How to "fix" HDR and Depth of Field (blurry font/distant objects)

[IDKFA]

Someone in another thread mentioned I should add this so here goes, lets see how fast it gets to page 20...

First, here are side by side comparison pics for your consumption (sorry I'm old, I don't share pictures often):
https://albums.memento.com/go91903

Please note the "STOCK" vs. "TWEAKED" file names, tweaked is obviously after the below addition(s).

Here is where you go to edit the necessary file:
%LOCALAPPDATA%\CallistoProtocol\Saved\Config\WindowsNoEditor

This is the file you open:
Engine.ini

Here are the tweaks to add to the bottom of your Engine.ini file:
[SystemSettings]
# Fix washed HDR to be more true Black
r.TonemapperFilm=0
r.TonemapperSharpening=2
r.Tonemapper.GrainQuantization=0 ;Disables film grain
r.Tonemapper.Sharpen=2
# Fix Depth of Field so it is not a fuzzy mess
r.DepthOfField.FarBlur=2
r.DepthOfFieldQuality=2
r.FastVRam.BokehDOF=0
r.FastVRam.CircleDOF=0
r.FastVRam.DOFSetup=0
r.FastVRam.DOFSetup=0
r.DOF.Kernel.MaxBackgroundRadius=0.0000
r.DOF.Kernel.MaxForegroundRadius=0.0000
r.FastVRam.DOFPostfilter=0
r.FastVRam.DOFReduce=0
r.DynamicRes.OperationMode=0
r.DynamicRes.MinScreenPercentage=100

[/script/engine.renderersettings]
r.LandscapeLODBias=2
r.MipMapLODBias=2

[IDKFA]

Should have mentioned that I'm specifically on an AW3423dw QD-OLED display running 3440x1440 @ 21:9.

[Thrashhatter]

Originally posted by IDKFA:

Should have mentioned that I'm specifically on an AW3423dw QD-OLED display running 3440x1440 @ 21:9.

Do I copy and paste this into the INI file?

[IDKFA]

Originally posted by Thrashhatter:

Originally posted by IDKFA:

Should have mentioned that I'm specifically on an AW3423dw QD-OLED display running 3440x1440 @ 21:9.

Do I copy and paste this into the INI file?

Yeah, copy everything from and including "[SystemSettings]" down and paste it at the very bottom of the Engine.ini file. Make sure to hit save :P

[ScumBot]

Just looks like crushed blacks to me. In areas where it's supposed to be pitch black it is. The elevated blacks I think are intentional so why bother messing with it?

[IDKFA]

Originally posted by ⚗️POTION SELLER:

Just looks like crushed blacks to me. In areas where it's supposed to be pitch black it is. The elevated blacks I think are intentional so why bother messing with it?

To each his own :) To me the stock "HDR" appearance is very washed, it looks better with "Monitor SRGB" I could post more pics but those may have already shown enough.

[Thrashhatter]

Originally posted by IDKFA:

Originally posted by ⚗️POTION SELLER:

Just looks like crushed blacks to me. In areas where it's supposed to be pitch black it is. The elevated blacks I think are intentional so why bother messing with it?

To each his own :) To me the stock "HDR" appearance is very washed, it looks better with "Monitor SRGB" I could post more pics but those may have already shown enough.

This looks leaps and bounds better however I do feel like like in some areas we are possibly missing details because of pitch black effect. I might mess with the brightness settings in game but for the AW3423DW monitor this obviously fixes quite a bit of HDR issues. It really is a shame that something like this needs to be done in order to fix a feature in a game that the devs should have done from the get go.

[Psycho]

lol, you dont need all those settings, its the game has the gamma/dynamic range thats messed up....

change the dynamic range from full to limited then try the game or limited to full then try the game....

[IDKFA]

One of the things you can do is tweak UP the 'in game brightness control', I did that personally about 7 or 8 'notches', looks idea.

WIthout responding to the other replies I'll just say the image (and gameplay for those that have the AW3423dw) DOES look waaaay better.

Critique the settings on your own system, if you don't need them don't use them, or provide something with a better image quality.

[Thrashhatter]

Originally posted by Kaldaieℵ₀:

Originally posted by IDKFA:

Here are the tweaks to add to the bottom of your Engine.ini file:
[SystemSettings]
# Fix washed HDR to be more true Black
r.TonemapperFilm=0

I'm pretty sure you want this to be NOT 0 if you want darker blacks. Filmic tonemaps have longer toe-in (black -> gray transition). ACES Filmic will give you the darkest blacks possible.

If not 0 then what instead?

[IDKFA]

Originally posted by Kaldaieℵ₀:

Originally posted by Thrashhatter:

If not 0 then what instead?

No idea, I can't find any documentation for these variables.

"1" is the alternative, which enables it, which washes it out. 0 or enjoy washed out HDR and/or just disable HDR.

[ScumBot]

I genuinely think what you guys are messing about with isn't the implementation of HDR but colour depth or something. When I play the areas that are meant to be pitch black and I mean literally 0 are shown as such. I think it's like a GI effect or something. No idea why you'd want to remove that tbh.

Also every time I launch the game I have to jiggle the brightness slider to get my saved variable. Worth checking out.

[IDKFA]

Originally posted by ⚗️POTION SELLER:

I genuinely think what you guys are messing about with isn't the implementation of HDR but colour depth or something. When I play the areas that are meant to be pitch black and I mean literally 0 are shown as such. I think it's like a GI effect or something. No idea why you'd want to remove that tbh.

Also every time I launch the game I have to jiggle the brightness slider to get my saved variable. Worth checking out.

This is true enough, we aren't coding anything for HDR, at least I'm not claiming too, I'm only trying to make the "HDR output" look better.

I've added a couple more screenshots to the album, BOTH "AutoHDR", one again STOCK and one TWEAKED.

I thought some people would like a "darker" experience so I started the thread, didn't mean to try and imply I've rebuilt the HDR code or something, well beyond my skills...

imho, the "Callisto TWEAKED" screenshot is by far the best, that's the "HDR enabled" screenshot with my Engine.ini tweaks. just MY opinion.

[ScumBot]

Oh fair enough, my bad. This is what my game looks like default using the slider. I get what you mean about the lighter areas but personally im ok with it. Excuse the image title, i was messing with someone.

https://imgur.com/a/gaRFNKn

[Volf]

As a fellow owner of a AW3423dw and a lover of dark blacks I tossed you a golden unicorn. Props on this wonderful fix :)

[EDesrock]

This looks great on my C1 oled. Thank you OP