Illusion track - Revision history

Duplode: /* Examples */ Realigning the thumbnails

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Examples: Realigning the thumbnails

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	A distinctive mark of [[Krys TOFF]]'s tracks; seen, for instance, in his ZCT76 ([[ZakStunts]] 2007). Achieved by placing the main tile of a corner on an inner angled slope with matching orientation; that will lead the corner to appear to be as if it is in low ground even if it is actually on the top of a hill, and thus make the ground invisible from inside the car. Possible orientations of the corner: any with a small corner, east-to-south and west-to-north with a large corner (other orientations would have the slope intersecting the road, with rather more bizarre results).		A distinctive mark of [[Krys TOFF]]'s tracks; seen, for instance, in his ZCT76 ([[ZakStunts]] 2007). Achieved by placing the main tile of a corner on an inner angled slope with matching orientation; that will lead the corner to appear to be as if it is in low ground even if it is actually on the top of a hill, and thus make the ground invisible from inside the car. Possible orientations of the corner: any with a small corner, east-to-south and west-to-north with a large corner (other orientations would have the slope intersecting the road, with rather more bizarre results).

	[[image:~~Broken_cork_z137~~.png\|frame\|left\|The ~~broken l/r cork in ZCT137, used to make a crossing under a ramp~~. Track goes from north to ~~south~~.]]		[[image:Corner-gap-z285.png\|frame\|left\|The corner gap illusion near the end of ZCT285. Track goes from north to east.]]

	===Corner gap===		===Corner gap===
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	Blanking or adding scenery to the outside tile of a large corner, which is possible if said tile is not the main one, will create a small gap on the corner pavement, visible only at close distances. The gap will require drivers to adjust to the mid-corner change of surface; furthermore, a scenery element, if used, can make certain shortcuts more difficult. Featured, for instance, in ZCT285.		Blanking or adding scenery to the outside tile of a large corner, which is possible if said tile is not the main one, will create a small gap on the corner pavement, visible only at close distances. The gap will require drivers to adjust to the mid-corner change of surface; furthermore, a scenery element, if used, can make certain shortcuts more difficult. Featured, for instance, in ZCT285.

	[[image:~~Corner_gap_z285~~.png\|frame\|~~left~~\|The ~~corner gap illusion near the end of ZCT285~~. Track goes from north to ~~east~~.]]		[[image:Broken_cork_z137.png\|frame\|right\|The broken l/r cork in ZCT137, used to make a crossing under a ramp. Track goes from north to south.]]

	===Broken l/r cork===		===Broken l/r cork===
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	A simple example of mirage effect, seen in tracks such as Mexicana ([[WSC]] 2007) and ZCT137 (ZakStunts 2012). Reached by replacing the filler tile of a [[cork l/r]] with a single-tile element, or simply by removing it. A track with a broken l/r cork will, in most cases, only be drivable in the direction along which the main tile of the cork is reached first, as the track continuity will be broken in the opposite direction.		A simple example of mirage effect, seen in tracks such as Mexicana ([[WSC]] 2007) and ZCT137 (ZakStunts 2012). Reached by replacing the filler tile of a [[cork l/r]] with a single-tile element, or simply by removing it. A track with a broken l/r cork will, in most cases, only be drivable in the direction along which the main tile of the cork is reached first, as the track continuity will be broken in the opposite direction.

	[[image:Bridge_chicane_z106.png\|frame\|~~right~~\|The bridge chicane in ZCT106. Note how missing fillers are used to make the fake continuation inconvenient to drive. Track goes from north to south.]]		[[image:Bridge_chicane_z106.png\|frame\|left\|The bridge chicane in ZCT106. Note how missing fillers are used to make the fake continuation inconvenient to drive. Track goes from north to south.]]

	===Bridge chicane===		===Bridge chicane===

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Examples: Adding a section about corner gaps

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	[[image:Invisible_corner_z76.png\|frame\|right\|The invisible corner in Krys TOFF's ZCT76.]]		[[image:Invisible_corner_z76.png\|frame\|right\|The invisible corner in Krys TOFF's ZCT76.]]

