ASDAD FXC VACT Brief Overview of Features Used to Create Sample Graphics.
THIS PAGE IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION
It is currently a VERY VERY rough draft just to get my notes on to this page - frimel.
Comparable VACT Map Overlays used to replicate AAWU map overlays
ARTCC
Sigmet Location ID's
NOPAC Routes Systems
How To Create some of the Drawing objects used in these Graphics
Black Text on a White background with a Black Frame.
Create rectangle shape, set background to solid and color white.
Create another rectangle shape, slightly smaller than the first rectangle.
Set the background to hollow.
Create the desired Text.
Drawing Tool Notes
All saved images are capable of being created "Clear and Crisp". When saving images
if you choose to use a custom size. UNCHECK the interpolate box, else they won't be crisp.
Drawing objects are layered in the order the are created.
Text Does not scale with Shape (As you zoom and/or change scales Text stays as it was
originally created). This means for and saved TEXT objects you will probably want to
reload on the same scale/zoom OR just resize the text.
Can't save scale, zoom, and overlays in a procedure without data.
Next release after VACT 22a you will be able to do this via a workaround
using the "Advisory Procedure", which really just fools FXC by loading a no data key.
Procedures do not save custom colors (ie. White background or Map overlay)
The display settings are just based on the current FXC Display settings.
No undo redo of zoom position
No "UNLOAD" of map backgrounds
How To Create an Animated GIF
Create or Load Procedure (Scale, zoom and Map overlays)
May need to create custom colors for Map overlays.
If needed Set the desired Frame count and go to First Frame
Select "Proper" Display size (Options -> Display Size) (800h x 600w)
(950x675? is aawu sigmet size)
Step through each frame and adjust or draw as needed
Add Additional Features if desired.
(data, maps, drawings etc ..)
(Change Background color to white)
Save Screen as ANIMATED GIF (sigmet.gif or nosigmet.gif) under /Scratch
Send to Web or Close Web (Choose Transparent background if desired)
How To Replicate the AAWU SIGMET (or a NO SIGMET) Graphic
Create or Load "baseSigmetTemplate" Procedure (Scale, zoom and Map overlays).
May need to create custom colors for Map overlays
Select "Proper" Display size (Options -> Display Size) (800h x 600w)
(950x675? is aawu size)
Create, Load or Modify FXC Drawing Tool Object Overlays (fxd files)
- a NO SIGMET Text box drawing object, fxd file.
- an Agency Identification Text box drawing object, fxd file.
Add Additional Features if desired.
(data, maps, drawings etc ..)
(Change Background color to white)
Save Screen as (sigmet.gif or nosigmet.gif) under /Scratch
Send to Web or Close Web (Choose Transparent background if desired)
How To Replicate the VAAC Volcanic Ash Advisory Graphic
First create the 4 small images you want in the page
Set FXC display to the desired size.
Load or Create and Save the vag procedure with a desired bundle for zoom and map
overlays. (For these mini images I also Set display density to 0.33,
Options-> Display Properties-> Display Density, to remove the labels
from the lat/lon lines.
Load or Create the text/time box with the drawing tool (Shape/Text)
and save the drawing object to (filename.fxd) so you can re-use it
or Load this already created FXD object (vag_northPacific_UTCbox.fxd)
and just update the TEXT. (set Point size to 14 and center the text)
Draw the Volcanic Ash Region
Hide map Labels (if desired)
Unload and desired product labels
Exit Edit mode of "Manual Product" Label
Save the image (USE CUSTOM SIZE, 426 UNCHECK Interpolate) vag00.png
Now repeat and create the other three images (vag01.png, vag02.png
vag03.png). This is easy ... Just re-edit the TEXT box to correct the time.
Remove/Redraw or Re-EDIT the Volcanish Ash Region ... Than Save that image.
Now Resize FXC to about (900 high x 700 wide)
Under Maps Menu, Uncheck Show Maps and Show Map Labels (I was
on N. Pacific Scale, this shouldn't matter, any scale should be OK)
On the tools menu select Other Symbols -> image, Load vag00..04.png
and position as desired.
Now either Load or Create the vag_textTemplate.fxd. This is the box
with all the text at the bottom of the Volcanic Ash Advisory. Update the text
with the correct information and details. THIS IS WHERE THE SCALE
MATTERS, you will always want to load this FXC Drawing object
in the same scale it was created in.
Exit Edit mode of the "Manual Product" Label
Save the image (Use display size) ... sigmet.gif under/Scratch
