Better Smoke V22 for DCS 2.9

[reece146]

I love your mods, Taz1004! This and Better Trees have been a revelation for me.

 

One note about the smoke though and maybe I'm off base here, but it seems like the smoke disperses and becomes too undefined too quickly? Almost like someone took a smudge/dodge tool to a smoke cloud vertically if you follow what I mean?

 

Like it should be more "billowy" and thick for longer/higher, spread out wider?

 

I don't know if maybe this is a limitation of the engine or if it's intentional or whatever...

 

Or maybe it's just me. :)

[Fri13]

Off-topic wish....

 

Is there any change to get a smoke markers smaller like a hand Grenade smokes?

I love the v3 shape and effect compared to current official one. Totally going to install this!

[cabzi]

Don't you think it's the devs' duty to make these changes?

Current smoke looks like ps2 graphics.

Lol.. a good one, mate.

[Taz1004]

I love your mods, Taz1004! This and Better Trees have been a revelation for me.

 

One note about the smoke though and maybe I'm off base here, but it seems like the smoke disperses and becomes too undefined too quickly? Almost like someone took a smudge/dodge tool to a smoke cloud vertically if you follow what I mean?

 

Like it should be more "billowy" and thick for longer/higher, spread out wider?

 

I don't know if maybe this is a limitation of the engine or if it's intentional or whatever...

 

Or maybe it's just me. :)

 

Thanks for the feedback. I agree with your observation and the reason is both. I think the speed of smoke is okay. Actually a little too slow still. I once saw a car burn and it shot out smoke like a flamethrower. But you're right they're much thicker and opaque for much longer in real life. But if I do that in DCS, particles start z-fighting and flicker like mad. There still are some flicker in current version as I could only minimize it. Not eliminate it. Particles has to go pretty translucent once they start overlapping to avoid flicker.

 

I also had to consider that this is a game and you still have to find targets through the smoke. Yes, it may not be realistic but that was balancing decision.

 

As for the look of "billowy", I agree with you on that one too. I was thinking of editing the texture itself to give it some more shape but have to see if it breaks IC or not first.

 

But again, goal is always just to make them "better". Not "perfect"

 

Thanks again.

Edited August 29, 2020 by Taz1004

[Taz1004]

Off-topic wish....

 

Is there any change to get a smoke markers smaller like a hand Grenade smokes?

I love the v3 shape and effect compared to current official one. Totally going to install this!

 

Thanks for suggestion. Yes, smoke markers were next items on the list. Still have to take a closer look but seem doable.

[Vanguard]

Looks awesome mate. Hopefully the FLIR update somes soon enough so these don't form a blanket over the battlefield.

 

One favor: Could you put a parent folder in the zip, like Taz1004_Better_Smoke_v2 before Bazar, that way we can just throw the zip file in OVGME mods folder instead of having to extract it.

 

Keep it up!

[Stratos]

Just installed Version 2 and man what an improvement over stock smoke. Very good work, congratulations!!

[ron533]

Great looking explosions and smoke TAZ!!

Thank you!!

waiting for V3... :thumbup:

 

Are you planning to improve 'Vehicle dust' / 'Tank dust' as well?? :smilewink:

 

I've noticed in FireVehicle.lua (I think it was Mustang's edition) a parameter called hazelife, which was not in your file. is it a meaningful parmater you can work with??

 

here is the file I have :

 

local fireLife = 2

local smokeLifeC = 2

local smokeLife = 8*smokeLifeC

local hazeLifeDelta = 20.0

local hazeLife = 90.0

local lifeTime = 120

 

Duration = {{0, 900}, {1, 1500}}

Emitters = {

{

Name = "Fire1",

Texture = "DCSFireTex.png",

Technique = "AnimatedFire",

InitPositionBox = {Min = {-1.2,0.8,0.3}, Max = {-1.2,1,1.3}},

Flags = {"SoftParticles"},

 

Number = {{0, 4}, {1, 1}},

-- NumberRate = {{-3, 1}, {0,0.125}},

Life = {{0.0, 1.8}},

 

ShaderParams = {{0, {0.8,0,0,0}, {0.8,0,0,0}}},

 

Velocity = { {0.,{0, 2, 0}, {0., 2.5, 0}}},

VelocityOverLife = { {0,0} , {0.16, 0.15}, {0.33,1}, {0.4,1}, {1.0,1.7}},

 

Size = {{0.0, 2.5}, {1.0, 2.8}},

SizeOverLife = {{0.6, 1} , {1, 0.1}},

 

ParentVelocity = { {0, 0.5} },

Windage = { {0, 0.3} },

 

