DX10 and Classic AI & Scenery

[triflyman]

After some research I decided to try DX10 in FSX. I purchased Steve's DX10 Fixer and most works well but I need help with some issues from anyone that is running DX10 with Classic AI's and Scenery.

I only fly with Classic AI's and only into Classic Scenery with FSX Acceleration:

• A lot of work to run 8 bit textures on all the AI's...already did the scenery:
•     Does anyone know of a quicker way to do this…or…
•     Can I just run with the “8 bit texture fix” activated all the time (manual does not recommend this)
• Even with the 8 bit texture fix running…if at night I have the run the slider all the way over to aircraft or I still get some plain white bodies on the AI aircraft

• Would appreciate any other “settings” recommendations for DX10 Fixer

Thanks,

[deltalima]

Hi Tri,

I fly the "8-bit" ticked on always. That's the only way (to my knowledge) FS9 portovers work reasonably well. Not sure the reason for Steve suggesting against it, but thus far, (a year?) no issues at all.

I still have a few phantom white/chromed aircraft here and there, and the textures are by no means as correct colour-wise as in FS9 or FSX DX9. But the greater FPS, and overall quality improvement of running DX10 makes it a worthwhile tradeoff.

Then again, I'm not an AI "spotter" - so long as I have some reasonably accurate AI as I'm taking off/landing, I'm happy. So a good part of my acceptance of this tradeoff has to do with my expectations - which are pretty basic. Others into the whole "HD AI" thing may not so readily live with how these look in FSX+DX10.

Hope that helps,

DL

[triflyman]

It does help...really didn't want to go through each and every AI Texture.

Any other settings you changed in Steve's program that I should consider?

Thanks,

[deltalima]

Most everything is ticked, that applies. I set the AA in the Nvidia Controller, other than that, I run all the Fixer options.

So far, my only glitch that I can't fix is with David Maltby's Trident - chrome textures on the seats, throttles, and control yoke in the VC, and chrome wheels (not tires) which I can live with - in the exterior view. The Calclassic planes I do fly (L-749, DC-6, C-240) are all fine.

dl

[triflyman]

Thanks...I don't find I can set AA in my Nvida Controller...what do you set it to in Steve's program?

Thanks,

[deltalima]

It's the second item on the list under "3d settings". I've set it and the fixer to 4x.

dl

[triflyman]

Thanks...found it and changed as you said.

A couple of items of note, as I play with Steve's Fixer...even with the 8 bit texture fix activated I still found a few AI aircraft with "washed-out' liveries...so I played around with the Martin 404. Found that if I used the DX10 ToolBox and did the 8 bit convert on the aircraft it fixed it 100%...haven't done any others yet but it worked on that one.

Then I found that at night, any AI aircraft with cabin lights on (any with cabin lights off were not a problem) would have all white fuselage's so I worked on that awhile. Found that if I moved the slider all the way to the right (aircraft) it would fix the issue so I had a full livery on the aircraft. However Steve's manual did not recommend leaving it in this setting so some more experimenting. Then found if I used the Toolbox again, only this time tagged the model as "aircraft" it fixed the problem. Again, have only tried the AI Martin 404 so don't know if it will work on the others but I will try them.

Seems like it's a great program with a lot of potential...just have to figure some of the "tricks" out.

[triflyman]

Continue to see a few additional aircraft, both day and night, with issues that, even with the 8 bit texture fix on, I get "washed out" liveries. Still find that if I go to the texture file for the aircraft and use Steve's toolbox 8 bit conversion utility, plus identify the texture as "aircraft", this fixes the issue and I get full paint presentation. I requested Steve to see if he could create a "batch" fix so that we would not have to do each individual texture file and could do the whole aircraft...replied he would look at for the next update...let's hope.

Also found that I could "fix" LAX using the 8 bit conversion tool...worked just like the aircraft. Have not found any other scenery that needed this.

Still, with all the work, DX10 is much better in the visuals and fps...increased mine by 50% to 100%. Without Steve's program would not have been acceptable.

[deltalima]

I get washed out liveries on polished metal based schemes. For the amount of time I spend at the airport itself (15 - 20 min max during flight planning / clearance / taxi) the extra visual "juice" isn't worth the "squeeze" - for me, at least. The plane spotters may be more bothered by it, I guess. To each his own, I guess.

I'm curious about what you did for LAX. That I'd be interested in ...

DL

[triflyman]

I wanted to see if I could convert (using the 8bit converter) a scenery file. Steve wasn't sure if his batch process file would work with scenery so I did a backup of the "Add-On Scenery/CA59/Texture" file and then ran the converter...choosing the subject texture folder in CA59. It ran just the same as if it was an aircraft. To test it I turned the 8bit fixer off, went to LAX and everything was as it was supposed to be.

Hope that helps.