(pak) Lens Flare Fix For All Routes

Discussion in 'TSW General Discussion' started by londonmidland, Sep 1, 2020.

  1. londonmidland

    londonmidland Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 8, 2017
    Messages:
    3,424
    Likes Received:
    18,143
    Ever thought the default lens flare around signals was unrealistically big and cartoon like for TSW 2?

    Below is a comparison of the default lens flare and my modified lens flare. It significantly reduces the size and effect of it. Particularly in the day where you wouldn't normally see it.

    This change is across the board for all routes in TSW 2 and can be downloaded here. Simply place in your DLC folder.

    Update: Download link and fixes now made.
    Please delete the older TS2Prototype-smallerlensflare.pak mod before installing this one
    Download here


    Comparison:

    DEFAULT
    7D944F2B-A87C-4086-ADC6-4ECB81AA4A2A.jpeg

    MODIFIED
    849401F0-D637-4281-A160-B3418902AC9D.jpeg
     
    Last edited: Jan 4, 2022
    • Like Like x 23
  2. Mattty May

    Mattty May Guest

    I think the lens flare makes the signals stand out better.
     
    • Like Like x 8
  3. londonmidland

    londonmidland Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 8, 2017
    Messages:
    3,424
    Likes Received:
    18,143
    It does. I think it was intentionally made big and bright for players who are playing far away from their screens to see signals easier.

    However, I play on a PC so I have no issues with signal sighting. I also find the default flare to look unrealistically big and bright. Particularly during the day. In real life you would not get lens flare from a signal in daylight/sunlight.
     
    • Like Like x 5
  4. maxipolo12

    maxipolo12 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 24, 2020
    Messages:
    662
    Likes Received:
    955
    There is so much to do on the visual aspect I want to cry ;-(
     
    • Like Like x 3
  5. londonmidland

    londonmidland Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 8, 2017
    Messages:
    3,424
    Likes Received:
    18,143
    Anything I can help with?
     
    • Like Like x 1
  6. maxipolo12

    maxipolo12 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 24, 2020
    Messages:
    662
    Likes Received:
    955
    No but we always need some of theses external tweaks to have a more realistic game.
    I'm sick with this
     
    • Like Like x 1
  7. vasiliskilion

    vasiliskilion New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2020
    Messages:
    9
    Likes Received:
    3
    Where exactly am I supposed to place the file? Sorry I'm kind of a noob at this
     
  8. fanta1682002

    fanta1682002 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2019
    Messages:
    1,175
    Likes Received:
    561
    COPY TSW2 WindowsNoEditor Content DLC FILE
     
    • Like Like x 1
  9. Yerolo

    Yerolo Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 16, 2018
    Messages:
    1,180
    Likes Received:
    2,360
    Thanks for this Londonmidland...just a question though, is it possible to adjust the amount of lens flare rather than just turn it off completely (as this pak does) ?

    I think the default lens flare is a bit over the top...but this addon takes it to the extreme other end and makes it a little too hard to see the colors until you are right on top of them. I would like to have a little bit of flare still :)
     
    • Like Like x 1
  10. TheShotte

    TheShotte Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2020
    Messages:
    380
    Likes Received:
    662
    Yeah, I would rather cut it down by 50% rather than get rid of it entirely. It does make the lights stand out a bit more, which is a good thing.
     
    • Like Like x 3
  11. hyperlord

    hyperlord Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 20, 2019
    Messages:
    1,245
    Likes Received:
    1,270
    I notice slightly transparent boxes around signals from some angles (default, not your pak added) and try to investigate that ASAP - I think it might be something wrong in my engine.ini since I have shadow problems at the moment, too (shadow draw distance is like 1 meter around player).

    londonmidland To "sell" me you mod, whch I'm interested in anyway, could you please provide a night-screenshot, too? I
    I was driving in rain @ night yesterday and was confused about so many shiny signals without actually seeing my track because of darkness and the difficulty to "look ahead" in that case ;-)
     
  12. sarah1

    sarah1 New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2020
    Messages:
    1
    Likes Received:
    0
    Thank you very much!
    Now the Signals are perfect
    Possible to make it work for TSW2020 too?
     
  13. Trenomarcus

    Trenomarcus Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2016
    Messages:
    499
    Likes Received:
    1,039
    Great work. I too would like to see an intermediate setting, with still lens flare but not so much as default.
     
