SweetFX - New and improved Settings HD.

[Markie]

Hi, couldn't stop messing around with the settings. Latest offering pushes the limits. Strong orange sunsets, explosive fires, gleaming metalwork, rich green fields and vivid blue skies. I have taken the definition to the point of graininess and backed off a little. The downside is that any onscreen writing has a fringe or slight halo effect. Luckily for me I have no distracting onscreen writing normally. May irk others though. This could be too rich for some but I have grown accustomed to it very quickly. By clicking on Scroll Lock key you can see immediate changes in depth of field and clarity. Clouds and water are really dazzling now. I hope you enjoy. This is not for those using Windows OS 8.0 or 8.1 - haven't sorted that yet until SweetFX is compliant.

Simply download WinRAR file, unzip into main game folder all the files and folder (One called "SweetFX") completely. Main game folder is the one with Launcher.exe file. I have only changed the settings file from my last offering "MarkiesNewSettings1.5.rar"

[jjohnson241]

Markie,
Perhaps you can help me.
I tried to install your latest SweetFX package and my game will not start correctly. I hear the sound but the video is just a blank black screen.
SweetFX files are installed to main CLod directory.
Any thoughts?

[ATAG_Lolsav]

@Johnson you appear to have more overlay programs who are conflicting with SweetFx. Which one? Only you can tell :)

@Markie - tryed your settings last night and i must say i enjoyed the crispiness, contrast (dark/light) but i didnt like the colour saturation. It gets the game to a "cartoonish" style i dont enjoy. Sorry, hope you dont take it bad by me saying this. But it was what i felt.

[jjohnson241]

Lolsav,
I'm running the Clod integration plugin in TeamSpeak.
None other that I'm aware of.
Would the integration plugin cause the problem?
If so, can I get around it and still use the plugin?
Thanks.

[ATAG_Lolsav]

No, CLOD plugin for TS wouldnt affect it. But i know of a Windows update who would. Can you check if you have the undesired Windows Update Kb2670838 as reported here: http://theairtacticalassaultgroup.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3528

Else the culprit should be a overlay program external of the game, as in "overwolf" for TeamSpeak, software recording (Fraps / OBS) or any other program who runs on DirectX and conflict with SweetFX.

[jjohnson241]

I've got that KB update implemented. As I recall the update also implemented IE 11.
I thought that MS corrected the update in a subsequent KB update but apparently not.
I want to use IE 11 so I guess I'm out of luck re: SweetFX.

[ATAG_Lolsav]

With that update implemented you can fly more than 10 mins without your game freezing? Im surprised...

[jjohnson241]

When I had SweetFX implemented and with the KB installed, I got Launcher crashes 3-5 min into a flight. I removed SweetFX and the problem went away. That was shortly after the KB was published (forget Date). I tried to reinstall SweetFX and got the result (black screen) I posted here.
Frankly, I don't think it's the KB that's my problem but I've got nowhere to look otherwise.
Thanks

[Markie]

Thanks for comment ATAG_Lolsav. On my machine the colours are not oversaturated but have seen it on another monitor and it was too much really, I may change a little more for general consumption - I acknowledge what you say and will try further. I may cut saturation back a bit and could release another file soon. This is the feedback I need. As for troubles loading and a black screen I have not encountered this. The infamous KB file does a lot of damage. I hope this can be solved. I will look into this and offer advice by reading what you have said and analysing options.

[jjohnson241]

Thanks Markie.
Info, I'm running Win 7, 64 bit. Nvidia 770 video card.
If you find anything out, please let me know.
Meantime, I'll continue searching also.

[Markie]

OK, either my eyes or my monitor is packing up - I think the latter as it flashed several times last night. I knew the settings were on the edge of insanity so I have changed file posted yesterday to a milder version, thanks Lolsav for pointing this out. These settings I will use for now and if I can tweak better I will. If you know me well I am never one hundred percent happy with results but you must post something in the meantime.

