Help with SweetFX

Hi all,

Can anybody point me in the right direction to a complete beginners guide to installing and using Sweetfx.

I have found a few guides but they seem to be starting in the middle of the setup process, they dont explain everything from the beginning and i think its written for users that already have it running on other games like assetto corsa etc.

i want to give it a go as people say it looks much better in the rift, but dont know where to start.

Oz
 
Hi,

Download SweetFX here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B87rsi9bS3OdWmxNbVJPNjNQRjA/view (click the download arrow at the top on that page)

Then you need to unzip it in: C:\Program Files (x86)\Frontier\EDLaunch\Products\FORC-FDEV-D-1001 (or wherever your EliteDangerous32.exe file resides)

That's all there is to getting it working, then all you need to do is put some custom settings in:

Copy ALL the text/code from a custom settings file like this one -


Code:
 /*-----------------------------------------------------------.   
  /                       Description                           /
  '------------------------------------------------------------/
Game: Any
SweetFX version: 1.4
Author: CeeJay.dk
Description: 
These are the default settings for SweetFX 1.4
They smoothen jagged edges with SMAA anti-aliasing, sharpen the image with LumaSharpen and make the colors slightly more vibrant with Vibrance.
Please note when tweaking settings that higher numbers does not always equal better (nor does lower).
Finding the best settings for your game and your taste is about finding just the right amount to apply.
If you made a good setttings preset please share it with your friends, on forums and websites,
and/or submit it to the SweetFX Settings Database : [URL="http://sfx.thelazy.net/games/"][COLOR=#d8d8d8]http://sfx.thelazy.net/games/[/COLOR][/URL]
   /*-----------------------------------------------------------.
  /                      Choose effects                         /
  '-----------------------------------------------------------*/
// Set to 1 for ON or 0 for OFF
#define USE_SMAA_ANTIALIASING 1 //[0 or 1] SMAA Anti-aliasing : Smoothens jagged lines using the SMAA technique.
#define USE_FXAA_ANTIALIASING 0 //[0 or 1] FXAA Anti-aliasing : Smoothens jagged lines using the FXAA technique
#define USE_CARTOON          0 //[0 or 1] Cartoon : "Toon"s the image.
#define USE_ADVANCED_CRT      0 //[0 or 1] Advanced CRT : Simulates an old CRT TV display. Set gaussian blur along with it to get a halation effect
#define USE_BLOOM             0 //[0 or 1] Bloom : Makes bright lights bleed their light into their surroundings (relatively high performance cost)
#define USE_HDR               0 //[0 or 1] HDR : Not actual HDR - It just tries to mimic an HDR look (relatively high performance cost)
#define USE_LUMASHARPEN       1 //[0 or 1] LumaSharpen : Also sharpens the antialiased edges which makes them less smooth - I'm working on fixing that.
#define USE_GAUSSIAN          0 //[0 or 1] Gaussian Blur : can be used to... blur, but also bloom/hazy/glowy look, also unsharp masking
#define USE_FILMGRAIN         0 //[0 or 1] Filmgrain effect
#define USE_TECHNICOLOR       0 //[0 or 1] TECHNICOLOR : Attempts to mimic the look of an old movie using the Technicolor three-strip color process (Techicolor Process 4)
#define USE_DPX               0 //[0 or 1] Cineon DPX : Should make the image look like it's been converted to DXP Cineon - basically it's another movie-like look similar to technicolor.
#define USE_MONOCHROME        0 //[0 or 1] Monochrome : Monochrome makes the colors disappear.
#define USE_LIFTGAMMAGAIN     1 //[0 or 1] Lift Gamma Gain : Adjust brightness and color of shadows, midtones and highlights (avoids clipping)
#define USE_TONEMAP           0 //[0 or 1] Tonemap : Adjust gamma, exposure, saturation, bleach and defog. (may cause clipping)
#define USE_VIBRANCE          1 //[0 or 1] Vibrance : Intelligently saturates (or desaturates if you use negative values) the pixels depending on their original saturation.
#define USE_CURVES            0 //[0 or 1] Curves : Contrast adjustments using S-curves.
#define USE_SEPIA             0 //[0 or 1] Sepia : Sepia tones the image.
#define USE_VIGNETTE          0 //[0 or 1] Vignette : Darkens the edges of the image to make it look more like it was shot with a camera lens. May cause banding artifacts.
#define USE_DITHER            0 //[0 or 1] Dither : Applies dithering to simulate more colors than your monitor can display. This lessens banding artifacts (mostly caused by Vignette)
#define USE_BORDER            0 //[0 or 1] Border : Makes the screenedge black as a workaround for the bright edge that forcing some AA modes sometimes causes.
#define USE_SPLITSCREEN       0 //[0 or 1] Splitscreen : Enables the before-and-after splitscreen comparison mode.

