RRGGBBX looks really nice; mask size 1 @ 4K.
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RRGGBBX will probably get around your chroma subsampling issue as each phosphor is represented by two pixels. RGBX won’t work with 4:2:0 subsampling as I’ve described and is probably why you don’t like it (understandbly).
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Note: To use the following new Console Specific Presets, please follow the steps below to load the corresponding Blargg Video Filters.
The other Console (or Game) Specific Presets will look fine (and as intended) without any additional video filters.
CyberLab_NES_for_Core_Blargg_S-Video_Filter.slangp
Quick Menu-->Options-->Video-->Blargg NTSC Filter - S-Video
CyberLab_Genesis_for_CyberLab_or_Core_Blargg_Composite_Filter.slangp
(Blending and Transparency, No Rainbow Effect, No Shimmering Artifacts)
Quick Menu-->Options-->Video-->Blargg NTSC Filter - OFF
Settings-->Video-->Video Filter-->Blargg_NTSC_Genesis_Composite_CyberLab_Special_Edition.filt
Quick Menu-->Overrides-->Save Core Override
Or
(Blending and Transparency, Rainbow Effect, Shimmering Artifacts)
Quick Menu-->Options-->Video-->Blargg NTSC Filter - Composite
CyberLab_Turbo_Duo_for_CyberLab_Blargg_Composite_or_S-Video_Filter.slangp
Settings-->Video-->Video Filter-->Blargg_NTSC_Turbo_Duo_SNES_PSX_Composite_CyberLab_Special_Edition.filt
Quick Menu-->Overrides-->Save Core Override
Or
Settings-->Video-->Video Filter-->Blargg_NTSC_Turbo_Duo_SNES_PSX_S-Video_CyberLab_Special_Edition.filt
Quick Menu-->Overrides-->Save Core Override
For additional information on how to load Video Filters in RetroArch, you can take a look at the guide below:
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Note: If using my presets it’s important to set the Mask Layout correctly to match your screen’s subpixel layout. I suggest users flip the Mask Layout option and see which one looks better as a first step in using the presets. Usually an incorrect Mask Layout would have the image looking a bit washed out compared to the correct one.
Another way to tell is by looking closely at the screen. If you see RGB or BGR “phosphors” over a white are of the screen, then your Mask Layout should be correct. If you see Green/Magenta then you might need to toggle the Mask Layout setting in either the Shader Parameters or in the Presets themselves.
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Hey @Cyber, it’s been a while since I played with shaders, I tried the latest version of your pack and I love it! Just wanted to show a comparison between of one my old screenshots of Alundra that is in your first post, and a new one that uses your gorgeous CyberLab__RGB-Smooth__1440p__PVM-Edition__ADV.slangp shader !
The old screenshot: https://i.imgur.com/hqWiyhK.png
The new one: https://i.imgur.com/ygDdvgP.png
Look at how the image is crispier, really awesome!
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Wow! I hadn’t even noticed! I’m glad you’re still having a great experience using my presets. Don’t hesitate to try the new ones. You can poke around in the Console Specific Presets subfolders in both the 4K_Optimized and 1080p_Optimized folders, they might actually work for 1440p but you might have to adjust the mask type and mask size. Definitely try the Composite Sharp, Arcade Sharp and Composite Pure Presets at least once!
Thanks for the positive feedback!
CyberLab__RGB-Smooth__1440p__PVM-Edition__ADV.slangp
Screenshot courtesy @Tromzy
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Hey Cyber, thanks for making these outstanding shaders. Honestly this is some straight up nostalgia crack that I have been hooked on since January and I am loving it!
Here’s my question/problem RGB-Sharp_1080p was the one I was using until this update. Now it seems like the colors are a bit more saturated than before and a bit darker all around. I tried the new Composite-Sharp_1080p and was blown away by it. My only issue is that is seems a little on the light side/washed out, hard to see details on lighter colors. I messed with the RGB/BGR but that didn’t help me. Do you have any suggestions? Is there a way to tweak it so I get something that’s like a combo of the two?
