Native Graphics Mod

[Ganossa]

Since there are not many graphic mods yet as I am aware, I started working on one.

First release: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2061697157

Coming from HLSL in DirectX, there is warm up phase to Vulkan but being relatively simplistic, X4 allows quiet a bit of change:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2053097724

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2053097785

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2053098105

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2053098056

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2053097843

[Belteguesian]

Extremely good effort. I wish this was around before I spent 500£ on a new graphic card

[fiese Fee™]

Whats different to the Stock Grfx?

[Ganossa]

So far, mostly some color grading for highlights and shadows, a depth based simple texture filter with a bit of color shift (not happy with that one though).

[Artean]

Are you using ReShade?

[Ganossa]

No, its entirely based on X4's libraries, no tool overhead.

I am simply extending/changing what they've got.
So also no impact on UI and such.

[Artean]

Originally posted by 최정장군 - General Choi Jeong:

No, its entirely based on X4's libraries, no tool overhead.

I am simply extending/changing what they've got.
So also no impact on UI and such.

I see. Looks good!

My main issue with the graphics is still anti aliasing - MSAA above *2 is too expensive and FXAA too blurry.

[Ganossa]

I totally agree, especially with the price of MSAA. I'd like to be able to simply swap out FXAA with SMAA but their implementation is too different to do that.

If the devs would include a SMAA shader, I could improve it but that's up to them to do.
I might though be able to improve FXAA but need to look into whats available for that shader.

Just for fun diversion when looking for some improved edge detection for FXAA:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2053918579

[Mr.Freud]

Hi! I remember what you did for Rome 2, so I believe something great is cooking! GL to you!

[Ganossa]

Originally posted by Mr. Freud:

Hi! I remember what you did for Rome 2, so I believe something great is cooking! GL to you!

Thanks a lot for your confidence Mr. Freud )) has been a long time.

And sorry for the last one of these ...

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2054126278

... but it helped me to fix that directional texture filter ))

[comsubpac]

Great work!

[Ganossa]

Thanks!

New FXAA profile:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2054467575

Less blur and higher sampling rate. So slightly more expensive but with better results.
(far detail by nature is of course still at much lower quality than SSA)

[Ganossa]

Finally managed to squeeze in textures into their pipeline and therefore can now use this to add something like this subtle lens effect:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2057762305

(no sure why this wasn't in the game yet as its pretty common for science fiction imagery)

[...]

That's awesome. Keep up the good work. :)

[fiese Fee™]

Originally posted by 최정장군 - General Choi Jeong:

Finally managed to squeeze in textures into their pipeline and therefore can now use this to add something like this subtle lens effect:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2057762305

(no sure why this wasn't in the game yet as its pretty common for science fiction imagery)

Looks really nice.

[Artean]

Looks good!