Textures Look Bad?

[Francisè von Spitroast]

I don't mean 2007 bad, which still looks good most of the time, I mean textures set to low type bad. They're on Ultra everything and I pushed apply and all but the textures look really low quality. Last time I played this I didn't remember it looking like this either.

[Jake9123]

i have the same issue, where some objects get VERY low resolution where writing, numbers exc... that were there are not even readable or any detail is gone completely and it looks like a grey blob...

[Vellari]

Screenshots?

[Sherpy]

Just started a new playthrough and found that after changing the texture option I had to restart the game for them to improve. Cranked the textures up to max and couldn't make out any detail on the body armour, was fixed after a restart.

[Wobb the Great and Terrible!!!!!]

Yea I just went through the character creation screen and it looked horrible. I couldn't even see the scars as I was trying to choose one, it was all just horribly blurry.

But after restarting the game it finally seems to have set the graphics options correctly and now it looks fine.
So I think it's just a case of the game needing to be restarted to implement changes in the graphics settings, because at default it was set to medium-low for me

[Fredericks of Cursewood]

Are or were you using MEUITM? Its been awhile since I last played ME so I don't remember if used it or something like it. Worth checking out though.

http://www.nexusmods.com/masseffect/mods/1/?

[DocStrangelove]

Garrus' head always uses the lowest quality texture due to a bug, if you want to fix that there's a way to edit the INI file so that always the highest one is used.

[Francisè von Spitroast]

Sorry guys. I didn't remember it telling me to restart the game. The next time I went into the menu and changed it, it said it needs to restart to work, and it did. Oopsie daisy. -1 for not reading.

[Wobb the Great and Terrible!!!!!]

Originally posted by Mr. Mojo Risin':

Sorry guys. I didn't remember it telling me to restart the game. The next time I went into the menu and changed it, it said it needs to restart to work, and it did. Oopsie daisy. -1 for not reading.

No it most definitely did NOT tell me to restart after I changed the settings, so you didn't miss or forget something. I clicked apply and it applied. I assumed it had applied everything because it took a couple of seconds and then the resolution changed to the one I had chosen.
No idea why it thought 1280x960 would be my resolution of choice, but there you go.

I think the game is choosing low settings by default because it isn't recognising modern hardware, so it thinks your system is not up to spec, defaults to low instead of high.
But it definitely never said to restart after I switched the settings. But the textures were certainly not right until after the restart.

[Maulclaw]

This is a common error. Somehow, the Steam version of ME1 doesn't like to render the textures at its max. However, this issue has a simple fix. For those who still can't play the game on its High-Ultra textures even if it says so on the Options menu, here's the fix:

1. Go into the My Documents--Bioware--Mass Effect--Config folder and open the BIOEngine notepad file.

2. MAKE A BACK-UP COPY OF THIS FILE. In case the config doesn't work for you, you can easily restore default settings. Good to keep a backup of any Ini changes anyway.

3. Scroll halfway down to the section entitled "[SystemSettings]" (without the quotations). Change "Trilinear=FALSE" to "Trilinear=TRUE" (again, without the quotations).

4. Two sections further down the document you will see the "[TextureLODSettings]" (without the quotations). Replace the top 11 lines (12 including the section title) with the following:

[TextureLODSettings]
//TEXTUREGROUP_Character=(MinLODSize=1024,MaxLODSize =4096,LODBias=0)
//TEXTUREGROUP_CharacterNormalMap=(MinLODSize=1024,M axLODSize=4096,LODBias=0)
//TEXTUREGROUP_Effects=(MinLODSize=1024,MaxLODSize=4 096,LODBias=0)
TEXTUREGROUP_LightAndShadowMap=(MinLODSize=1024,Ma xLODSize=4096,LODBias=0)
TEXTUREGROUP_RenderTarget=(MinLODSize=8,MaxLODSize =4096,LODBias=0)
//TEXTUREGROUP_Skybox=(MinLODSize=1024,MaxLODSize=40 96,LODBias=0)
//TEXTUREGROUP_UI=(MinLODSize=1024,MaxLODSize=4096,L ODBias=0)
//TEXTUREGROUP_Vehicle=(MinLODSize=1024,MaxLODSize=4 096,LODBias=0)
//TEXTUREGROUP_VehicleNormalMap=(MinLODSize=1024,Max LODSize=4096,LODBias=0)
//TEXTUREGROUP_Weapon=(MinLODSize=1024,MaxLODSize=40 96,LODBias=0)
//TEXTUREGROUP_WeaponNormalMap=(MinLODSize=1024,MaxL ODSize=4096,LODBias=0)

5. Save the file and load the game. You should immediately notice an improvement in the textures.

And that's it.