   /*-----------------------------------------------------------.
  /                  SMAA Anti-aliasing settings                /
  '-----------------------------------------------------------*/
#define SMAA_THRESHOLD 0.08           //[0.05 to 0.20] Edge detection threshold. If SMAA misses some edges try lowering this slightly. I prefer between 0.08 and 0.12.
#define SMAA_MAX_SEARCH_STEPS 32      //[0 to 98] Determines the radius SMAA will search for aliased edges
#define SMAA_MAX_SEARCH_STEPS_DIAG 16  //[0 to 16] Determines the radius SMAA will search for diagonal aliased edges
#define SMAA_CORNER_ROUNDING 70        //[0 to 100] Determines the percent of antialiasing to apply to corners. 0 seems to affect fine text the least so it's the default.
// -- Advanced SMAA settings --
#define COLOR_EDGE_DETECTION 1        //[0 or 1] 1 Enables color edge detection (slower but slightly more acurate) - 0 uses luma edge detection (faster)
#define SMAA_DIRECTX9_LINEAR_BLEND 0  //[0 or 1] Using DX9 HARDWARE? (software version doesn't matter) if so this needs to be 1 - If not, leave it at 0.
                                      //Enable this only if you use a Geforce 7xxx series or older card, or a Radeon X1xxx series or older card.

   /*-----------------------------------------------------------.
  /                  FXAA Anti-aliasing settings                /
  '-----------------------------------------------------------*/
#define FXAA_QUALITY__PRESET 39      //[1 to 39] Choose the quality preset. 39 is the highest quality.
#define fxaa_Subpix 0.100            //[0.000 to 1.000] Choose the amount of sub-pixel aliasing removal.
#define fxaa_EdgeThreshold 0.910     //[0.000 to 1.000] Edge detection threshold. The minimum amount of local contrast required to apply algorithm.
#define fxaa_EdgeThresholdMin 0.950  //[0.000 to 1.000] Darkness threshold. Trims the algorithm from processing darks.

   /*-----------------------------------------------------------.
  /                  Cartoon settings                           /
  '-----------------------------------------------------------*/
#define CartoonPower 1.0             //[0.1 to 10.0] Amount of effect you want.

