Sol 2.1 (Patreon)

I proudly present you Sol 2.1. After 5 month of work, a nice collection of new features was added to Sol. If you don't like to download from Racedepartment here is a direct link:
Sol 2.1

Please read the install guide and follow the steps:
Sol 2.1 install guide
Sol 2.1 installatiehandleiding (by jfeelders)
Sol 2.1 guida di installazione (by Roberto Geminiani)

For an overview of the new features, you may have a look here:
Sol 2.1 new features

Sol 2.1 complete changelog
- core:
# many improvements off the code to speed up calculations
# core: checked complete code for division by 0, to be sure __sane() check isn't needed anymore
# improved sun-ambient-light system, to achieve color neutral filters

- core: added Track heat calculation and set ac.setTrackHeatFactor()
# to see visual effects, activate:
# "add mirage-like effects" in CSP settings->weatherFX
# "fog blur" + "include heat distortion" in CSP settings->extraFX

- core:
# added read out of graphics.ini

- audio: added rain sounds, just to kill the time for CSP rain sound release
# rain sounds are dependent on rain amount, camera type (interior or exterior) and camera speed
# wiper sound is not activated, because there is no synchronization possible yet

- apps:
# added Sol Planner app (new way to create dynamic weather in a UI)
# new Sol_config 2.0 app, based on interface communication and new UI library
# new Sol_custom_weather app using new UI library

- 2d clouds: fixed weather transitions
- 2d clouds: switched to global cloud storage
# This prevents generating of AC cloud objects while weather transitions.
# Its more efficient. AC cloud objects are recycled for usage.

- 3d clouds (skysim):
# many improvements off the code to speed up calculations
# fixed position and scaling in 3d space
# fixed shadows and shadow scaling
# improved lighting, especially with twilight
# better projection of static distant clouds (better lighting as well)
# fixed wrong movement for tracks with TrackHeadingAngle modification
# using a non elegant way to force cloud map settings (to be sure cloud's look is always right)

- filter: changed weather__HDR_multipier functionality
# Its now a fixed core based function to change the difference between sun and ambient light, clouds and sky.
# So its possible to adjust HDR (or the dynamic of the scenery) just with the weather components.

- filter: removed AE functionality of weather__HDR_multipier
- filter: added a new variable to store the AE value
# !!! use weather__get_AE() instead of weather__get_hdr_multiplier() !!!

- filter:
# fixed wfx_LIGHTS emission

- night light pollusion: fixed some bugs

- interface:
# Interface is a new Sol library to communicate with Python apps
# Communication is done via shared memory data
# Before files where changed, therefore weatherFX was restarted, Sol initialized again
# With this new interface communication, Sol runs continuously and changes the parameters while runtime
# This also leads to a continuous weather progression with rainFX

- sol config manager:
# Sol config manager is a new system to handle Sol's settings
# Sol's config file is no longer delivered with Sol and it is now placed in the documents folder
# The system is much safer in combination with custom configs (scripts loaded with a ppfilter)
# sol_config.lua is no longer used !!!

- custom config:
# new system of accessing Sol's parameters
# much safer and now this system gives feedback to Sol_config app, to show custom config changes
# added call of "update_sol_custom_config__every_frame()", this function is called every frame
# added some function to retrieve rain parameters:  weather__get_rainIntensity(), weather__get_rainWetness(),  weather__get_rainWater()

- custom config: weather__get_cloud_density(), working correct for all cloud render methods
# with render method 2 (skysim), this function returns the calculated clouds light bounce, which is quasi the cloud coverage

- custom config:
# use "weather__get_Graphic_Settings(key, parameter)" to get the values of the \assettocorsa\system\cfg\graphics.ini
# use "weather__get_Video_Settings(key, parameter)" to get the values of the \Documents\Assetto Corsa\cfg\video.ini
# use "weather__get_PPFilter_INI_Settings(key, parameter)" to get the values from the used ppfilter

- custom config: updated "custom config example V2.lua"
# using weather__get_Graphic_Settings(key, parameter) and weather__get_Video_Settings(key, parameter)
# how to use LUTs (Look Up Tables)
# how to use LUTs with color information
# using colors and color transformations (rgb, hsv)


- PPFilter/custom config: reworked __Sol_Extra
# better AutoExposure logic
# better lighting
# better colors due to special color-grading
# better way to calculate emissive and bounced lights

- ppfilter/custom config: added "__Sol_Extra_Reinhard"
# constrast is lower in mid and high tones
# overall look is "moderate"

- PPFilter/custom config: __Sol_fakeHDR
# some tweaks with lighting, bounced light control and overall look

- weather files: removed custom particles

- controller (2.0) - old Sol controller (weather plan scripts)

- controller (2.1) - new Sol controller (Sol Planner app)
# this uses the new interface, it directly communicates with Sol Planner app
# continuos weather/rain calculation
# much advanced weather progression (fog after rain, humidity progression)

- files: added "__Win7__DocumentsFolderFix.lua" to define a custom documents folder:
# With Win 7 some strange bugs with finding the "Documents" folder happen
# So if you already use Win 7, open this file and add your Documents folder location manually:
# add it like this: __CustomDocumentsFolder = "C:\\Users\\xxxxx\\Documents"