[ScruffyBamboo]

Originally posted by randomraider:

This is a common error. Somehow, the Steam version of ME1 doesn't like to render the textures at its max. However, this issue has a simple fix. For those who still can't play the game on its High-Ultra textures even if it says so on the Options menu, here's the fix:

1. Go into the My Documents--Bioware--Mass Effect--Config folder and open the BIOEngine notepad file.

2. MAKE A BACK-UP COPY OF THIS FILE. In case the config doesn't work for you, you can easily restore default settings. Good to keep a backup of any Ini changes anyway.

3. Scroll halfway down to the section entitled "[SystemSettings]" (without the quotations). Change "Trilinear=FALSE" to "Trilinear=TRUE" (again, without the quotations).

4. Two sections further down the document you will see the "[TextureLODSettings]" (without the quotations). Replace the top 11 lines (12 including the section title) with the following:

[TextureLODSettings]
//TEXTUREGROUP_Character=(MinLODSize=1024,MaxLODSize =4096,LODBias=0)
//TEXTUREGROUP_CharacterNormalMap=(MinLODSize=1024,M axLODSize=4096,LODBias=0)
//TEXTUREGROUP_Effects=(MinLODSize=1024,MaxLODSize=4 096,LODBias=0)
TEXTUREGROUP_LightAndShadowMap=(MinLODSize=1024,Ma xLODSize=4096,LODBias=0)
TEXTUREGROUP_RenderTarget=(MinLODSize=8,MaxLODSize =4096,LODBias=0)
//TEXTUREGROUP_Skybox=(MinLODSize=1024,MaxLODSize=40 96,LODBias=0)
//TEXTUREGROUP_UI=(MinLODSize=1024,MaxLODSize=4096,L ODBias=0)
//TEXTUREGROUP_Vehicle=(MinLODSize=1024,MaxLODSize=4 096,LODBias=0)
//TEXTUREGROUP_VehicleNormalMap=(MinLODSize=1024,Max LODSize=4096,LODBias=0)
//TEXTUREGROUP_Weapon=(MinLODSize=1024,MaxLODSize=40 96,LODBias=0)
//TEXTUREGROUP_WeaponNormalMap=(MinLODSize=1024,MaxL ODSize=4096,LODBias=0)

5. Save the file and load the game. You should immediately notice an improvement in the textures.

And that's it.

I can confirm that this works. The most notable difference is in the uniforms/armor the characters wear - they're much sharper.

[Maulclaw]

Originally posted by ScruffyBamboo:

Originally posted by randomraider:

This is a common error. Somehow, the Steam version of ME1 doesn't like to render the textures at its max. However, this issue has a simple fix. For those who still can't play the game on its High-Ultra textures even if it says so on the Options menu, here's the fix:

1. Go into the My Documents--Bioware--Mass Effect--Config folder and open the BIOEngine notepad file.

2. MAKE A BACK-UP COPY OF THIS FILE. In case the config doesn't work for you, you can easily restore default settings. Good to keep a backup of any Ini changes anyway.

3. Scroll halfway down to the section entitled "[SystemSettings]" (without the quotations). Change "Trilinear=FALSE" to "Trilinear=TRUE" (again, without the quotations).

4. Two sections further down the document you will see the "[TextureLODSettings]" (without the quotations). Replace the top 11 lines (12 including the section title) with the following:

[TextureLODSettings]
//TEXTUREGROUP_Character=(MinLODSize=1024,MaxLODSize =4096,LODBias=0)
//TEXTUREGROUP_CharacterNormalMap=(MinLODSize=1024,M axLODSize=4096,LODBias=0)
//TEXTUREGROUP_Effects=(MinLODSize=1024,MaxLODSize=4 096,LODBias=0)
TEXTUREGROUP_LightAndShadowMap=(MinLODSize=1024,Ma xLODSize=4096,LODBias=0)
TEXTUREGROUP_RenderTarget=(MinLODSize=8,MaxLODSize =4096,LODBias=0)
//TEXTUREGROUP_Skybox=(MinLODSize=1024,MaxLODSize=40 96,LODBias=0)
//TEXTUREGROUP_UI=(MinLODSize=1024,MaxLODSize=4096,L ODBias=0)
//TEXTUREGROUP_Vehicle=(MinLODSize=1024,MaxLODSize=4 096,LODBias=0)
//TEXTUREGROUP_VehicleNormalMap=(MinLODSize=1024,Max LODSize=4096,LODBias=0)
//TEXTUREGROUP_Weapon=(MinLODSize=1024,MaxLODSize=40 96,LODBias=0)
//TEXTUREGROUP_WeaponNormalMap=(MinLODSize=1024,MaxL ODSize=4096,LODBias=0)

5. Save the file and load the game. You should immediately notice an improvement in the textures.

And that's it.

