Bizarre problems with effect editing. SOLVED

[Eagle114th 689]

Hello everyone,

I am having a bizarre problem with effect editing while working on A-4 series.  Two types of engine emitter were made.  Here is the code:

 

[EmitterType001]
Name=J65-A4ExhaustEmitter
EmissionType=ORIENTED_EMITTER
UpdateType=NON_MOVING
MaxVisibleDistance=30000.0
EmissionRate=0.014
EmissionVolume=0.01,0.01,0.01
EmissionVelocityTableType=CONSTANT
EmissionVelocity=0.0,-1790.0,0.0
EmissionVelocityDeviation=0.2
ParticleUpdateType=SIMPLE_POINT
ParticleRenderType=SPRITE
ParticleRandomOrientation=TRUE
ParticleLifeTime=0.5
ParticleLifeTimeDeviation=0.2
ParticleWeight=1.00
ParticleRandomness=0.02
ParticleDragFactor=0.01
ParticleInheritence=0.01
ParticleWindFactor=0.3
ParticleColorTableType=TABLE
ParticleColor[01].Time=0.000000
ParticleColor[01].Value=0.20,0.20,0.20,0.120000
ParticleColor[02].Time=0.10000
ParticleColor[02].Value=0.20,0.20,0.20,0.025000
ParticleColor[03].Time=0.500000
ParticleColor[03].Value=0.20,0.20,0.20,0.018000
ParticleColor[04].Time=0.750000
ParticleColor[04].Value=0.20,0.20,0.20,0.015000
ParticleColor[05].Time=1.000000
ParticleColor[05].Value=0.20,0.20,0.20,0.012000
ParticleSizeTableType=TABLE
ParticleSize[01].Time=0.000000
ParticleSize[01].Value=0.700000
ParticleSize[02].Time=0.14000
ParticleSize[02].Value=8.000000
ParticleSize[03].Time=0.50000
ParticleSize[03].Value=10.000000
ParticleSize[04].Time=0.750000
ParticleSize[04].Value=12.000000
ParticleSize[05].Time=1.000000
ParticleSize[05].Value=13.000000
TextureMaterial=J65SmokeMaterial

[EmitterType002]
Name=J52-A4ExhaustEmitter
EmissionType=ORIENTED_EMITTER
UpdateType=NON_MOVING
MaxVisibleDistance=30000.0
EmissionRate=0.014
EmissionVolume=0.01,0.01,0.01
EmissionVelocityTableType=CONSTANT
EmissionVelocity=0.0,-1790.0,0.0
EmissionVelocityDeviation=0.2
ParticleUpdateType=SIMPLE_POINT
ParticleRenderType=SPRITE
ParticleRandomOrientation=TRUE
ParticleLifeTime=0.5
ParticleLifeTimeDeviation=0.2
ParticleWeight=1.00
ParticleRandomness=0.02
ParticleDragFactor=0.01
ParticleInheritence=0.01
ParticleWindFactor=0.3
ParticleColorTableType=TABLE
ParticleColor[01].Time=0.000000
ParticleColor[01].Value=0.20,0.20,0.20,0.120000
ParticleColor[02].Time=0.10000
ParticleColor[02].Value=0.20,0.20,0.20,0.025000
ParticleColor[03].Time=0.500000
ParticleColor[03].Value=0.20,0.20,0.20,0.018000
ParticleColor[04].Time=0.750000
ParticleColor[04].Value=0.20,0.20,0.20,0.015000
ParticleColor[05].Time=1.000000
ParticleColor[05].Value=0.20,0.20,0.20,0.012000
ParticleSizeTableType=TABLE
ParticleSize[01].Time=0.000000
ParticleSize[01].Value=0.700000
ParticleSize[02].Time=0.14000
ParticleSize[02].Value=8.000000
ParticleSize[03].Time=0.50000
ParticleSize[03].Value=10.000000
ParticleSize[04].Time=0.750000
ParticleSize[04].Value=12.000000
ParticleSize[05].Time=1.000000
ParticleSize[05].Value=13.000000
TextureMaterial=J52SmokeMaterial

//=============================================================================

[J65SmokeMaterial]
EffectShaderName=effectLightLevel.fx
DepthBufferCheck=TRUE
DepthBufferWrite=FALSE
IgnoreRenderOrder=FALSE
AlphaTestEnabled=FALSE
LightEnabled=FALSE
UseLightLevel=TRUE
SpecularEnabled=FALSE
EmissiveEnabled=FALSE
AmbientColor=1.000000,1.000000,1.000000,1.000000
DiffuseColor=1.000000,1.000000,1.000000,1.000000
ZBufferOffset=0.0000000
PriorityLevel=0
BlendOp=BLEND_SRC_ALPHA
NumTextureStages=1
TextureStage[01].TextureName=A-4_J65_ExhaustSmoke2.tga
TextureStage[01].MipMap=FALSE
TextureStage[01].FilterEnabled=TRUE
TextureStage[01].StageColorOp=TEXTURE_MODULATE_DIFFUSE
TextureStage[01].StageAlphaOp=TEXTURE_MODULATE_DIFFUSE

