Improving Injustice's visuals with Reshade

Normally Injustice has low saturation, like there's a grey fog covering the game. Here I will show you how to improve it's visuals and lift that fog by modifying it's colouring, clarity, and contrast strength.

Before you start

By default I left the Sharpening shader off. If you want to push the visuals a bit more I describe how to turn it on in the "What each Shader does" section.

Important if you play Online - Apparently if you have things added to your game folder you won't be able to see other people in multiplayer and you'll have to send a direct invite. I haven't tested this but be warned if you plan to play online (If you can even find a match)

How to Download and Use Reshade

Step 1 - Go to https://reshade.me/ and download the latest version. Once done start it up

Step 2 - Select the Injustice application and then select DirectX9

Step 3 - Check the "SweetFX" Shader option then press OK

Step 4 - For "Standard Effects" you can go ahead and Uncheck All, then press OK.
Afterwards for "SweetFX", Uncheck All again but then check on Curves, FakeHDR, LumaSharpen, Tonemap. These are the effects we'll be using.

Adding Shader Settings

First find the folder where you installed Injustice.
If you have it on Steam; Open Steam, go to Library, right-click on Injustice, Go to "Manage" and then click on "Browse Local Files".

There should be a folder called DiscContentPCG, double-click it and then inside should be a file called "DefaultPreset". Just open it up, delete everything, then copy and paste this into it,

PreprocessorDefinitions=
Techniques=Tonemap,HDR
TechniqueSorting=Tonemap,Curves,HDR,LumaSharpen

[Curves.fx]
Contrast=0.160000
Formula=1
Mode=0

[FakeHDR.fx]
HDRPower=1.140000
radius1=0.830000
radius2=0.870000

[LumaSharpen.fx]
offset_bias=1.000000
pattern=0
sharp_clamp=0.015000
sharp_strength=0.500000
show_sharpen=0

[Tonemap.fx]
Bleach=0.004000
Defog=0.012000
Exposure=0.000000
FogColor=0.019608,0.019608,0.019608
Gamma=1.100000
Saturation=0.450000

And now when you start up the game you'll have Reshade! But wait, there's more.

How to open and modify Reshade while in-game

Once Injustice is running, just press the Home key on your keyboard. This will open the Reshade menu and let you adjust or turn On/Off Shaders.

What each Shader does

Tonemap - This has the biggest effect visually. Injustice's colours normally have low saturation, which is why it looks like there's a grey filter throughout the game; This setting increases the saturation and makes the game look more vibrant.

To adjust how strong you want colours, change the Saturation option. To adjust brightness change Gamma

Curves - Adjusts the contrast. This is Off by default but if you've turned off HDR I suggest turning this On.

These other 2 are more luxury settings. You can turn them off if they're affecting your framerate or latency.

HDR/FakeHDR - This gives the colour exposure / contrasts of the game a wider range so things will stand out from each other more. It can make the game look REALLY good but the contrast strength might be too strong for some.

Increasing Power makes the game darker; Lowering it makes it brighter.
If your PC can handle it you can increase the range by lowering Radius 1 to make the effect better looking.

LumaSharpen - This makes the game models clearer. You'll be able to more easily see the detail on character models / stage backgrounds.
By default this option is turned off since HDR is already on. If your PC can handle it you can have both.

Before and After Comparison

Before
After
Before
After

[Wonder Man]

@TManX03 So what I did after installing reshade was delete the TEXT DOCUMENTS with reshade in the name and RESHADE PRESET ini and the game booted. I made my new reshade settings, game looks way better, prerendered movies and all. I closed and reopened the game and it still works. I use the .exe not the launcher.

[TManX03]

Over 2 months later no update.

Well I tried it up until Step 4.); there's no folder inside "DiscContentPCG" called "DefaultPreset" or anything of the sort.

[TManX03]

Can you make this guide into a YouTube video? Reading this now, I'm a little worried that I might slip up and end up putting files in incorrect places and the game no longer works.

Even if it's me overthinking, this is something I'd want to get perfected to the last detail.
Also could you make this a 2023 guide? In case there's any updates to the HDR mod that's needed?

[Ultra_Magikarp]

I got similar results by setting the contrast to max

[Generic Brand Coconut]

Sorry that's my mistake. There should be a folder called DiscContentPCG, double-click it and then inside THAT should be a file called "DefaultPreset".

I've updated the guide to say so.

[Quebec Dragon]

Interesting guide and I used it to install Reshade, but I also cannot find that DefaultPreset.ini file. I could create one but I'm not sure which folder or subfolder of Injustice to put it in

[tug]

i can't find the DefaultPreset.ini file

[Lagarus]

Hmm, This does give some interesting results, Some maps look way better with reshade, I might stick with reshade for a while