To Johnson I have thought about why it may not work for you. If for example in the settings.txt page Levels is selected and the black and white points are not about 16 and 235 (Default values) and at the extremes of 255 and 255 you will get a black screen with sound. Any variables can stop a game launching even if minor. You probably haven't tampered with the files, just mentioning what can happen. I had the game not launch when I had changed a name and it started with a capital rather than lower case letter. Same goes for an extra gap inserted or incorrect extension name and so on. The computer in a confused state can either seize or restart. If you remove files and remnants remain, i.e. not all files were removed this can cause conflict as well as files with the same name. You probably know all this anyway, I can see your frustration. The KB file is a known problem. As mentioned before the unzipped files transport straight into main game folder. The files within yellow "SweetFX" folder are left in there not extracted. All the files and folder go into main game folder. If you are not running DX9 but rather DX10, DX11 then you may need to remove files d3d9.dll and d3d9.fx - also any dll files (Data Link Library) files you remove being shared with other applications can cause a crash. Mostly these are done inadvertently. You may like to try new settings I have posted here replacing last set and see what happens. Best of luck.

[jjohnson241]

Markie,
Same result with your toned down settings.
If you use an Nvidia graphics card, what are your control panel settings?
Thanks.

[Markie]

Hi, before we go into my Nvidia settings it may be worth looking for remnants of previous SweetFX on your system and remove them, if of course you have had a version on prior. The following files should be deleted before putting in new set.

SweetFX (YellowFolder)
d3d9.dll
d3d9.fx
dxgi.dll
dxgi.fx
injector
log
shader.fx
SweetFX_preset
SweetFX_settings

Now here are my Nvidia settings.

Adjust image settings with preview - let the 3D application decide.
Select a program to customize launcher (launcher.exe)
Anisotropic Filtering 2X
Antialiasing - FXAA - Off
Antialiasing - Gamma Correction - Use global settings - On
Antialiasing - Mode - Use global setting (Application controlled)
Antialiasing transparency - 2X (Supersample)
Cuda - GPU's - Use global setting (All)
Maximum pre-rendered frames - 3
Multi Display/mixed GPU acceleration - Single display performance mode
Power management mode - prefer maximum performance
Shader cache - use global setting (On)
Texture Filtering - Anisotropic sample Opti... off
Texture Filtering - Negative LOD bias - Clamp
Texture Filtering - Quality
Texture Filtering - Trilinear Optimization - On
Triple buffering - On
Vertical sync - Adaptive
Virtual reality pre-rendered frames - use global setting (1)

Often of course if you are stretching your settings to the max, the graphics cut out first (Black screen) and the sound continues because it is not labour intensive. As with over-clocking you must make small incremental changes and ease back slightly once you hit the wall. This program is top end in terms of kicking the graphics card about. You must tread softly and carefully at first. I have a reasonable card - Nvidia GeForce GTX 680 and my settings in the game are nowhere near maximised because it can't handle it. Anyway, this may all be yesterday's newspaper to you but worth considering. Personally I think it is the KB fault causing the problem, I realise you want to have IE11 also but you may be skirting around the issue. I wish you the best.

[jjohnson241]

Markie,
Thanks, I'll play around with it and let you know here.

Edit:
I searched and found plenty of hits on "black screen" but the solution was to typically uninstall SweetFx. I also fiddled around with the Nvidia control panel settings to no avail.
Regarding the KB problem, when I had the KB installed and running SweetFx, the symptom I got was a launcher crash (frozen screen) about 3-5 minutes into the flight. The current symptom is a black screen immediately when hitting "fly" for the mission. Different than before. I'm getting this result for Clod, ROF and IL2-BoS. However, I have SweetFx running fine with DCS, KB installed. DCS is a 64 bit application (different DLL's for SweetFx) and the others are 32 bit. When the problem occurs with Clod, the "log.log" file in SweetFx indicates that the shader is being initialized and nothing after. I guess it could be the KB but that's certainly not obvious.
I'll keep pluggin. It's getting personal now.