RGB-Sharp_1080p: https://imgur.com/a/KPRhAyh
Composite-Sharp_1080p: https://imgur.com/a/CXZRrLg
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Thanks a lot for the positive feedback @TimeFrog. I’m glad you’re enjoying them much as I am myself!
This is exactly the reason why I share!
Most updates will change the appearance of the presets and many times it’s subjective as to what looks better so if you like what you’re using you can continue using it. Don’t feel as if you have to have the latest and newest in order to have the best experience.
Sometimes I might update to address certain issues that I’m seeing or to address some compatibility or settings change in the shader itself. Have you also updated your HSM Mega Bezel Reflection Shader? Other times due to changes in the behaviour of the shader itself, some differences might be unavoidable.
Another thing to note is that these presets are all works in progress so sometimes I might start off in a new direction that would ultimately elevate things to another level but it might take a few revisions with some possible slight regressions along the journey in some areas in order to get there.
It’s a huge balancing act.
I’ll have to double check if I did anything that would have affected this preset as its one of my older and more “stable” presets when it comes to development.
I’ll take a look at this as well. I don’t usually add stuff that would make things more washed out. If anything things might have gotten slightly darker because I reduced the Gamma a bit on several of my presets to improve the appearance of the RGB “phosphor” triads if you go close to the screen.
Getting things less washed out/darker can be as simple as adjusting the CRT Gamma In and CRT Gamma Out, Gamma C, lowering Post CRT Brightness, increasing Saturation or disabling Halation.
You can try setting CRT Gamma In and CRT Gamma Out to 1.35.
I see you’re playing a SNES game there. Have you looked in the new Console Specific Presets folder yet? Who knows, perhaps the solution lies right there.
I have a brand new preset called CyberLab SNES. Try it and see. If anything use that as your base for further tweaking and read up on some of the new techniques of incorporating Video Filters as well.
Those new presets are what I use myself these days.
Be sure to redownload my preset pack and update your HSM Mega Bezel Reflection Shader. Delete the old one first.
Or, by the way, I just remembered. My RGB_Sharp preset had been renamed to RGB-Smooth several updates ago. The new RGB-Sharp will be slightly different.
Lastly, it’s a bit difficult to tell what’s going on in the screenshots. You might have to disable Deconvergence Noise before capturing stills as that’s a temporal effect. I would also recommend using imgbb for something like this so that the full quality of the screenshot can be preserved. If the same can be done using imgur, then I’d be happy to be enlightened.
So after you redownload and update try CyberLab SNES and all the other Console Specific Presets with their corresponding systems. Be sure to give the Video Filter Presets a try along with my tweaked Video Filter settings as well. You can open those presets in Notepad to see how to use them or read the steps here or in the first post:
You have to load full resolution then, zoom in or view these screenshots fullscreen for them to look right.
CyberLab SNES (MDAPT Off)
CyberLab SNES
CyberLab SNES
CyberLab SNES (MDAPT Off)
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What mask are you using now?
Also can you explain these console-specific presets? What is specific to each console?
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Same old Mask 6 from however long.
It’s just a way of saying these are the settings I use for those consoles or games.
Rather than be verbal, I invite and encourage users to be visual and try the presets first as suggested or even not if they feel like and use the ones they like best.
I’m not trying to be an authority on what an SNES preset, NES or Sega Genesis preset should look like or entail.
It’s more creativity than science and I want users to just pick which ones look and feel best to them.
There are some technical reasons behind the scenes however, I can delve a bit more into those a bit later.
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Mask 6 is looking pretty good in the zoomed in screenshot there but for it to work with the display subpixels properly you’d have to use 1080p and reverse the subpixel order (otherwise it turns into magenta-green stripes). Still curious what you would do with the RRGGBBX mask.
Oh ok I was just wondering if the console-specific presets were based on anything empirical or if it’s just a “feels right” kind of thing. All good.
