Guide - Make Shadows And Shaders Look More Defined

Discussion in 'TSW General Discussion' started by londonmidland, Apr 29, 2021.

  1. londonmidland

    londonmidland Well-Known Member

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    I've come across a nice command which dramatically improves the definition of shaders, which subsequently affect the way shadows look.

    By default they look pretty pale, grey/light blue looking and quite flat.

    Below is a before and after comparison of the changes I've made. Notice how much more defined shadows look, where the sunlight doesn't reach that part of the map. The shadows on the side and beneath the train are significantly darker too.

    This isn't a simple brightness or gamma adjustment - this actually adjusts the shaders themselves.

    It significantly helps with night time scenes appearing too light, too.

    Instructions:
    Locate your engine.ini file and add the following value under [SystemSettings]
    r.SkylightIntensityMultiplier=0.3

    If you find it too dark, change it to 0.5 instead.


    Day:

    Before:
    TSW2_Josh_1619733274_00.jpg

    After:
    TSW2_Josh_1619733282_00.jpg

    Night:

    Before:
    TSW2_Josh_1619734300_00.jpg

    After:
    TSW2_Josh_1619734308_00.jpg
     
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  2. Jalio

    Jalio Active Member

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    Great setting. Does make a nice difference much appreciated.
     
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  3. geloxo

    geloxo Well-Known Member

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    Thanks a lot for sharing it.

    Cheers
     
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  4. hyperlord

    hyperlord Well-Known Member

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    I already have my engine.ini open all day long :)

    Thanks for sharing this finding!
     
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  5. Thorgred

    Thorgred Active Member

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    nice find even on lowest shadow quality it looks better :)
     
  6. Rustyrails

    Rustyrails Member

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    thanks londonmidland for this.
    i tried 0.3 and 0.5 and for me 0.5 is a happy middle.
    in case others want to see the differences

    default setting (without the line as mentioned by londonmidland):
    20210501062734_default1.jpg
    with 0.3:
    20210501062601_1.03.jpg
    with 0.5:
    20210501062427_1.05.jpg
     
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  7. Callum B.

    Callum B. Well-Known Member

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    Thanks for sharing this. I also find 0.5 to be a good setting. I just had an evening run on Clinchfield with the F7, and it made the cab feel a lot more defined. It didn't "glow" so much from the ambient light, and everything seemed at a much nicer ambient level. It was pleasurably moody.

    TSW2_Callum_1620089201_00.png
    TSW2_Callum_1620090380_00.png

    This scene during mid-day also appears far more natural.
    TSW2_Callum_1620091026_00.png

    Cheers
     
  8. hyperlord

    hyperlord Well-Known Member

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    I'll try 0.5 today since 0.3 was really dark, especially at night. I don't want to change my monitor's brightness ;-)
     

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