RedOverLife = {{0, 1.0}, {1, 1.0}},

GreenOverLife = {{0, 0.65}, {1, 0.7}},

BlueOverLife = {{0, 0.4}, {1, 0.4}},

 

AlfaOverLife = {{0.0, 0.0}, {0.4, 1.4}, {1, 0}},

},

{

Name = "Fire2",

Texture = "DCSFireTex.png",

Technique = "AnimatedFire",

InitPositionBox = {Min = {1.8,0.5,-0.7}, Max = {2.0,0.6,-0.9}},

Flags = {"SoftParticles"},

 

Number = {{0, 3.5}, {1.5, 1}},

-- NumberRate = {{-8, 1}, {-5, 0}},

Life = {{0.0, 1.6}},

 

ShaderParams = {{0, {1.7,0,0,0}, {1.7,0,0,0}}},

 

Velocity = { {0., {0, 0.6, 0}, {0., 1.5, 0}}},

VelocityOverLife = { {0,0} , {0.16, 0.15}, {0.33,1}, {0.4,1}, {1.0,1.7}},

 

Size = {{0.0, 1.9}, {1.0, 2.1}},

SizeOverLife = {{0.6, 1} , {1, 0.1}},

 

ParentVelocity = { {0, 0.5} },

Windage = { {0, 0.3} },

 

RedOverLife = {{0, 1.0*1.2}, {1, 1.0}},

GreenOverLife = {{0, 0.65*1.2}, {1, 0.7}},

BlueOverLife = {{0, 0.4*1.2}, {1, 0.4}},

 

AlfaOverLife = {{0.0, 0}, {0.4, 1.2}, {1, 0}},

},

{

Name = "Smoke1",

Texture = "SmokeNormAnim.png",

Technique = "TranslucentAnim",

Flags = {"SoftParticles", "Sort", "LocalSpace"},

InitPositionBox = {Min = {-0.6,0.8,-0.9}, Max = {0.9,1,1.3}},

Number = {{0, 4.5}, {2*lifeTime-1, 4.5}, {2*lifeTime+1, 0}, {15*lifeTime, 0}},

Life = {{0.0, 12*smokeLifeC}, {1.0, 25*smokeLifeC}},

ShaderParams = {{0, {-0.2, 0.3, 10, 0}, {0.2, -0.2, 10, 0}}},

Velocity = {{0, {-0.30, 3.0, -0.40}, {0.2, 4.0, 0.50}}},

VelocityOverLife = {{0, 0}, {0.01, 2.0}, {0.5, 1.2}, {1.0, 1.0}},

ParentVelocity = {{0, 0.09}, {1, 0.11}},

Size = {{0, 2.2}, {1, 2.8}},

SizeOverLife = {{0, 1.60}, {0.02, 2.5}, {0.04, 2.0}, {0.07, 5.0}, {0.10, 4.0}, {0.15, 8.0}, {0.21, 6.0}, {0.35, 10.0}, {1, 30.0}},

RedOverLife = {{0, 0.1}, {0.1, 0.1}, {0.2, 0.3}, {0.21, 0.1}, {0.23, 0.2}, {1, 0.4}},

GreenOverLife = {{0, 0.1}, {0.1, 0.1}, {0.2, 0.3}, {0.21, 0.1}, {0.23, 0.2}, {1, 0.4}},

BlueOverLife = {{0, 0.15}, {0.1, 0.15}, {0.25, 0.35}, {0.26, 0.15}, {0.28, 0.25}, {1, 0.45}},

AlfaOverLife = {{0, 0.0}, {0.02, 0.70}, {0.04, 0.45}, {0.07, 0.60}, {0.10, 0.28}, {0.5, 0.11}, {1, 0}},

},

{

Name = "Smoke2",

Texture = "SmokeNormAnim.png",

Technique = "TranslucentAnim",

Flags = {"SoftParticles", "Sort", "LocalSpace"},

InitPositionBox = {Min = {-0.6,0.8,-0.9}, Max = {0.9,1,1.3}},

Number = {{0, 0}, {2*lifeTime, 0}, {2*lifeTime+1, 4.0}, {4*lifeTime, 4.0}, {4*lifeTime+1, 0}, {15*lifeTime, 0}},

