CyberLab Death To Pixels Shader Preset Packs

[Cyber]

@Tromzy

Maxing it out to 200 gives a really good looking blur that smoothes out the edges quite nicely, don’t you think ?

Long time no see @Tromzy! I’m glad you’re having a good time with your customizations!

@HyperspaceMadness has been talking about the anti-aliasing effect this setting can have for quite some time now. Once you like the results you’re seeing, I’m happy.

There was a time when my presets probably had that setting at 100 or 200, that was back in the rolling scanlines days (but that was before the recent changes to the blur behaviour and strength). I’m now very sensitive to blur though so I’m very cautious about its use particularly in older 8 and 16-bit era games. If there’s too much blur, things appear out of focus for me, especially at close distances and that can wreak havoc on my eyes.

Have you tried setting the setting above it to 200? Also, you can add blur in a different way (I think it works and looks differently) by lowering the Signal Resolution in GTU settings. There are 3 settings to use. The 1st affects the resolution and sharpness of the image itself, while the other 2 seem to affect the colour resolution and can cause the colours to blend into each other more to create an NTSC Composite effect.

Have you tried my new Arcade - Sharp, Arcade - Raw, Composite - Pure and Composite - Sharp presets yet? Just by using those alone, you should see a reduction in aliasing due to the mask and scanlines settings.

[Cyber]

Vertical Mode Enabled! It wasn’t really hard to do.

Settings...Core...Allow Rotation - Off
Settings...Video...Output...Screen Rotation - Normal
Shader Parameters - Rotate CRT Tube - 1

[Duimon]

@Cyber

It wasn’t really hard to do.

Yeah, once you figure it out it is pretty easy. That gives me hope @HyperspaceMadness can find a way to automate it. (We just need a cool magic trick.)

[Cyber]

@Duimon

Yeah, once you figure it out it is pretty easy. That gives me hope @HyperspaceMadness can find a way to automate it. (We just need a cool magic trick.)

@Cyber

Shader Parameters - Rotate CRT Tube - 1

Perhaps this step as well as an instruction to save a Game Preset in the first post of the HSM Mega Bezel thread and/or readme, might go a long way?

[Neofuuma]

I couldn’t find the Settings -> Core -> Allow Rotation -> Off, but I turned ON “Enable Vertical Mode”, and checked the other two that you did, and got Raiden Fighters looking pretty.

[Cyber]

@Neofuuma

I couldn’t find the Settings -> Core -> Allow Rotation -> Off, but I turned ON “Enable Vertical Mode”, and checked the other two that you did, and got Raiden Fighters looking pretty.

Try this:

@AcidCrash

Ok fount it. Looks like you need to enable Settings > User Interface > Show advanced Settings first. Without it, there is no Core option. Thank you all for the help.

@HyperspaceMadness has since updated the HSM Mega Bezel Installation Instructions to include this.

That definitely looks awesome! I could imagine that on a high-end Laser TV or some decent projector!

That’s definitely making a case for having a 65 or 75" instead of a 55" one for those vertical gaming moments where you still want things to look big! Of course someone could just invent a giant rotating wall mount designed to accommodate a 55-incher.

[Rex0]

@HyperspaceMadness

If you want integer scale yes.

But since you seem to be happy without strong scanlines then you don’t need integer scale. Integer scale is really only needed when getting artifacts from uneven scanlines.

So if you see horizontal lines that you don’t like like you were getting in the first place just reduce the interlace trigger res. When the trigger res is met it goes into one of the interlaced modes, and the default interlace mode just removes all the scanlines.

Ok so I made the changes and here is the comparison:

Original Composite sharp

After setting

Int. Scale Mode = 0

Non-Integer Scale % = 100

After further setting

Interlace and fake scanlines trigger res = 475

So as you can see the brightness becomes a bit too much. Any way to fix this?

[Cyber]

@Rex0

Interlace and fake scanlines trigger res = 475

What exactly are you trying to accomplish by doing this?

It’s bright because you removed the scanlines.

You can lower the Post CRT Brightness Setting. Probably set to 100 might bring the brightness around where it was before.

That setting is near the top.

The reason I asked what you what exactly you were trying to accomplish was because there shouldn’t be any scanline anomalies at the stock preset settings but then I remembered you would like to maximize screen real estate.

I just have a feeling that there might be something wrong your approach. I did my Dreamcast testing a while back and I doubt you should be having issues if you try to make the screen larger. Trying to make things smaller, well that’s another story. What happens when you just use Viewport Zoom?

I’m going to retest this by the way. I find image 1 looks the best. I wouldn’t settle for those scanline issues in 2 and those mask “highlights” in image 3 just to get things larger. Perhaps you might want to look into minimising the Bezel thickness as @Duimon has shared in a prior example.

[Rex0]

@Cyber

What exactly are you trying to accomplish by doing this?

As you can see there are artifacts I wanted to get rid of as per @HyperspaceMadness instructions. Idk if they are visible in the screenshot.

[Rex0]

@Cyber

What happens when you just use Zoom Viewport?