   /*-----------------------------------------------------------.
  /                  Advanced CRT settings                     /
  '----------------------------------------------------------*/
#define CRTAmount            1.00    //[0.00 to 1.00]  Amount of CRT effect you want
#define CRTResolutionX       512     //[1 to 2048]     Original input width of the game (ie. 320)
#define CRTResolutionY       304     //[1 to 2048]     Original input height of the game (ie. 240)
#define CRTgamma             2.4     //[0.0 to 4.0]    Gamma of simulated CRT (default 2.4)
#define CRTmonitorgamma      2.2     //[0.0 to 4.0]    Gamma of display monitor (typically 2.2 is correct)
#define CRTBrightness        0.9     //[1.0 to 3.0]    Used to boost brightness a little. Default is 1.0
#define CRTScanlineIntensity 2.0     //[2.0 to 4.0]    Scanlines intensity (use integer values preferably). Default is 2.0
#define CRTScanlineGaussian  1       //[0 or 1]        Use the "new nongaussian scanlines bloom effect". Default is on
#define CRTCurvature         1       //[[0 or 1]          "Barrel effect" enabled (1) or off (0)
#define CRTCurvatureRadius   1.5     //[0.0 to 2.0]       Curvature Radius (only effective when Curvature is enabled). Default is 1.5
#define CRTCornerSize        0.0100  //[0.0000 to 0.0020] Higher values, more rounded corner. Default is 0.001
#define CRTDistance          2.00    //[0.00 to 4.00]     Simulated distance from viewer to monitor. Default is 2.00
#define CRTAngleX            0.00    //[-0.20 to 0.20]    Tilt angle in radians (X coordinates)
#define CRTAngleY            -0.15   //[-0.20 to 0.20]    Tilt angle in radians (Y coordinates). (Value of -0.15 gives the 'arcade tilt' look)
#define CRTOverScan          1.01    //[1.00 to 1.10]     Overscan (e.g. 1.02 for 2% overscan). Default is 1.01
#define CRTOversample        0       //[0 or 1]           Enable 3x oversampling of the beam profile (warning : performance hit)

   /*-----------------------------------------------------------.
  /                  Bloom settings                             /
  '-----------------------------------------------------------*/
#define BloomThreshold 20.25 //[0.00 to 50.00] Threshold for what is a bright light (that causes bloom) and what isn't.
#define BloomPower 1.446     //[0.000 to 8.000] Strength of the bloom
#define BloomWidth 0.0142    //[0.0000 to 1.0000] Width of the bloom

   /*-----------------------------------------------------------.
  /                  HDR settings                               /
  '-----------------------------------------------------------*/
#define HDRPower 1.30  //[0.00 to 8.00] Strangely lowering this makes the image brighter
#define radius2  0.87  //[0.00 to 8.00] Raising this seems to make the effect stronger and also brighter

   /*-----------------------------------------------------------.
  /                  LumaSharpen settings                       /
  '-----------------------------------------------------------*/
// -- Sharpening --
#define sharp_strength 1.25   //[0.10 to 3.00] Strength of the sharpening
#define sharp_clamp    0.200  //[0.000 to 1.000] Limits maximum amount of sharpening a pixel recieves - Default is 0.035
// -- Advanced sharpening settings --
#define pattern 2        //[1|2|3|4] Choose a sample pattern. 1 = Fast, 2 = Normal, 3 = Wider, 4 = Pyramid shaped.
#define offset_bias 2.5  //[0.0 to 6.0] Offset bias adjusts the radius of the sampling pattern.
                         //I designed the pattern for offset_bias 1.0, but feel free to experiment.
                           
// -- Debug sharpening settings --
#define show_sharpen 0   //[0 or 1] Visualize the strength of the sharpen (multiplied by 4 to see it better)

   /*-----------------------------------------------------------.
  /                  Gaussian Blur settings                     /
  '-----------------------------------------------------------*/
#define GaussEffect 2        //[0|1|2|3]        0 = Blur, 1 = Unsharpmask (expensive), 2 = Bloom, 3 = Sketchy. Default is 2
#define GaussQuality 3       //[0|1|2|3]        Warning: 2 and 3 are expensive. Default is 1
#define GaussSigma 4         //[1 to 4]         The higher the wider blur/bloom is (only effective when Bloom selected)
#define GaussBloomWarmth 2   //[0|1|2]          "Temperature" of the bloom - 0 = neutral, 1 = warm, 2 = hazy/foggy
#define GaussThreshold 0.10  //[0.00 to 1.00]   [DX10/11 only] Threshold for what is a bright light (that causes bloom) and what isn't.
#define GaussExposure 45.0   //[0.00 to 100.00] [DX10/11 only] Exposure of the effect (the lower the brighter)
#define GaussStrength 0.15   //[0.00 to 1.00]   Amount of effect blended into the final image

