The default milky white/green texture is highly unrealistic in very grey overcast conditions such as we often find here in Europe.
The replacement texture will change this to a more convincing "blue/grey" cast. (see attached pictures for example of mid winter shots)
It should be understood the default "milky green - overcast water texture" colour is dependant on the display settings. The replacement texture supplied will only work on DX9 compliant video cards. You must be able to move the "Water Effects" slider all the way to the right! If not then don't install them as you won't be able to see them!
The replacement texture will give a more realistic grey cast when the cloud conditions are for "overcast"; It should be noted that FS9 does some pretty funny things with weather and one is to call for overcast water textures when the default fair weather is called for. It is for interest only that I should point out if you manually set your own version of "fair weather", with less than 100% cloud coverage, you will most likely get nice blue water.
To install: Simply unzip the zipfile and copy the file in the "grey" folder; env_overcast.bmp to your Scenery\World\texture
Just overwrite any earlier versions of my water textures.
History:
Version 3 has been further improved to allow a more convincing dynamic wave action missing on version 1 and 2. Also the water texture is better in respect of colours and tonal balance.
Version 4 has improved water texture in respect of colours and tonal balance. Most importantly in version 4 attention has been paid to the lighting reflection on the water surface.
Version 5 updated to more realistic reflections into the sun and more convincing wave action into the sun than earlier versions. Version 5 now includes 4 different choices of tonal colour balance; grey, blue/grey, green/grey, and very green/grey. The purpose of this is to allow the user to customize the effect of "overcast" conditions to his/her own choice.
PLEASE NOTE!
How to set-up your choice of replacement texture?
Try this to help make your preferred "overcast" choice:
Start with the "grey" file. (it's the one I use and most users will probably opt for this one).
Start at the default flight; Seattle KSEA, which has lots of lakes and water to see. Get up in the air and over some water.
To see the darkest "overcast" colour select fair weather (or 100% overcast) and December 22nd. To see the lighter "overcast" summer colours do set the date to June 22nd. There are differences.
Next go to the desktop, (FS9 still running), and then select the next "overcast" choice and copy and paste it to the Scenery\World\texture.
Go back into FS9 and change the weather settings to "clear". Re-select the "overcast/fair" weather and now you should see the new colour changes.
I would suggest you do this in various regions around the world and various times of day and various times of the year if you want to be sure of you choice.
Personally, I prefer the "grey" "overcast" file but if you spend a lot of time in very blue water areas such as Princess St Julian (TNCM) you may prefer to leave the default MS9 overcast in place or perhaps use my "very green grey" file.
Perhaps some one could make a program that automactically switches the choice of both my sun-set and overcast textures when fS9 loads or during the game to give some variations to the game? If anyone is interested in doing this please contact me.
