True volumetric clouds release 3 (Patreon)
Content
Update 26/08/2023: Fixed an issue with clouds not loading when using steam launch options, and low fps in main menu.
This new version focuses on fixes and incremental improvements to existing features. Next version is (planned) to be a performance update.
Cockpit droplets and rain improvements
Droplets are now visible from IVA on cockpits and windows when it rains, at higher speeds they change direction and form into streaks, at supersonic speeds they dissipate/evaporate. Droplets will also appear when flying through a regular cloud.
A different sound will play in IVA to emulate droplets hitting the canopy. Rain has also been made more frequent, it is now always raining somewhere on Kerbin so if you want to chase rain/storms you can just fly in a random direction.
Load on demand
Load on demand is now implemented, textures are only loaded when needed and textures are compressed, lowering RAM+VRAM usage and load times (if you don't have KSP community fixes).
BC4 compression is also now supported (and recommended) for cloud maps.
HDR compatibility
In previous versions, using TAA in Scatterer would break HDR completely, and not using it would still break it on opaque objects. This is now fixed, if you have shiny/reflective parts (with TU) and you have TUFX bloom and HDR enabled you can see this kind of highlight:
Before/After comparison:
If you don't have a TUFX config you can try mine which I use in the above shots (scroll down to the end of the post) or try one of the popular ones.
If you're going to be repainting crafts like this you need TU (TexturesUnlimited), TURD (Recolor depot) but I also recommend LazyPainter, it allows to repaint multiple parts at once.
Better cloud shadows
When using volumetric clouds, cloud shadows will now match the volumetric shape instead of using the 2d texture
Before/After comparison:
Temporal upscaling improvements
Temporal upscaling has been improved to handle movement better (less blurring and trails) and to handle orbit view better (eliminates flickering and jittering that previous versions had from orbit).
Ozone layer support
Ozone is now added to Scatterer, and if used with the right settings it can make sunsets more realistic and less green.
It is somewhat subtle on Kerbin but turned up much higher on Laythe for dreamier sunsets:
Other fixes
There's been a few fixes (full list in changelog) but the most noticeable visually are these stair artifacts on cloud/terrain intersections:
Shading artifacts for some light angles:
And this visible line which appears when thick mie scattering is used:
Install instructions: Remove any existing config packs for EVE (BoulderCo, AVP, SVE, Spectra, 64k clouds, KSRSSVE, etc) then overwrite your GameData folder with the one included (you need to overwrite your EVE and Scatterer plugins with the new ones as well).
Download:
Check out the included readme/changelog and have fun:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/12AfJmaChgJVfIhfkwBz-Z71frI-mWgep/view?usp=sharing
Performance-heavy config for 3090/4080 class GPUs (requires ModuleManager, drop in your GameData): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1M1jU0thYYt89okCZySFL-f9lnZW22oN0/view?usp=sharing
Other
TUFX:
If you want my (subtle) TUFX profile which I use in the above images you can get it here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Kxz5q6nvA7TKddxc2rGgPujyrEgIEBTi/view?usp=sharing
I'll check which RSS/KSRSS configs are still compatible and link them here.
TURD patch:
You can also try my patch for TURD which makes all the parts look a bit more like real plane parts by default.
Note this just one-off thing and may not apply correctly or may look weird on some parts. I just needed something to make planes look better by default, as a plane and atmospheric flight lover.
To install, download TU, TURD, ModuleManager and place this patch anywhere in GameData: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LJZimi8eqXP9IbtfffMXlC-1PRO1Ot-5/view?usp=sharing
RSS and KSRSS configs:
BallisticFox's RSS config (has weather):
Go to BallisticFox's Patreon https://www.patreon.com/ballisticfox and open the latest post about RSS-Reborn, you'll find instructions inside on how to install it, you can download just the atmosphere/cloud configs or the full version with improved celestial body textures.
JRodgriv's RSS config (only has earth configs):
1- Install RSS normally
2- Install EVO but use only the EVO folder from inside (don't copy the old included EVE and Scatterer versions): https://github.com/Its-Just-Luci/EVO/releases
3- Install JRs_RSSEVO, replace the existing EVO folder https://onedrive.live.com/?cid=919faaedb82e592c&id=919FAAEDB82E592C%2143845&authkey=%21AGvQK73M7Re6iv4
AtmosphericBeats' KSRSS config:
1- Install KSRSS normally
2- Install KSRSS reborn from BallisticFox. Go to BallisticFox's Patreon https://www.patreon.com/ballisticfox/about and click KSRSS, click the download button next to clone. Extract the KSRSS and KSRSS-64k folders and drop them in your GameData, overwrite existing.
3- Install AtmosphericBeats config https://github.com/atmosphericbeats/atmosphericbeats_eveconfig_ksrss/releases/
4- Download this patch which fixes it for release 3 and drop it anywhere in GameData, make sure you have ModuleManager: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WrRviwfhFvzF-sEy8s5yHuG_ZvNXk1fg/view?usp=sharing