daran hast, das FlightGear Wiki mehrsprachig zu machen, dann fang mit dem Help:Übersetzen an.
Nl.gif De FlightGear Wiki kan nog steed hulp gebruiken bij het vertalen van artikelen. Als je interesse hebt om de wiki meertalig te maken, raden we je aan om een kijkje te nemen bij Help:Vertalen.
Es.gif La wiki de FlightGear todavía necesita ayuda para traducirla a varios lenguajes. Si estás interesado en hacer la FlightGear wiki multilingüe, entonces comienza en Help:Traducir.
Cat.gif La wiki de FlightGear encara necessita ajuda per traduir-la a diverses llengües. Si esteu interessat en fer la wiki de FlightGear multilingüe, llavors comenceu a Help:Traduir.
Pt.gif A wiki de FlightGear ainda necessita de ajuda para traduzi-la em vários idiomas. Se estás interessado em tornar a wiki de FlightGear multi-lingual, por favor começa em Help:Traduzir.

FlightGear logos

If you want some graphic elements for your FlightGear-related site (such as a hangar or YouTube channel), please feel free to visit FlightGear logos for a repository of logos. And if you have some art skills, please don't hesitate to contribute with your own design creations.

Screenshots

The FlightGear project always needs screenshots, which show features that were added since the last release. These should be of good quality, especially in content and technical image properties. It is therefore recommended to use the best viable filter settings (anti-aliasing, texture sharpening, etc.). More info at Howto:Make nice screenshots.

Screenshot of the Month

Entries for this month's best screenshot can be submitted to this forum topic. Be sure to see the first post for participation rules. For purposes of convenience and organization, after all the entries have been submitted, a new forum topic will be started containing all shots in an easy-to-view layout. The voting will then take place there. Once the voting has finished, the best screenshot will be presented on this page.