[J52SmokeMaterial]
EffectShaderName=effectLightLevel.fx
DepthBufferCheck=TRUE
DepthBufferWrite=FALSE
IgnoreRenderOrder=FALSE
AlphaTestEnabled=FALSE
LightEnabled=FALSE
UseLightLevel=TRUE
SpecularEnabled=FALSE
EmissiveEnabled=FALSE
AmbientColor=1.000000,1.000000,1.000000,1.000000
DiffuseColor=1.000000,1.000000,1.000000,1.000000
ZBufferOffset=0.0000000
PriorityLevel=0
BlendOp=BLEND_SRC_ALPHA
NumTextureStages=1
TextureStage[01].TextureName=A-4_J54_ExhaustSmoke3.tga
TextureStage[01].MipMap=FALSE
TextureStage[01].FilterEnabled=TRUE
TextureStage[01].StageColorOp=TEXTURE_MODULATE_DIFFUSE
TextureStage[01].StageAlphaOp=TEXTURE_MODULATE_DIFFUSE

The most strange problem is that, with both J52 and J65 having the exact same codes, the effect still behave differently.  This confuse the heck out of me.  Here is screenshot:

When using J65-A4ExhaustEmitter:


And here is J52-A4ExhaustEmitter version:


You can see, J52 version is more narrow, longer.  No matter what I do to make it produce the same effect as J65, it remind the same effect.  Can anyone tell me why is it stuck this way?  It is my goal to make J52 having the same effect as J65 but with less cloud, more 'transparent' looking.  

Here is codes from A-4L
 

[FakeEngine1]
SystemType=JET_ENGINE
InputName=THROTTLE_CONTROL
EngineID=2
HasAfterburner=FALSE
SLThrustDry=0.0
ThrustAngles=0.0,0.0,0.0
ThrustPosition=0.0,0.0,0.0
ThrottleRate=0.3
IdleThrottle=0.10
IdleRPM=0.48
IdleNozzle=0.0
CruiseThrottle=0.65
CruiseRPM=0.84
CruiseNozzle=0.60
MilThrottle=0.90
MilRPM=1.00
MilNozzle=1.00
MaxThrottle=1.00
MaxRPM=1.02
MaxNozzle=1.00
TSFCM0=0.0
TSFCM1=0.0
MinFuelFlow=0.02
ExhaustEmitterName=J52-A4ExhaustEmitter
ExhaustPosition=0.0,-5.31,0.16
FireSuppression=TRUE
MinExtentPosition=-0.52,-2.42,-0.34
MaxExtentPosition= 0.52, 0.73, 0.70

Any advice and help with this is appreciated.


Eagle114th

Edited May 27, 2022 by Eagle114th

[Eagle114th 689]

After doing further testing, I realized something.

It turns out that it is problem for any aircraft with my own custom effects instead of using clean / dirty exhaust emitter. 

This is what I realized when creating my own exhaust emitters:

(Please correct me if I am wrong on this though.)

Any group of aircraft can not use secondary exhaust effect.  For example, it seem that A-4A shares the same codes as A-4L.  If I assign A-4A to use J65, then A-4L can not have J52 displaying the effects correctly.   No matter what codes I tweak, J52 will have non-changable effects while displaying as flat, narrow effect.  

It looks like I am stuck with DirtyExhaustEmitter and CleanExhaustEmitter for different effects for group of planes.  For example, for J79 powered and Spey powered F-4s.  for any group of aircraft, I can only assign ONE custom exhaust effects besides offiical exhaustemitter effects.  So it mean A-4A to A-4L can only use either J65 or J52 effects.  That is a disappointing news.  However, what I will do is remove J52 engine effect and stick with one effect for all A-4s since they have clean exhaust anyway. 

At least I can still have multi effects for engine node, afterburners, wing vortex and other.  


Eagle114th

Edited May 25, 2022 by Eagle114th

[Eagle114th 689]

The problem is solved!  After talking with Menrva about it.  He recommended separating the effects codes into the individual ini file.  What happened is that I combined the effects in a single .ini file which caused the problems.  After spending hours cleaning, overhauling, and re-organizing effect ini files.

Now I can finally have any exhaust effect for each group of aircraft (for example, J79 for US F-4s, RR Spey for UK F-4s) instead of having to use dirtyexhaustemitter and cleanexhaustemitter.  This is a joyful day!

Eagle114th