Good CRT shader for PS1 games?

RetroArch Additions Shaders
#1

I’ve tried Crt-Royale but don’t like the artifacts it creates in motion, and the blooming around text.

I’ve tried the RGB-Scanlines shader from Solid’s Analog Shader Pack, but that causes a lot of artifacts.

The best one I found so far is crt-easymode. It provides a crisp picture and seems to be the closest to what I remember ps1 games looking like on my tv as a kid. No artifacts, crisp text while still providing a small hint of CRT effects.

I’m wondering if perhaps there is anything better?

I am using a 1080p television.

#2

Easymode’s is great. You might also like Lottes’. There’s also a royale preset in the ‘cgp’ directory (crt-royale-kurozumi) that looks very different from the default settings.

#3

crt-easymode-halation is brighter than his original shader and has many shadow mask options (defaults to Lotte’s), so I find it a nice upgrade.

#4

Royale takes some tweaking to get looking its best, especially on a 1080p screen. All of hunter’s suggestions are great for PS1 and I’d add hyllian to that list too for another easy, no fuss option. If you like easymode (and the awesome customizable halation version), stick with it and enjoy. It’s one of the best.

If you want to try a couple different options, these are my shaders I use for all my 240p content.

http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/169303

http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/169307

The first is like a nice Trinitron consumer TV and the mouseover image is like a professional style BVM (based around the aforementioned kurozumi cgp).

Trinitron is here: http://www51.zippyshare.com/v/YONaDsnZ/file.html

BVM is here: http://www51.zippyshare.com/v/AxgZVkPQ/file.html

If you like them, you can just drop the files in your shaders folder and try them out.

#5

Thx for sharing :slight_smile:

#6

Those are excellent. I really like the trinitron

#7

[QUOTE=zx;37169]Royale takes some tweaking to get looking its best, especially on a 1080p screen. All of hunter’s suggestions are great for PS1 and I’d add hyllian to that list too for another easy, no fuss option. If you like easymode (and the awesome customizable halation version), stick with it and enjoy. It’s one of the best.

If you want to try a couple different options, these are my shaders I use for all my 240p content.

http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/169303

http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/169307

The first is like a nice Trinitron consumer TV and the mouseover image is like a professional style BVM (based around the aforementioned kurozumi cgp).

Trinitron is here: http://www51.zippyshare.com/v/YONaDsnZ/file.html

BVM is here: http://www51.zippyshare.com/v/AxgZVkPQ/file.html

If you like them, you can just drop the files in your shaders folder and try them out.[/QUOTE]

These are really cool, I like the dark scanlines.

I’m wondering what a BVM is compared to a PVM though, or if I’ve been saying PVM when it’s BVM this whole time.

I’ll have to try these later.

#8

Hmm… i change directory lines but they dont work for me at all :frowning:

#9

PVMs and BVMs are just two different product lines of Video Monitors. I think the BVMs were typically used in Broadcast, while PVMs were used for Production…? This doesn’t mean much to us, though. The bigger issue for us is whether they’re 600- or 800-line, which determines whether the scanlines are sharper or bloomier. I have two of the 600-line models (one 20" and one 14") and they’re more TV-like (though still very sharp, of course), while the 800-line ones have a picture that’s closer to a 31 khz PC monitor.

#10

Glad you guys like them. They look just as great on 8 and 16 bit consoles as well, I just highlighted the PS since that’s the topic of the thread.

@SkyHighGam3r, a BVM is just an even higher end PVM. They tend to have more vertical lines and sharper, thicker gaps in the scan lines. There are some PVMs which look as good as BVMs, but BVMs will typically be sharper and more refined. It all just depends on the model. There are also several other broadcast and professional monitors by companies like Panasonic and JVC, but most people think of the Sony PVMs and BVMs when they discuss pro CRT monitors.

Edit: Ninja’d by hunterk.

Also, if those cgp files don’t work, just open up the royale+tvout+imageadjustment.cgp and use these parameters. You may have to tweak them to suit your monitor.

Trinitron:

