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Left handed signals

Started by jamespetts, July 28, 2015, 10:47:19 PM

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jamespetts

One of the projects on which I have been working for Experimental is enhancing the signalling system. A byproduct of that is the need for new signal graphics, on which I am currently working. I am taking the opportunity to produce a complete new set of signal graphics, properly aligned for left-handed use, and suitable for Standard as well as Experimental (indeed, some of the graphics, particularly for the long-block signal, may not be used in Experimental).

The first complete set produced is the early (circa 1920s) colour light signals, as illustrated here:



The new .dat file is here (the relevant parts being):


---------------------------------------
# COLOUR LIGHT 1920s
#--------------------------------------
# Stop signal left side
obj=roadsign
copyright=JamesPetts
name=two-aspect-colour-light-stop
waytype=track
cost=1600
is_signal=1
intro_year=1920
intro_month=4
# RED
Image[0]=images/signal-2-aspect-danger.1.2,42,-2
Image[1]=images/signal-2-aspect-danger.1.0,-37,12
Image[2]=images/signal-2-aspect-danger.1.1,-7,-18
Image[3]=images/signal-2-aspect-danger.1.3,10,27
# GREEN
Image[4]=images/signal-2-aspect-clear.1.2,42,-2
Image[5]=images/signal-2-aspect-clear.1.0,-37,12
Image[6]=images/signal-2-aspect-clear.1.1,-7,-18
Image[7]=images/signal-2-aspect-clear.1.3,10,27
Icon=> images/signal-icons.1.2
Cursor=images/signal-icons.1.3
---------------------------------------
# Distant signal left side
obj=roadsign
copyright=JamesPetts
Name=two-aspect-colour-light-distant
waytype=track
cost=3200
is_presignal=1
intro_year=1920
intro_month=4
# RED (unused)
Image[0]=images/signal-2-aspect-danger.1.2,42,-2
Image[1]=images/signal-2-aspect-danger.1.0,-37,12
Image[2]=images/signal-2-aspect-danger.1.1,-7,-18
Image[3]=images/signal-2-aspect-danger.1.3,10,27
# GREEN
Image[4]=images/signal-2-aspect-clear.1.2,42,-2
Image[5]=images/signal-2-aspect-clear.1.0,-37,12
Image[6]=images/signal-2-aspect-clear.1.1,-7,-18
Image[7]=images/signal-2-aspect-clear.1.3,10,27
# YELLOW
Image[8]=images/signal-2-aspect-caution.1.2,42,-2
Image[9]=images/signal-2-aspect-caution.1.0,-37,12
Image[10]=images/signal-2-aspect-caution.1.1,-7,-18
Image[11]=images/signal-2-aspect-caution.1.3,10,27
Icon=> images/signal-icons.1.4
Cursor=images/signal-icons.1.5
---------------------------------------
# Long block signal left side
obj=roadsign
copyright=JamesPetts
# TODO: Change the name and graphics of this more accurately to represent token block signalling.
Name=Modern_LongSignals_right
waytype=track
cost=6400
is_signal=1
is_longblocksignal=1
intro_year=1920
intro_month=4
# RED
Image[0]=images/signal-3-aspect-longblock.1.2,42,-2
Image[1]=images/signal-3-aspect-longblock.1.0,-37,12
Image[2]=images/signal-3-aspect-longblock.1.1,-7,-18
Image[3]=images/signal-3-aspect-longblock.1.3,10,27
# GREEN
Image[4]=images/signal-3-aspect-clear.1.2,42,-2
Image[5]=images/signal-3-aspect-clear.1.0,-37,12
Image[6]=images/signal-3-aspect-clear.1.1,-7,-18
Image[7]=images/signal-3-aspect-clear.1.3,10,27
Icon=> images/signal-icons.1.6
Cursor=images/signal-icons.1.7
---------------------------------------
# Route indicator (choose) signal left side
obj=roadsign
copyright=JamesPetts
Name=two-aspect-colour-light-choose
waytype=track
cost=12800
is_signal=1
free_route=1
intro_year=1920
intro_month=4
# RED
Image[0]=images/signal-2-aspect-route-indicator-danger.1.2,42,-2
Image[1]=images/signal-2-aspect-route-indicator-danger.1.0,-37,12
Image[2]=images/signal-2-aspect-route-indicator-danger.1.1,-7,-18
Image[3]=images/signal-2-aspect-route-indicator-danger.1.3,10,27
# GREEN
Image[4]=images/signal-2-aspect-route-indicator-clear.1.2,42,-2
Image[5]=images/signal-2-aspect-route-indicator-clear.1.0,-37,12
Image[6]=images/signal-2-aspect-route-indicator-clear.1.1,-7,-18
Image[7]=images/signal-2-aspect-route-indicator-clear.1.3,10,27
Icon=> images/signal-icons.1.8
Cursor=images/signal-icons.1.9


The image files are in this directory.

