TurfFX Effect Layer

The TurfFX Effect Layer is an Effect Layer type which is used to render grass (and similar foliage). As with all effect layers, turf is painted onto the terrain and automatically generates appropriate geometry for the area surrounding the camera. As compared to the Clutter Effect Layer, TurfFX offers less flexibility but substantial improvements to performance which in turn allows for greater density at greater draw distances and effective wind-synchronised animation.

Configuration

Effect Layer Window

The Effect Layers window allows you to edit your effect properties. The UI in this window will change based on what effect you choose (clutter, turf, something else).

Select

This allows you to select any existing effect layers to view and edit their parameters.

Delete

This button will delete the currently selected effect layer.

Add

This button will allow you to create a new effect layer.

Name

Enter a name for your effect layer.

Turffx-Asset

This is where you select one asset to be generated for your turffx layer. Select an asset you want used in your turffx layer from the dropdown list.

Turffx-Density Data Binding

The "turffx-density" options and associated "constant" value control the Effect Layer Data Binding (read this link for details) which controls the density of this turffx layer across the route. Density ranges from 0.0 (no turf present) to 1.0 (maximum density).

Turffx-Height-Scale Data Binding

The "turffx-height-scale" options and associated "constant" value control the Effect Layer Data Binding (read this link for details) which controls the height of this turffx layer across the route. Height ranges from 0.0 (no turf present) to 1.0 (maximum height).

Geometry-Scale

TBD

Blade-Width

TBD

Blade-Width-Noise

TBD

Blade-Height-Noise

TBD

Width-Scale-Near

TBD

Width-Scale-Far

TBD

Bending-Scale

TBD

Dispersal

TBD

Bunching

TBD

Painting Clutter

Example Usage

Asset Creation

Asset Parameters

TurfFx is made up of individual polygon blades with many options to configure each blade in your Turf Effect Layer and within the asset itself.

SHAPE

Determine the shape of your blade:

CURVE

Adjust the curve of your blades based on 2 or 3 control points:

OFFSET

Set whether your blade needs edge offsets:

TESSELLATION

Determine the tessellation of your blades:

DISPERSAL

Adjust the dispersal of your blades:

BUNCHING

Adjust how blades bunch together:

DENSITY

Set the number of seeds to plant which controls the overall density:

COLOUR TINTING

Determine which parts of the blade to colour blend to match the ground texture:

FINAL TWEAKING

In addition to the adjustments above, you can also tweak the height, width, bending-scale for wind animation and many more parameters to create all different sorts of grass and grass-like ground cover.

Hardware Limitations

As an NVIDIA-provided visual effect, there are some hardware requirements and limitations which apply to TurfFX.

1. TurfFX is currently supported only for Windows.

2. TurfFX requires a GPU with substantial amounts of VRAM. Whereas Trainz will typically run (albeit slowly, or at reduced settings) on below-spec computers, TurfFX may need to be disabled entirely if the GPU is insufficient.

Trainz offers a fallback mode which effectively replaces the TurfFX layer with an equivalent Clutter layer. This results in a weaker but still acceptable overall visual result. Alternatively, the user may opt to disable TurfFX entirely, in which case the TurfFX Effect Layers become invisible.