Good afternoon. I wonder if it would be possible to have animated backgrounds to prevent black bars on 16:9 screens. I already created an overlay so I can play on 4:3 without black bars, but an overlay is (AFAIK) static, which is not so good for a TV. Perhaps there is another way to protect the TV while playing on 4:3? Thank you in advance. =)
You can use the border-water.cgp shader preset to have a water ripple pattern move across the background, but that’s pretty much it right now.
FYI, I added a couple more animated border effects to the shader repo.
I played around with the water and snow borders and like them, but I couldn’t get them to work in conjunction with CRT-Royale. I tried adding the background as the last or first shader pass in the .cgp, but either way it broke. Even if I knew how to properly combine them, I imagine the performance hit would be too much to make it worthwhile.
The snow one is definitely not one that you would want to combine with crt-royale, just for performance reasons, lol, but the water one and the two newer ones shouldn’t be too bad. I’ll see if I can figure out any way to make them work with it.
EDIT: try this cgp:
# IMPORTANT:
# Shader passes need to know details about the image in the mask_texture LUT
# files, so set the following constants in user-cgp-constants.h accordingly:
# 1.) mask_triads_per_tile = (number of horizontal triads in mask texture LUT's)
# 2.) mask_texture_small_size = (texture size of mask*texture_small LUT's)
# 3.) mask_texture_large_size = (texture size of mask*texture_large LUT's)
# 4.) mask_grille_avg_color = (avg. brightness of mask_grille_texture* LUT's, in [0, 1])
# 5.) mask_slot_avg_color = (avg. brightness of mask_slot_texture* LUT's, in [0, 1])
# 6.) mask_shadow_avg_color = (avg. brightness of mask_shadow_texture* LUT's, in [0, 1])
# Shader passes also need to know certain scales set in this .cgp, but their
# compilation model doesn't currently allow the .cgp file to tell them. Make
# sure to set the following constants in user-cgp-constants.h accordingly too:
# 1.) bloom_approx_scale_x = scale_x2
# 2.) mask_resize_viewport_scale = float2(scale_x6, scale_y5)
# Finally, shader passes need to know the value of geom_max_aspect_ratio used to
# calculate scale_y5 (among other values):
# 1.) geom_max_aspect_ratio = (geom_max_aspect_ratio used to calculate scale_y5)
shaders = "13"
# Set an identifier, filename, and sampling traits for the phosphor mask texture.
# Load an aperture grille, slot mask, and an EDP shadow mask, and load a small
# non-mipmapped version and a large mipmapped version.
# TODO: Test masks in other directories.
textures = "bg;mask_grille_texture_small;mask_grille_texture_large;mask_slot_texture_small;mask_slot_texture_large;mask_shadow_texture_small;mask_shadow_texture_large"
bg = ../../borders/border.png
mask_grille_texture_small = "TileableLinearApertureGrille15Wide8And5d5SpacingResizeTo64.png"
mask_grille_texture_large = "TileableLinearApertureGrille15Wide8And5d5Spacing.png"
mask_slot_texture_small = "TileableLinearSlotMaskTall15Wide9And4d5Horizontal9d14VerticalSpacingResizeTo64.png"
mask_slot_texture_large = "TileableLinearSlotMaskTall15Wide9And4d5Horizontal9d14VerticalSpacing.png"
mask_shadow_texture_small = "TileableLinearShadowMaskEDPResizeTo64.png"
mask_shadow_texture_large = "TileableLinearShadowMaskEDP.png"
mask_grille_texture_small_wrap_mode = "repeat"
mask_grille_texture_large_wrap_mode = "repeat"
mask_slot_texture_small_wrap_mode = "repeat"
mask_slot_texture_large_wrap_mode = "repeat"
mask_shadow_texture_small_wrap_mode = "repeat"
mask_shadow_texture_large_wrap_mode = "repeat"
mask_grille_texture_small_linear = "true"
mask_grille_texture_large_linear = "true"
mask_slot_texture_small_linear = "true"
mask_slot_texture_large_linear = "true"
mask_shadow_texture_small_linear = "true"
mask_shadow_texture_large_linear = "true"
mask_grille_texture_small_mipmap = "false" # Mipmapping causes artifacts with manually resized masks without tex2Dlod
mask_grille_texture_large_mipmap = "true" # Essential for hardware-resized masks
mask_slot_texture_small_mipmap = "false" # Mipmapping causes artifacts with manually resized masks without tex2Dlod
mask_slot_texture_large_mipmap = "true" # Essential for hardware-resized masks
mask_shadow_texture_small_mipmap = "false" # Mipmapping causes artifacts with manually resized masks without tex2Dlod
