I know I have read tidbits of info here and there on improving the performance of add-on scenery, but is there any definitive guide out there? I have searched through the forums somewhat but haven't come up with much. I would like to improve the performance of my PHX photoscenery I have created for FSX (available on FlightSim.com) for my next update release, but I'm unsure of any detailed tweaks I can do to make it run more along the lines of FlyTampa scenery - I am impressed by the amount of detail in their airports, and yet they run incredibly well on my setup. We all know the basics, i.e. more objects=less FPS, high detail textures usually=less FPS, etc., but what can I do with my scenery to make it run as smooth as possible for everyone? Is photoscenery through resample.exe the best way (this was the method I used)? Or just the 'easiest'? How IS FlyTampa scenery so smooth with all of their detail? My scenery has nearly 3000 downloads, but not a single person has commented on its performance (good or bad), or any suggestions for improvement.
-
Which the release of FS2020 we see an explosition of activity on the forun and of course we are very happy to see this. But having all questions about FS2020 in one forum becomes a bit messy. So therefore we would like to ask you all to use the following guidelines when posting your questions:
- Tag FS2020 specific questions with the MSFS2020 tag.
- Questions about making 3D assets can be posted in the 3D asset design forum. Either post them in the subforum of the modelling tool you use or in the general forum if they are general.
- Questions about aircraft design can be posted in the Aircraft design forum
- Questions about airport design can be posted in the FS2020 airport design forum. Once airport development tools have been updated for FS2020 you can post tool speciifc questions in the subforums of those tools as well of course.
- Questions about terrain design can be posted in the FS2020 terrain design forum.
- Questions about SimConnect can be posted in the SimConnect forum.
Any other question that is not specific to an aspect of development or tool can be posted in the General chat forum.
By following these guidelines we make sure that the forums remain easy to read for everybody and also that the right people can find your post to answer it.
Optimizing performance of scenery?
- Thread starter matt
- Start date
- Messages
- 34,350
- Country
Hi,
Can you maybe tell us a bit more what your scenery contains? Did you make custom 3d objects for example or custom ground polygons? Each area of scenery (terrain, objects, airport, etc) have their own tricks and tips. So we would have to know what is in your scenery to give you some tips.
Can you maybe tell us a bit more what your scenery contains? Did you make custom 3d objects for example or custom ground polygons? Each area of scenery (terrain, objects, airport, etc) have their own tricks and tips. So we would have to know what is in your scenery to give you some tips.
It does contain custom 3D objects from FS9 that are fairly simple and that I have re-compiled into FSX format. The only custom ground polygons are a handful of small runway overlay textures (they are only on the first 2000' or so of each runway end) and markings at each gate (but there are a lot of gates...). There is also FSX car traffic on a couple of nearby highways and roadways that enter/exit the airport. I'm sure part of it has to do with:
-fairly complex layout with lots of runway/taxiway signage
-every gate is modeled with FSX moving jetways
-numerous 3D objects
-possibly the photoscenery causing slight FPS drops? The photoscenery also covers more area than just the airport.
Thanks for your response, Arno, as well as all of your previous posts online that helped me figure out and resolve a lot of issues with this scenery before I first released it.
-fairly complex layout with lots of runway/taxiway signage
-every gate is modeled with FSX moving jetways
-numerous 3D objects
-possibly the photoscenery causing slight FPS drops? The photoscenery also covers more area than just the airport.
Thanks for your response, Arno, as well as all of your previous posts online that helped me figure out and resolve a lot of issues with this scenery before I first released it.
- Messages
- 34,350
- Country
Hi,
From my experience photo scenery is not hard on the frames at all, so I would not worry about it.
I would first check the complexity of the 3d models. You might be able to reduce their drawcalls and maybe even benefit a bit from drawcall batching.
From my experience photo scenery is not hard on the frames at all, so I would not worry about it.
I would first check the complexity of the 3d models. You might be able to reduce their drawcalls and maybe even benefit a bit from drawcall batching.
hcornea
Resource contributor
- Messages
- 2,388
- Country
Plan your 3D model Materials to minimise and share drawcalls.
Unfortunately, the design principles in FS9 (256x256 textures from memory) do not translate into good performance in FSX.
By way of example, a single 1024 x 1024 texture sheet with identical material settings is more efficient than 4 x 256 x 256 textured materials.
Combining textures onto single sheets based on material type may be a start.
Unfortunately, the design principles in FS9 (256x256 textures from memory) do not translate into good performance in FSX.
By way of example, a single 1024 x 1024 texture sheet with identical material settings is more efficient than 4 x 256 x 256 textured materials.
Combining textures onto single sheets based on material type may be a start.
I guessed the same regarding the photoscenery, but I thought it was worth mentioning.
As far as the 3D objects are concerned, I have begun minimizing them and have seen a decrease of about 2-3 per object. for an average of about 8 for terminal building objects (19, however, for the largest terminal building). Is this a typical, acceptable amount? And for drawcall batching, I should not generate LODs to take advantage of this in the sim, correct?
Also, I notice the output of the combined textures...do I have to go through each one and figure out which ones were combined in order to reduce the textures included in the final product?
As far as the 3D objects are concerned, I have begun minimizing them and have seen a decrease of about 2-3 per object. for an average of about 8 for terminal building objects (19, however, for the largest terminal building). Is this a typical, acceptable amount? And for drawcall batching, I should not generate LODs to take advantage of this in the sim, correct?
Also, I notice the output of the combined textures...do I have to go through each one and figure out which ones were combined in order to reduce the textures included in the final product?
Last edited:
- Messages
- 34,350
- Country
Hi,
For drawcall batching lods are indeed disabled. So if your object has no textures that are shared by other, it might be better to have the lods.
For not too complex objects the aim should always be to stay within one drawcall. But for complex buildings like a terminal that is not possible of course. Just try to use the materials as optimal as possible.
For drawcall batching lods are indeed disabled. So if your object has no textures that are shared by other, it might be better to have the lods.
For not too complex objects the aim should always be to stay within one drawcall. But for complex buildings like a terminal that is not possible of course. Just try to use the materials as optimal as possible.