Backdrop problems

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Backdrop problems

St@rkiller
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Post by St@rkiller » Mon Mar 07, 2022 9:12 pm

After installing the latest patch (XWAU 2020 Update Version 5.0), I have some issues with the planets backdrops. Any ideas/suggestions?

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Bman
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Post by Bman » Sat Mar 12, 2022 6:23 pm

That looks more like a mission file design flaw. Backdrop FG size/scale is off and perhaps waypoint X,Y,Z position. Can be fixed with AlliED or perhaps Yogeme editors.
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St@rkiller
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Post by St@rkiller » Sun Mar 13, 2022 11:30 am

Thanks for the reply. It has happened in a couple of missions o I am not sure what the cause might be.

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Ace Antilles
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Post by Ace Antilles » Sun Mar 13, 2022 12:22 pm

St@rkiller wrote:
Sun Mar 13, 2022 11:30 am
Thanks for the reply. It has happened in a couple of missions o I am not sure what the cause might be.
It shouldn't happen at all. Skirmish mode you can get odd backdrops though.
I expect something didn't quite update properly for you.
Best suggestion is to backup your Pilot PLT file. Reinstall XWA fresh and then straight to XWAU Update 5
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St@rkiller
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Post by St@rkiller » Sun Mar 13, 2022 1:00 pm

Ace Antilles wrote:
Sun Mar 13, 2022 12:22 pm
St@rkiller wrote:
Sun Mar 13, 2022 11:30 am
Thanks for the reply. It has happened in a couple of missions o I am not sure what the cause might be.
It shouldn't happen at all. Skirmish mode you can get odd backdrops though.
I expect something didn't quite update properly for you.
Best suggestion is to backup your Pilot PLT file. Reinstall XWA fresh and then straight to XWAU Update 5
Thanks. Is there a specific process to backup/restore the pilot file? Because no matter what, I can never restore it back and always end up having to start back from scratch.

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Ace Antilles
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Post by Ace Antilles » Sun Mar 13, 2022 2:47 pm

St@rkiller wrote:
Sun Mar 13, 2022 1:00 pm
Thanks. Is there a specific process to backup/restore the pilot file? Because no matter what, I can never restore it back and always end up having to start back from scratch.
No. You just copy the file from the main XWA folder and back again.
Best way is to rename the XWAU folder and make a new install to a new folder. Then you can make sure you have it all sorted before moving anything.
Also run the game 1st before installing XWAU and make sure programs like Steam, GoG etc are off.
Don't run the game from a steam link etc
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St@rkiller
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Post by St@rkiller » Sun Mar 13, 2022 6:06 pm

Ace Antilles wrote:
Sun Mar 13, 2022 2:47 pm
St@rkiller wrote:
Sun Mar 13, 2022 1:00 pm
Thanks. Is there a specific process to backup/restore the pilot file? Because no matter what, I can never restore it back and always end up having to start back from scratch.
No. You just copy the file from the main XWA folder and back again.
Best way is to rename the XWAU folder and make a new install to a new folder. Then you can make sure you have it all sorted before moving anything.
Also run the game 1st before installing XWAU and make sure programs like Steam, GoG etc are off.
Don't run the game from a steam link etc
Thanks. Will try by running the game before installing XWAU (although I've believe I I've already tried that and was able to select the pilot from the initial menu, but when I launch the game, it comes as a brand new pilot (no missions, medals, etc).

Cpt. Spaulding
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Post by Cpt. Spaulding » Wed Nov 30, 2022 9:28 pm

Ace Antilles wrote:
Sun Mar 13, 2022 12:22 pm
St@rkiller wrote:
Sun Mar 13, 2022 11:30 am
Thanks for the reply. It has happened in a couple of missions o I am not sure what the cause might be.
It shouldn't happen at all. Skirmish mode you can get odd backdrops though.
I expect something didn't quite update properly for you.
Best suggestion is to backup your Pilot PLT file. Reinstall XWA fresh and then straight to XWAU Update 5
Hi, since i have the same issue as St@arkiller i want to ask, what do you mean with install "straight to XWAU Update 5"? Does that mean to leave out the XWAU 2020 MEGA PATCH itself?