  14. londonmidland

    londonmidland Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 8, 2017
    Messages:
    3,424
    Likes Received:
    18,143
    For people that are wanting a slightly bigger flare, I may consider making a separate mod for this.
     
    • Like Like x 5
  15. TheShotte

    TheShotte Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2020
    Messages:
    380
    Likes Received:
    662
    I want a slightly smaller than default versions. You could pack these all together and give whoever downloads it the option to choose the version he wants.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  16. CC Johnson

    CC Johnson Active Member

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2018
    Messages:
    258
    Likes Received:
    229
    A slightly better tag than (pak) would maybe be [mod], so it's clear to everyone at first glance.
    Besides that: Thank you! Gonna try it. Those lights are bugging me for two years now. :D
     
  17. LastTrainToClarksville

    LastTrainToClarksville Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2017
    Messages:
    2,503
    Likes Received:
    2,069
    I'd like to try this, but exactly where is the "DLC folder"?
     
  18. londonmidland

    londonmidland Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 8, 2017
    Messages:
    3,424
    Likes Received:
    18,143
    It depends where your Steam folder is located. But it goes under ...steamapps\common\Train Sim World 2\WindowsNoEditor\TS2Prototype\Content\DLC
     
    • Helpful Helpful x 2
    • Like Like x 1
  19. ninjatrek2891

    ninjatrek2891 New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2021
    Messages:
    10
    Likes Received:
    3
    I wish there was a in between for this one. Some signals are really hard to see and on time due to aliasing.
     
  20. matinakbary

    matinakbary Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2020
    Messages:
    1,701
    Likes Received:
    4,370
    You seem to be sick with almost everything in the game. I don't understand why you even play TSW if you hate it so much. On almost every Thread there is a post from you, stating how sick this game makes you.

    Apart from that, thank you for that mod. I'll try this later!
     
    • Like Like x 5
  21. QuentinJericho

    QuentinJericho New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 10, 2020
    Messages:
    2
    Likes Received:
    0
    Thank you so much, I've been waiting for a mod like this! Those flares were so unrealistic.
     
  22. Rudolf

    Rudolf Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 9, 2016
    Messages:
    2,488
    Likes Received:
    3,270
    I agree. They were introduced in TS, because for light signals is was hard to see them timely. In TS there is no HUD showing signal state. They should disappear when you get close. We may need to be aware that our sight is far less than for a real train driver, so it is not realistic but useful. Nice anyway can turn it off now.
     
  23. solicitr

    solicitr Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 20, 2020
    Messages:
    11,736
    Likes Received:
    17,949
    If nothing else, they make it impossible to tell a double yellow from a single until you're right on top of it
     
  24. geloxo

    geloxo Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2018
    Messages:
    956
    Likes Received:
    1,695
    This is another nice mod mate. I think the problem with signals light intensity is that you need to use a texture for the light instead of single light source with produces it´s own reflections, as this would be too performance intensive. The light corona around each color is used to simulate the light effect that a signal would have but it´s always a problem during daylight as the contrast with the surrounding elements is not that high as during night. This is an issue in many other simulators that use this approach as well but there´s no easy solution for this as the alternative is to add individual light sources (impossible for a big city illumination without killing performance for instance).

    I have also noticed the transparent box issue in SKA signals that hyperlord described. It´s more noticeable there while being inside the ICE cab as it´s windshield enhances the effect for some reason when you are just about to pass the signal and it looks really horrible. I believe it´s just the lens flare texture size, which is too big so that the lens flare can be seen from far enough distances. It seems they just adjust the alpha according to distance to player so you have less transparent area when being closer and more when being far from signal.

    Cheers
     
    Last edited: Mar 27, 2021
  25. cadeshr6s

    cadeshr6s Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2020
    Messages:
    410
    Likes Received:
    402
    londonmidland Is it compatible with the BRD because the Signals over there Look great and I do Not want to destroy them with this Mod
     
  26. chacal#2181

    chacal#2181 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2021
    Messages:
    362
    Likes Received:
    549
    Thanks, however as said by some, if you have time to do a intermédiate mod with some flare we would be glad.
    I suppose that for game play reasons they made the big flare, i struggle a litlle to see the lights with your mod, maybe because of résolution of my screen.