	===Invisible ~~corners~~===		===Invisible corner===

	A distinctive mark of [[Krys TOFF]]'s tracks; seen, for instance, in his ZCT76 ([[ZakStunts]] 2007). Achieved by placing the main tile of a corner on an inner angled slope with matching orientation; that will lead the corner to appear to be as if it is in low ground even if it is actually on the top of a hill, and thus make the ground invisible from inside the car. Possible orientations of the corner: any with a small corner, east-to-south and west-to-north with a large corner (other orientations would have the slope intersecting the road, with rather more bizarre results).		A distinctive mark of [[Krys TOFF]]'s tracks; seen, for instance, in his ZCT76 ([[ZakStunts]] 2007). Achieved by placing the main tile of a corner on an inner angled slope with matching orientation; that will lead the corner to appear to be as if it is in low ground even if it is actually on the top of a hill, and thus make the ground invisible from inside the car. Possible orientations of the corner: any with a small corner, east-to-south and west-to-north with a large corner (other orientations would have the slope intersecting the road, with rather more bizarre results).

	[[image:Broken_cork_z137.png\|frame\|left\|The broken l/r cork in ZCT137, used to make a crossing under a ramp. Track goes from north to south.]]		[[image:Broken_cork_z137.png\|frame\|left\|The broken l/r cork in ZCT137, used to make a crossing under a ramp. Track goes from north to south.]]

			===Corner gap===

			Blanking or adding scenery to the outside tile of a large corner, which is possible if said tile is not the main one, will create a small gap on the corner pavement, visible only at close distances. The gap will require drivers to adjust to the mid-corner change of surface; furthermore, a scenery element, if used, can make certain shortcuts more difficult. Featured, for instance, in ZCT285.

			[[image:Corner_gap_z285.png\|frame\|left\|The corner gap illusion near the end of ZCT285. Track goes from north to east.]]

	===Broken l/r cork===		===Broken l/r cork===

Duplode: /* Examples */

2015-02-16T23:44:44Z

Examples

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	==Examples==		==Examples==

	Illustrations of some illusion effects which can be reached using the techniques described above. ~~Most of the~~ competition tracks mentioned are available from the [[Competition Archive]]~~; the sole exception, ZCT137, can be reached in the [[ZakStunts]] site among the 2012 tracks~~.		Illustrations of some illusion effects which can be reached using the techniques described above. The competition tracks mentioned below are available from the [[Competition Archive]].

	[[image:Invisible_corner_z76.png\|frame\|right\|The invisible corner in Krys TOFF's ZCT76.]]		[[image:Invisible_corner_z76.png\|frame\|right\|The invisible corner in Krys TOFF's ZCT76.]]

Duplode at 01:21, 17 February 2013

2013-02-17T01:21:05Z

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	The term ''illusion track'' refers to a loosely defined category of tracks which incorporate any of a number of special effects not achievable through the [[in-game editor]]. Such effects range from mirages and visual illusions to wholly new track parts from the combination of the standard elements. Creation and modification of illusion tracks require an [[external track editors\|external track editor]] such as [[Track Blaster]]; even opening them with the in-game editor will destroy the special effects. [[Flooded track]]s are very similar to illusion tracks in that respect; they are not, however, usually called illusion tracks due to their ubiquity (i.e. every other competition track has at least one flooded sector).		The term '''illusion track''' refers to a loosely defined category of tracks which incorporate any of a number of special effects not achievable through the [[in-game editor]]. Such effects range from mirages and visual illusions to wholly new track parts from the combination of the standard elements. Creation and modification of illusion tracks require an [[external track editors\|external track editor]] such as [[Track Blaster]]; even opening them with the in-game editor will destroy the special effects. [[Flooded track]]s are very similar to illusion tracks in that respect; they are not, however, usually called illusion tracks due to their ubiquity (i.e. every other competition track has at least one flooded sector).

	==General techniques==		==General techniques==

Duplode at 01:20, 17 February 2013

2013-02-17T01:20:54Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:20, 17 February 2013
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	The term ''illusion track'' refers to a loosely defined category of tracks which incorporate any of a number of special effects not achievable through the [[in-game editor]]. Such effects range from mirages and visual illusions to wholly new track parts from the combination of the standard elements. Creation and modification of illusion tracks require an [[external track editors\|external track editor]] such as [[Track Blaster]]; even opening them with the in-game editor will destroy the special effects. [[Flooded track]]s are very similar to illusion tracks ~~with~~ respect ~~to that~~; they are not, however, usually called illusion tracks due to their ubiquity (i.e. every other competition track has at least one flooded sector).		The term ''illusion track'' refers to a loosely defined category of tracks which incorporate any of a number of special effects not achievable through the [[in-game editor]]. Such effects range from mirages and visual illusions to wholly new track parts from the combination of the standard elements. Creation and modification of illusion tracks require an [[external track editors\|external track editor]] such as [[Track Blaster]]; even opening them with the in-game editor will destroy the special effects. [[Flooded track]]s are very similar to illusion tracks in that respect; they are not, however, usually called illusion tracks due to their ubiquity (i.e. every other competition track has at least one flooded sector).

