Option for aerials texture resolution / zoom level

[Speed1994]

Wow! So many replies all for me! I’ll do my best to get to you all in turn

---

@BearsAreCool510

So whats the background on this supposed downgrade from 512 to 256? Was 512 only ever relevant for this external map tool that shall not be named, with its “very high LOD” function or whatever it’s called?

To my knowledge it has always been 256 for MSFS2020 and 2024, this is because of the standard for the geospatial format that MSFS uses because it matches Bing maps (because Bing maps is the imagery provider). You can read more about this here:

Bing Maps Tile System - Bing Maps

With regard to the other thing you mentioned, I strongly recommend people do not use it, both as a MSFS user and a Moderator. It causes people no end of difficulties and issues.

But as far as 512 vs 256 pixels goes, as stated here Zoom levels - OpenStreetMap Wiki

The important thing to note again is that 512 doesn’t automatically equal better quality. 256 at Zoom Level 20 is the same as 512 at Zoom Level 19, 256 at ZL 21 is the same as 512 at ZL 20 etc. It’s still all about the Zoom Level.

---

@JockoFlocko

This is/was super informative for me, thank you so very much for taking the time to explain the zoom levels vs tile sizes, I had no idea this is how MSFS streams in ground textures. Hopefully this is just a temporary issue.

You’re very welcome!
Me too, I hope it’s just a temporary issue that will be resolved soon.
There’s a Bug Report for it here: MSFS SU16 - aggregation of complaints about poor LOD, low resolution blurry terrain textures

---

@dgvrnsky

Very insightful post and makes complete sense. The question is why this is the case and whether it was intentional, a bug or just a limitation of the new Azure/Bing map data. If Asobo or MS could simply explain it I think people would be a lot more forgiving.

Thank you!
I would guess that because it’s such a downgrade it wasn’t intentional. There is a very busy bug topic about it here: MSFS SU16 - aggregation of complaints about poor LOD, low resolution blurry terrain textures

---

@BegottenPoet228

Seems to me this points to the need to have a more granular Dynamic LOD control based on altitude. Currently you just set an FPS target, and have no idea what the code is adjusting to meet that target. That would be fine if everyone had the same computer. I’d like more control, like OP’s request points to.

That makes two of us! I’m actually the owner of this Wishlist topic
https://forums.flightsimulator.com/t/dynamic-settings-frame-rate-target-dynamic-lod-choose-minimum-graphics-settings/697368
Make sure to check out the “Similar/Related Topics” at the top of the first post too, one of them specifically mentions altitude/flight levels!

I’d love to be able to set a series of settings or edit a config file to say: <2000 feet ZL20, <4000 feet ZL19, etc. That would be amazing and give us the exact quality we want for each altitude.

---

@sarpouli

Thanks for the insight, you are obviously a volunteer moderator, I actually don’t know but wonder if you have perhaps got a chance to directly contact the dev team to report the situation and to also help make the fs20 pc users get the full understanding of what they have really changed to push the sim to this downgraded situation ?

The Community Managers are very much aware of this topic (they’ve posted in here multiple times) and they’ve also linked to the related Bug Report
See: https://forums.flightsimulator.com/t/option-for-aerials-texture-resolution-zoom-level/732517/32

---

@SimSoaringClub

Not entirely the same topic. Obviously im asking for the aerial resolution LOD being separated from TLOD as well, but in addition i think we need higher zoom level options than currently available, since SU16 took them away from us in msfs2020.

To be fair I’m not sure if merging these topics would be more effective. My expectations that anything will happen are very slim anyway.

I understand, there’s a large overlap but they aren’t asking for exactly the same thing in their entirety.

Don’t be disheartened, the devs do listen to our feedback and I’m sure they’re very much aware of this aerial imagery issue, the related Bug Report is feedback-logged

@Jummivana

We hear your concerns about how this update has affected some scenery in MSFS 2020, and our team is aware of this thread. Thank you for putting it together as it is helpful for our efforts with for future improvements in 2020. If we have any further qusetions we will let you know!