What’s Zoom Viewport?

@Cyber

Perhaps you might want to look into minimising the Bezel thickness as @Duimon has shared in a prior example.

Can you point me to it?

[Cyber]

@Rex0

What’s Zoom Viewport?

Sorry I meant, Viewport Zoom.

@Rex0

Can you point me to it?

Don’t waste your time, you’ll see the same thing happening. What I would say at this point is that the Integer Scale Mode setting is doing what it’s supposed to. I enabled it to solve just the types of issues you’re having with it off and especially with particularly tricky high-res Dreamcast games like these and the like.

So at this point, there might be a viable alternative solution out there. Perhaps you can try the CRT-Guest-Advanced shader and see if you can port my settings over to it since you don’t seem to need the HSM Mega Bezel Reflection Shader features which is really what my shader preset is about.

It should actually be pretty easy to achieve a similar if not identical image as all of the mask, scanline and sharpening settings come from CRT-Guest-Advanced.

Besides that, you can even try resetting all of the scanline settings to defaults and that might actually solve your issues when using non-integer scale. It may not end up looking identical but it might be still be close and you might actually like the result.

Take a look at my 4K Optimized CyberLab__Computer-Monitor-Sharp__ADV.slangp as well as my 1080p Optimized CyberLab__Computer-Monitor-Sharp__1080p__ADV.slangp preset. The 4K Optimized version produces a very interesting effect even when run in 1080p mode!

[Duimon]

I tried the composite sharp using the settings that HSM provided and it looked absolutely perfect.

Any screenshot I do looks terrible though. I think it may have something to do with the deconvergence.

[Neofuuma]

@Cyber

Try this:

OK, I did see that option now. I was looking in the wrong ‘Settings’. Was thinking Core settings when I went looking originally. Disabled ‘Allow Rotation’ and then went back into FBNeo and turned ‘Vertical Mode Enabled’ back to off, and it remained in a vertical mode, so still good. Thank you for finding that info @Cyber

I may have to look into a Raiden Fighters themed background to replace the Carbon one though. Got my mind spinning with ideas!

@Cyber

That’s definitely making a case for having a 65 or 75" instead of a 55" one for those vertical gaming moments where you still want things to look big! Of course someone could just invent a giant rotating wall mount designed to accommodate a 55-incher.

No kidding! Shmups are probably my favorite genre. I really should look into a rotating stand for this 42" just for that.

[Cyber]

@Duimon

Any screenshot I do looks terrible though. I think it may have something to do with the deconvergence.

You can still share. Once viewed fullscreen at the original resolution it should look the same as in game.

Did you test at 1080p as well?

@Duimon

I tried the composite sharp using the settings that HSM provided and it looked absolutely perfect.

I’m glad to hear the words composite sharp and perfect being used in the same sentence! Lol

I remember when I first asked you for some feedback on my earlier presets and I couldn’t even notice the loss of detail caused by my use of rolling scanlines that you gently brought to my attention.

[Rex0]

@Cyber

So at this point, there might be a viable alternative solution out there. Perhaps you can try the CRT-Guest-Advanced shader and see if you can port my settings over to it since you don’t seem to need the HSM Mega Bezel Reflection Shader features which is really what my shader preset is about.

I don’t know how to port them. I do want the HSM features, but I just want to maximize the screen space. As you can see in my screenshots, I’m even keeping the reflections on the sides.

@Cyber

Besides that, you can even try resetting all of the scanline settings to defaults

How can I do that?

[Cyber]

@Rex0

How can I do that?

Well scroll through from the bottom of the Shader Parameters and you’ll see the Scanlines settings with the Scanline Type – gsl e.t.c., just press the Start button or Enter key on the keyboard on each of them to reset them to default.

@Rex0

I don’t know how to port them.

It uses the same CRT-GUEST-ADVANCE Shader so you just have to use Guest Advance and set the same parameters.

@Rex0

I do want the HSM features, but I just want to maximize the screen space. As you can see in my screenshots, I’m even keeping the reflections on the sides.

Well, we can’t always have it all or as they say have our cake and eat it. Compromises will have to be made somewhere and something’s gotta give.

No matter what you do, you’re sacrificing something, especially in your quest to maximize screen real estate. Can’t you instead just enjoy the presets and the bezel and maybe sit a little closer to the screen?

Or better yet, sell your curved monitor and use the proceeds to get a setup that supports rotation?

There are several ways to accomplish what I think you’re looking for. Maybe it’s time to think outside of the box?

[Cyber]

@Neofuuma

I may have to look into a Raiden Fighters themed background to replace the Carbon one though. Got my mind spinning with ideas!

Talk to @Orionsangel. He might already have one.

@Neofuuma

No kidding! Shmups are probably my favorite genre.

Well they’re also one of my favourite genres too!

@Neofuuma

I really should look into a rotating stand for this 42" just for that.

