Simviation Forum - Screenartist Spotlight : Daube

Sep 14^th, 2009 at 7:57pm

ShaneG Offline
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Studio V: Long overdue, but now rectified. We delve into the mind of Daube today! Known for enlightening us all to that wonderful alternative bloom for FSX & FS9, it is my opinion, that his shots are among the most beautiful out there, and a couple of freeware developers agree with me and use Daube exclusively for their beta & preview shots. (How cool is that!)

Daube:Thanks a lot for that but let's not exaggerate Wink

Alejandro (Alrot) is the only one that uses my screenshots for beta and preview of his fantastic creations

(And yes, this is really cool !!)

1. StudioV: how did you initially gain interest in flight sim and taking screenshots?.

Daube:My interest for flight simulators started a long time ago, when I didn't even have a computer at home. If I remember correctly, the "simulator" that really triggered
my flight pleasure was "LHX Attack Chopper" back on the Sega MegaDrive (Genesis) in the early 90's. Then came the day were I saw Flight Simulator 5 at some french air force event, and there I understood that I needed to get a real computer. What was really attracting me was the fact that with very little imagination, I could dream about actually being in the real aircraft, really controlling it, seeing it evolve in the air, looking at it from any angle...
something that obviously was not possible in real life.

When it comes to screenshots, this is something that started quite recently. I have flown on various generations of MS FlightSim: FS5, FS98, CFS, CFS2, FS2004 and now FSX, but this "screenshot addiction" only started with FS2004, because it was the very first sim that was beautiful enough to amaze me. I had been looking at screenshots from other members for quite a while, and found that looking at screenshots was a great source of pleasure (for
a flightsim fan, I mean). It took some time before I started posting screenshot just for "beauty" and not for "utility" or "explanations" or stuff like that. I had FS2004 since some time, I had installed a lot of addons to make it look very nice, I was seeing a lot of screenshot-sharing topics for other sims, so I though "why not for FS2004 ?". That's how I posted my first screenshots, over at the CheckSix french forums. I created a topic with the purpose of showing the best screenshots and providing the information about the addons that were used in them, so that the new comers could discover the sim and learn how to improve it. This was a great experience, started four years ago, and the topic is still alive today !

2. StudioV: How did you discover the alternate bloom in your shots, and do you prefer it to the default FSX bloom, or do you use them together?

Daube:I think I discovered this bloom module on the FlightSimWorld forums. Some guy working on Real Environment eXtreme (REX), or a beta-tester or somebody like that, posted some screenshots of the beta clouds, telling that he was "still experimenting a new bloom module". This catched my attention and I started asking for information. Once I understood how it was working, I decided to create this information topic here at Simviation to make everyone aware of this new feature, especially the users of FS9 that never had any addon like this one.

Of course, FSX already has some bloom feature, but there are two big problems with it:

- in DirectX9, this bloom has a critical performance impact on moderate computers like mine. In DirectX10 the impact is very limited, but I only have Windows XP, so only DirectX9.

- in my FSX hangar, the vast majority of aircraft are coming from FS9.... and FS9 planes are not compatible
with the FSX default bloom (screen will turn completely white).
That's why I never use the default FSX bloom. I turn it ON occasionally, for taking special screenshots like I did with Alrot planes. The combination of the default bloom and the bloom module is absolutely awesome, but my computer is not up to the task.

3. StudioV: Screen artists come and go with some regularity, but some 'veterans', such as ourselves, manage to stick with it, do you think screen art is a passing trend, or still a budding hobby yet to see it's full potential?

Daube:Here is my point of view: I only take screenshots when I feel my current flying environment has something special. It may be because I'm flying over a really beautiful area (default or addon), or because I'm getting an interesting/impressive weather, or because I'm using a great-looking aircaft, or everything at once ! The purpose of the screenshots is to share this experience, just to tell to others about an addon that maybe they didn't know, or a place that maybe they never explored.

I have discovered most of my addons in this way back in the FS9 days, looking at the screenshots from the other members, learning what was used in them etc... and then enriching my own simming environment. Also, the simple fact of posting screenshots and seeing the answers about the people that liked them is really rewarding. In the end, screenshots are just an alternative to words for communicating with others.
I don't think this will disappear anytime soon, and yes, I'm sure we have still a lot of potential to discover.

4. StudioV: What is the most important thing to you when setting up the simulator? When you "fire up your sim”, what are some of the things you try to accomplish?

Daube:It's not easy to explain. I use the sim just to dream. As a consequence, each time I start a flight:

- I try to choose a place in the world that looks beautiful. It may be the French Alps, or the west part of North America, or the Himalayas mountains, or any place with a landscape that pleases the eyes. In fact, you will never see me flying over the ocean or over central USA plains (at least, not with the default landclass/textures/sceneries)

- I try to choose a plane that is best suited for the place.

