HiFi Technologies - Active Sky Cloud Art for FSX/P3D

Active Sky Cloud Art (ASCA) is a new kind of graphics add-on for Flight Simulator X and Prepar3D that incorporates brand new technologies and content types to transform your skies and significantly increase realism, variation and dynamics.

*Notice: ASCA content is partially compatible with Prepar3D v5’s EA mode (Enhanced Atmospherics) or Prepar3D v6’s Legacy Clouds.  When using volumetric clouds (P6), no ASCA support is available.  When using legacy clouds, only cloud structures and cloud textures will be (optionally) available for depiction from ASCA.  When using volumetric clouds (P5), only cloud structures and cloud textures will be (optionally) available for depiction from ASCA, and all other graphics categories are replaced by P3D’s internal depiction.  When using P3D v5 EA mode with Volumetric Clouds on (slider at any setting other than full left), cloud structures and cloud textures are also replaced by EA mode’s trueSKY depiction.  When not using EA mode at all (Enhanced Atmospherics unchecked), all categories from ASCA are depicted. 

The technology behind ASCA includes optional tight integration with Active Sky 2016, ASP4, ASP3D and ASP6 to enable features such as Real-Time Texture Dynamics, which allow you to manually change or have your textures automatically changed multiple times throughout a flight without the need to shut-down and restart your simulator! The variation experienced throughout a flight with AS16/ASP4/ASP3D/ASP6 + ASCA is unprecedented, especially when flying through areas of varying weather conditions and severity. In addition, in ASCA’s Full Dynamics theme, simultaneous variation of up to 8 different texture sets (128 cloud textures total) are provided including simultaneous texture resolution to provide increased performance for certain cloud types that don’t require high resolution (such as overcast layers).

ASCA’s graphical content includes replacements/enhancements for everything above the horizon: Cirrus clouds, Cumulus clouds, Stratus clouds, Thunderstorm clouds, Sky colors and Lighting. But in addition to the graphical textures, ASCA also includes something very different: Brand New 3D Cloud Structures, which replace and/or enhance nearly every aspect of the cloud scene within the simulator! Thunderstorms are bigger, overcast is more full, light “few” humilis-type clouds are more visually appealing, and all cloud scenes are specifically tuned to match the ASCA texture content and provide maximum realism.

A primary design focus for ASCA was performance.  From solid overcast, to towering cumulonimbus, everything was designed for the best visuals with minimal performance sacrifice.  Careful 3D modeling of cloud structures and textures enables this, while creating realistic and unique variants of the real-world cloud types including stratus, nimbostratus, altocumulus, altostratus, cumulus humilis, cumulus mediocris, cumulus congestus, towering cumulus, stratocumulus, cirrostratus, cirrocumulus, cumulonimbus incus, cumulonimbus calvus and more.

ASCA works with FSX, FSX:SE and P3D v3, v4, v5 and v6 with a single license. Upon purchase and download, you’ll be offered a base download and an optional HD resolution pack download. Without the HD resolution pack, your cirrus/cloud resolution settings are limited to 2048×2048. With the HD resolution pack, 4096×4096 resolution becomes available.  

FEATURES
FULL INTEGRATION WITH AS16/ASP4/ASP3D/ASP6

• ASCA has several game-changing features and fully integrates with AS16, ASP4, ASP3D or ASP6 for the ultimate in weather + visuals
• ASCA can work with any weather engine (or default weather) but is designed for tight AS16/ASP4/ASP3D/ASP6 integration – Dynamic texture loading requires AS16/ASP4/ASP3D/ASP6

NEW CLOUD TEXTURES, CIRRUS CLOUDS, AND SKY COLORS

• You asked, we listened! New updates include additional newly improved overcast models, 6 new soft-style cloud texture sets, 7 new hyper-natural sky color sets with improved high-altitude saturation, vibrance and brightness graduation, a new cirrus cloud set, reworked and improved original cloud sets and sky color textures, remapping of all associations and definitions, new UI-based weather influenced configuration, and a new Art Tools API are just a few things that have been added.  Improved overall resolution, better dynamics, new geographic selection influence, and more user options are also included.
• You can now create your own custom content and make it ASCA and AS16/ASP4/ASP3D/ASP6 compatible with full dynamics capability, with just a few clicks of the mouse – enjoying full weather and geographic profile selection influence. Currently, Sky Color textures are supported, and more categories are planned to be added soon.
• We hope you’ll agree that ASCA is a major step forward in the ongoing effort to provide the most realistic and dynamic weather visual experience possible.

REAL-TIME DYNAMIC TEXTURE LOADING

• No need to shut down the sim: Clouds and sky can change instantly (user-initiated) or smoothly (automatic) and fully weather-influenced as desired in real-time for the ultimate in variation and realism (requires AS16/ASP4/ASP3D/ASP6*)

NEW 3D CLOUD STRUCTURES

• A large assortment of new cloud models for all varieties and types of clouds are included!*

SET IT AND FORGET IT

• Choose a dynamic theme, activate it, and let AS16/ASP4/ASP3D/ASP6 + ASCA do the rest

ADJUSTABLE FULL DYNAMICS OVERCAST RESOLUTION SETTING

• You can now customize overcast to the resolution of your choosing.