[Markie]

I have had problems with my monitor and have got around that issue, anyhow I have replaced the file uploaded at beginning of post a short while ago with a much better one today, in terms of colour and definition. For those who downloaded the original file might want to download the newer one to see the differences. Sorry for any inconvenience.

[Gamecock78W]

Hi, couldn't stop messing around with the settings. Latest offering pushes the limits. Strong orange sunsets, explosive fires, gleaming metalwork, rich green fields and vivid blue skies. I have taken the definition to the point of graininess and backed off a little. The downside is that any onscreen writing has a fringe or slight halo effect. Luckily for me I have no distracting onscreen writing normally. May irk others though. This could be too rich for some but I have grown accustomed to it very quickly. By clicking on Scroll Lock key you can see immediate changes in depth of field and clarity. Clouds and water are really dazzling now. I hope you enjoy. This is not for those using Windows OS 8.0 or 8.1 - haven't sorted that yet until SweetFX is compliant.

Simply download WinRAR file, unzip into main game folder all the files and folder (One called "SweetFX") completely. Main game folder is the one with Launcher.exe file. I have only changed the settings file from my last offering "MarkiesNewSettings1.5.rar"




I installed SweetFX and my game crashes after a short while. Any thoughts?

[ATAG_Lolsav]

I installed SweetFX and my game crashes after a short while. Any thoughts?

http://theairtacticalassaultgroup.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3528

[FZG_Immel]

Looks great, but is causing my game to freeze/crash randomly.

Any explanation ?

[ATAG_Lolsav]

Looks great, but is causing my game to freeze/crash randomly.

Any explanation ?

http://theairtacticalassaultgroup.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3528

[SorcererDave]

Installed it yesterday. Looks fantastic. Not having any crashing issues at my end aside from the regular launcher.exe crashes that are commonplace.

[jjohnson241]

Installed it yesterday. Looks fantastic. Not having any crashing issues at my end aside from the regular launcher.exe crashes that are commonplace.
Do me a favor please and check your update history to see if you have Windows Update KB2670838 installed.
Thanks.

[Bubba_the_Punk]

Thanks for this, Markie! So far, I'm really enjoying these settings.1270912711

[TWC_SLAG]

Markie,

Please pardon my noobness, but where do I find these settings?

Adjust image settings with preview - let the 3D application decide.
Select a program to customize launcher (launcher.exe)
Anisotropic Filtering 2X
Antialiasing - FXAA - Off
Antialiasing - Gamma Correction - Use global settings - On
Antialiasing - Mode - Use global setting (Application controlled)
Antialiasing transparency - 2X (Supersample)
Cuda - GPU's - Use global setting (All)
Maximum pre-rendered frames - 3
Multi Display/mixed GPU acceleration - Single display performance mode
Power management mode - prefer maximum performance
Shader cache - use global setting (On)
Texture Filtering - Anisotropic sample Opti... off
Texture Filtering - Negative LOD bias - Clamp
Texture Filtering - Quality
Texture Filtering - Trilinear Optimization - On
Triple buffering - On
Vertical sync - Adaptive
Virtual reality pre-rendered frames - use global setting (1)

Thanks,

badfinger

[Markie]

Hi, at work at the moment and not on my own computer. These settings are in my Nvidia console which from memory is accessed from control panel - display- Nvidia console. I did just have a shortcut on my desktop for it at some point. It was loaded in from disk when I bought my graphics card. I may give a better answer once I am home. Don't know about ATI Radeon equivalent, never had one.

[Markie]

I now have a great computer with a decent monitor at long last. Fiddled with settings again and came up with this. Less bloom, colours more natural, foreground sharp and background slightly blurred. I like it, try for yourself. Keep the other files from RAR file at beginning of post and replace SweetFX_settings file only. If only somebody could improve the radiating lines in the sky I would be very happy indeed.

