luckyluca Posted August 4, 2010 Report Share Posted August 4, 2010 (edited) SimTiles is a program to create night textures and winter textures for x-plane photoreal sceneries.It supports all x-plane photoreal sceneries for x-plane 8.64+, 9, 10.It works on windows and linux and mac (using windows emulation).How to get itIt comes in two versions: Lite (Freeware) and Full (Payware).First download and install the Lite version and check functionality. The Lite version is the product installation file; there is no other download!Purchase the license key to unlock the Full features.SimTiles Lite (Freeware)The lite version allows unlimited files to be created with a single hardcoded preset and rule and is requires to press the resume button every 50 files.SimTiles Full (Payware)The full version adds the following features:-No Resume button pushing required every 50 files-Color editing-Rules editing-Colors and rules presets management-Three presets driven by tile elevation (city,hill,mountain)-Multiple sceneries batch creation-Output resolution choice (from 512 to 2048pixels)---Requirements---You need to have the following in order to use SimTiles:-one or more photoreal sceneries for x-plane-windows, Mac*, Linux*-Imagemagick, an easy to install fantastic freeware opensource tool*using emulators, windows parallel virtualbox etc.---Installation---1) install imagemagick fromhttp://www.imagemagi...9cqt7q0#windows2) extract the simtiles zip into a folder3) make sure you have x-plane with global scenery installed for the required 1x1 degrees scenery4) execute simTiles.exe5) under preferences setImagemagick root folder (i.e. C:\Program Files\ImageMagick-6.7.3-Q16 )XPLANE root folder (i.e. D:\X-Plane 9 )6) if you purchased the full license enter the emailed code to unlock the full version (requires restart) Edited November 30, 2011 by luckyluca Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Russell Posted August 4, 2010 Report Share Posted August 4, 2010 I take issue with "mandatory donation ware" ......donation is by definition, voluntary.If you were to release your full unrestricted version under a "pay what you feel like" license and you qualify for donationware.Releasing a trial, limited version of your application and calling it donation-ware is incorrect English. Sorry. This is shareware. Demoware. Trialware. etc.Definitions of shareware on the Web: * software that is available free of charge; may be distributed for evaluation with a fee requested for additional features or a manual etc. wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn......all that ranting aside, it looks like an interesting tool. Nice to see you've been able to leverage CUDA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckyluca Posted August 4, 2010 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2010 from wikipedia:Donationware is a licensing model that supplies fully operational software to the user and pleads for an optional donation be paid to the programmer or a third-party beneficiary (usually a non-profit). The amount of the donation may also be stipulated by the author, or it may be left to the discretion of the user, based on individual perceptions of the software's value. Since donationware comes fully operational (i.e. not crippleware) and payment is optional, it is a type of freeware.The software is fully functional and not limited at all. You just need to press the button again after 50 files and it will continue without limitations.I'm making this in goodwill but you raise a good point, the description could be misinterpreted; I'll consider changing it to something else,thank youI take issue with "mandatory donation ware" ......donation is by definition, voluntary.If you were to release your full unrestricted version under a "pay what you feel like" license and you qualify for donationware.Releasing a trial, limited version of your application and calling it donation-ware is incorrect English. Sorry. This is shareware. Demoware. Trialware. etc.Definitions of shareware on the Web: * software that is available free of charge; may be distributed for evaluation with a fee requested for additional features or a manual etc. wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn......all that ranting aside, it looks like an interesting tool. Nice to see you've been able to leverage CUDA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kesomir Posted August 4, 2010 Report Share Posted August 4, 2010 The full version is available to users who made a donation and has the following advantages:-Unlimited number of files in a single batch-Upcoming lighting dependent on elevationThis counts as crippling the software - the feature being that you don't have to click the button.This is not donationware, it's shareware.Not a criticism of the product. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-TheoGregory Posted August 4, 2010 Report Share Posted August 4, 2010 Looks very clever. My one criticism from someone who hasn't used the program (mac user). The overall tone of the night lighting seems to be quite red rather than yellow. Kinda looks like your flying over some Mars volcano terrain. Otherwise, well done. Very good idea! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckyluca Posted August 4, 2010 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2010 You should give it a go and verify that it allows unlimited usage with no lacking features (at least for now).However it is worrying that more than one person is mentioning this so I'll change the description as soon as I canThanks for the headsupLThe full version is available to users who made a donation and has the following advantages:-Unlimited number of files in a single batch-Upcoming lighting dependent on elevationThis counts as crippling the software - the feature being that you don't have to click the button.This is not donationware, it's shareware.Not a criticism of the product. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckyluca Posted August 4, 2010 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2010 Looks very clever. My one criticism from someone who hasn't used the program (mac user). The overall tone of the night lighting seems to be quite red rather than yellow. Kinda looks like your flying over some Mars volcano terrain. Otherwise, well done. Very good idea! thanks. It shouldn't be too hard to change it ALso it really depends on the artificial lighting of the city you take into consideration. From the ref pics I took Europe has a pretty pinkish orangish hue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XPAfrica Posted August 8, 2010 Report Share Posted August 8, 2010 it's really a great idea for a tool, i'll give it a try ASAP!!!thank you for that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckyluca Posted August 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2010 Thanks,After some heavyduty betatesting (thanks to the x-plane.es and x-plane.it users)I'm proud to announce the release of v1.0RC2here are some screens from the thead at x-plane.eshttp://www.x-plane.es/modules/smf/index.php?topic=4571.msg44389;topicseen#msg44389 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simmo W Posted August 28, 2010 Report Share Posted August 28, 2010 sounds interesting luca. what extra storage are we looking at, say for a 150meg area? do the files have clear English instructions? finally, I have Photoshop elements 7 , not cs3. it has nice potential,great work. simon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckyluca Posted September 19, 2010 Author Report Share Posted September 19, 2010 New version 1.6 lite released! I've updated the first post!I'm not sure it will work with photoshop elements 7, never tried with anything pre CS3.In terms of storage, it's roughly 170kb per 512px night textures and 670kb for 1024px.Also try my latest version 1.6 lite, it's free and you'll quickly be able to assess whether it works for your system.I'm also planning to depart from photoshop and do the image conversions in python directly, but this will be a long term goalsounds interesting luca. what extra storage are we looking at, say for a 150meg area? do the files have clear English instructions? finally, I have Photoshop elements 7 , not cs3. it has nice potential,great work. simon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckyluca Posted January 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2011 New version 1.62 released. Check first post for details.Also, manual now online!http://www.simultools.com/simulnight/simulnight_manual.htmlNew version 1.6 lite released! I've updated the first post!I'm not sure it will work with photoshop elements 7, never tried with anything pre CS3.In terms of storage, it's roughly 170kb per 512px night textures and 670kb for 1024px.Also try my latest version 1.6 lite, it's free and you'll quickly be able to assess whether it works for your system.I'm also planning to depart from photoshop and do the image conversions in python directly, but this will be a long term goalsounds interesting luca. what extra storage are we looking at, say for a 150meg area? do the files have clear English instructions? finally, I have Photoshop elements 7 , not cs3. it has nice potential,great work. simon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kesomir Posted January 25, 2011 Report Share Posted January 25, 2011 How well does this work on the UK photo scenery released by rcsimulations/horizon? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckyluca Posted January 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2011 It should work very well with it (I made my own uk photoreal scenery and night textures look great (perhaps a bit too luminous, but still better than fully black):How well does this work on the UK photo scenery released by rcsimulations/horizon? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john82088 Posted January 25, 2011 Report Share Posted January 25, 2011 Looks like a great program to use. Unfortunately, I do not have photoshop. Might have to look at purchasing photoshop though.Great addition to x-plane for those who have photoshop!John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckyluca Posted May 28, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 28, 2011 Simulnight 1.65 releasedv1.6564bit dds loading and saving (should be faster with recent GPU cards)faster elevation query: reduced queries to 5 per fileoptimized loading and saving of elevationsfixed "multiple Sceneries" tab buttonsstronger scenery folder checks (it should fail less often in multiple sceneries mode)http://www.simultools.com/simulnight.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckyluca Posted November 18, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 18, 2011 SimTiles 1.0 open beta released!this is the successor of simulnight with lots of new features, much faster and no need for photoshop anymore.Check first post for details Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckyluca Posted November 30, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2011 (edited) SimTiles released! (first post updated).Here's the youtube promo: Please check http://simultools.com/for videos and instructionsThanks!Luca Edited November 30, 2011 by luckyluca Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckyluca Posted February 13, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2013 Aerosoft Sim news have reviewed SimTiles! Do take a look at their in-depth review here:http://asn.aerosoft.com/?page_id=19006 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckyluca Posted December 27, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 27, 2013 (edited) Simtiles v1.5.01 released! Lots of new features and improvements, most of the routines have been re-written from the ground up, it should now be more reliable, faster and more future proof.Main new features are the 64bit version, useful for the memory intensive new HD v2 meshes, faster performance after a first one off scenery analysis, and a nice one click change season for all photosceneries installed in your custom scenery. Important, do not go back to previous versions of simTiles after you run v1.5.01 SimTiles v1.5.01-64 bit version-HD Meshes v2 support-One click change of season for all sceneries installed and in use.-Much faster performance (after a one-off scenery analysis)-Smaller footprint on disk for scenery data-Lots of bug fixes-Better printouts of messages-scenery/tmp folder content obsolete now, automatic removal-automatic update from 1.2 to 1.5 format (simtiles.dat injection and removal and texture_day to texture_winter rename)-fix multiple selections folder list bug-fatal error showing up as dialog box instead of through shell-plus many more small bugs Please note, due to the limited beta run of v1.5.01, if you encounter any bug don't hesitate to drop us a line, bug fixing is high on our priority list. Edited December 27, 2013 by luckyluca Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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