Life = {{0.0, 10*smokeLifeC}, {1.0, 20*smokeLifeC}},

ShaderParams = {{0, {-0.2, 0.3, 10, 0}, {0.2, -0.2, 10, 0}}},

Velocity = {{0, {-0.28, 3.0, -0.38}, {0.2, 3.9, 0.48}}},

VelocityOverLife = {{0, 0}, {0.01, 1.8}, {0.5, 1.2}, {1.0, 1.0}},

ParentVelocity = {{0, 0.09}, {1, 0.11}},

Size = {{0, 2.1}, {1, 2.6}},

SizeOverLife = {{0, 1.55}, {0.02, 2.4}, {0.04, 1.9}, {0.07, 4.8}, {0.10, 3.8}, {0.15, 7.6}, {0.21, 5.8}, {0.35, 9.0}, {1, 27.0}},

RedOverLife = {{0, 0.1}, {0.1, 0.1}, {0.2, 0.3}, {0.21, 0.1}, {0.23, 0.2}, {1, 0.4}},

GreenOverLife = {{0, 0.1}, {0.1, 0.1}, {0.2, 0.3}, {0.21, 0.1}, {0.23, 0.2}, {1, 0.4}},

BlueOverLife = {{0, 0.15}, {0.1, 0.15}, {0.25, 0.35}, {0.26, 0.15}, {0.28, 0.25}, {1, 0.45}},

AlfaOverLife = {{0, 0.0}, {0.02, 0.70}, {0.04, 0.45}, {0.07, 0.60}, {0.10, 0.28}, {0.5, 0.11}, {1, 0}},

},

{

Name = "Smoke3",

Texture = "SmokeNormAnim.png",

Technique = "TranslucentAnim",

Flags = {"SoftParticles", "Sort", "LocalSpace"},

InitPositionBox = {Min = {-0.6,0.8,-0.9}, Max = {0.9,1,1.3}},

Number = {{0, 0}, {4*lifeTime, 0}, {4*lifeTime+1, 3.5}, {6*lifeTime, 3.5}, {6*lifeTime+1, 0}, {15*lifeTime, 0}},

Life = {{0.0, 8*smokeLifeC}, {1.0, 15*smokeLifeC}},

ShaderParams = {{0, {-0.2, 0.3, 10, 0}, {0.2, -0.2, 10, 0}}},

Velocity = {{0, {-0.26, 3.0, -0.36}, {0.2, 3.8, 0.46}}},

VelocityOverLife = {{0, 0}, {0.01, 1.6}, {0.5, 1.2}, {1.0, 1.0}},

ParentVelocity = {{0, 0.09}, {1, 0.11}},

Size = {{0, 2.0}, {1, 2.4}},

SizeOverLife = {{0, 1.50}, {0.02, 2.3}, {0.04, 1.8}, {0.07, 4.5}, {0.10, 3.6}, {0.15, 7.2}, {0.21, 5.6}, {0.35, 8.0}, {1, 24.0}},

RedOverLife = {{0, 0.1}, {0.1, 0.1}, {0.2, 0.3}, {0.21, 0.1}, {0.23, 0.2}, {1, 0.4}},

GreenOverLife = {{0, 0.1}, {0.1, 0.1}, {0.2, 0.3}, {0.21, 0.1}, {0.23, 0.2}, {1, 0.4}},

BlueOverLife = {{0, 0.15}, {0.1, 0.15}, {0.25, 0.35}, {0.26, 0.15}, {0.28, 0.25}, {1, 0.45}},

AlfaOverLife = {{0, 0.0}, {0.02, 0.70}, {0.04, 0.45}, {0.07, 0.60}, {0.10, 0.28}, {0.5, 0.11}, {1, 0}},

},

{

Name = "Smoke4",

Texture = "SmokeNormAnim.png",

Technique = "TranslucentAnim",

Flags = {"SoftParticles", "Sort", "LocalSpace"},

InitPositionBox = {Min = {-0.6,0.8,-0.9}, Max = {0.9,1,1.3}},

Number = {{0, 0}, {6*lifeTime, 0}, {6*lifeTime+1, 3.0}, {8*lifeTime, 3.0}, {8*lifeTime+1, 0}, {15*lifeTime, 0}},

Life = {{0.0, 6*smokeLifeC}, {1.0, 10*smokeLifeC}},

ShaderParams = {{0, {-0.2, 0.3, 10, 0}, {0.2, -0.2, 10, 0}}},

Velocity = {{0, {-0.24, 3.0, -0.34}, {0.2, 3.7, 0.45}}},

VelocityOverLife = {{0, 0}, {0.01, 1.4}, {0.5, 1.2}, {1.0, 1.0}},

ParentVelocity = {{0, 0.09}, {1, 0.11}},

Size = {{0, 1.9}, {1, 2.2}},

SizeOverLife = {{0, 1.45}, {0.02, 2.2}, {0.04, 1.7}, {0.07, 4.2}, {0.10, 3.4}, {0.15, 6.8}, {0.21, 5.4}, {0.35, 7.0}, {1, 21.0}},