[Smoke]

I now have a great computer with a decent monitor at long last. Fiddled with settings again and came up with this. Less bloom, colours more natural, foreground sharp and background slightly blurred. I like it, try for yourself. Keep the other files from RAR file at beginning of post and replace SweetFX_settings file only. If only somebody could improve the radiating lines in the sky I would be very happy indeed.

Sorry to bump this thread but I am recieving a launcher crash after about 5 minutes into the flight. Any explanation for this? I have SweetFX in other games and it runs like a champ.


Thanks

[Baffin]

Markie,

Please pardon my noobness, but where do I find these settings?

Adjust image settings with preview - let the 3D application decide.
Select a program to customize launcher (launcher.exe)
Anisotropic Filtering 2X
Antialiasing - FXAA - Off
Antialiasing - Gamma Correction - Use global settings - On
Antialiasing - Mode - Use global setting (Application controlled)
Antialiasing transparency - 2X (Supersample)
Cuda - GPU's - Use global setting (All)
Maximum pre-rendered frames - 3
Multi Display/mixed GPU acceleration - Single display performance mode
Power management mode - prefer maximum performance
Shader cache - use global setting (On)
Texture Filtering - Anisotropic sample Opti... off
Texture Filtering - Negative LOD bias - Clamp
Texture Filtering - Quality
Texture Filtering - Trilinear Optimization - On
Triple buffering - On
Vertical sync - Adaptive
Virtual reality pre-rendered frames - use global setting (1)

Thanks,

badfinger

For these and more, download the Freeware "Nvidia Inspector." Included is an application entitled "nvidia Profile Inspector", which gives you access to all driver features. It has a large number of game profiles listed. For IL-2: Cliffs of Dover, use the profile for game name: "Launcher". :hpyflying:

[Ecosta]

Sorry to bump this thread but I am recieving a launcher crash after about 5 minutes into the flight. Any explanation for this? I have SweetFX in other games and it runs like a champ.
Thanks

Smoke, dont use the older Sweet FX for IL-2 CloD cause crashes.

You must use the shader called RESHADE. Please, see the link bellow, install and play in IL-2 Cliffs. Grb the latest version!
http://www.mediafire.com/download/hd25q2558um47el/ReShade+2.0.3f1.7z

The home page is
http://reshade.me/

The reshade is the new shader for games in several APIs like DX9, DX10, OPENGL. The new reshade has Sweet fx options.

See the link bellow. Its a litle tutorial about RESHADE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O65hjplP2mM&nohtml5=False

S!

Ecosta

[Markie]

Hi, will be playing with Reshade and submitting my settings. Have known about it for a while and it is just finding time to make it work and well with a great overall effect. It takes a lot of time checking back and forth and tweaking to the nth degree. Got some time coming up so will hit it hard. Certainly some advantages over what I have presented with the SweetFX settings. The effects must suit different times of days and conditions. The balance is tricky. Wish me luck.

As for the question of Launcher problems, they are almost always to do with a KB file disrupting things. Search this out, maybe in this post somewhere something about it. Cannot remember where it is written, it has been a while.

[ATAG_Flare]

I have used sweetFX for ages . . . No problems whatsoever. Never have crashes.

[=FI=Murph]

Markie, what OS did you say you were using? I haven't had any luck yet using either SweetFX or ReShader with Windows 10. With SwFX I'm getting some weird effects in the map screen in mutiplayer and with ReShader it just doesn't work at all, doesn't load the effects. No more issues with crashes though, since Win10 doesn't use the dreaded update.