mask_shadow_texture_large_mipmap = "true" # Essential for hardware-resized masks
# Pass0: Linearize the input based on CRT gamma and bob interlaced fields.
# (Bobbing ensures we can immediately blur without getting artifacts.)
shader0 = "src/crt-royale-first-pass-linearize-crt-gamma-bob-fields.cg"
alias0 = "ORIG_LINEARIZED"
filter_linear0 = "false"
scale_type0 = "source"
scale0 = "1.0"
srgb_framebuffer0 = "true"
# Pass1: Resample interlaced (and misconverged) scanlines vertically.
# Separating vertical/horizontal scanline sampling is faster: It lets us
# consider more scanlines while calculating weights for fewer pixels, and
# it reduces our samples from vertical*horizontal to vertical+horizontal.
# This has to come right after ORIG_LINEARIZED, because there's no
# "original_source" scale_type we can use later.
shader1 = "src/crt-royale-scanlines-vertical-interlacing.cg"
alias1 = "VERTICAL_SCANLINES"
filter_linear1 = "true"
scale_type_x1 = "source"
scale_x1 = "1.0"
scale_type_y1 = "viewport"
scale_y1 = "1.0"
#float_framebuffer1 = "true"
srgb_framebuffer1 = "true"
# Pass2: Do a small resize blur of ORIG_LINEARIZED at an absolute size, and
# account for convergence offsets. We want to blur a predictable portion of the
# screen to match the phosphor bloom, and absolute scale works best for
# reliable results with a fixed-size bloom. Picking a scale is tricky:
# a.) 400x300 is a good compromise for the "fake-bloom" version: It's low enough
# to blur high-res/interlaced sources but high enough that resampling
# doesn't smear low-res sources too much.
# b.) 320x240 works well for the "real bloom" version: It's 1-1.5% faster, and
# the only noticeable visual difference is a larger halation spread (which
# may be a good thing for people who like to crank it up).
# Note the 4:3 aspect ratio assumes the input has cropped geom_overscan (so it's
# *intended* for an ~4:3 aspect ratio).
shader2 = "src/crt-royale-bloom-approx.cg"
alias2 = "BLOOM_APPROX"
filter_linear2 = "true"
scale_type2 = "absolute"
scale_x2 = "320"
scale_y2 = "240"
srgb_framebuffer2 = "true"
# Pass3: Vertically blur the input for halation and refractive diffusion.
# Base this on BLOOM_APPROX: This blur should be small and fast, and blurring
# a constant portion of the screen is probably physically correct if the
# viewport resolution is proportional to the simulated CRT size.
shader3 = "../../blurs/blur9fast-vertical.cg"
filter_linear3 = "true"
scale_type3 = "source"
scale3 = "1.0"
srgb_framebuffer3 = "true"
# Pass4: Horizontally blur the input for halation and refractive diffusion.
# Note: Using a one-pass 9x9 blur is about 1% slower.
shader4 = "../../blurs/blur9fast-horizontal.cg"
alias4 = "HALATION_BLUR"
filter_linear4 = "true"
scale_type4 = "source"
scale4 = "1.0"
srgb_framebuffer4 = "true"