Hmmm…well there’s stuff like these and more:

VIVO Landscape to Portrait TV Wall Mount for 37 to 80 inch Flat Panel Screens, Heavy Duty Rotating Bracket, Max VESA 600x400, Black, MOUNT-VW080P https://www.amazon.com/dp/B081K6SGCC/ref=cm_sw_r_awdo_navT_g_SBV9E6N53WS209X9NJA8

Mount-It! Landscape to Portrait Rotating TV Wall Mount | Vertical Flush TV Mount with 360 Degree Rotation | Fits VESA Up to 600x400, 37 to 80 Inch Screens, 110 Lbs Capacity https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Z79SJ87/ref=cm_sw_r_awdo_navT_g_NAG3CCCDJEWY027PQFB9

https://eagletvmounting.com/best-rotating-tv-mount/

https://www.wallmountworld.com/Rotating-TV-Mounts-s/1791.htm

[Rex0]

@Cyber

Well scroll through from the bottom of the Shader Parameters and you’ll see the Scanlines settings with the Scanline Type – gsl e.t.c., just press the Start button or Enter key on the keyboard on each of them to reset them to default.

I get that part but how do I know what their default values are?

@Cyber

It uses the same CRT-GUEST-ADVANCE Shader so you just have to use Guest Advance and set the same parameters.

So after applying CRT-GUEST-ADVANCE, should I go to the shader parameters? But then how do I know which values I need to change? There are so many parameters in it.

@Cyber

Well, we can’t always have it all or as they say have our cake and eat it. Compromises will have to be made somewhere and something’s gotta give.

No matter what you do, you’re sacrificing something, especially in your quest to maximize screen real estate. Can’t you instead just enjoy the presets and the bezel and maybe sit a little closer to the screen?

Or better yet, sell your curved monitor and use the proceeds to get a setup that supports rotation?

There are several ways to accomplish what I think you’re looking for. Maybe it’s time to think outside of the box?

What I meant to say is that I have no issue with the frame or reflections. But it’s not like I absolutely want them. If I need to sacrifice them for what I want then it’s fine.

I only have a 1080p flat monitor, I’m already sitting too close to it and the image is still too small for my liking. If I had a bigger monitor then perhaps it would have been okay.

[Cyber]

@Rex0

how do I know what their default values are?

Pressing Start or Enter is how settings are reset to default in RetroArch. You press the key or button and it resets to the default value. You don’t have to enter the value.

@Rex0

So after applying CRT-GUEST-ADVANCE, should I go to the shader parameters? But then how do I know which values I need to change? There are so many parameters in it.

You would need to note the parameters in my presets maybe by using screenshots or a video. Then load up CRT-GUEST-ADVANCE and enter each one that matches and try to figure out or use defaults for the rest.

@Rex0

What I meant to say is that I have no issue with the frame or reflections. But it’s not like I absolutely want them. If I need to sacrifice them for what I want then it’s fine.

I understood that but as you realize when you change one setting something else stops looking right, eventually if you start changing scanline and other settings to get rid of your artifacts the preset isn’t going to look or be the same anymore, thus you have compromised. Having the top and bottom bezels cut off, while the sides are still intact is another form of compromise. Having to use crt-guest-advance instead of HSM Mega Bezel Reflection Shader may or may not be another compromise…all potentially made in order for you to get more screen real estate.

@Rex0

I only have a 1080p flat monitor, I’m already sitting too close to it and the image is still too small for my liking. If I had a bigger monitor then perhaps it would have been okay.

Is it already rotated (i.e. in portrait mode)? If not maybe a vesa stand that offers rotation might be a viable solution.

Something like this:

Single Monitor Stand Freestanding 27-43 Inch Monitor Arm Curved Screen Monitor Mount Tempered Glass Base Adjustable Motion Tilt -15° to 10° Swivel ±45° Rotation 360° Weight Capacity 77lbs HT05B-003 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08YNL8Y4P/ref=cm_sw_r_awdo_navT_g_JJEXMKGKBFCM2XGRH877

Single LCD Computer Monitor Free-Standing Desk Stand Riser for 13 inch to 32 inch Screen with Swivel, Height Adjustable, Rotation, Holds One (1) Screen up to 77Lbs(HT05B-001) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Q79ZZJ6/ref=cm_sw_r_awdo_navT_g_348PSEEQP83SMMQ72TDH

Maybe it’s time to hook the PC up to the TV in the living room.

[Rex0]

@Cyber

Pressing Start or Enter is how settings are reset to default in RetroArch. You press the key or button and it resets to the default value. You don’t have to enter the value.

It turned out to be the Space Bar key, because whenever I pressed Enter on a parameter it opened a sub-menu with different values.

I just tried resetting all the scanline parameters, but still the same thing, too much brightness.

@Cyber

You would need to note the parameters in my presets maybe by using screenshots or a video. Then load up CRT-GUEST-ADVANCE and enter each one that matches and try to figure out or use defaults for the rest.

Ok I’ll try that.

@Cyber

Is it already rotated (i.e. in portrait mode)? If not maybe a vesa stand that offers rotation might be a viable solution.

No it’s in Landscape. Those kind of stands are not available where I live. Though I don’t understand how a Portrait setting would help.