I shall be adding more signal graphics presently, including a greater variety of different types of signals for different historical eras.
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Vladki

Hi james. This reminded me to continue my work on signals. Since ma patches to make left hand signals better, there is a new dat file option to set the offset, so the signals work well for both right and left side. I want to port it for experimental, but recently I prefer to spend my free time without a computer. >:D

jamespetts

I think that the offset code is present in Experimental, as I have backported most of the recent changes to Standard. However, changing the offsets is not enough for semaphore signals to be made left-handed, as the semaphore arm will be facing in the wrong direction if it is based on a right-handed graphic.
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Vladki

Ok. I did not check the latest updates. You are right with the semaphore. But I take that as a minor issue. More iportant is that the base of signal will be on reasonable place and not somewhere on another tile as it was before. And Light signals and roadsigns will be perfectly ok on both sides.

jamespetts

Here are the upper-quadrant semaphores (1924 onwards):



The sources are in this commit.
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jamespetts

Some lower quadrant semaphores here:



Github commit here. (This also contains missing graphics from the previous upper quadrant signals).

The lower quadrant signals, which were the predominant type on all lines before 1924 when the upper quadrant signals became the norm everywhere apart from the GWR, come in a number of varieties representing (in a highly simplified form) the often forgotten historical progression of the signals. Signals before 1880 have white instead of green "clear" aspects, and distant signals (pre-signals in Simutrans terminology) before 1918 have a notched red arm with red light; only after 1918 was the yellow arm/light introduced. Somersault signals (from the G. N. R., introduced as a safety measure after the Abbot's Ripton rail accident), ringed and other specialist shunting and junction signals are excluded for simplicity.

To aid distinction, the red arm distant signals are shown with a white finial ball, whereas the stop signals are shown with a red finial ball. In reality, both types of signal had either colour of ball.
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jamespetts

#6
Here are some narrow gauge lower quadrant semaphores:



Apart from one single signal on the Lynton & Barnstaple, installed shortly before it closed, narrow gauge railways hardly, if at all, used upper quadrant signals so far as I have been able to find, so I do not propose to draw upper quadrant narrow gauge signals. These short post signals, however, will be usefully re-purposed as early underground signals.

The Github commit with the sources is here.

Edit: Incidentally, below is the section of the compat.tab file for changing the old signals to new when loading a saved game

Modern_Signals_right
two-aspect-colour-light-stop
Modern_preSignals_right
two-aspect-colour-light-distant
Modern_ChooseSignals_right
two-aspect-colour-light-distant
Signals
uq-semaphore-stop
preSignals
uq-semaphore-distant
LongSignals
uq-semaphore-longblock
ChooseSignals
uq-semaphore-junction
Classic_Signals_right
lq-semaphore-stop
Classic_preSignals_right
lq-semaphore-distant
Classic_LongSignals_right
lq-semaphore-longblock
Classic_ChooseSignals_right
lq-semaphore-junction
Classic_Signals_right_narrow
lq-semaphore-stop-narrow
Classic_preSignals_right_narrow
lq-semaphore-distant-narrow
Classic_LongSignals_right_narrow
lq-semaphore-longblock-narrow
Classic_ChooseSignals_right_narrow
lq-semaphore-junction-narrow
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jamespetts

Here are some underground semaphore signals, using the same graphics as the narrow gauge signals:



Here is the Github commit.
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jamespetts

I have realised that the upper quadrant signals were the wrong way around; that is now fixed:



Here is the Github commit with the fix.
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jamespetts

Here are some narrow gauge colour light signals:



And here is the Github commit with the sources.
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jamespetts

Here are some modern (post 1960s) colour light signals:



Here is the Github commit for them.
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jamespetts

Here are some new tunnel colour light signals:



And here is the Github commit with the sources.
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sdog

Excellent work!

Quote from: jamespetts on August 02, 2015, 10:32:36 PM
Some lower quadrant semaphores here:



Github commit here. (This also contains missing graphics from the previous upper quadrant signals).

The lower quadrant signals, which were the predominant type on all lines before 1924 when the upper quadrant signals became the norm everywhere apart from the GWR, come in a number of varieties representing (in a highly simplified form) the often forgotten historical progression of the signals. Signals before 1880 have white instead of green "clear" aspects, and distant signals (pre-signals in Simutrans terminology) before 1918 have a notched red arm with red light; only after 1918 was the yellow arm/light introduced. Somersault signals (from the G. N. R., introduced as a safety measure after the Abbot's Ripton rail accident), ringed and other specialist shunting and junction signals are excluded for simplicity.

