TomatoShade...
While reading AVsim and the latest news of the day, I came across a post about a new shader modification tool. The tool is already compatible with P3D v4.3!
TomatoShade seems to be a new freeware/open source tool for Prepar3D whose particularity is to act on dynamic reflections - PBR way. Since this option (Dynamic reflections) is rather greedy, it is advisable to warn the user to have a light hand on the settings otherwise it may be felt on the FPS.
When you modify shaders, you first save what is done by the tool during the first launch in a subdirectory of the installation (_shaderbackup)
It is therefore first necessary to set the Dynamic refections setting to Low in the P3D interface and to check the three settings under this slider. You can then play with Ultra...
These modifications concern the planes so a tool is planned to adapt your model accordingly (profiles exist for the planes of lines of the market like PMDG and others). For details I advise you to read the readme.pdf provided with the tool.
There is not much information on this tool but it seems to be progressing, moreover being free it does not cost anything to try and make your own opinion. It seems built on the same preset file model as PTA.
The following lines are the translation of the information gleaned on AVSim in order to answer the questions of most of you (English speakers or... no).
To make my own opinion, I found presets already developed here: https://www.rdpresets.com/rd-tomatoshade-preset.html
Some captures of the interface:
https://i.imgur.com/G2q1Bm4.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/aGzs1lO.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/c9KyUqF.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/09V84ue.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/Ggaef76.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/3HJA4yW.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/CAz7C9b.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/TWaLIb5.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/JNvjCkF.jpg
A quick test to compare to PTA allows to highlight the following points:
- For PBR reflections, you can use the examples provided (./profiles/tomato/*.ini) to modify your own aircraft, examples:
https://imgur.com/a/U1PsuR7
- Tweaks from the atmosphere to the horizon, examples:
https://imgur.com/Q7Ugc7m
http://https://imgur.com/Jomx9Kx
http://https://imgur.com/haGulh9
https://imgur.com/BaESDjD
- Use of OrbX night lights (additional colors, rendering based on viewing distance attenuation)
https://imgur.com/ZneF2Aa
- Puddles of water when it rains on the tarmacs decorated with dynamic reflections:
https://imgur.com/75w09hz
For the moment, I haven't found a dedicated site but we're talking about it here: https://www.avsim.com/forums/topic/538270-tomato-shade-update-out-for-43/?page=1
Some videos on the subject:
- http://https://twitchstats.net/clip/UnusualBumblingMooseItsBoshyTim
Download link: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/26p2ufw3t6edxqb/TomatoShade.zip (Chrome seems to have problems with this link...)
Installation guide in pictures: