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3rd October 2011 - Version 2.2.9 Now Available!

A new version of RWDecal is available that fixes an issues with Train Simulator 2012.

To get the latest version simply visit the download page. As always existings licenses are still valid with the new version

What is RWDecal

RWDecal is a tool for RailWorks that allows you to quickly and accurately create decals using data from Google Earth. These decals are essential for the accurate positioning of scenery items and where complex track laying is required.

 

For those of you new to route building in RailWorks / Rail Simulator a decal is a flat object that sticks to the ground in your route. By using Google Earth images for the decals you can create highly accurate routes easily and quickly.

 

RWDecal was originally developed due to my frustrations with trying to lay accurate track for Leeds Station (UK). Once I realised it was possible to create decals I started to work on ways of automating the process. Without automation, the task takes 10 to 15 minutes per decal.

 

With RWDecal it is not only possible to create decals in a fraction of the time but with much greater levels of detail and accuracy.

RWDecal Features
  • Supports both RailWorks and Rail Simulator
  • Available in multiple languages: English British, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Danish and Swedish
  • Simple to use and fast. On average RWDecal takes 9seconds to create a decal and 1minute, 20seconds to turn a km2 into a decal (live data from RWDecal Improvement Statistics)
  • Available in two versions. Freeware and Donationware (minimum donation £3)
  • Automatically "chunk" decals up into sections. This reduces the likely hood of a bug with RailWorks where areas of large decals become invisible on uneven terrain
  • Simple to use. Just provide 2 pairs of longitude and latitude coordinates
  • Automatically create markers for your decals to help align them in RailWorks
  • Automatically adds an alpha channel to decals to prevent bleeding / blurring of decal edges
  • Automatic export of decals and markers to RailWorks. Increases marker accuracy (Blueprint Editor limited to 4 decimal places on coordinate values) and without using Blueprint Editor
  • Automatically calculate the amount of rotation to apply to a decal to compensate between Google Earth and RailWorks models of the globe.
  • Freeware version does everything the donationware version does except that below 1000m altitude, the bottom half of the decal is black
Software Requirements

RWDecal is downloaded as an MSI file for easy installation. The other requirements are:

  • RWDecal MUST be run with administrator rights
  • You must have Google Earth installed. RWDecal has been tested with version 5 of Google Earth (build 5.1.3509.4636)
  • A resolution which is at least 1024x768. Lower resolutions will receive a warning message although RWDecal will still run.
Can I Try Before I Donate
Yes! RWDecal's freeware version is perfectly usable for low resolution decal creation. These decals can be used for building placement, hedge positioning etc. If you go below 1000m altitude to create higher resolution decals then the bottom half of the decal will be rendered in black. You will still be able to get an idea of what a licensed version of RWDecal does before making any donation.
Why is there a Donationware Version
The original RWDecal was a difficult to use application only really designed for the use of the developer. Making it available to all meant that a user friendly interface had to be designed and many hours of testing and bug fixing had to be done. By making RWDecal donationware it benefits the developer and the user. The developer has an incentive to keep improving and adding new features to RWDecal. The user gets access to support and updates and pays the amount they feel the software is worth to them. Many hundreds of hours of design and testing has gone in to RWDecal and that does not include all the hours put in by the beta testers and translators.
Examples

Unlicensed RWDecal

Click for full size image (235Kb)

Licensed RWDecal

Click for full size image (1.4Mb)

Unlicensed version of RWDecal Example
Licensed version of RWDecal Example
Low resolution decal
High resolution decal