	==General techniques==		==General techniques==

Duplode: screenshots of the examples, a few minor adjustments.

2013-02-17T01:18:40Z

screenshots of the examples, a few minor adjustments.

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	==Examples==		==Examples==

	Illustrations of some illusion effects which can be reached using the techniques described above.		Illustrations of some illusion effects which can be reached using the techniques described above. Most of the competition tracks mentioned are available from the [[Competition Archive]]; the sole exception, ZCT137, can be reached in the [[ZakStunts]] site among the 2012 tracks.

			[[image:Invisible_corner_z76.png\|frame\|right\|The invisible corner in Krys TOFF's ZCT76.]]

	===Invisible corners===		===Invisible corners===

	A distinctive mark of [[Krys TOFF]]'s ~~illusion~~ tracks; seen, for instance, in his ZCT76 ([[ZakStunts]] 2007). Achieved by placing the main tile of a corner on an inner angled slope with matching orientation; that will lead the corner to appear to be as if it is in low ground even if it is actually on the top of a hill, and thus make the ground invisible from inside the car. Possible orientations of the corner: any with a small corner, ~~[[Q2]] (~~east to south) and ~~Q4 (~~west to north) with a large corner (other orientations would have the slope intersecting the road, with rather more bizarre results).		A distinctive mark of [[Krys TOFF]]'s tracks; seen, for instance, in his ZCT76 ([[ZakStunts]] 2007). Achieved by placing the main tile of a corner on an inner angled slope with matching orientation; that will lead the corner to appear to be as if it is in low ground even if it is actually on the top of a hill, and thus make the ground invisible from inside the car. Possible orientations of the corner: any with a small corner, east-to-south and west-to-north with a large corner (other orientations would have the slope intersecting the road, with rather more bizarre results).

			[[image:Broken_cork_z137.png\|frame\|left\|The broken l/r cork in ZCT137, used to make a crossing under a ramp. Track goes from north to south.]]

	===Broken l/r cork===		===Broken l/r cork===

	A simple example of mirage effect, seen in tracks such as Mexicana ([[WSC]] 2007) and ZCT137 (ZakStunts 2012). Reached by replacing the filler tile of a [[cork l/r]] with a single-tile element, or simply by removing it. A track with a broken l/r cork will, in most cases, only be drivable in the direction along which the main tile of the cork is reached first, as the track continuity will be broken in the opposite direction.		A simple example of mirage effect, seen in tracks such as Mexicana ([[WSC]] 2007) and ZCT137 (ZakStunts 2012). Reached by replacing the filler tile of a [[cork l/r]] with a single-tile element, or simply by removing it. A track with a broken l/r cork will, in most cases, only be drivable in the direction along which the main tile of the cork is reached first, as the track continuity will be broken in the opposite direction.

			[[image:Bridge_chicane_z106.png\|frame\|right\|The bridge chicane in ZCT106. Note how missing fillers are used to make the fake continuation inconvenient to drive. Track goes from north to south.]]

	===Bridge chicane===		===Bridge chicane===

	A poor man's new track element, first seen on ZCT106 (ZakStunts 2010). Built by matching the upper quarter-turns of [[~~cork~~ u/d]]s with appropriate orientations. The visual effect, though not perfectly clean (from a distance the chicane will look like overlapping corks), is not disorienting. Unfortunately only two orientations are possible, given the complexity of the assemblage: right-left chicane from north to south and left-right chicane from west to east. As the second cork u/d is not a part of the track as far as track validation is concerned, an extra fake path is necessary to fool the ~~track checking~~.		A poor man's new track element, first seen on ZCT106 (ZakStunts 2010). Built by matching the upper quarter-turns of [[u/d cork]]s with appropriate orientations. The visual effect, though not perfectly clean (from a distance the chicane will look like overlapping corks), is not disorienting either. Unfortunately only two orientations are possible, given the complexity of the assemblage: right-left chicane from north to south and left-right chicane from west to east. As the second cork u/d is not a part of the track as far as track validation is concerned, an extra fake path is necessary to fool the game engine.

	===Symmetrical dual-way splits and rejoins===		===Symmetrical dual-way splits and rejoins===

	Constructed by fusing [[chicane]]s which are mirror images of each other. A fake continuation ~~will be~~ needed for one of the paths at the split; no such thing is necessary for the rejoin. The visual effect is nearly flawless if the fake path used at the split does not overlap with the chicanes, as in the track displayed below (using an overlapping path, which is possible for most orientations, can save some space~~, however~~).		Constructed by fusing [[chicane]]s which are mirror images of each other. A fake continuation is needed for one of the paths at the split; no such thing is necessary for the rejoin. The visual effect is nearly flawless if the fake path used at the split does not overlap with the chicanes, as in the track displayed below (though using an overlapping path, which is possible for most orientations, can save some space).

