Viewing Distance setting reduces shadow quality

[advut]

In Open Rails if I increase viewing distance shadow quality gets worse. 2000m viewing distance produces better shadows than 8000m. Is this a bug? My OR version is x3632 and dynamic shadow is enabled.

[advut]

So...cannot anyone test this??

[crstagg]

Yes. Below both set for 1700hrs summer clear. Only changes were Viewing Distance with 2000m on left and 8000m on right.

[advut]

Thanks. Maybe a bug report needs to be filed? Better viewing distance gives better immersion but shadows are nice too.

[NoClue48]

Apologies for being late to the show...

Yes, I can confirm what advut has noted and totally agree that shadows are not only "nice", but are as much a part of the immersion experience as viewing long distances. My results are similar to Charles', but I haven't figured out yet how to upload screen grabs.

[If this is already known, please advise]
On a related topic (and apologies for hijacking the thread), when dynamic shadows are present and the train crosses a bridge or trestle, the train casts a shadow on the ground below the scenery feature, but the bridge or trestle itself doesn't. It took me quite some time to conclude that views 2, 3 and 4 looked "odd" when crossing a river, gully, coulee, etc. and the absence of the stationary object's shadow was the culprit.

[Vince]

Does the bridge you refer to in your post have Dynamic Shadows enabled?
Coincidentally, I am investigating why some objects, some passenger platforms do show (render) shadows cast by another object while others do not.

Additionally, the dynamic shadows that show in the Route Editor are completely different when rendered in either MSTS (which I rarely use) and Open Rails.
I mean all three means of displaying shadows show differently in all three platforms; RouteEditor, MSTS & Open Rails. I have not tried this in Goku's TSRE.

I also verify that lowering the view distance, in my case from 9699 meters to 2000 meters gives a HUGE improvement in the quality of all rendered shadows.
regards,

[NoClue48]

Good question Vince and I think you may have inadvertently taught me something. Your question of whether the bridge in question has dynamic shadows enabled implies that the shadows cast by objects in and along the route have the capability to have them enabled (and it's route dependent), correct? I know nothing of route building, but am willing to help out if someone will point me in the right direction.

And, "dynamic shadows" to me should imply that they are shadows cast by objects that are in motion or can be moved. Is this a correct assumption? Unless, of course, all shadows are considered dynamic because they are cast by the sun (which moves) and objects caught in the locomotives' headlights; which are moving if the train is in motion.

My limited experimenting is this: I've noticed on most of the ATSF routes I've downloaded have bridges and trestles that don't cast a shadow, but the train moving over them do (which I suspect is because of Open Rails). Other buildings and scenery objects like signal towers, switch activators, etc. do not. Some vegetation terrain features do.

In TrainSimulations' BNSF Scenic Route 2.0, the bridges cast shadows as do some terrain features. Vegetation and other static objects do not.

As long as I'm at it, the sun shining into the cab of the locomotives does not cast shadows; nor does it change as the locomotive changes its orientation to the light source--most obviously, the sun. My suspicion is that this is due mostly to the 2D nature of most engine cabs. I suspect this will be difficult and will require 3D cabs. But I digress...

I will pay closer attention to the shadows now that I know of this thread and can provide feedback and information...

[Vince]

implies that the shadows cast by objects in and along the route have the capability to have them enabled (and it's route dependent), correct?

Yes.
In the editor selecting the object and right clicking pulls up the objects properties, one of which is a shadow selection panel.

And, "dynamic shadows" to me should imply that they are shadows cast by objects that are in motion or can be moved.

Yes. The earth is in motion so the sun will cast a 'dynamic shadow' of any object be it stationary like a house or in motion like a train or other vehicle.

Whether or not a particular object will cast a dynamic depends on what the route author did when the route was built.

For my route I enable Dynamic Shadow on all objects about 150 to 200 meters to each side of the right of way. There is a good thread going at Elvas Tower Forums but not sure if viewable by all. (if not it should be view only for non members)
Regards,