I can confirm that this works. The most notable difference is in the uniforms/armor the characters wear - they're much sharper.

I tested it several times myself. It is easily one of the best fixes. There is also a way to keep all Textures high at every single time in order to avoid random popping, but it will impact the framerate.

[Writer]

Originally posted by randomraider:

This is a common error. Somehow, the Steam version of ME1 doesn't like to render the textures at its max. However, this issue has a simple fix. For those who still can't play the game on its High-Ultra textures even if it says so on the Options menu, here's the fix:

1. Go into the My Documents--Bioware--Mass Effect--Config folder and open the BIOEngine notepad file.

2. MAKE A BACK-UP COPY OF THIS FILE. In case the config doesn't work for you, you can easily restore default settings. Good to keep a backup of any Ini changes anyway.

3. Scroll halfway down to the section entitled "[SystemSettings]" (without the quotations). Change "Trilinear=FALSE" to "Trilinear=TRUE" (again, without the quotations).

4. Two sections further down the document you will see the "[TextureLODSettings]" (without the quotations). Replace the top 11 lines (12 including the section title) with the following:

[TextureLODSettings]
//TEXTUREGROUP_Character=(MinLODSize=1024,MaxLODSize =4096,LODBias=0)
//TEXTUREGROUP_CharacterNormalMap=(MinLODSize=1024,M axLODSize=4096,LODBias=0)
//TEXTUREGROUP_Effects=(MinLODSize=1024,MaxLODSize=4 096,LODBias=0)
TEXTUREGROUP_LightAndShadowMap=(MinLODSize=1024,Ma xLODSize=4096,LODBias=0)
TEXTUREGROUP_RenderTarget=(MinLODSize=8,MaxLODSize =4096,LODBias=0)
//TEXTUREGROUP_Skybox=(MinLODSize=1024,MaxLODSize=40 96,LODBias=0)
//TEXTUREGROUP_UI=(MinLODSize=1024,MaxLODSize=4096,L ODBias=0)
//TEXTUREGROUP_Vehicle=(MinLODSize=1024,MaxLODSize=4 096,LODBias=0)
//TEXTUREGROUP_VehicleNormalMap=(MinLODSize=1024,Max LODSize=4096,LODBias=0)
//TEXTUREGROUP_Weapon=(MinLODSize=1024,MaxLODSize=40 96,LODBias=0)
//TEXTUREGROUP_WeaponNormalMap=(MinLODSize=1024,MaxL ODSize=4096,LODBias=0)

5. Save the file and load the game. You should immediately notice an improvement in the textures.

And that's it.

Hi! Well, it doesn't work for me. Garrus has low texture face, and it's annoying and bad. (And I use ultra textures settings.)

[Maulclaw]

Originally posted by Writer:

Originally posted by randomraider:

This is a common error. Somehow, the Steam version of ME1 doesn't like to render the textures at its max. However, this issue has a simple fix. For those who still can't play the game on its High-Ultra textures even if it says so on the Options menu, here's the fix:

1. Go into the My Documents--Bioware--Mass Effect--Config folder and open the BIOEngine notepad file.

2. MAKE A BACK-UP COPY OF THIS FILE. In case the config doesn't work for you, you can easily restore default settings. Good to keep a backup of any Ini changes anyway.

3. Scroll halfway down to the section entitled "[SystemSettings]" (without the quotations). Change "Trilinear=FALSE" to "Trilinear=TRUE" (again, without the quotations).

