How to easily sharpen character sprites

[Arthandas]

If you like sharp pixels, here's what can be done with a simple SweetFX luma sharpen (and some vibrance):
http://s12.postimg.org/6649kwfvf/kofxiii_2014_03_29_21_38_12_24.png
http://s28.postimg.org/i9p3vtgbv/kofxiii_2014_03_29_22_34_21_80.png

Here's how it looks if you use the 'curves' setting (mode 0, contrast 0.75, formula 1):
comparison goes vanilla -> sharpen + vibrance -> sharpen + vibrance + curves
screens taken at 1600x900 resolution
http://postimg.org/image/lxtq3pqxp/full/
http://postimg.org/image/qwrgb8qf5/full/

SweetFX: http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=381912
1. Download
2. Unpack where the game exe is
3. Settings are in the "SweetFX_settings.txt" file
4. Turn on/off in-game by scroll lock button

[Miggoh]

It looks really nice, except that the little dude looks a bit unsettling.

[Arthandas]

Imgur was degrading quality of the screens so I switched to Postimage.

As seen in comparison shots, not only characters but backgrounds too benefit greatly from sharpening. There is much more detail.

[Aumero]

Can you give us your setting, have try few times but i don't get same look as yours.

[Arthandas]

If you don't mind a little oversharpened menus, set luma sharpen to the max:

// -- Sharpening --
#define sharp_strength 3.0
#define sharp_clamp 1.000

// -- Advanced sharpening settings --
#define pattern 3.
#define offset_bias 1.0

Otherwise set sharp_clamp to default 0.035. You should also lower it if you play in native 720p resolution which doesn't require that much sharpening. I personally play in 1600x900 with maxed luma sharpen.

As for vibrance, I used:

#define Vibrance 1.0
#define Vibrance_RGB_balance float3(0.50, 0.50, 0.50)

Modify Vibrance_RGB_balance if you want more/less saturation.

Luma sharpen and vibrance are the only effects I used.

[平然な]

the backgrounds are ok, just the charackters need more sharpness. with your solution everything gets sharper which looks not so good on the backgrounds. ..just my opinion.

[Arthandas]

It's a full screen filter so you can't choose specific sharpen areas, but still, I don't know how someone could prefer the blurred backgrounds. They look kinda ok in unscaled 720p but higher the resolution the more washed out they get.

[平然な]

Originally posted by Arthandas:

It's a full screen filter so you can't choose specific sharpen areas, but still, I don't know how someone could prefer the blurred backgrounds.

the backgrounds are already sharper then the charackters..what you do is oversharpen them. i dont know why they do not just sharkpen the charackter sprites they got. should be not that much.

[Arthandas]

Actually no I don't. Unless you're playing in 720p with maxed luma sharpen, none of the backgrounds show oversharpen artifacts.

It's true the backgrounds are sharper than the characters but they still upscale pretty badly.

[平然な]

Originally posted by Arthandas:

Actually no I don't. Unless you're playing in 720p with maxed luma sharpen, none of the backgrounds show oversharpen artifacts.

It's true the backgrounds are sharper than the characters but they still upscale pretty badly.

artefacts has nothing to do with being oversharpen or not but i would say lets dont argue about that anymore since thats more of a personal taste then anything else. thx for making that thread and show people how to change the sharpnes via sweet fx.

[coffemog]

try to change the Gama Correction it will look cool

[Arthandas]

I'm currently experimenting with the 'curves' setting. It already looks better.

EDIT: I updated my first post with some 'curves' comparison.
Btw, if you have an interesting settings preset, post your screens here, let's make it the KOF XIII SweetFX topic :)

[Seigneur Vador]

Thank Arthandas for your SweetFX KOFXIII settings. It's a beautiful color festival, looks great with this game. You should post it on SweetFX Settings Database : http://sfx.thelazy.net

[AirLancer]

Does anyone else find it really funny when people complain about KOF XIII looking "pixelated"?

[平然な]

Originally posted by AirLancer:

Does anyone else find it really funny when people complain about KOF XIII looking "pixelated"?

people complain about unsharp pixel not that its to pixelated.

[A-Grand]

Originally posted by AirLancer:

Does anyone else find it really funny when people complain about KOF XIII looking "pixelated"?

In PC monitors they might find them a bit, but in TV screen they look wonderful.