To aid distinction, the red arm distant signals are shown with a white finial ball, whereas the stop signals are shown with a red finial ball. In reality, both types of signal had either colour of ball.
I find those very hard to see. Perhaps if you could increase the colour saturation of the dark red stripes just a tad, it would improve quite a bit. I hope that would not compromise historical accuracy too much.

jamespetts

The reason that these are a bit dark in this orientation is that these signals, unlike the previous hand-drawn signals, are shaded in the standard way. This orientation is in shadow, as you will see from the face of the rear carriage of the train also facing in the same direction. The signals are each provided with a bright point of light representing the lamps, however, when in the forward position.
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sdog

Quote from: jamespetts on August 06, 2015, 10:14:40 AM
The reason that these are a bit dark in this orientation is that these signals, unlike the previous hand-drawn signals, are shaded in the standard way. This orientation is in shadow, as you will see from the face of the rear carriage of the train also facing in the same direction. The signals are each provided with a bright point of light representing the lamps, however, when in the forward position.
I was suspecting as much, however, I think for practicability a little cheating on the lighting could be possible without breaking the concept of shadow and without having them look like modern reflective paints. As it is, there isn't enough contrast to notice the signal position, at least for me. The bright point helps a little, it is just a bit too small. I think with it you are limited to special colours? Were you not, reducing the brightness a little and increasing its size a bit, perhaps twice would make it easier to see.

This would not matter very much for other objects. However, it is quite important for playing the game to see very immediately in what state a signal is.

Regardless of this small aspect, these signals are excellent work! I am convinced will set a new standard other paksets will strive to achieve in their future updates.

jamespetts

Thank you for your thoughts. I am not quite sure how one would go about doing "a little cheating on the lighting" in a uniform and visually satisfactory way, however. Incidentally,  have you tried clicking on the image to view it in full resolution? The forum by default shows a reduced resolution version which might make the signals seem harder to see than they really are.
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jamespetts

Here are some LED colour light signals, which are quickly replacing filament lamp signals.



And here is the Github commit.
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jamespetts

Here are some flag signals:



The flag signals are a little different to the others: "clear" is represented by no flag at all (this was before the era of failsafe signalling), except for the choose signal, which I have given a green flag (as pictured). There is no long block signal, as single line signalling was not really possible before the invention of the telegraph. If the Standard version of this pakset really needs early long-block signals, I can produce some.

Here is the Github commit, which also contains some missing graphics from the LED signals.
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jamespetts

It seems that I made a mistake with the flag signals' colours: this source has the flag signals as:



I have thus made the necessary amendments:



I have retained the yellow flag as the choose signal, although it has no historical prototype.

Here is the corresponding Github commit.
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jamespetts

Finally, some vane signals from the 1840s:



These are based on these:



and also these "auxiliary signals" as pre-signals (they were in fact mechanical repeaters):



I could not find anything on vane junction signals, so the choose signal with the red bar is totally fictional. The relevant Github commit is here.

Because I am about to continue the work in overhauling the Simutrans-Experimental signalling system, the .dat files for these are likely to change in the future so as not to be compatible with Standard (currently, the .dat file format for signals is the same between Standard and Experimental). Different graphics in some cases may be needed for the forthcoming Experimental version.

With that in mind, I think that there is much to recommend me packaging the new signals in their current state for use in Standard. Accordingly, here are all the images.

The .dat file is here for standard gauge, here for narrow gauge.

Here are the relevant parts of en.tab:


