What is LOD?

[Quevik]

Can anyone inform me what LOD is in context of skyrim? A google search says "Level of detail" but that doesn't seem to make sense with the mods i'm seeing.

I've found a bunch of stuff that says "adds tree LOD" "Adds LOD to waterfalls and windmills" but i have no idea what that actually means. How is it different than a mod that, say, changes the textures to 2k?

[Futa Fanatic]

its as you said "level of detail" ie "should" be better looking textures

[HellFalcon]

LOD used to generate objects of different complexies from base sample to use them at different distances to improve performance and/or visual quality.

[Vampaca]

Basically what LOD means in Skyrim is that somethings 3d model gets replaced by a lower quality one, when you move away from it, to save system ressources.

You'll eventually see waterfalls and other things just pop out of existance, if you're far away.. Those mods fix that.

[Quevik]

So the LOD in these mods is the "level of detail" as stated in google but it's specifically the level of detail at farther distances. So an LOD mod would not improve the texture of something at close range but would keep that texture at full detail even when at a farther distance.

Got it, thank you.

[Belanos]

Originally posted by Quevik:

So the LOD in these mods is the "level of detail" as stated in google but it's specifically the level of detail at farther distances. So an LOD mod would not improve the texture of something at close range but would keep that texture at full detail even when at a farther distance.

Got it, thank you.

Maybe not full detail, but at least better than the default. It would be too much of a strain on the video card to have full textures for all the distant objects, but there is plenty of room for improvement from the stock textures at least.

[kayjay]

According to a search I just did on Google it isn't 'Level of Detail' it's 'Look of Distant Objects'

LODs (the look of distant objects) in Skyrim was always one of the biggest problems that was ponting on incredibly outdated graphics engine. ... This happens because LODs in Skyrim are basically ONLY textures - simple 2D images

I suppose it's similar but not exactly the same. Maybe the definition has changed in the last 3 years :)

K. x

[tulle040657]

Originally posted by kayjay:

According to a search I just did on Google it isn't 'Level of Detail' it's 'Look of Distant Objects'

LODs (the look of distant objects) in Skyrim was always one of the biggest problems that was ponting on incredibly outdated graphics engine. ... This happens because LODs in Skyrim are basically ONLY textures - simple 2D images

I suppose it's similar but not exactly the same. Maybe the definition has changed in the last 3 years :)

K. x

Well google is wrong, it's LOD not LDO

[Longhaul]

LOD helps with distant objects, Makes them clearer and your able to see the object from a greater distance without the pop in.