Upping the film grain

[electroswoosh]

Has anyone found a way to make the film grain effect noticeable as it was in the original? I really enjoyed that, and would like to get it back if I can. I looked at the three config files I could find but there doesn't seem to be anything beyond a Boolean switch for it, just like the in-game settings. If anyone has figured something out, I'll try anything - not a programmer but I can manage basic stuff if that's what it takes.

I had so much fun playing this game ~10 years ago, I even remade my Shepard to look as close to the one I had back then as I could; it just doesn't feel the same with a different face. The film grain was part of that cinematic experience for me, and I'd love to have it back. It's one of the many things that made this game so special.

[benwaggoner]

(I've been dealing with film grain issues professionally for 25 years now, so always turn it off in games so they don't feel like work).

The way-too-heavy film grain in the Xbox 360 original release was rendered at 720p, same as the game. If they don't scale film grain size up with resolution, the higher the resolution the screen, the finer the film grain will be. If the grain looks like you remember with the game at 1280x720, that's likely the issue.

Having grain size a fixed size in pixels, and thus proportional to resolution was an issue in early 4K and HDR projects as well. Actual film grains are actual physical particles in the actual physical made-with-chemistry film, and need to be modeled as a percentage of the total frame, so that higher resolutions result in each bit of grain proportionately covering more pixels.

[Mr. Nobody]

Just take the screen out of your window and tape it to your face or the computer screen. Congrats you now have basically the same effect as film grain.

[alexander_dougherty]

Originally posted by electroswoosh:

Has anyone found a way to make the film grain effect noticeable as it was in the original? I really enjoyed that, and would like to get it back if I can.

You want to downgrade the graphics..... That's a new one...

[Captain_Emeritus]

I had the same problem with the sequels. The film grain was a cool look. Would've been nice if it carried over heavier in the sequels.

Oddly, you can increase it for screenshots in photo mode, but I think it's fixed when playing.

[Kasenumi]

I was looking for that too, no solution, though.

[electroswoosh]

Originally posted by alexander_dougherty:

Originally posted by electroswoosh:

Has anyone found a way to make the film grain effect noticeable as it was in the original? I really enjoyed that, and would like to get it back if I can.

You want to downgrade the graphics..... That's a new one...

I want to downgrade these smart-mouth comments. Adding a layer to change the way something looks is not a downgrade, nor is it any of your business. If you don't like what's on TV, change the channel. Nobody is forcing you to use film grain.

[electroswoosh]

Originally posted by Mr. Nobody:

Just take the screen out of your window and tape it to your face or the computer screen. Congrats you now have basically the same effect as film grain.

That's not the same thing, and you know it. If you don't like film grain, don't use it. If you don't like that others enjoy that effect, keep it to yourself please. There is no reason for you to spend your time complaining about the preferences of others.

[electroswoosh]

Originally posted by benwaggoner:

(I've been dealing with film grain issues professionally for 25 years now, so always turn it off in games so they don't feel like work).

The way-too-heavy film grain in the Xbox 360 original release was rendered at 720p, same as the game. If they don't scale film grain size up with resolution, the higher the resolution the screen, the finer the film grain will be. If the grain looks like you remember with the game at 1280x720, that's likely the issue.

Having grain size a fixed size in pixels, and thus proportional to resolution was an issue in early 4K and HDR projects as well. Actual film grains are actual physical particles in the actual physical made-with-chemistry film, and need to be modeled as a percentage of the total frame, so that higher resolutions result in each bit of grain proportionately covering more pixels.

Thanks for the advice! I tried setting the resolution to the smallest available, and it seemed to help a little, but still wasn't the same. At least that gives me something to tinker with though, thanks for pointing this out despite the professional PTSD involved.

[alexander_dougherty]

Originally posted by electroswoosh:

Originally posted by alexander_dougherty:

You want to downgrade the graphics..... That's a new one...

