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kcai avatar image
kcai asked SimHorizon edited

Small objects disappear on long distance

I have several projects involving small objects disappear on longer distance when viewing (even LOD set to 100), such as wall or runway distance remaining sign should be kept in view even in longer distance. Is there any way to increase small object viewing distance? Or we can have some kind of sitch to enable small object in view at a longer distance?未命名.jpg

scenerymodeling
未命名.jpg (2.0 MiB)
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SonantAlpaca avatar image
SonantAlpaca answered SimHorizon edited

Hello @kcai,

In this new version, we have changed the way LODs behave to get massive performance improvements. Here is how LODs work in this new version:

  • Objects with one single LOD disappear if their screen size is lower than 5%. (MAJOR CHANGE IS HERE: it used to be 0,5% in previous versions).
  • Objects with two LODs disappear if their screen size is lower than 2%.
  • Objects with three or more LODs disappear if their screen size is lower than 0.5%.
  • This is why we advise people to create 4 different LODs for their models, as it was stated in our Xbox guidelines published a few months ago on http://docs.flightsimulator.com..

Did you add more than 1 LOD on your assets, to prevent them from disappearing at a smaller distance?

If not, you'll get this behaviour on Xbox. On PC version, we've decided to flip back to the former LOD behaviour, so your users will see the exact same behaviour as they had in Sim Update 4. But you'll have an option in the DevMode, "Xbox LOD selection Mode", which can be activated and which will render the new LOD management system. This way, you'll be able to see how your scenery will render on Xbox.

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rhumbaflappy avatar image rhumbaflappy ·
...and what was the former LOD behavior of Sim Update 4?
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SonantAlpaca avatar image SonantAlpaca ♦♦ rhumbaflappy ·

Objects with one single LOD disappear if their screen size was lower than 0.5% - that's why you would see items from a larger distance, while now they disappear sooner.

And while this value of 0,5% can't be changed, the way to see your objects from a larger distance is to add LODs (from LOD0 = best quality, lots of polygons to LOD3 or 4: low quality, less polygons, but visible from a very long distance).

All details about LOD management can be found here:

SDK Documentation (flightsimulator.com)

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kcai avatar image kcai SonantAlpaca ♦♦ ·

Ok! I got this, I will see what the new update behave and decide further , thanks!

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Simbol avatar image
Simbol answered

@SonantAlpaca,

Some users are reporting objects pop in / out when panning the camera.

Is this also related to missing LODs? or is this a new behaviour when changing viewpoint due to the new occlusion / memory flushing method rather than LODs?

Regards,
Simbol

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