RedOverLife = {{0, 0.1}, {0.1, 0.1}, {0.2, 0.3}, {0.21, 0.1}, {0.23, 0.2}, {1, 0.4}},

GreenOverLife = {{0, 0.1}, {0.1, 0.1}, {0.2, 0.3}, {0.21, 0.1}, {0.23, 0.2}, {1, 0.4}},

BlueOverLife = {{0, 0.15}, {0.1, 0.15}, {0.25, 0.35}, {0.26, 0.15}, {0.28, 0.25}, {1, 0.45}},

AlfaOverLife = {{0, 0.0}, {0.02, 0.70}, {0.04, 0.45}, {0.07, 0.60}, {0.10, 0.28}, {0.5, 0.11}, {1, 0}},

},

{

Name = "Smoke5",

Texture = "SmokeNormAnim.png",

Technique = "TranslucentAnim",

Flags = {"SoftParticles", "Sort", "LocalSpace"},

InitPositionBox = {Min = {-0.6,0.8,-0.9}, Max = {0.9,1,1.3}},

Number = {{0, 0}, {8*lifeTime, 0}, {8*lifeTime+1, 2.5}, {15*lifeTime, 2.5}},

Life = {{0.0, 4*smokeLifeC}, {1.0, 5*smokeLifeC}},

ShaderParams = {{0, {-0.2, 0.3, 10, 0}, {0.2, -0.2, 10, 0}}},

Velocity = {{0, {-0.22, 3.0, -0.32}, {0.2, 3.6, 0.44}}},

VelocityOverLife = {{0, 0}, {0.01, 1.2}, {0.5, 1.2}, {1.0, 1.0}},

ParentVelocity = {{0, 0.09}, {1, 0.11}},

Size = {{0, 1.8}, {1, 2.0}},

SizeOverLife = {{0, 1.40}, {0.02, 2.1}, {0.04, 1.6}, {0.07, 3.9}, {0.10, 3.2}, {0.15, 6.4}, {0.21, 5.2}, {0.35, 6.0}, {1, 18.0}},

RedOverLife = {{0, 0.1}, {0.1, 0.1}, {0.2, 0.3}, {0.21, 0.1}, {0.23, 0.2}, {1, 0.4}},

GreenOverLife = {{0, 0.1}, {0.1, 0.1}, {0.2, 0.3}, {0.21, 0.1}, {0.23, 0.2}, {1, 0.4}},

BlueOverLife = {{0, 0.15}, {0.1, 0.15}, {0.25, 0.35}, {0.26, 0.15}, {0.28, 0.25}, {1, 0.45}},

AlfaOverLife = {{0, 0.0}, {0.02, 0.70}, {0.04, 0.45}, {0.07, 0.60}, {0.10, 0.28}, {0.5, 0.11}, {1, 0}},

},

{

Name = "SmokeHaze",

Texture = "DCSSmoke.png",

Technique = "Translucent",

Flags = {"SoftParticles", "Sort", "LocalSpace"},

InitPositionBox = CommonInitPos,

 

Number = {{0, 0.12}},

Life = {{0.0, hazeLife - hazeLifeDelta}, {1.0, hazeLife + hazeLifeDelta}},

 

ShaderParams = {{0, {2, 2, 0, 0}, {2, 2, 0, 0}}},

--ShaderParams = {{0, {2, 2, 0, 0}, {2, 2, 0, 0}}},

 

Velocity = {{0.0, {-1.0, 3.0, -1.0}, {1.0, 4, 1.0}},

{0.2, {-1.0, 3.0, -1.0}, {1.0, 4, 1.0}},

{0.2, {-2, 4.0, -2}, {2, 7.0, 2}},

{1.0, {-2, 4.0, -2}, {2, 7.0, 2}}},

VelocityOverLife = { {0,1}, {10*fireLife/hazeLife, 1}, {0.8,0.1}},

 

Size = {{0.0, 16}, {1.0, 20}},

SizeOverLife = {{0, 0.0}, {10*fireLife/hazeLife, 1}, {0.7, 13}},

 

RedOverLife = {{0, 0.2}},

GreenOverLife = {{0, 0.2}},

BlueOverLife = {{0, 0.2}},

AlfaOverLife = {{0.0, 0.0}, {smokeLife/hazeLife, 0.6}, {0.4, 0.4}, {1, 0.0}},

},

}

 

local lb = 1.2

Lights =

{

{

offset = {0,4.5,0},

color = {{0, {1*lb, 0.6*lb, 0.2*lb}}, {0.3, {0.8*lb, 0.5*lb, 0.1*lb}}, {0.4, {1*lb, 0.6*lb, 0.2*lb}}},

distance = {{0, 150}, {1.5, 180}, {3, 140}},

},

}

 