- I try to set up a weather that will offer interesting conditions for the place. It may be clear weather, or overcast with Cirrus clouds, or storm etc... just depending on my current feelings.

- Finally I try to imagine where I should go on the map:
Should I explore the area ?
In which direction ?
Should I just stay around the airfield, practising the landings, mastering my plane ?
Should I try to reach that airport, the approach looks challenging ? Etc..

5. StudioV: Add-ons are a very important part of screenshooting as they can improve the quality over default Flight Sim. What add-ons are in your infantry and which add-ons would you advise to newer screenartists?

Daube:I have to say that I never used any payware addons yet. FSX is encouraging me to start buying some, but it's not done yet. My FS9 was 100% freeware enriched, so is my FSX at the moment. There are tons of addons out
there that can be considered as must haves, however here are some advises for FS9:

- Ground: you have quite a lot of possible replacement textures that will totally change the way FS9 looks. I would
strongly suggest to take a looks at the "Lennart's Textures" pack (lennarts_textures.zip), and the "Alaskan Terrain
Textures" pack (asktrn.zip).

- Sky: some here recommend Real Environment Pro. I am addicted to FS SkyWorld 2004. Both are freeware, feel
free to download and try both of them. They will seriously improve the quality of your skies in FS9 !

- Planes: What can I say ? There are just too many amazing addons out there. Being myself a "virtual cockpit only"
pilot, my choice is quite limited, but some names have never disappointed me: Tim Conrad, Milton Shupe, Rick Piper,
Kirk Olsson, Roland Laborie, David Maltby and many others.

For FSX users, the freeware choice is more limited, especially for ground textures. However, the default ground textures are already quite good, so most of the times you can get some place to look much better just with a landclass. Pay attention to FS9 landclass addons, they will most-likey work in FSX. For the sky colors there's nothing available yet, however Cumulus (and maybe Cirrus too) textures from FS9 will work in FSX too. In fact I'm currently testing a new set of FS9 high res textures in my FSX.
For the planes, the choice is more comfortable. In FSX we are seeing outstanding addons, payware or freewares. Roland Laborie, Tim Conrad, Alejandro and Brett, etc... are just some of the most famous examples. And some of the FS9 planes will be compatible too, I said it somewhere above: most of my planes are in FS9 format.

In the end, what you have to do is just what I did back in time: go through the screenshot topics, see what you like and get it !

See ?

This shows why screenshot sharing is important.

♪♫♪‼

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Reply #1 - Sep 14^th, 2009 at 7:58pm

ShaneG Offline
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I turned into a Martian!

Posts: 10000

6. StudioV: In a time when more and more people are leaving FS9 behind for FSX as hardware advances, you are one of the few who remains true to both sims, what is it about FS9 that keeps it around for you, and do you see your self leaving it for good in the near future?

Daube:My FS9 died the day I installed FSX. My computer was not really able to run it correctly, however the few things I could see in that new sim were enough to kill my interest for FS9. The decision to upgrade my old computer was taken within a few minutes, and I began to save money for this purpose.

However, that didn't make FS9 a bad sim to my eyes. I am still recognizing it as the best alternative for those who cannot afford the FSX hardware. I still have most of my FS9 knowledge still to share, so I keep around the FS9 forums in order to provide all the assistance I can to the new comers. Also, since some FS9 addons are also valid for FSX, the FS9 forums are still a great source of information. I'm just some kind of FS9 veteran trying to bother some FS9 kids out there, in fact

7. StudioV: What is the most important thing a new simmer should know about this hobby?

Daube:It's all about dreaming. A sim is a sim, it's not reality, but you'll be able to do everything you can't do in the reality. The fact is: it's not simple. Simulations are complex, and the more complex they are, the more you'll love them. This may be difficult to accept for a new-comer that has no experience at all with simulators, but then, the most important thing to remember is that you are not alone. On the forums (not only here at SimViation), there are tons of people ready to help and share. It's a virtual world but a real community.

Just be patient, take your time, and enjoy everything you learn or find.