   /*-----------------------------------------------------------.
  /                  Film grain settings                        /
  '-----------------------------------------------------------*/
#define FilmGrainIntensity 0.46  //[0.00 to 1.00] Intensity of grain. Default is 0.46
#define FilmGrainExposure 40     //[0 to 100]     Grain Exposure. Default is 40 (Lower -> darker noise)
#define FilmGrainSize 2          //[0 to 10]      Size of the grain. Default is 2 (Higher -> thinner noise)

   /*-----------------------------------------------------------.
  /                  TECHNICOLOR settings                       /
  '-----------------------------------------------------------*/
#define TechniAmount 0.4         //[0.00 to 1.00]
#define TechniPower  4.0         //[0.00 to 8.00]
#define redNegativeAmount   0.88 //[0.00 to 1.00]
#define greenNegativeAmount 0.88 //[0.00 to 1.00]
#define blueNegativeAmount  0.88 //[0.00 to 1.00]

   /*-----------------------------------------------------------.
  /                  Cineon DPX settings                        /
  '-----------------------------------------------------------*/
#define Red   8.0  //[1.0 to 15.0]
#define Green 8.0  //[1.0 to 15.0]
#define Blue  8.0  //[1.0 to 15.0]
#define ColorGamma    2.5  //[0.1 to 2.5] Adjusts the colorfulness of the effect in a manner similar to Vibrance. 1.0 is neutral.
#define DPXSaturation 3.0  //[0.0 to 8.0] Adjust saturation of the effect. 1.0 is neutral.
#define RedC   0.36  //[0.60 to 0.20]
#define GreenC 0.36  //[0.60 to 0.20]
#define BlueC  0.34  //[0.60 to 0.20]
#define Blend 0.2    //[0.00 to 1.00] How strong the effect should be.

   /*-----------------------------------------------------------.
  /                  Monochrome settings                        /
  '-----------------------------------------------------------*/
#define Monochrome_conversion_values float3(0.18,0.41,0.41) //[0.00 to 1.00] Percentage of RGB to include (should sum up to 1.00)

   /*-----------------------------------------------------------.
  /                  Lift Gamma Gain settings                   /
  '-----------------------------------------------------------*/
#define RGB_Lift  float3(0.980, 0.980, 0.980)  //[0.000 to 2.000] Adjust shadows for Red, Green and Blue
#define RGB_Gamma float3(0.980, 1.000, 1.020)  //[0.000 to 2.000] Adjust midtones for Red, Green and Blue
#define RGB_Gain  float3(0.980, 0.990, 1.000)  //[0.000 to 2.000] Adjust highlights for Red, Green and Blue

   /*-----------------------------------------------------------.
  /                  Tonemap settings                           /
  '-----------------------------------------------------------*/
#define Gamma 1.0                         //[0.000 to 2.000] Adjust midtones
#define Exposure -0.10                     //[-1.000 to 1.000] Adjust exposure
#define Saturation -0.10                   //[-1.000 to 1.000] Adjust saturation
#define Bleach 0.00                       //[0.000 to 1.000] Brightens the shadows and fades the colors
#define Defog 0.000                       //[0.000 to 1.000] How much of the color tint to remove
#define FogColor float3(0.00, 0.00, 0.00) //[0.00 to 2.55, 0.00 to 2.55, 0.00 to 2.55] What color to remove - default is blue

   /*-----------------------------------------------------------.
  /                  Vibrance settings                          /
  '-----------------------------------------------------------*/
#define Vibrance 0.50 //[-1.00 to 1.00] Intelligently saturates (or desaturates if you use negative values) the pixels depending on their original saturation.

