New PG Hangar Experiment

Photogrammetry changes with the light.

PG can look rich, deep and realistic in one direction — then washed out and flat in the opposite direction. PG Light Lab is where we test how MSFS 2024 photogrammetry behaves in different seasons, times of day and sun angles.

Try the Light Planner View Test Cities

Visual Note

Everyone sees light differently

Everyone sees light slightly differently. Monitor settings, HDR, brightness, contrast, graphics settings and personal preference can all affect how PG looks. PG Light Lab is not strict science — it is a practical visual guide to help you find better-looking light for photogrammetry flying.

Quick Rules

The PG Light Rules

Simple starting points before you test any photogrammetry city.

Try Winter First

Winter usually lowers the sun angle, giving buildings more shape and improving the colour balance of PG areas.

Avoid Harsh Midday

High sun can flatten buildings, reduce shadows and make PG textures look too bright or artificial.

Fly Toward or Across the Sun

Forward light or side-light often gives better contrast, richer colour and stronger depth between buildings.

Watch for Washed Out PG

If a city looks pale or over-bright, turn around, lower the sun, change season, or try a different flight direction.

Flight Direction

Why direction matters

The same city can look completely different depending on where the sun is in relation to your aircraft.

Sun ahead

Often gives richer colour, stronger silhouettes and more atmosphere. Great for skyline approaches.

Sun to the side

Usually the safest option. Side-light adds shadows and depth without making everything too dark.

Sun behind

Can make PG look brighter but also flatter, paler and less natural. This is where washed-out colours often appear.

Sun overhead

Usually the least dramatic. Good for visibility, but not always best for realistic PG texture and depth.

PG Flight Light Planner

Plan a better-looking PG flight

Pick a test city and the planner will suggest a good season, time and route direction to start with.

Test city Main goal

Recommended setup

London — Winter low sun along the Thames

Start with winter, late afternoon and a westbound Thames run. Keep the sun low ahead or slightly to the side for better building depth, river reflections and bridge shadows.

SeasonWinter Time15:00–16:30 DirectionWestbound / side-lit Start ideaEGLC or Thames East

Screenshot Test Bench

First live PG Light Lab tests

These first tests compare how photogrammetry changes between summer and winter, morning and midday, and flying toward the sun versus flying away from it.

🇺🇸 Chicago

Lakefront / towers / CU15 PG

Full Test

Test setup: Same city, same route idea and clear skies — only season, time and sun direction changed. Chicago is perfect for testing skyline depth, building shadows and washed-out midday light.

Winter Test

Lower sun angle / stronger building shape

Chicago winter morning facing the sun — **Winter · Morning · Facing Sun** Low sun ahead with stronger skyline depth.

Chicago winter morning away from the sun — **Winter · Morning · Away from Sun** Low sun behind, useful for checking colour washout.

Chicago winter midday or afternoon facing the sun — **Winter · Midday · Facing Sun** Brighter winter light while still keeping some depth.

Chicago winter midday away from the sun — **Winter · Midday · Away from Sun** Rear-lit test for flatter or brighter PG texture.

Summer Test

Higher sun / brighter flatter light risk

Chicago summer morning facing the sun — **Summer · Morning · Facing Sun** Morning forward light with warmer colour.

Chicago summer morning away from the sun — **Summer · Morning · Away from Sun** Rear-lit morning view for comparison.

Chicago summer midday facing the sun — **Summer · Midday · Facing Sun** High summer light facing the skyline.

Chicago summer midday away from the sun — **Summer · Midday · Away from Sun** Bright rear-lit test for washed-out PG.

Chicago Light Lab Verdict

Chicago shows exactly why light matters. Winter and lower sun angles should give the skyline more shape, while summer midday is more likely to look brighter, flatter or washed out depending on direction.

Best seasonWinter Best timeMorning / lower sun Best directionFacing / side-lit Watch forWashed-out midday

🇦🇺 Sydney

Harbour / water / skyline

Full Test

Test setup: Sydney uses opposite seasons to the northern hemisphere, so December is summer and June is winter. This test is ideal for seeing how harbour water, skyline contrast and PG building depth change with sun direction.

Winter Test

June / lower Australian winter sun

Sydney winter morning facing the sun — **Winter · AM · Facing Sun** Low winter sun over the harbour.

Sydney winter morning away from the sun — **Winter · AM · Away from Sun** Morning rear-light comparison.

Sydney winter midday facing the sun — **Winter · PM · Facing Sun** Brighter winter light facing the sun.

Sydney winter midday away from the sun — **Winter · PM · Away from Sun** Rear-lit winter comparison.

Summer Test

December / higher Australian summer sun

Sydney summer morning facing the sun — **Summer · AM · Facing Sun** Warm morning light across the harbour.

Sydney summer morning away from the sun — **Summer · AM · Away from Sun** Rear-lit morning comparison.

Sydney summer midday facing the sun — **Summer · PM · Facing Sun** High summer light facing the sun.

Sydney summer midday away from the sun — **Summer · PM · Away from Sun** Bright rear-lit summer comparison.

Sydney Light Lab Verdict

Sydney is a strong harbour test because the water, bridges and skyline react heavily to sun angle. Winter morning light should show the biggest depth difference, while summer midday can become brighter and flatter.

Best seasonWinter Best timeMorning / low sun Best directionAcross the harbour Watch forBright summer glare

🇺🇸 New York City

Skyscraper canyon / skyline depth

Full Test

Test setup: New York is one of the best PG Light Lab cities because tall buildings make shadows and sun direction very obvious. This test compares summer and winter light across Manhattan-style skyline views.

Winter Test

December / lower sun / deeper skyline shadows

New York City winter morning facing the sun — **Winter · AM · Facing Sun** Low winter sun through the skyline.

New York City winter morning away from the sun — **Winter · AM · Away from Sun** Cooler rear-lit morning view.

New York City winter midday facing the sun — **Winter · PM · Facing Sun** Midday winter light facing the city.

New York City winter midday away from the sun — **Winter · PM · Away from Sun** Rear-lit winter skyline comparison.

Summer Test

June / higher sun / brighter city texture

New York City summer morning facing the sun — **Summer · AM · Facing Sun** Morning forward light over Manhattan.

New York City summer morning away from the sun — **Summer · AM · Away from Sun** Rear-lit morning summer comparison.

New York City summer midday facing the sun — **Summer · PM · Facing Sun** High summer light facing the skyline.

New York City summer midday away from the sun — **Summer · PM · Away from Sun** Bright rear-lit summer comparison.

New York Light Lab Verdict

New York shows the biggest difference in building depth. Lower sun angles help skyscrapers stand out, while brighter summer light can make some PG texture look flatter unless the sun angle is working in your favour.

Best seasonWinter Best timeMorning / low sun Best directionSkyline side / forward light Watch forFlat high-sun PG

More PG Light Tests Coming Soon

Chicago, Sydney and New York City are now live in the PG Light Lab. More test cities will be added over time, including London, Tokyo and Frankfurt, as new screenshots are captured and compared.