I want to downgrade these smart-mouth comments. Adding a layer to change the way something looks is not a downgrade, nor is it any of your business. If you don't like what's on TV, change the channel. Nobody is forcing you to use film grain.

It is none of my business..... but it's still a visual downgrade no matter how you phrase it.

[Dark Master]

Originally posted by alexander_dougherty:

It is none of my business..... but it's still a visual downgrade no matter how you phrase it.

It isn't. This effect has been implemented for a reason. Rendered images are "too perfect" out of the box, everything looks too clean. Whereas actual film (which Mass Effect very much tries to mimic, it's a cinematic experience) never looked that perfect. In order to get closer to that "cinematic look", the Mass Effect developers have added some much needed grain to the otherwise too clean imagery. It's not a downgrade, it is an artistic choice, and as with any artistic choice, some people like it and some people hate it.

[electroswoosh]

Originally posted by Dark Master:

Originally posted by alexander_dougherty:

It is none of my business..... but it's still a visual downgrade no matter how you phrase it.

It isn't. This effect has been implemented for a reason. Rendered images are "too perfect" out of the box, everything looks too clean. Whereas actual film (which Mass Effect very much tries to mimic, it's a cinematic experience) never looked that perfect. In order to get closer to that "cinematic look", the Mass Effect developers have added some much needed grain to the otherwise too clean imagery. It's not a downgrade, it is an artistic choice, and as with any artistic choice, some people like it and some people hate it.

Thank you for saying this.

[electroswoosh]

Originally posted by alexander_dougherty:

Originally posted by electroswoosh:

I want to downgrade these smart-mouth comments. Adding a layer to change the way something looks is not a downgrade, nor is it any of your business. If you don't like what's on TV, change the channel. Nobody is forcing you to use film grain.

It is none of my business..... but it's still a visual downgrade no matter how you phrase it.

As someone else mentioned, it is not a downgrade. it's like a filter on Instagram. I am looking forward to seeing your lawsuit for them to remove filters because they make photos different than you expect them to be.

[alexander_dougherty]

Originally posted by electroswoosh:

Originally posted by alexander_dougherty:

It is none of my business..... but it's still a visual downgrade no matter how you phrase it.

As someone else mentioned, it is not a downgrade. it's like a filter on Instagram. I am looking forward to seeing your lawsuit for them to remove filters because they make photos different than you expect them to be.

You know how you can tell the person you are talking to is American?
They equate a dislike for something with a lawsuit....

Because that's not an automatic thing in Europe, or Asia, or Australia, or well you get the idea....

[electroswoosh]

Originally posted by alexander_dougherty:

Originally posted by electroswoosh:

As someone else mentioned, it is not a downgrade. it's like a filter on Instagram. I am looking forward to seeing your lawsuit for them to remove filters because they make photos different than you expect them to be.

You know how you can tell the person you are talking to is American?
They equate a dislike for something with a lawsuit....

Because that's not an automatic thing in Europe, or Asia, or Australia, or well you get the idea....

You are correct, I am American. However, I've lived in Asia for the last twelve years. I was actually thinking about how it's typically American to complain about something that doesn't affect oneself...perhaps I was trying to speak in terms that I thought the commenter would understand. My apologies if I misjudged the situation.

[alexander_dougherty]

Originally posted by electroswoosh:

Originally posted by alexander_dougherty:

You know how you can tell the person you are talking to is American?
They equate a dislike for something with a lawsuit....

Because that's not an automatic thing in Europe, or Asia, or Australia, or well you get the idea....

You are correct, I am American. However, I've lived in Asia for the last twelve years. I was actually thinking about how it's typically American to complain about something that doesn't affect oneself...perhaps I was trying to speak in terms that I thought the commenter would understand. My apologies if I misjudged the situation.

No Problem, as I said earlier it doesn't affect me and is none of my business, it just seems like an odd thing to do to me, but it really is none of my business.