Thu, 08/26/2010 - 09:39
I have been playing with NTHUSIM recently and will be using the Plus edition for my 737 cockpit set up. I have some questions which are still lingering in my mind even after reading many threads on several forums including of course this one. Hopefully, I will be able to get the answers here and in the process create a new thread that will be useful to others who are struggling perhaps as I am.
Please assume the following things for the sake of this discussion. The visuals will be provided by FSX. The main computer is very powerful and can cope with most of what I will be throwing at it. Two other smaller computers will be running Project magenta, and other small programs, but will not be driving the three projectors. I will be using TH2Go Digital. I’ve decided to go with five views (Left, Left Fwd, Center, Right Fwd, Right) projected on a curved – cylindrical not spherical - screen. Ideally, I want a screen that will cover 180° of FOV.
The screen will be approximately 6 feet in height and approximately 19 feet in circumference (12 feet in diameter). I have not yet purchased the projectors but I think that I’ll probably go with short throw 1280x800 native resolution projectors.
Here’s what I’m struggling with.
I want to reconcile in my head what I read here and elsewhere about 1) the physical size of the screen versus 2) the aspect ratio of the combined image projected onto the screen and 3) the FOV of each of the five outside views from FSX.
Let’s start with the screen. The screen is a 19’ pipe that will be bent to an arch of 180° and will have a diameter of 12’. It will be approximately 4’ high (at least the image area will be 4’ high).
If I undock five outside views in FSX and tweak the FLT file to achieve a FOV in each of the views equal to 36°, the combined FOV of the five views should cover the screen. Is that right? Can someone also please explain how I can fit five views and distribute them among three projectors? I can see If I would open three views but five? I know it’s possible, Many people commented that that’s what they’re doing. I need more help in understanding that.
I also read with interest the following somewhere and that got me thinking about the physical size of my screen.
Let’s assume that the native resolution of the 3 projectors I’ll be using totals 3840x800 (or 3.07 Megapixels.)
I will not account for edge blending, since I understand that it is minimal and will not substantially diminish the total resolution of the image. Please correct me if that is not the case.
If I take the calculated aspect ratio from the combined resolution (3840÷800 = 4.8:1) and apply this ratio to my desired screen height and desired screen width, I end up with this:
If I want a 4 foot high screen, then I will need to go 19.2’ feet wide (4x4.8).
Am I on the right track? If so, then I guess the only thing I will need help with is how to set up the five views in full screen mode so that every time I start FSX, I will find myself in the plane looking at the same views. A little tutorial would be much appreciated. :-)
Thank you for reading and thank you for your anticipated assistance.
Gianluca
Fri, 08/27/2010 - 08:35
#3
Gianluca,
You probably dont want to hear this, but no amount of planning can come close to actually
setting up a projector, a tempory screen and EXPERIMENT...PLAY...TWEAK....FRUSTRATION...and more EXPERIMENTS.
You will learn SO MUCH more buy actually experimenting rather planning...I did. I bought various projectors,
made cheap experimental screens until I figured out what suited me. I believe its easier to actually do what you
want in practice than to do it in your head or a tutorial...
Also, there is no blending in NThusim...so dont confuse yourself anymore than you need to LOL.
Ciao,
Nat
Sat, 08/28/2010 - 00:59
#4
Part of the stumbling block in acceptence of this sort of thing going mainstream is there is no hobby level turn-key version of this yet. It's something I've personally pondered designing detailed PDF plans for and I hope others do too. The difficulty is everyone has a bit of a different sized room and use different projectors, so there are variables that make it more difficult to be specific about things unless you seek to directly recreate an existing build both screen size, projector model and mounting location.
Mon, 08/30/2010 - 01:41
#5
For screen sizes, coverage and general projector setup i find this tool very helpful:
http://www.orihalcon.jp/projdesigner/
Best of all its free!! Now if only projector manufacturers would give you more details on FOV, etc. Like suggested before nothing beats trying it out. But with this you can get a very good estimation. For projector info i suggest projectorpoint.co.uk and their screen size calculator.
I know this isnt strictly the part you are having troubles with, but maybe it helps someone anyways.
Actually, there is a thread here that goes about explaining exactly how to chop up MSFS camera views so you can use five camera windows to achieve what you have in mind. You are spreading the five camera views over the three projections. IMHO, the only other thing of importance is the lens throw. Perferably 0.5:1-0.61:1 projector of some sort. they're often called ultra-short-throw projectors. It's hard to achieve that 6 foot projection height you're seeking otherwise. Aspect ratio can just be fine tuned with FOV preferences for the game. I seem to recall that is possible with MSFS. There are a number of people around here infinitely more familiar with MSFS inner workings than I am. I'm for the most part merely repeating information I've read previously through second hand means. The others around here know first hand though how to implement it in MSFS.