Lods =

{

[1] =

{

Distance = 100000,

Emitters =

{

["Fire1"] =

{

Number = {{0, 2}},

Flags = {},

},

["Fire2"] =

{

Flags = {'SoftParticles'},

},

["Haze"] =

{

Flags = {"SoftParticles"},

}

}

},

}

 

 

Cheers,

Ron

[MAXsenna]

Thanks Taz. Yet to try it though. Will tomorrow.

For those of you that mention vehicle dust. Do you want more or less?

I can see that we should have more in a dry desert, but driving over grass in the Caucasus? I feel it is exaggerated as it is. At least here in Norway, the only vehicle dust you'll see are on very dry gravel road, and not even that much dust there. In another thread it's a discussion that even helicopters are "blowing up" to much dust some places.

Cheers!

 

Sent from my ANE-LX1 using Tapatalk

[LucShep]

For those of you that mention vehicle dust. Do you want more or less?

I can see that we should have more in a dry desert, but driving over grass in the Caucasus? I feel it is exaggerated as it is. At least here in Norway, the only vehicle dust you'll see are on very dry gravel road, and not even that much dust there. In another thread it's a discussion that even helicopters are "blowing up" to much dust some places.

Cheers!

 

Sent from my ANE-LX1 using Tapatalk

 

 

+1

 

I wish the helicopters would have dust "blown" reduced, doesn't make much sense so much of it in a map like Caucasus, or other non-desert maps. :noexpression:

 

For vehicles I too find it a bit too much in Caucasus, but understand that for desert based maps it may need more dust...

Edited August 30, 2020 by LucShep

[docWilly]

Awsome mod again. Just curious about how long the smoke will last until it disappears...I will have to test it again.

[Taz1004]

Yes I am planning to take a look at all the particles. Not sure if I can fix all of them tho as some seems to be locked away. I fixed the way color smoke markers are generating but its colors are way too bright and it's making it look flat. And I'm still trying to find where the colors are controlled. Seems to be controlled by ME.

 

Biggest problem I see with DCS particles are the way they're rendered. They're all flat. But I can't change the textures without breaking IC. It's funny the lua files that can eliminate the particles pass IC but the textures that control how they look fails.

 

I may have to do IC compliant and Texture only version in the end.

Edited August 30, 2020 by Taz1004

[Minsky]

It's funny the lua files that can eliminate the particles pass IC

 

shhh! don't give them any ideas :D

[YSIAD_RIP]

Better Trees + Now Better Smoke = Better DCS Thanks

 

I did notice that the FireVehcile.lua file change will conflict with the 2.5.6.xxxxx adjusted shaders 1.08 mod that Mustang created.

Many differences between the lua files so I am not going to try and run both mods at the same time.

[Taz1004]

Better Trees + Now Better Smoke = Better DCS Thanks

 

I did notice that the FireVehcile.lua file change will conflict with the 2.5.6.xxxxx adjusted shaders 1.08 mod that Mustang created.

Many differences between the lua files so I am not going to try and run both mods at the same time.

 

You can just install this mod last and overwrite. Will only replace vehicle smoke.

[Taz1004]

Updated to v3

 

In addition to blast effect and smoke markers, I've discovered some hidden particle attributes such as spin, radial velocity, acceleration, and weight. Used some of it to create swirl effect and overall a bit more dynamic and random movement.

 

[HiJack]

Looks good. Testing.... :)

 

EDIT: Tested, works fine. You may want to look at the static smokes also. "Big Smoke" is a static smoke that is much used. Now it looks like a small smoke :music_whistling:

Edited August 31, 2020 by HiJack

[Razorback]

Nearly pefect...

Great job ! :thumbup:

[Boosterdog]

Another Great job! Thank you!

 

Oh for a little white shockwave.....

[YSIAD_RIP]

Excellent!

 

You can just install this mod last and overwrite. Will only replace vehicle smoke.

 

Thanks did as you suggested - It is a great Mod!

[reece146]

That looks fab!

[mr_mojo97]

Is this the kind of mod I can put into Saved Games rather than OVGME? Looking fantastic by the way, cheers

[Morpheus]

Is this the kind of mod I can put into Saved Games rather than OVGME?

 

No

[Saab87]

Is it possible to update the Touchdownsmoke ?

[mr_mojo97]

No

 

 

Got it, cheers