mestevet, on 18 December 2011 - 01:13 PM, said:
I would like to try a few more things before I give up to try to a) understand why some models have the problem in the sim and others don't b ) see if there are any tweaks to DirectX that may help c) see if there is a combination of settings on the nVidia card that will help d) see if there are any other bright ideas
Steve
After spending a little bit of time with some of the models I listed that DON'T display the "Black Shadow" issue for me, with my nVidia 7800 card, I'm starting to get a sense of why some models DON'T show the issue, while others DO. If you look at my "tables" below, you'll notice that the models with surfaces that display the "Black Shadow" issue are all those using "Normal" texture mode, whereas the models where I didn't see the problem are all using either "Low Shine" or "High Shine".
Now that I've done the dirty work of looking at each one (in Shape Viewer), I suppose it makes sense. I'm theorizing the "normal" surfaces are not intended to reflect light and so they would be the most "in shadow", so they get into the "shadow" algorithm that the 7xxx card seems not to like, whereas the "shiny" surfaces are intended to reflect light, so are probably using a different light algorithm that doesn't sweat the 7xxx cards.
I don't know if this helps anyone to resolve the issue, but I think it's a reasonably significant result:
Rolling stock displaying the issue:
Model: Shaders, Materials for Surfaces displaying "Black Shadow"
BLLW P70 coaches: BlendATexDiff, Normal
BLLW N5 Cabin Car (caboose): BlendATexDiff, Normal
BLLW H21 hoppers: TexDiff, Normal
KLW Comets (all the different versions): BlendATexDiff, Normal
Tim Muir's MILW Boxcab: BlendATexDiff, Normal
Allen Norton's ATSF 4-8-4 #2925: TexDiff, Normal
Chris VanWagoner's B&O 4-6-2 #5300: TexDiff, Normal
Ron Pertuit's PRR Decapod: TexDiff, Normal and BlendATexDiff, Normal
NALW MP54 (all the different versions): BlendATexDiff, Normal
ALW CR Gondolas: TexDiff, Normal
Steven Hoffmeier's CWR cars: TexDiff, Normal
my (Steve Thomas) G38, G39, CWR flat cars, E44, and Silverliner II (all): BlendATexDiff, Normal and TexDiff, Normal
Rolling stock that DOES NOT display the issue, even when mixed in consist with the above rolling stock:
Model: Shaders, Materials for main body Surfaces** (those equivalent to ones displaying the "black shadow")
CLW PRR AS616: BlendATexDiff, High Shine (except some surfaces in a Freight Anim that were created in TSM): TexDiff, Normal - note this locomotive does have some "hood" surfaces that are also BlendATexDiff, Normal, so I'll have to look more closely at this one and see if only those surfaces show the "Black Shadow"
NALW AEM7 and ALP44: TexDiff, Low Shine
NALW Amfleet I: BlendATexDiff, High Shine and Tex Diff, High Shine
Buzz Benz' Amfleet II: BlendATexDiff, High Shine and Tex Diff, High Shine
Mike Laxer's Viewliners: Tex Diff, High Shine
Robert Fontaine's P42: BlendATexDiff, Low Shine
3DTrains DLW F-Unit: BlendATexDiff, High Shine
BLLW B60: BlendATexDiff, High Shine
3DTrains Pacific Surfliner equipment:
Surfliner Cab Car: Tex Diff, High Shine
F59PHI: Tex Diff, High Shine
Surfliner Coach: Tex Diff, High Shine
Metrolink Coach: Tex Diff, High Shine
Metrolink Cab Car: Tex Diff, High Shine
** just note that I was looking at the Shader and Material applied to the main body surfaces, the largest ones most easily seen, other surfaces on details or smaller parts may use other shaders and materials for those surfaces.
Steve
(BTW just so you know I'm not tilting at windmills, I was researching and went out to Best Buy to look at other video cards, anyone care to give me some advice?)