# Pass5: Lanczos-resize the phosphor mask vertically. Set the absolute
# scale_x5 == mask_texture_small_size.x (see IMPORTANT above). Larger scales
# will blur, and smaller scales could get nasty. The vertical size must be
# based on the viewport size and calculated carefully to avoid artifacts later.
# First calculate the minimum number of mask tiles we need to draw.
# Since curvature is computed after the scanline masking pass:
# num_resized_mask_tiles = 2.0;
# If curvature were computed in the scanline masking pass (it's not):
# max_mask_texel_border = ~3.0 * (1/3.0 + 4.0*sqrt(2.0) + 0.5 + 1.0);
# max_mask_tile_border = max_mask_texel_border/
# (min_resized_phosphor_triad_size * mask_triads_per_tile);
# num_resized_mask_tiles = max(2.0, 1.0 + max_mask_tile_border * 2.0);
# At typical values (triad_size >= 2.0, mask_triads_per_tile == 8):
# num_resized_mask_tiles = ~3.8
# Triad sizes are given in horizontal terms, so we need geom_max_aspect_ratio
# to relate them to vertical resolution. The widest we expect is:
# geom_max_aspect_ratio = 4.0/3.0 # Note: Shader passes need to know this!
# The fewer triads we tile across the screen, the larger each triad will be as a
# fraction of the viewport size, and the larger scale_y5 must be to draw a full
# num_resized_mask_tiles. Therefore, we must decide the smallest number of
# triads we'll guarantee can be displayed on screen. We'll set this according
# to 3-pixel triads at 768p resolution (the lowest anyone's likely to use):
# min_allowed_viewport_triads = 768.0*geom_max_aspect_ratio / 3.0 = 341.333333
# Now calculate the viewport scale that ensures we can draw resized_mask_tiles:
# min_scale_x = resized_mask_tiles * mask_triads_per_tile /
# min_allowed_viewport_triads
# scale_y5 = geom_max_aspect_ratio * min_scale_x
# # Some code might depend on equal scales:
# scale_x6 = scale_y5
# Given our default geom_max_aspect_ratio and min_allowed_viewport_triads:
# scale_y5 = 4.0/3.0 * 2.0/(341.33333 / 8.0) = 0.0625
# IMPORTANT: The scales MUST be calculated in this way. If you wish to change
# geom_max_aspect_ratio, update that constant in user-cgp-constants.h!
shader5 = "src/crt-royale-mask-resize-vertical.cg"
filter_linear5 = "true"
scale_type_x5 = "absolute"
scale_x5 = "64"
scale_type_y5 = "viewport"
scale_y5 = "0.0625" # Safe for >= 341.333 horizontal triads at viewport size
#srgb_framebuffer5 = "false" # mask_texture is already assumed linear
# Pass6: Lanczos-resize the phosphor mask horizontally. scale_x6 = scale_y5.
# TODO: Check again if the shaders actually require equal scales.
shader6 = "src/crt-royale-mask-resize-horizontal.cg"
alias6 = "MASK_RESIZE"
filter_linear6 = "false"
scale_type_x6 = "viewport"
scale_x6 = "0.0625"
scale_type_y6 = "source"
scale_y6 = "1.0"
#srgb_framebuffer6 = "false" # mask_texture is already assumed linear
# Pass7: Resample (misconverged) scanlines horizontally, apply halation, and
# apply the phosphor mask.
shader7 = "src/crt-royale-scanlines-horizontal-apply-mask.cg"
alias7 = "MASKED_SCANLINES"
filter_linear7 = "true" # This could just as easily be nearest neighbor.
scale_type7 = "viewport"
scale7 = "1.0"
#float_framebuffer7 = "true"
srgb_framebuffer7 = "true"
# Pass 8: Compute a brightpass. This will require reading the final mask.
shader8 = "src/crt-royale-brightpass.cg"
alias8 = "BRIGHTPASS"
filter_linear8 = "true" # This could just as easily be nearest neighbor.
scale_type8 = "viewport"
scale8 = "1.0"
srgb_framebuffer8 = "true"
# Pass 9: Blur the brightpass vertically
shader9 = "src/crt-royale-bloom-vertical.cg"
filter_linear9 = "true" # This could just as easily be nearest neighbor.
scale_type9 = "source"
scale9 = "1.0"
srgb_framebuffer9 = "true"
# Pass 10: Blur the brightpass horizontally and combine it with the dimpass:
shader10 = "src/crt-royale-bloom-horizontal-reconstitute.cg"
filter_linear10 = "true"
scale_type10 = "source"
scale10 = "1.0"
srgb_framebuffer10 = "true"
# Pass 11: Compute curvature/AA:
shader11 = "src/crt-royale-geometry-aa-last-pass.cg"
filter_linear11 = "true"
scale_type11 = "viewport"
mipmap_input11 = "true"
texture_wrap_mode11 = "clamp_to_edge"
shader12 = ../../borders/border-mudlord.cg
But 'tis the season!! 
I tried your .cgp and it worked better than my attempt, but the colors have gone a bit purple…
oh weird… I guess it’s color-mangling from it rendering at a higher res and then getting chunked down by the border shader at the end. Not sure what to do about that.
You could try adding this line to the cgp (not sure if this will help at all):
scale11 = "4.0"
Didn’t seem to help any unfortunately.