8. StudioV: What is the most overrated aspect of flight simming that a new simmer should be aware of?

Daube:The world of flight simulation (in general) is still very young.We can see very often new-comers that have great expectations, such as air combat, or other features that exist only in other specialized simulations, and we see them disappointed when they learn that FS (9 or X) is a simulation that only lets you fly around. I had myself several disappointments like that in the past, but then I learned to wait and enjoy what I had at the moment. The flight simulation world evolves quickly, faster and faster. I dream about a total sim, like Operation Flashpoint but with very realistic vehicles, with detailed interiors and authentic behavior. This will happen in the future, it doesn't exist right now but it will definitely happen some day. In the meanwhile, we have to enjoy what we have. And we have already a lot of things to enjoy, and we'll get more and more

9. StudioV: What other games & simulators do you use, and which is your all time favorite?

Daube:I am a big fan of any kind of simulations, car, boat, planes, space, combat, fantasy etc... I love those games that will just let me do what I want, not those games that force me to follow a fixed storyline. I would say that MS Flight Simulator is the game in which I've spend the most time since I have a computer. Beside of this, I've been enjoying a lot of other sims. The ones which are currently still active and that I still love and use frequently are few:

- Grand Prix Legends: the most impressive driving sim I ever experienced. The only one where I fear to use the Accelerator. It has been slightly update by the community to make it look better, and it's definitely the game that brings me the best driving feelings EVER ! I hate those Formula One or Kart simulation where you can do 200 -> 0 mph in less than 3 seconds.

- Richard Burns Rally: simply the most realistic Rally driving game ever made.

- Oblivion: I enjoyed Morrowind for more than a year. Oblivion is taking the same path. I'm just addicted to this liberty to go everywhere I want, do whatever I want, when I want, in a beautiful environment.

- I wish I could play EF2000 again Cry

10. StudioV: Flight simming is obviously one of your favourite hobbies. Can you tell us what other interests and hobbies you have?

Daube:I don't have many hobbies. When I get out of the office, I just want to go back home and relax, read the forums, enjoy video games etc... My weekend nights are made to have a drink with friends.My weekend days, if the weather allows it, are eventually made for Skydiving... but I have to admit I haven't jumped yet this year. Lack of motivation, mainly.

StudioV: We'd like to thank you Daube, for taking some time with us and hopefully inspiring some of our younger screenshot artists. We'll always keep a keen eye out for your upcoming pics...

♪♫♪‼

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Reply #2 - Sep 14^th, 2009 at 10:54pm

SeanTK Ex Member

Yay! The interviews are back! Cheesy

Another great and very useful one! Thanks for your time Daube!

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Reply #3 - Sep 15^th, 2009 at 1:02am

Mitch. Offline
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get off the footpath
Australia

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Great interview, thanks Daube. Smiley

---------->Currently building a native FSX Beechcraft Starship 2000<----------

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^^^ Click above to check out MySimshots.net ^^^

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Reply #4 - Sep 15^th, 2009 at 1:54am

Layne. Offline
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Australia, Victoria, Melbourne

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Where is my interview? Just joking lol

Very nice Daube BTW i forgot the link to the Bloom (I remember it started with E)

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Reply #5 - Sep 15^th, 2009 at 5:23am

Daube Offline
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Alternative bloomer
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Layne. wrote on Sep 15^th, 2009 at 1:54am:

Where is my interview? Just joking lol

Very nice Daube BTW i forgot the link to the Bloom (I remember it started with E)

Check my signature, it's a link to the presentation topic that I created. You'll find everything you need there

And thank you all for your support, gentlemens. As I said to Shane, having an interview like that on this forum really means a lot to me.

Got bloom ?
Got mountains ?
Got damage ?

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Reply #6 - Sep 15^th, 2009 at 7:28am

Leigh Offline
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"Its not the destination
its the journey."
somewhere over the rainbow

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i think if we interviewed more people it would be very good Cheesy

different artists through payware freeware and edited Tongue

anyway

very informative well done

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Reply #7 - Sep 15^th, 2009 at 2:48pm

Frequent Flyer Offline
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It's SuperCaliFragilIstic
EspiAliDocious!
Lucy's Sky with Diamonds

Posts: 1569

These interviews are great!
Thank you Daube and StudioV.
I'm especially impressed by how you show the freeware can produce excellent shots.
I am, just like you, a freeware only with virtual cockpit pilot

Thank you for this inspiring review!

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Reply #8 - Sep 15^th, 2009 at 11:13pm

BigTruck Offline
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Terrific questions Shane, and a great interview from you Daube, thanks for participating, I always enjoy reading these.

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Reply #9 - Sep 17^th, 2009 at 2:42pm

Rich H Offline
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Thanks for this Wink

Always very interesting to read, and great tips too.

"Politics" is made up of two words, "Poli", which is Greek for "many", and "tics", which are blood sucking insects. - Gore Vidal

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Reply #10 - Oct 13^th, 2009 at 7:47am

ShaneG Offline
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I turned into a Martian!

Posts: 10000

Thanks again Daube for your time, and insight. Your work has inspired me for a long time now. Cool

♪♫♪‼

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