   /*-----------------------------------------------------------.
  /                  Curves settings                            /
  '-----------------------------------------------------------*/
#define Curves_mode 0        //[0|1|2] Choose what to apply contrast to. 0 = Luma, 1 = Chroma, 2 = both Luma and Chroma. Default is 0 (Luma)
#define Curves_contrast 0.30 //[-1.00 to 1.00] The amount of contrast you want
// -- Advanced curve settings --
#define Curves_formula 3     //[1|2|3|4|5|6|7|8|9] The contrast s-curve you want to use.
                             //1 = Sine, 2 = Abs split, 3 = Smoothstep, 4 = Exp formula, 5 = Simplified Catmull-Rom (0,0,1,1), 6 = Perlins Smootherstep
                             //7 = Abs add, 8 = Techicolor Cinestyle, 9 = Parabola.
                             //Note that Technicolor Cinestyle is practically identical to Sine, but runs slower. In fact I think the difference might only be due to rounding errors.
                             //I prefer 2 myself, but 3 is a nice alternative with a little more effect (but harsher on the highlight and shadows) and it's the fastest formula.

   /*-----------------------------------------------------------.
  /                  Sepia settings                             /
  '-----------------------------------------------------------*/
#define ColorTone float3(1.40, 1.10, 0.90) //[0.00 to 2.55, 0.00 to 2.55, 0.00 to 2.55] What color to tint the image
#define GreyPower  0.11                    //[0.00 to 1.00] How much desaturate the image before tinting it
#define SepiaPower 0.58                    //[0.00 to 1.00] How much to tint the image

   /*-----------------------------------------------------------.
  /                  Vignette settings                          /
  '-----------------------------------------------------------*/
#define VignetteRatio 1.00    //[0.15 to 6.00]  Sets a width to height ratio. 1.00 (1/1) is perfectly round, while 1.60 (16/10) is 60 % wider than it's high.
#define VignetteRadius 1.00   //[-1.00 to 3.00] lower values = stronger radial effect from center
#define VignetteAmount -1.00  //[-2.00 to 1.00] Strength of black. -2.00 = Max Black, 1.00 = Max White.
#define VignetteSlope 8       //[1 to 16] How far away from the center the change should start to really grow strong (odd numbers cause a larger fps drop than even numbers)
#define VignetteCenter float2(0.500, 0.500)  //[0.000 to 1.000, 0.000 to 1.000] Center of effect.

   /*-----------------------------------------------------------.
  /                  Dither settings                            /
  '-----------------------------------------------------------*/
#define dither_method 1  //[1 or 2] 1 = Ordering dithering (good and very fast), 2 = Random dithering (even better dithering but not as fast)
//Note that the patterns used by Dither, makes an image harder to compress.
//This can make your screenshots and video recordings take up more space.

   /*-----------------------------------------------------------.
  /                  Border settings                            /
  '-----------------------------------------------------------*/
//No settings yet, beyond switching it on or off in the top section.

   /*-----------------------------------------------------------.
  /                  Splitscreen settings                       /
  '-----------------------------------------------------------*/
#define splitscreen_mode 1  //[1|2|3|4|5]  1 = Vertical 50/50 split, 2 = Vertical 25/50/25 split, 3 = Vertical 50/50 angled split, 4 = Horizontal 50/50 split, 5 = Horizontal 25/50/25 split

   /*-----------------------------------------------------------.
  /                  Key settings                               /
  '-----------------------------------------------------------*/
// This is the section where you can define your own key mapping
// See the following URL to find out what keycode a key has:
// [URL="http://www.cambiaresearch.com/articl...odes-key-codes"][COLOR=#d8d8d8]http://www.cambiaresearch.com/articl...odes-key-codes[/COLOR][/URL]
// key_toggle_sweetfx = 33
// key_screenshot     = 36
// key_reload_sweetfx = 34

   /*-----------------------------------------------------------.
  /                  Misc settings                              /
  '-----------------------------------------------------------*/
// You can load and chain other DirectX wrappers (ENB, Helix, Windower...)
// If the external wrapper is already named d3d9.dll, rename it into
// something else like "d3d9_enb.dll" (note that even if this is commented it actually works)
// external_d3d9_wrapper = none
// external_dxgi_wrapper = none

Then in the folder where you unzipped SweetFX, open the file: 'SweetFX_settings.txt', highlight all the text and paste in what you copied from above. Save the file, then start the game.