    Anyway thanks for your work.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  27. facundo.dim

    facundo.dim Active Member

    Joined:
    Apr 28, 2019
    Messages:
    103
    Likes Received:
    129
    +1 to this. I love the mod, but I only see the signals at medium distance, that doesn't happen with the default lights.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  28. londonmidland

    londonmidland Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 8, 2017
    Messages:
    3,424
    Likes Received:
    18,143
    I’ll see if I can do anything to make it a little bigger, so it’s easier to see distant signals.
     
    • Like Like x 3
  29. cadeshr6s

    cadeshr6s Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2020
    Messages:
    410
    Likes Received:
    402
    Can somebody answer my question?
     
  30. redtrainz

    redtrainz Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2021
    Messages:
    129
    Likes Received:
    183
    I can. It is compatible with Dresden-Riesa (and the other routes from the Rush Hour pack).
     
    • Helpful Helpful x 1
  31. cadeshr6s

    cadeshr6s Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2020
    Messages:
    410
    Likes Received:
    402
    And IT does Not Broke the beautiful looking ones on Dresden?
     
  32. redtrainz

    redtrainz Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2021
    Messages:
    129
    Likes Received:
    183
    I don't know what/which ones you mean. Just put the file in the DLC folder, try it and if you don't like it, delete it again. On my setup, everything looks the way I think it should with the mod.
     
  33. WaveyDavey

    WaveyDavey Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2020
    Messages:
    891
    Likes Received:
    1,348
    Why not just try it and if you don’t like it delete it?

    Not exactly a massive thing to do is it???
     
    • Like Like x 1
  34. paul.pavlinovich

    paul.pavlinovich Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 21, 2020
    Messages:
    1,684
    Likes Received:
    1,994
    • Like Like x 1
  35. LastTrainToClarksville

    LastTrainToClarksville Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2017
    Messages:
    2,503
    Likes Received:
    2,069
    Here's a tip for PC users for automating the save process for *.pak files: after you have input the correct path once, you should be prompted to use that path each time you download another such file.
     
  36. londonmidland

    londonmidland Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 8, 2017
    Messages:
    3,424
    Likes Received:
    18,143
    Hey guys. I’ve updated the mod, which fixes the chequerboard effect it used to have.

    Below is what it looks like. No more unrealistic large flares as per vanilla game, or chequerboard squares.

    Please delete the older TS2Prototype-smallerlensflare.pak mod before installing this one

    Download here

    D12F3D26-F60B-46AB-97D9-41BC7EA8FCFF.jpeg
     
    Last edited: Jan 4, 2022
    • Like Like x 4
  37. JetWash

    JetWash Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 6, 2021
    Messages:
    2,368
    Likes Received:
    8,770
    I wondered what was causing that! Good fix londonmidland
     
    • Like Like x 1
  38. davidh0501

    davidh0501 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 29, 2020
    Messages:
    1,134
    Likes Received:
    1,638
    Nice.
    Thank you.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  39. Thorgred

    Thorgred Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2018
    Messages:
    481
    Likes Received:
    206
    make sure to delete the old version TS2Prototype-smallerlensflare.pak
     
  40. londonmidland

    londonmidland Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 8, 2017
    Messages:
    3,424
    Likes Received:
    18,143
    Glad you like it :)
     
    • Like Like x 1
  41. londonmidland

    londonmidland Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 8, 2017
    Messages:
    3,424
    Likes Received:
    18,143
    Thanks. I’ve now included this notice on the post and download site.
     
  42. solicitr

    solicitr Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 20, 2020
    Messages:
    11,736
    Likes Received:
    17,949
    LM, would it be possible to produce an intermediate version which reduces the flare but not by so much? Your mod deff. looks better, but on my relatively small 1080 monitor I now have difficulty seeing signals at any significant distance
     
  43. londonmidland

    londonmidland Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 8, 2017
    Messages:
    3,424
    Likes Received:
    18,143
    I found on some routes, it doesn't work with all signals for whatever reason. So they'll be no flare at all. I'm currently investigating as to why this is the case.
     
    • Like Like x 4
  44. solicitr

    solicitr Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 20, 2020
    Messages:
    11,736
    Likes Received:
    17,949
    Just wondering if you've done any work on a "halfway" version. The stock DTG flares look awful, but with your mod I often can't see lights at all until I'm right on top of them.
     
  45. londonmidland

    londonmidland Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 8, 2017
    Messages:
    3,424
    Likes Received:
    18,143
    Hi there, I haven’t. I’m a bit occupied with other things outside of TSW at the moment but if I get time, I may consider it sometime in the future.
     

Share This Page