Which Settings in AeroScenery do you use for VFR?

  • Hi guys,

    I'm starting to create sceneries in Germany and Italy with the wonderful AeroScenery tool. A great help is the "Guide for FS2 Scenery Creation using AeroScenery" (AeroScenery Guide 3 from flight-Sim.org).

    According to the guide, I made the following settings:

    Image Source: bing

    Grid Square Selection Size: 9 (necessary for the creation of AFS Level 9)

    Image Detail (Zoom Level): 18

    Generate AFS Levels: 9, 11, 12, 13, 14

    The production of the Tiles is very time consuming (approx. one day for one tile ||). But as I like VFR simming in low altitude (2.000 ft or lower), I appreciate a good resolution of the ground.

    As I don't want to spend too much time for the production of the tiles, I would like to reduce the quality a bit.

    Which Image Sources, Zoom Levels and AFS Levels do you use for VFR and are you happy with the results?

    Luca

  • Lucky1960 April 25, 2019 at 10:24 PM

    Changed the title of the thread from “Which Settings in AeroScenery do you use?” to “Which Settings in AeroScenery do you use for VFR?”.
  • I typically generate level 9,10,12,13 with zoom level 16 in areas. Towns or special places get level 13-14 with zoom level 19. My home area has level 9-14 with zoom level 19. If ortho imagery is super good I will make special areas level 15 with zoom level 20 but that's rare.

    Hi Jake, thank you for your comment. I think, your levels are a good choice.

    Are there any differences in image quality between the different Image Levels aside from the resolution? A one step higher Image Level increases the processing time by factor 4! I made a chart with different settings and put those settings in bold figures, which I plan to use for my projects. I selected Image Levels, that are a little bit below the resolution, which I could reach with the corresponding AFS level (e.g. Image Level 0,597 vs. AFS 0,5), but regarding the time savings, I think, that those little resolution losses are justified.

    What's your opinion?

    Image Level meter/pixel AFS Level meter/pixel resolution in SF 2 VFR altitude
    19 0,299 15 0,5 0,500 airports/ground (optional)
    18 0,597 15 0,5 0,597 airports/ground (optional)
    18 0,597 14 1,0 1,000 cities/airports < 3.000 ft.
    17 1,194 14 1,0 1,194 cities/airports < 3.000 ft.
    17 1,194 9 - 13 2,0 2,000 VFR flights 3.000 - 6.000 ft.
    16 2,389 9 - 13 2,0 2,389 VFR flights 3.000 - 6.000 ft.
    16 2,389 9 - 12 4,0 4,000 basic structure > 6.000 ft.
    15 4,777 9 - 12 4,0 4,777 basic structure > 6.000 ft.
  • Thank you, Hartman :thumbup:

    Now I have an idea, how to set the Image Detail and AFS Levels. My PC seems not to be the fastest. It worked approx. 1 1/2 (!) days for one Level 9 Grid with Image Detail 18 and the AFS Levels 9-14. So I decided to go with Image Detail 17 for my favoured areas (10 hours).

    Coming to the Settings of the AeroScenery program:

    GeoConvert:

    Write Images With Mask: YES, if the Grid Square Selection Size is below Size 9, in case that I also have a Level 9 grid in this area (with lower resolution).

    Write Raw Files: When does the program or I need those Raw Files? Should it always been set to "Yes"?

    Image Processing:

    Do you change those settings generally or only in special cases?