[Bullhorn]

Im slowly building my mini campaign, based in only 2 systems.

The link is an initial background set-up, using the retail nebulaes. I think im gonna make some very dark planets, i.e viewed from behind, ands some "planets2 that actually appear as stars (im tired of getting glare off far-away, small stars i create in Fred).

I got the glowing edges by simply duplicating the same nebula over itself a few times, twice was usually enough, and maybe rotating a little.

I must try out Singhs nebula set-up next.

Many thanks,
BHN

[FUBAR-BDHR]

I've got around the sun glare by putting a planet about the same size right in front of the star.  Takes some work and there are probably easier ways these days but it can be done.

[Admiral Nelson]

Create a new star entry in stars.tbl, and lower the luminosity value (the fourth number) to something below 1.0.  This will reduce the white out effect.

[ShadowGorrath]

Is it possible to make FRED have more than 2000 stars in the background ? And does someone know where I can find a very high quality background images of the solar system ? Large enough , so that I can stretch them to 18x18 in FRED , and they still look good ? I might need for a possible mini-campaign .

[Herra Tohtori]

If I were you, I would set the amount of stars in FRED to zero and use a skybox instead, but that's because I think the retail stars suck, not to mention the bug where they are rendered differently in relation to other background elements, which causes the stars (and suns and subspace node visualizations) to move in relation to background when you're turning your ship...

As to finding good images of solar system... dunno, perhaps Celestia Motherlode would be good place to seek, at least they have high-res textures. Dunno how much renders they have, and whether or not they are given to "public use" or not.

Anyway, if you want to use really big planets, don't use the FRED's stretching system, instead use skyboxes. They result in less distortion IIRC.

[ShadowGorrath]

Alright then . You convinced me . But where can I get different skyboxes then ?

[Mobius]

If I were you, I would set the amount of stars in FRED to zero and use a skybox instead, but that's because I think the retail stars suck, not to mention the bug where they are rendered differently in relation to other background elements, which causes the stars (and suns and subspace node visualizations) to move in relation to background when you're turning your ship...

I agree with you, but the minimum number of stars is 100. I'm all against them, we have the incredible starfield.pof which makes conventional stars look poor and useless. As you said, they also cause problems. I think the coders should definitely take in consideration the possibility of reducing the number to 0 in FRED.

[Snail]

I think the coders should definitely take in consideration the possibility of reducing the number to 0 in FRED.[/color]

Yea!

(as in Yey, not Yeah).

[Mobius]

I think the coders should definitely take in consideration the possibility of reducing the number to 0 in FRED.

Yea!

(as in Yey, not Yeah).

Quote fixed

Probably someone will read our request. Herra Tohtori shares our opinion, so...

[Snail]

What's fixed?

[ShadowGorrath]

So can someone tell me where I can download seperate skyboxes ? I don't have the mediavps , and don't want to download them , since my computer is too old to be able to use them . 

[Mobius]

Check this out:

http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/topic,44030.0.html

You can find a nice skybox in BtRL, but you should ask for a permission(I think).

[ShadowGorrath]

Hey thanks 

[Mobius]

I forgot to tell you that this skybox isn't perfect, part of it looks strange(nothing bad...). It works admirably in cutscenes

[Snail]

The version in Blue Planet has some polar distortion, but it can easily be avoided in cutscenes.