That's it.

Olmis
 
Use ReShade instead (post 2 in this thread points you to the thing that explains exactly how). It has SweetFX built in so will produce identical improvements, but is better in many ways (such as the toggle keys, the ability to work with the Oculus Second Window, other software etc.)
 
Use ReShade instead (post 2 in this thread points you to the thing that explains exactly how). It has SweetFX built in so will produce identical improvements, but is better in many ways (such as the toggle keys, the ability to work with the Oculus Second Window, other software etc.)

few things wrong with your post, when you say open Nvidia Control Panel, do you mean the Catalyst Control Center?

there is no Vsync when you go to manage 3D settings so can t change that so thats the 1st point i cant do, enable adaptive VSync

oh wait i haven't got an nvidia card i have an AMD, thats prob why i cant find the control panel......oh do i look stupid now.

is there a version for the AMD cards.
 
That I can't help you with :) I'm sure someone else can!

Your mistake wasn't stupid, but making it, correcting yourself and posting the whole thing is borderline...and very humble :)

The most anti-stupid thing you can do is get an nvidia card
 
It is a shame a lot of the optimizations for the dk2 in the sticky's are aimed at Nvidia card users but hey ho never mind...

However OP i have an R9 290 and Reshade worked very good out of the box for me. You dont need to mess around with adaptive vsynch or anything like that.

https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=121355

Just follow the instructions for Reshade installation. I copy n pasted the v 0.18.0 settings as i downloaded that one.


The only problem you might come across (but ironically it confirms it is working) is that when you are in the rift outside of the Elite view at the left and right sides there is some text (like credits or something - cant quite make it out) and this obviously is a litttle bit distracting and breaks immersion a tad.

Sharpening is excellent however and the game looks great :D
 
It is a shame a lot of the optimizations for the dk2 in the sticky's are aimed at Nvidia card users but hey ho never mind...

However OP i have an R9 290 and Reshade worked very good out of the box for me. You dont need to mess around with adaptive vsynch or anything like that.

https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=121355

Just follow the instructions for Reshade installation. I copy n pasted the v 0.18.0 settings as i downloaded that one.


The only problem you might come across (but ironically it confirms it is working) is that when you are in the rift outside of the Elite view at the left and right sides there is some text (like credits or something - cant quite make it out) and this obviously is a litttle bit distracting and breaks immersion a tad.

Sharpening is excellent however and the game looks great :D

Wowser. Just tried it with my own r9 290 and it looks dreadful! My cockpit looks glued on to a blue bit of starry wallpaper and everything glows. it's icky. Need to work out how to sort something a little more subtle!
 
Does ReShade and Sweet FX eliminate the need to mess with the graphical settings in game? Does the program just take care of all of that?
 
Dont think so just provides extra graphical options.



Wowser. Just tried it with my own r9 290 and it looks dreadful! My cockpit looks glued on to a blue bit of starry wallpaper and everything glows. it's icky. Need to work out how to sort something a little more subtle!

Hrmm mine isnt like that - i did have a shimmering problem but that was the UI mainly. Ive upgraded to a gtx980 and it looks ace!
 
Last edited:
is this working with Win10?

I don't know about SweetFX standalone but ReShade works (and it includes SweetFX - identical)

- - - Updated - - -

Does ReShade and Sweet FX eliminate the need to mess with the graphical settings in game? Does the program just take care of all of that?

Not at all. Doesn't have any baring on in game settings. Try the program EDDS, that handles a lot of the graphics before startup in one nice interface.
 
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