			[[image:Symmetrical_splits.png\|frame\|center\|A simple track with symmetrical splits. Optionally some of the fillers of the large corners in the fake continuation can be removed and flooded to make them impractical to use.]]

	[[Category:Tracks]]		[[Category:Tracks]]

Duplode: Created page with the base text

2013-02-16T23:33:28Z

Created page with the base text

New page

The term ''illusion track'' refers to a loosely defined category of tracks which incorporate any of a number of special effects not achievable through the [[in-game editor]]. Such effects range from mirages and visual illusions to wholly new track parts from the combination of the standard elements. Creation and modification of illusion tracks require an [[external track editors|external track editor]] such as [[Track Blaster]]; even opening them with the in-game editor will destroy the special effects. [[Flooded track]]s are very similar to illusion tracks with respect to that; they are not, however, usually called illusion tracks due to their ubiquity (i.e. every other competition track has at least one flooded sector).

==General techniques==

Illusion track building is based on three techniques, often seen in conjunction: terrain manipulation, filler tile manipulation and track continuity manipulation.

===Terrain===

Most Stunts elements are not supposed to be placed anywhere but in a flat piece of terrain, be it on the base ground or on the top of a hill. For multi-tile elements in particular, all tiles were originally meant to lie at the same height, in a flat surface. Violating these assumptions will lead to weird, and occasionally useful, visual and physical effects.

===Filler tiles===

Multi-tile elements are defined by the topmost or leftmost tile (for 2x1 elements) or the top-left tile (for 2x2 elements). The other tiles are just interchangeable [[Track file#Fillers|filler tiles]], and can be replaced at will as long as the track continuity is not broken. That is the source of, among other effects, most of the mirage tricks - if a filler tile is replaced by a single-tile element, the single-tile element will only appear at very close distances; from afar the whole multi-tile element will be visible, even the parts which are actually missing.

===Track continuity===

When testing whether a track is broken or not, the in-game track validation only checks if the element is entered through a valid entry tile and if the exit tile, defined according to the element main tile (i.e. the topmost/leftmost one), leads to the entry tile of another element. As a consequence, at most two tiles of a multi-tile element need to be present for continuity to be unbroken (and just one if the entry tile and the main tile coincide). That gives leeway for significant continuity manipulations - for instance, creating a legal but undrivable path made of incomplete multi-tile elements in order to hide a stretch of track with broken continuity from the validation.

==Examples==

Illustrations of some illusion effects which can be reached using the techniques described above.

===Invisible corners===

A distinctive mark of [[Krys TOFF]]'s illusion tracks; seen, for instance, in his ZCT76 ([[ZakStunts]] 2007). Achieved by placing the main tile of a corner on an inner angled slope with matching orientation; that will lead the corner to appear to be as if it is in low ground even if it is actually on the top of a hill, and thus make the ground invisible from inside the car. Possible orientations of the corner: any with a small corner, [[Q2]] (east to south) and Q4 (west to north) with a large corner (other orientations would have the slope intersecting the road, with rather more bizarre results).

===Broken l/r cork===

A simple example of mirage effect, seen in tracks such as Mexicana ([[WSC]] 2007) and ZCT137 (ZakStunts 2012). Reached by replacing the filler tile of a [[cork l/r]] with a single-tile element, or simply by removing it. A track with a broken l/r cork will, in most cases, only be drivable in the direction along which the main tile of the cork is reached first, as the track continuity will be broken in the opposite direction.

===Bridge chicane===

A poor man's new track element, first seen on ZCT106 (ZakStunts 2010). Built by matching the upper quarter-turns of [[cork u/d]]s with appropriate orientations. The visual effect, though not perfectly clean (from a distance the chicane will look like overlapping corks), is not disorienting. Unfortunately only two orientations are possible, given the complexity of the assemblage: right-left chicane from north to south and left-right chicane from west to east. As the second cork u/d is not a part of the track as far as track validation is concerned, an extra fake path is necessary to fool the track checking.

===Symmetrical dual-way splits and rejoins===

Constructed by fusing [[chicane]]s which are mirror images of each other. A fake continuation will be needed for one of the paths at the split; no such thing is necessary for the rejoin. The visual effect is nearly flawless if the fake path used at the split does not overlap with the chicanes, as in the track displayed below (using an overlapping path, which is possible for most orientations, can save some space, however).

[[Category:Tracks]]