4. Two sections further down the document you will see the "[TextureLODSettings]" (without the quotations). Replace the top 11 lines (12 including the section title) with the following:

[TextureLODSettings]
//TEXTUREGROUP_Character=(MinLODSize=1024,MaxLODSize =4096,LODBias=0)
//TEXTUREGROUP_CharacterNormalMap=(MinLODSize=1024,M axLODSize=4096,LODBias=0)
//TEXTUREGROUP_Effects=(MinLODSize=1024,MaxLODSize=4 096,LODBias=0)
TEXTUREGROUP_LightAndShadowMap=(MinLODSize=1024,Ma xLODSize=4096,LODBias=0)
TEXTUREGROUP_RenderTarget=(MinLODSize=8,MaxLODSize =4096,LODBias=0)
//TEXTUREGROUP_Skybox=(MinLODSize=1024,MaxLODSize=40 96,LODBias=0)
//TEXTUREGROUP_UI=(MinLODSize=1024,MaxLODSize=4096,L ODBias=0)
//TEXTUREGROUP_Vehicle=(MinLODSize=1024,MaxLODSize=4 096,LODBias=0)
//TEXTUREGROUP_VehicleNormalMap=(MinLODSize=1024,Max LODSize=4096,LODBias=0)
//TEXTUREGROUP_Weapon=(MinLODSize=1024,MaxLODSize=40 96,LODBias=0)
//TEXTUREGROUP_WeaponNormalMap=(MinLODSize=1024,MaxL ODSize=4096,LODBias=0)

5. Save the file and load the game. You should immediately notice an improvement in the textures.

And that's it.

Hi! Well, it doesn't work for me. Garrus has low texture face, and it's annoying and bad. (And I use ultra textures settings.)

You could try to get the best graphics mod for ME1? There's another way to improve Garrus' textures, but that will force the game to its extremes. This is the mod: http://www.nexusmods.com/masseffect/mods/1/

The mod is amazing. Everything looks better and all textures have been improved, even the Normandy. Give it a shot. It's an easy install.


But...

If you really want the Ultra-maniac textures without the mod, try this:


TEXTUREGROUP_Character_Diff=(MinLODSize=512,MaxLOD Size=512,LODBias=0)
TEXTUREGROUP_Character_Norm=(MinLODSize=512,MaxLOD Size=512,LODBias=0)
TEXTUREGROUP_Character_Spec=(MinLODSize=256,MaxLOD Size=256,LODBias=0)

You'll get consistently high character detail - albeit some lowered performance, of course, since it's using high-res textures everywhere. This is the only way I know of to fix Garrus' buggily low-res face without resorting to special mods.

[Writer]

Originally posted by randomcommander:

Originally posted by Writer:

Hi! Well, it doesn't work for me. Garrus has low texture face, and it's annoying and bad. (And I use ultra textures settings.)

You could try to get the best graphics mod for ME1? There's another way to improve Garrus' textures, but that will force the game to its extremes. This is the mod: http://www.nexusmods.com/masseffect/mods/1/

The mod is amazing. Everything looks better and all textures have been improved, even the Normandy. Give it a shot. It's an easy install.


But...

If you really want the Ultra-maniac textures without the mod, try this:


TEXTUREGROUP_Character_Diff=(MinLODSize=512,MaxLOD Size=512,LODBias=0)
TEXTUREGROUP_Character_Norm=(MinLODSize=512,MaxLOD Size=512,LODBias=0)
TEXTUREGROUP_Character_Spec=(MinLODSize=256,MaxLOD Size=256,LODBias=0)

You'll get consistently high character detail - albeit some lowered performance, of course, since it's using high-res textures everywhere. This is the only way I know of to fix Garrus' buggily low-res face without resorting to special mods.

Thx, I don't really like mods, and the other solution works like a charm. :)

[Maulclaw]

Originally posted by Writer:

Originally posted by randomcommander:

You could try to get the best graphics mod for ME1? There's another way to improve Garrus' textures, but that will force the game to its extremes. This is the mod: http://www.nexusmods.com/masseffect/mods/1/

The mod is amazing. Everything looks better and all textures have been improved, even the Normandy. Give it a shot. It's an easy install.


But...

If you really want the Ultra-maniac textures without the mod, try this:


TEXTUREGROUP_Character_Diff=(MinLODSize=512,MaxLOD Size=512,LODBias=0)
TEXTUREGROUP_Character_Norm=(MinLODSize=512,MaxLOD Size=512,LODBias=0)
TEXTUREGROUP_Character_Spec=(MinLODSize=256,MaxLOD Size=256,LODBias=0)

You'll get consistently high character detail - albeit some lowered performance, of course, since it's using high-res textures everywhere. This is the only way I know of to fix Garrus' buggily low-res face without resorting to special mods.

Thx, I don't really like mods, and the other solution works like a charm. :)

Enjoy.