ART TOOLS API

• One of our newest additions to features is our Art Tools API which allows users to create and share their own ASCA/AS16/ASP4/ASP3D/ASP6 content – Currently enabled for Sky Textures only

WX INFLUENCE CONFIGURATION!

• Get only the looks you want! The new Wx Influence Configuration utility (available via the Settings Screen) allows user to adjust Wx selection profiles and geographic profiles for all content

HOW IT WORKS

• While ASCA and AS16/ASP4/ASP3D work great together, they are also fully compatible (either alone or together) with any other graphics add-on and weather add-on. You have full flexibility to mix and match any aspect and selectable feature set within these add-ons.

• Microsoft Flight Simulator X (with SP2, Acceleration), FSX: Steam Edition or Lockheed Prepar3D v3, v4, v5* or v6*
• ASCA works with both FSX and P3D platforms on a single license
• Windows Vista or later (64-bit recommended)
• 2 GHz processor or better (3.0 GHz recommended)
• 2 GB RAM or better (4 GB recommended)
• 1 GB available hard drive space for standard resolution content
• 2 GB available hard drive space for optional HD resolution content (5 GB recommended)
• Broadband high-speed internet connection recommended
• Minimum monitor resolution to access all user interface features: 1280×800 (1440×900 or better resolution recommended)

Requires an online internet connection for normal usage. Online activation is mandatory!

License is valid for one computer/installation only.  Moving software to another computer will deactivate the previous computer. 10 automatic reactivations are permitted.  Multiple-computer installations will require an individual ASCA license for each computer that it is installed on.

*Notice: ASCA content is partially compatible with Prepar3D v5’s EA mode (Enhanced Atmospherics) or Prepar3D v6’s Legacy Clouds.  When using volumetric clouds (P6), no ASCA support is available.  When using legacy clouds, only cloud structures and cloud textures will be (optionally) available for depiction from ASCA.  When using volumetric clouds (P5), only cloud structures and cloud textures will be (optionally) available for depiction from ASCA, and all other graphics categories are replaced by P3D’s internal depiction.  When using P3D v5 EA mode with Volumetric Clouds on (slider at any setting other than full left), cloud structures and cloud textures are also replaced by EA mode’s trueSKY depiction.  When not using EA mode at all (Enhanced Atmospherics unchecked), all categories from ASCA are depicted. 

ASCA Update 070323

• Added ASP6 and P3Dv6 support, updated documentation and readme

ASCA Update 080221

• Updated documentation, revision log and readme regarding new P3D 5.2 HF1 EA Mode considerations and ASCA compatibility

ASCA Update 122920

• Additional logging and guidance messages for new forced uninstall/repair function

ASCA Update 122120

• Various path/installation integrity checks added for ASP3D use with P3D non-EA mode
• Added new ASP3D/ASCA handling for automatic forced uninstall/repair of old ASCA content in new ASP3D add-on folder specification installations – When user initiates forced uninstall, ASCA will automatically remove/restore content
• NOTE: If any issues come up prevent proper uninstall/restore, an ASCA reinstall and/or P3D CONTENT item reinstall may be required

ASCA Update 121220

• New integration with ASP3D Update, with new version checking functionality
• Added handling/warning for situation where user’s previously correct path has been changed/moved by OneDrive features or other action
• Related fixes for ASP3D+ASCA integration issues reported in ASP3D release version (including failure of graphics installation to complete or various graphics installation errors)

ASCA Service Pack 3:

• Added compatibility with ASP3D and P3Dv5.  Must use the ADD ON FOLDER path for ASP3D (i.e. [documents]\Prepar3D v5 add-on files\ActiveSkyP5 and not the actual sim folder when using ASP3D.  If using ASCA stand-alone without ASP3D or with a previous version of ActiveSky, you may select the simulation install folder itself.
• Updated auto simulator/path name handling when ASP3D client overrides path (a normal behavior when ASP3D is running) - previously the path name text prefix was shown, now it should properly show "ASP3D+P3Dv4" or "ASP3D+P3Dv5" accordingly.
• Updated theme definition text in Global Automatic and Full Dynamics so that AS16/ASP4/ASP3D required is shown instead of AS16 required
• [051820] Adjusted handling of texture files in attempt to avoid interference by other add-ons
• [052120] Changed handling for restoral and category de-selection in options screen, when using ASP3D, for proper deactivation of ASCA content using the P3D add-on folder specification
• [052120] Updated documentation for ASP3D use
• [061520] Fixed problem with structures re-enabling properly in some potential uses of options screen structure checkbox enabling
• [061520] Added compulsory warning/notice about restarting the full session if cloud structions option is changed (to prevent depiction/cache error/cld not found errors if user changes this during a session)