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Appreciate you getting back to me. I made sure everything was updated before posting, I know that’s an important step. I tried the SNES preset of yours but I found that one to be very dark compared to the other presets. I apologize about the links I sent. I had the screenshots backwards. The first link was suppose to be Composite Sharp and the second link was suppose to be RGB sharp. Thank you for the imgbb idea as well. When using imgur I usually open the image in a new window and click on the image to go to original quality it was uploaded at.
Here are the links again using imgbb
Composite-Sharp_1080p: https://ibb.co/zHrLCc8
RGB-Sharp_1080p: https://ibb.co/MsRm9Ws
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Here’s what the SNES preset looks like on my end.
CyberLab SNES preset: https://ibb.co/tCFcC6G
I’ll try out the tweaks you suggested and get back to you on my findings. You are an awesome person, really appreciate the work.
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Okay, I reviewed my settings to ensure that there weren’t any unintended changes there and there were none.
What you can do is start with CyberLab SNES Sharp or CyberLab SNES, reset the CRT Gamma In and CRT Gamma Out to defaults by pressing Start on your controller. Default is 2.4 for both. Then lower the Post CRT Brightness to 2.00.
If that’s too dark for you you can try 2.2 or 2.4 for the Post CRT Brightness.
OK so I used CyberLab SNES reset the gamma to default on both and then messed with the CRT brightness. I found 2.00 to be on the darker sider, tried 2.2 and 2.4 but it still felt a bit dark. I went to 3 and to 5 and here are the results. Please remember to open them up in a new tab to zoom in or else to get that weird rainbow noise across the screenshots.
CRT brightness 3: https://imgur.com/a/ZIpign4
CRT brightness 5: https://imgur.com/a/BnVxkOk
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Whatever works for you is fine. I have a feeling your screen might be setup a bit on the darker side. The backlight on the main screen I use for testing and development is set to 100%.
What are your backlight settings like?
Those last 2 pics you shared were at 1440p. I didn’t realize you were using that resolution. I thought you were using 1080p.
HAHAHAHA oh man, thanks for pointing that out. I have a 1440p monitor but I know you update your 4k and 1080p more often so I have been using those. I forgot that I was messing with the 1440p presets and left fullscreen on when I was using the 1080p presets LOL! And yes you are right about my monitor, I had my brightness to 50%. The monitor I use is a Samsung Odyssey G7.
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Due to my use of Simple Presets and preset chains, whenever I update my 4K base presets, other presets which use them as a base will be automatically updated depending on the type of settings overrides that are present.
If users provide me with feedback on the 1440p presets then I might see that as a sign of interest and work on whatever issues that might arise. The 1440p presets are a bit different in terms of the mask Type I use so they might actually not have the same issues as the others so they may not need to be updated at the same cadence as the others.
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My 1080p Optimized presets use Mask 6 with Mask Layout 1 but that’s just to match my 1080p TV. I would think that there would be displays with a reverse subpixel layout which would require the Layout to be flipped to 0.
Since I did most of my development of my 1080p presets on a 4K TV, I have tested them at 4K as well and the results used to frequently rival that of my 4K_Optimized presets so much so that they could have been used as variations at 4K just fine. If doing that in my 4K TV, I would have to set the mask layout back to 0 for things to look right though.
My initial tests using RRGGBBX mask, (can’t remember the number in CRT-Guest Advance off hand) haven’t really given me much inspiration to delve deeper into experimentation.
I will see if I can revisit it again sometime, probably while setting my TV to RGB 4:4:4 (albeit at 30Hz) for academic purposes.
I found that mask to look a bit strange with the RGB plus an extra Black/Grey “phosphor” at the end when viewed up close. I believe I tested it at mask size 1 which would be equivalent to Mask 6 at 2 from a phosphor size standpoint, correct me if I’m wrong.