lag-signal-stop
Flag signal
flag-signal-distant
Flag pre-signal
flag-signal-junction
Flag choose signal
vane-signal-stop
Vane signal
vane-signal-distant
Vane auxilliary signal
vane-signal-junction
Vane choose signal
two-aspect-colour-light-stop
Stop signal (colour light)
two-aspect-colour-light-distant
Distant signal (colour light)
two-aspect-colour-light-led-square-stop
Stop signal (LED)
two-aspect-colour-light-led-square-distant
Distant signal (LED)
longblock-colour-light-led-square
Long block signal (LED)
two-aspect-colour-light-led-square-choose
Choose signal (LED)
three-aspect-colour-light-longblock
Long-block signal (colour light)
uq-semaphore-stop
Semaphore stop signal
uq-semaphore-distant
Semaphore distant signal
uq-semaphore-junction
Semaphore choose signal
uq-semaphore-longblock
Semaphore long block signal
lq-semaphore-stop-white
Semaphore stop signal
lq-semaphore-stop
Semaphore stop signal
lq-semaphore-distant-red-white
Semaphore distant signal
lq-semaphore-distant-red
Semaphore distant signal
lq-semaphore-distant
Semaphore distant signal
lq-semaphore-longblock
Semaphore long block signal
lq-semaphore-longblock-red
Semaphore long block signal
lq-semaphore-longblock-red-white
Semaphore long block signal
lq-semaphore-junction
Semaphore choose signal
lq-semaphore-junction-white
Semaphore choose signal
two-aspect-colour-light-stop-narrow
Stop signal (colour light)
two-aspect-colour-light-distant-narrow
Distant signal (colour light)
long-block-colour-light-narrow
Long-block signal (colour light)
two-aspect-colour-light-choose-narrow
Choose signal (colour light)
uq-semaphore-stop-narrow
Semaphore stop signal
uq-semaphore-distant-narrow
Semaphore distant signal
uq-semaphore-junction-narrow
Semaphore choose signal
uq-semaphore-longblock-narrow
Semaphore long block signal
lq-semaphore-stop-white-narrow
Semaphore stop signal
lq-semaphore-stop-narrow
Semaphore stop signal
lq-semaphore-distant-red-white-narrow
Semaphore distant signal
lq-semaphore-distant-red-narrow
Semaphore distant signal
lq-semaphore-distant-narrow
Semaphore distant signal
lq-semaphore-longblock-narrow
Semaphore long block signal
lq-semaphore-longblock-red-narrow
Semaphore long block signal
lq-semaphore-longblock-red-white-narrow
Semaphore long block signal
lq-semaphore-junction-narrow
Semaphore choose signal
lq-semaphore-junction-white-narrow
Semaphore choose signal
lq-semaphore-underground-stop-white
Semaphore stop signal (underground)
lq-semaphore-underground-stop
Semaphore stop signal (underground)
lq-semaphore-underground-distant-red-white
Semaphore distant signal (underground)
lq-semaphore-underground-distant-red
Semaphore distant signal (underground)
lq-semaphore-underground-distant
Semaphore distant signal (underground)
lq-semaphore-underground-longblock
Semaphore long block signal (underground)
lq-semaphore-underground-longblock-red
Semaphore long block signal (underground)
lq-semaphore-underground-longblock-red-white
Semaphore long block signal (underground)
lq-semaphore-underground-junction
Semaphore choose signal (underground)
lq-semaphore-underground-junction-white
Semaphore choose signal (underground)
two-aspect-colour-light-choose
Choose signal (colour light)
two-aspect-colour-light-square-stop
Stop signal (colour light)
two-aspect-colour-light-square-distant
Distant signal (colour light)
longblock-colour-light-square
Long block signal (colour light)
two-aspect-colour-light-square-choose
Choose signal (colour light)
underground-two-aspect-colour-light-stop
Stop signal (underground)
underground-two-aspect-colour-light-distant
Distant signal (underground)
underground-longblock-colour-light
Long block signal (underground)
underground-two-aspect-colour-light-choose
Choose signal (underground)


and here for the relevant parts of compat.tab:


################################# Signals upgrade ##################################
Modern_Signals_right
two-aspect-colour-light-stop
Modern_preSignals_right
two-aspect-colour-light-distant
Modern_ChooseSignals_right
two-aspect-colour-light-distant
Signals
uq-semaphore-stop
preSignals
uq-semaphore-distant
LongSignals
uq-semaphore-longblock
ChooseSignals
uq-semaphore-junction
Classic_Signals_right
lq-semaphore-stop
Classic_preSignals_right
lq-semaphore-distant
Classic_LongSignals_right
lq-semaphore-longblock
Classic_ChooseSignals_right
lq-semaphore-junction
Classic_Signals_right_narrow
lq-semaphore-stop-narrow
Classic_preSignals_right_narrow
lq-semaphore-distant-narrow
Classic_LongSignals_right_narrow
lq-semaphore-longblock-narrow
Classic_ChooseSignals_right_narrow
lq-semaphore-junction-narrow
Underground_ChooseSignals_right
underground-two-aspect-colour-light-choose
Underground_preSignals_right
underground-two-aspect-colour-light-distant
Underground_Signals_right
underground-two-aspect-colour-light-stop
Modern_LongSignals_right
three-aspect-colour-light-longblock
Early_Signals_right
flag-signal-stop
Early_preSignals_right
flag-signal-distant
Early_LongSignals_right
flag-signal-stop
Early_ChooseSignals_right
flag-signal-junction


Please note that the images for these signal files are in the /images subdirectory of /ways, unlike the current signal graphics.
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The Hood

James, it looks as though you have added many new signals. I'd rather keep things a bit simpler in standard - which ones do you recommend I keep?

jamespetts

The links that I gave above are intended to be the set for Standard: all of the new types of signals specifically for the new features in Experimental are omitted.
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