ASCA TRANSFORMS YOUR SKIES! FOR FSX, FSX:SE, P3Dv6, P3Dv5, P3D v4 and P3D v3

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*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.

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.

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.

BUY NOW

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.

Active Sky Products are offered via several authorized re-sellers. Authorized re-sellers include: SimMarket, Just Flight, Aerosoft and Flight1. Notice: Purchasing from an unauthorized re-seller may result in modified pirate software and/or malware and will result in that product/license being deactivated and unable to be used. Please purchase only through the authorized re-sellers.

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Features
Requirements
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Screenshots

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.

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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

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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.

REQUIREMENTS

Windows Vista or later

Microsoft Flight Simulator X with SP2 or Acceleration OR FSX:Steam Edition OR Prepar3D v3 OR Prepar3D v4 OR Prepar3D v5* OR Prepar3Dv6*

ASCA works with both FSX and P3D platforms on a single license

2GHZ processor or better

2GB RAM or better

1GB available hard drive space for standard resolution content

2GB available hard drive space for optional HD resolution content

Minimum monitor resolution to access all user interface features: 1280×800

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.

3.0GHZ Processor or better

4GB RAM or better

5GB available hard drive space

Broadband high-speed internet connection

1440×900 or better resolution

*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.

SCREENSHOTS

All screenshots on this page are unedited, brought straight from the simulator, with only a frame border applied for presentation. What you see is what you get!

CHANGELOG

Here is a comprehensive list of changes and additions in Service Packs 3, 2 and 1!

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)

ASCA Service Pack 2

– Added P3D v4 support
– Added new “Reset Simulator Definitions” button in settings screen which will clear existing items and reset them as per a new first run installation
– Enhanced simulator name / identification logic to prevent incorrect or obscure simulator names, especially with custom P3D installation paths
– Added description of Reset Simulator Definitions button in User’s Guide

ASCA Service Pack 1

– 4 brand new “Ultra-Soft” HD cloud texture sets: Fusion, Oasis, Silk and Stratify
– 2 brand new “Soft Congestus” HD cloud texture sets: Meridian, Citadel
– 2 brand new Sky Color sets: Serenity and Horizon
– 1 brand new HD cirrus cloud texture set: Nautical
– Newly modified cloud base textures for all previous cloud sets providing better blending and realism
– Modified cumulus congestus cloud structures for better base depictions and volume
– Modified cumulonimbus incus and cumulonimbus calvus cloud structures for more blended lighting graduation in most cases
– Improved Sky Color texture contrast, saturation, vibrancy and darkness graduation adjustments for all previous Instinctive sets
– Improved both overcast models with reduced patterning/lighting issues in lower-light (sunset/sunrise) conditions
– Adjusted all sky color sets to incorporate more shading, contrast and shadows in cloud depiction
– Adjusted Instinctive 1-5 sky color sets for darker and more shaded cloud depiction in stormy/raining conditions, become brighter and more white in fairer conditions
– Adjusted automatic wx influence definitions for significant influence towards newest content
– Adjusted full dynamics associations for signficant influence towards newest content
– Adjusted all previous theme defintions for signficant influence towards newest content
– Adjusted stratus cloud models to reduce vertical scaling/stretching of certain wispy-style textures
– Adjusted error during theme install message to always be “topmost” to avoid errors being hidden behind other windows
– Adjusted UI processes to automatically select a new theme when created, when returning to main selection screen
– Redesigned standard and congestus-type overcast cloud models to eliminate “dark elongated” clouds that would look strange when viewing overcast from high above due to inherent simulator z-order issue
– Added new geographic influence capability (using AS16) for latitude-based infleunce of all items (currently used for Sky Colors, but user can configure any category)
– Added new option “Full Dynamics Overcast Texture Resolution” and defaulted this at 1024-32bit (was locked previously to 512-dxt) for user control and increase default overcast resolution in Full Dynamics mode
– Added new ASCA server news message at startup
– Added new ASCA version checking with new update notification
– Added new Wx Influence Configuration screen/utility (available via the Settings Screen) allowing user to adjust wx selection profiles and geographic profiles for all content
– Added new Art Tools API allowing users to create and share their own ASCA/AS16 content – Currently enabled for Sky Textures only
– Added file handling adjustment to clear potentially erroneous temporary files from a sim crash or other windows issue, which could result in a failed activation in some cases
– Added more failsafe file copy/transfer routine during activations to prevent potential failures during intermittent connection stability issues in some networked configuration cases
– Added additional work file cleaning routine to prevent potential issues during previous failed activation/installations
– Added small delay during cirrus file copying/backup/work file deletion steps to prevent potential installation errors in some cases
– Fixed issue with Full Dynamics not working leading to Low Resolution and Static texture depiction
– Fixed problem where unchecking Cloud Structures option might not restore cloud definitions to default, resulting in potential cloud texture issues / missing clouds when cloud structures disabled in ASCA
– Fixed problem when using Cloud Structures but not Cloud Textures, where the models/definitions/metadata was not properly set in sim to activate ASCA cloud structures
– Fixed problem related to creating a new theme that could result in application crash
– Fixed problem in Nautical cirrus set causing installation/activation errors
– Updated documentation for recent changes

ACTIVE SKY CLOUD ART