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Ace Antilles
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Post by Ace Antilles » Thu Dec 01, 2022 12:58 am

Cpt. Spaulding wrote:
Wed Nov 30, 2022 9:28 pm
Hi, since i have the same issue as St@arkiller i want to ask, what do you mean with install "straight to XWAU Update 5"? Does that mean to leave out the XWAU 2020 MEGA PATCH itself?
If you're reinstalling you need to installing you need to install XWAU 2020 MEGA PATCH.
Then test.
Then Update 5. Then test.
Then Update 5.5
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Cpt. Spaulding
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Post by Cpt. Spaulding » Wed Dec 07, 2022 1:34 pm

Ace Antilles wrote:
Thu Dec 01, 2022 12:58 am
If you're reinstalling you need to installing you need to install XWAU 2020 MEGA PATCH.
Then test.
Then Update 5. Then test.
Then Update 5.5
Thank you Ace. Can report that the "error" reoccurs after the Update 5.0. With only the Mega Patch 2020 itself it runs fine. But I think i have found what is going wrong: After update 5.0 installed I have to resize the lower orbit from 0.895 to size 2.0 with YOGEME (or AlliED). Then after doing this my backdrop looked fine again. I found this solution as i looked how lower orbit and horizontal backdrop are are adjusted for a standard mission (battle 1-7).

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JeremyaFr
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Post by JeremyaFr » Wed Dec 07, 2022 8:05 pm

Hello,
The issue seems to be related to the backdrops scaling factor.

You can see the backdrops scaling factor with the XwaExePatcher tool. You can download this tool via XwaToolsDownloader (there is a download link in the Downloads page).

When launched, XwaExePatcher will ask for the XWA exe. Then you can see which backdrops scaling factor is applied to the exe.

What is the factor applied to your xwa exe?

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Vince T
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Post by Vince T » Wed Dec 07, 2022 9:00 pm

In my case (same issue) the factor is set to 128.0f
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JeremyaFr
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Post by JeremyaFr » Wed Dec 07, 2022 9:15 pm

A factor of 128.0f is fine.

The final scale factor of a backdrop is a combination of the global scale factor in the exe, the scale factor of the backdrops in the mission files, and the dimensions of the backdrop images in dat files.
The scale factor of the backdrops in the mission files can be overwritten by a xwa.tab file.

If one of these factors is wrong then the backdrop will be wrong in flight.

labc133
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Post by labc133 » Thu Dec 08, 2022 6:01 pm

This is due, most likely, because the southpole backdrop should be before the low orbit backdrop in the craft list in AllIED or Yogeme. Simply move the southpole backdrop up and you should be fine.

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JeremyaFr
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Post by JeremyaFr » Fri Dec 09, 2022 4:51 pm

labc133 wrote:
Thu Dec 08, 2022 6:01 pm
This is due, most likely, because the southpole backdrop should be before the low orbit backdrop in the craft list in AllIED or Yogeme. Simply move the southpole backdrop up and you should be fine.
Hello,
Thank you for the info

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Vince T
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Post by Vince T » Fri Dec 09, 2022 6:39 pm

Hm yogeme does have a function to auto-place super backdrops. I haven‘t verified if they‘re placed in the correct order. Mybe something for @Jagged Fel to look into?
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Bman
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Post by Bman » Sun Dec 11, 2022 12:49 am

Hi @JeremyaFr , based on scaling factor applied in .exe via patcher like 128.0F, what do you recommend the HD resolution size of images be within .dat files for backdrops like galaxies/planets/nebulae to get the sharpest image possible? Larger or smaller images sizes may lead to pixellation stretching or situations like above picture. Also the scaling size recommended for AlliED FG backdrops? Perhaps a helpful table like below if everything is formula based:

Exe Patch, Optimal image size, Optimal FG Backdrop Scale factor in AlliED/Yogeme
128.0F,_______ 4096x4096, _______ 0.525
256.0F,_______ 2048x2048, _______ 1.000
512.0F . . . etc.
Last edited by Bman on Mon Dec 12, 2022 6:10 am, edited 3 times in total.
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JaggedFel
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Post by JaggedFel » Sun Dec 11, 2022 2:00 pm

Vince T wrote:
Fri Dec 09, 2022 6:39 pm
Hm yogeme does have a function to auto-place super backdrops. I haven‘t verified if they‘re placed in the correct order. Mybe something for @Jagged Fel to look into?
Yes, if it detects that SBD is installed there's an option to auto apply them with a new mission and they're applied per the SBD readme.
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batuta
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Post by batuta » Thu Jan 26, 2023 2:27 pm

i have this same problem but only when i use backdr n50-1 and 50-5 dont know why, the rest are fine but i have to delete north pole because is bad too.

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