Usercfg.opt PostProcess Dirt Setting

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1

Hi,

i’m experimenting with the PostProcess settings in usercfg.opt:

{PostProcess
		Enabled 1
		EyeAdaptation 0
		ColorGrading 1
		Sharpen 0
		Fringe 0
		LensDistortion 0
		Dirt 1
		LensFlare 0
		FilmGrain 0
		Vignette 1
		LensBlurMultiplier 1.000000
		FringeMultiplier 1.000000
	}

Can’t seem to see a different in the “Dirt” setting being on/off.

Can anyone tell me what this is supposed to do and in which situation I can observe it?

Thanks,

Stefan

2

Might be dirt effects when operating at a dirt/grass airstrip.

3

Given that all the other entries are to do with how the image itself is affected (rather than the scene being viewed), I would think it is dirt in the imaging system, most probably the effect of dirt on the lens.

They may implement this in several ways, but the overall effect would be something like a “dirty curtain” effect. Imagine looking at a scene through a dirty curtain - the eye will actually adapt so that the dirty curtain will become not noticeable, but as soon as your viewing point changes, it becomes visible again as long as you continue moving. (This is of course a consequence of evolution, as things that move such as prey or predator are more important than static objects.)

It would be complicated to implement, so it is quite likely it never got further than a single parameter in the file.

Sorry to get a bit technical, but you did ask!

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4

How about EyeAdaption ?

Does not appear to do anthing, set to 0 or 1, but its name implies it is the cause of the Cockpit appearing dark when there is a lot of sunlight.

5

Is the dirt setting possibly the dirt on the windscreen effect?

6

Yes, good thought. This is presumably generated by an image file, and the “Dirt” parameter defines how opaque this image is (within a defined range).

7

I agree, when you taxi over grass for example, the wheels kick up chunks of dirt.

8

Thanks for your details explanation. Appears reasonable. I will pay more attention upon next flights with the setting on/off. Let’s see if its noticable at all. Also the Vignette setting I couldn’t observe, even when creating comparing screenshots of exactly the same scene.

9

Good point. Actually EyeAdaption is the reason I started investigating on the settings :smile:

When the view is centered on the panel, which is the case most of the time, the outside scenery becomes over-illuminated and in sunny conditions barely viewable. This effect is OK for a camera view, but I didn’t like it. Turning it to 0 definitely makes a difference and solved the issue for me - although I read that it created new issues for others. There’s another post about this:

What I would love to see is the ability to control these settings via the MSFS options menu, rather than editing and write-protecting config files as back in FSX days.

10

Those dirt effects are covered by effect (.fx) files and related settings (I believe “Special Effects” back in FSX) not yet implemented in MSFS, same as water effects for sea planes.

What we are discussing here is the graphical post-processing of already rendered full images within MSFS.

While I would love to see those effects resulting from special underground I’m afraid this topic will not bring the solution :confused:

11

Until there is a sane solution, I have ended up with a “Crude Compromise” by adjusting the gamma to bring up the brightness of the cockpit.

its a HORRID solution, as it tends to make the outside view a little washed out, but it is what it is.

I am more interested in IFR simulation, so most of the time, the outside is “washed out” with cloud, so it doesn’t really matter !!!

If I want to fly VFR, and take in the Eye Candy, it takes seconds to slide the GAMMA back to a more correct level, and I don’t even have to pause the plane …

I’m happy … having decided early on that the I was going to just embrace the Good things about MSFS now, and not worry about the negative issues, as they will either get fixed in a reasonable time, or I will go back to X-Plane.

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