Regarding Track

orca48

New member
When you see a track listed in surveyor such as greywoodcleanstd02m,what does the 02m represent?There is also 04m 06m etc and I layed them side by side and I don't see any difference.Is it the tie placement per metre?Just a lucky guess hehehe
 
Kinda yes,the smaller the number the more it impacts the frame rates so you should only use them on turns,and for the larger number use them on the straight aways,these case less of a hurt on frame rates.
 
The number usually represents the length of the mesh used for the spline. 02m would be a mesh 2 meters long. The impact is that that the spline mesh is repeated along the length of the spline and they typically have about 20 polys in the mesh so they add up fast and they affect frame rates. A typical spline might average 10 polys/m with a 2m mesh length but only 2 polys/m for a 10m mesh. The smaller the mesh the better the curves look although you get fewer ties (sleepers) shown in the texture file used with the small mesh length so repetition of the tie sequence is sometimes a little more obvious with the smaller mesh.

If the track you select has multiple lengths the guidance is to use a shorter mesh length for sharp curves and longer ones on gentle curves and straight sections. The other consideration is that splines stretch and on short sections ( betwen spline points) either straight or curved the tie spacing can get very distorted - stretched or compressed. For those cases where you can't adjust the spline point spacing you might try using the smaller length mesh.

Bob Pearson
 
That sure answers that question.Some of this information you just wouldn't have without this forum and the people on it.What would a good choice be for "all purpose" usage whereas you just use one type instead of switching from 02 to 06 depending on curvature so frame rates aren't affected as much.The USA wood on I use looks kinda chintzy.
 
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