I don’t really want to compromise the RGB pattern when viewed close-up so RYCB and BW masks are also not really acceptable for my current purposes (with some possible exceptions though).
What result or improvement do you expect to see from the use of the RRGGBBX mask?
I felt that the characteristics of the display output (or rather how games looked or at least how I wanted games to look using different systems) could be further tweaked, refined and represented by the use of additional sub presets.
Take NES for example, in particular the Ninja Garden trilogy, if I spend time tweaking a generic preset that works well on SNES or Turbo Grafx 16 and attempt to use it for NES, I’ve found Ryu’s Gi to look very off, dark and the colours to be generally oversaturated.
So I wanted to independently tweak Gamma and saturation between consoles.
When looking at SNES compared to TG16, I found that the TG16 looks better with relatively sharper pixels. It’s possibly due to the fact that the games frequently used higher resolutions and did much more resolution switching than the SNES combined with the different pixel art style (with the TG16 games bridging the gap between the 3rd and 4th generation of video game consoles), the SNES’s “strange” stretching of the pixels, along with its vastly superior colour palette and transparency ability.
Then there’s the Sega Genesis, I absolutely love how Sega Genesis games can tolerate the relatively “dirty” output I’ve ended up with by using my custom Blargg filter settings in combination with my Shader Preset that sharpens the image to go along with it.
It does beautifully with the Sonic The Hedgehog Waterfalls and many other examples of dithering. It makes Genesis and 32X games like Mortal Kombat, Mortal Kombat II and Mega Turrican seem to appear like they have more colours than they did making them rival their SNES counterparts even more albeit at a cost of a cleaner, sharper looking output.
When comparing text of different games and systems using that same filter shader combination it’s almost as if Genesis games were made for that type of processing because text usually still ends up legible and smoothed at the edges but not blurry.
If the same settings are applied to a Super CD-ROM² game for example, you wouldn’t even be able to make out the text on the boot screen!
Things like the signs in Bonk’s Revenge can’t handle even the slightest amount of blur or halation. It just looks blurry and out of focus and can’t be unseen.
Using these Console Specific Presets has me turning on games and just watching and appreciating. They have definitely made me appreciate Sega Genesis games much more and I don’t see the 64 simultaneous colours on screen as the night and day, case closed disadvantage compared to the SNES that I did as a child.
Also, the dark, “dirty”, grungy look that I’m now getting from the Sega Genesis reminds me of the differences and characteristics I might have remembered when playing it at a friend’s house or even my own as a child.
There were some great Genesis games that I really enjoyed but there were so many with bad sound especially when compared to their SNES counterparts. I used to wish I was playing Super Street Fighter II on SNES when all I had available was the Genesis version as a teen for example and this was the case with many games.
The nice thing is that if that’s not their thing, users are free to use my old " Blending and Transparency" preset and they’ll get the clean, sharp RGB look with the MDAPT way of doing Sonic The Hedgehog Waterfalls.
Lastly, for whatever reason, when I last overhauled my colour and gamma settings I found that PSX Games now looked oversaturated when compared to the other consoles and the way things were before.
Also, my previous recommendations for PSX Games went something like PSX Games look great with either Composite Sharp with MDAPT turned off or Composite Pure with Scale FX turned on. That’s no longer necessary with my new dedicated preset.
I’ve also sought to address the slightly jarring resolution switching side effect that occurs when using integer scale, of the bezel snapping to the new resolution by switching to non-integer scale with a tweaked scale factor in order to keep moire to a minimum.
So you see, these new console specific presets give me more freedom to explore, characterized and customize while preserving and utilizing the foundations of what I’ve worked on before.
As for the user, all they have to do is choose NES for NES games, SNES for SNES games, Turbo Duo for Turbo Duo Games, Genesis for Genesis games e.t.c. and enjoy the same quality of experience that I enjoy, without having to know much if anything about shaders and scanlines except how to load them.
That’s my contribution to this community and world that has brought so much joy and happiness to me throughout the majority of my existence.
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