[Markie]

Dare I say it, or whisper it - I use Windows 7. It is really stable for me and this game. For that alone it is worth me staying with it until Windows 10 or whatever works well with it. I have a really good computer now however with this system I am running blind concerning Win OS 8.0, 8.1 and 10. This is where our friends in the community can help. I can produce something and hopefully others can test the settings, with of course backup first - I take no responsibility for other's actions. I like the ease of unzipping the SweetFX files I've put together straight into the main folder of game and it works a minute or so later for the most part. I have had many more problems with ReShade such as menu aberrations and game seizing but I can see the potential definitely. The famous KB file is one problem with conflicts as well as DirectX codes and which to use DX9, 10, 11 etc. I cannot help much if you have Windows 10, I would at best be lying or guessing about solving problems. Someone will come to your aid though. I could never play the game again without either of these effects addons.
Good luck and good skills together!

[TWC_SLAG]

With a lot of help, I have SweetFX up and running in DCS, with JSGME. The results are so good that I would like to try it in Cliffs of Dover. Is that still an option? I don't see a lot about it in the forums, anymore.

If it can be used, would it be a good idea to also use JSGME? If not, how do I go about putting SweetFX into CloD? Please be rather specific, as I don't know much about computers.

Thanks,

badfinger

[Markie]

Just go back to the first page of this post and up to the first post itself and download the file there "MarkiesSettingsHD.RAR" to say, your desktop and Unzip with WinRAR again to the desktop and inside the folder is a "Read Me" file that explains everything. Any problems just ask, I do not tire of questions as I really want to see this work for you. Done properly it should only take minutes to install and be up and running.

I have tried "Reshade" too and it is great for getting rid of the dreaded banding in the sky but it also has glitches with writing and other anomalies. I prefer SweetFX for ease but if I can get rid of banding with this program it would be truly great. Anybody able to help with that part I would appreciate it.

[Wolfskid]

Hello guys...

i have run at my System Windows 10 64 bit with a 970 GTX and 16 GB DDR 3 this Version:

Reshade 2.02.1108 by crosire....dl is from the HP of Reshade.

This Version runs WITHOUT the .... glitches with writing and other anomalies.:)

The NORMAL Version with Sweet FX has these glitches and other anomalies...:(


I hope i could help a little....


A GREAT SUMMER AAANNNNDD Holidays @ALL:-)


kr

Wolfskid



....but I DONT KNOW if this allowed or NOT @ the ONLINE Sessions !!!!

[ATAG_Torian]

...i have run at my System Windows 10 64 bit with a 970 GTX and 16 GB DDR 3 this Version:

Reshade 2.02.1108 by crosire....dl is from the HP of Reshade

Can't find this version on the Reshade HP. There is the 2.0.3f1 download. Is that the one u mean ?

[BOO]

Can't find this version on the Reshade HP. There is the 2.0.3f1 download. Is that the one u mean ?

Go with that one Torian - For whatever reason (maybe win10 fall update) the 2.0.2 didnt work for me - 2.0.3 worked but couldnt find the effects.

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

I placed the entire reshade folder in the main X86 IL2 folder (cos read somewhere on an elderscrolls forum i needed to do that now whereas before it didnt matter - i dont question - i just follow) and hey presto - all good!

From there is deceptively simple and you dont need to copy ANYTHING out of the Reshade folder as its done for you.

The only other tips are - the downloaded configs are a folder in a folder so you need to ensure that you just paste the folder containing all the goodies into "presets" - oh, and do this first before you run the assistant.

Then - in case you miss it for 7 hours like what i did, when youve associated the launcher select the the dxgi option NOT the one highlighted.. It wont appear to be clicked as it wont go orange but if you click in it and save the job is done.

Good luck and persevere - ts worth it - Kelso's efforts are really good and his last is really restrained so as to not look false. If you want more its a great starting point and have a look at Kelsos and Baffin's comments in this thread http://theairtacticalassaultgroup.com/forum/showthread.php?t=21847

I have this running with the TS notifier overlay with no issues.

Kind Regards

BOO

[Wolfskid]

@Boosterdog....Thanks for your LINK.:)
and
@ATAG_Torian...this is the Link which i have used and thats are the steps which work for me....

Good Luck
and

kind regards

Wolfskid