TVOUT_RESOLUTION = “256.000000” TVOUT_COMPOSITE_CONNECTION = “0.000000” TVOUT_TV_COLOR_LEVELS = “0.000000” TVOUT_RESOLUTION_Y = “480.000000” TVOUT_RESOLUTION_I = “83.199997” TVOUT_RESOLUTION_Q = “25.600000” target_gamma = “2.200000” monitor_gamma = “2.200000” overscan_percent_x = “0.000000” overscan_percent_y = “0.000000” saturation = “1.000000” contrast = “1.000000” luminance = “1.100000” black_level = “0.020000” bright_boost = “0.000000” R = “1.000000” G = “1.000000” B = “1.000000” ZOOM = “1.000000” XPOS = “0.000000” YPOS = “0.000000” V_OSMASK = “0.000000” H_OSMASK = “0.000000” crt_gamma = “2.500000” lcd_gamma = “2.200000” levels_contrast = “0.906250” halation_weight = “0.005000” diffusion_weight = “0.075000” bloom_underestimate_levels = “0.800000” bloom_excess = “0.000000” beam_min_sigma = “0.010000” beam_max_sigma = “0.210000” beam_spot_power = “0.330000” beam_min_shape = “2.000000” beam_max_shape = “4.000000” beam_shape_power = “0.250000” beam_horiz_filter = “0.000000” beam_horiz_sigma = “0.350000” beam_horiz_linear_rgb_weight = “1.000000” convergence_offset_x_r = “0.000000” convergence_offset_x_g = “0.000000” convergence_offset_x_b = “0.000000” convergence_offset_y_r = “0.000000” convergence_offset_y_g = “0.000000” convergence_offset_y_b = “0.000000” mask_type = “0.000000” mask_sample_mode_desired = “0.000000” mask_specify_num_triads = “0.000000” mask_triad_size_desired = “3.000000” mask_num_triads_desired = “480.000000” aa_subpixel_r_offset_x_runtime = “-0.333333” aa_subpixel_r_offset_y_runtime = “0.000000” aa_cubic_c = “0.500000” aa_gauss_sigma = “0.500000” geom_mode_runtime = “3.000000” geom_radius = “2.000000” geom_view_dist = “3.000000” geom_tilt_angle_x = “0.000000” geom_tilt_angle_y = “0.000000” geom_aspect_ratio_x = “432.000000” geom_aspect_ratio_y = “329.000000” geom_overscan_x = “1.000000” geom_overscan_y = “1.000000” border_size = “0.005000” border_darkness = “0.000000” border_compress = “2.500000” interlace_bff = “1.000000” interlace_1080i = “0.000000”

BVM:

TVOUT_RESOLUTION = “480.000000” TVOUT_COMPOSITE_CONNECTION = “0.000000” TVOUT_TV_COLOR_LEVELS = “0.000000” TVOUT_RESOLUTION_Y = “480.000000” TVOUT_RESOLUTION_I = “83.199997” TVOUT_RESOLUTION_Q = “25.600000” target_gamma = “2.200000” monitor_gamma = “2.200000” overscan_percent_x = “0.000000” overscan_percent_y = “0.000000” saturation = “1.000000” contrast = “1.000000” luminance = “1.100000” black_level = “0.020000” bright_boost = “0.000000” R = “1.000000” G = “1.000000” B = “1.000000” ZOOM = “1.000000” XPOS = “0.000000” YPOS = “0.000000” V_OSMASK = “0.000000” H_OSMASK = “0.000000” crt_gamma = “2.500000” lcd_gamma = “2.200000” levels_contrast = “0.906250” halation_weight = “0.005000” diffusion_weight = “0.075000” bloom_underestimate_levels = “0.800000” bloom_excess = “0.000000” beam_min_sigma = “0.010000” beam_max_sigma = “0.210000” beam_spot_power = “0.330000” beam_min_shape = “2.000000” beam_max_shape = “4.000000” beam_shape_power = “0.250000” beam_horiz_filter = “0.000000” beam_horiz_sigma = “0.350000” beam_horiz_linear_rgb_weight = “1.000000” convergence_offset_x_r = “0.000000” convergence_offset_x_g = “0.000000” convergence_offset_x_b = “0.000000” convergence_offset_y_r = “0.000000” convergence_offset_y_g = “0.000000” convergence_offset_y_b = “0.000000” mask_type = “0.000000” mask_sample_mode_desired = “0.000000” mask_specify_num_triads = “0.000000” mask_triad_size_desired = “2.000000” mask_num_triads_desired = “480.000000” aa_subpixel_r_offset_x_runtime = “-0.333333” aa_subpixel_r_offset_y_runtime = “0.000000” aa_cubic_c = “0.500000” aa_gauss_sigma = “0.500000” geom_mode_runtime = “3.000000” geom_radius = “2.000000” geom_view_dist = “3.000000” geom_tilt_angle_x = “0.000000” geom_tilt_angle_y = “0.000000” geom_aspect_ratio_x = “432.000000” geom_aspect_ratio_y = “329.000000” geom_overscan_x = “1.000000” geom_overscan_y = “1.000000” border_size = “0.005000” border_darkness = “0.000000” border_compress = “2.500000” interlace_bff = “1.000000” interlace_1080i = “0.000000”

#11

Thanks for the clarification guys, I’m learning tons about retro displays from these forums. I’m gonna compare the BVM one here to the PVM one I got in another pack and see which one I like more.

I setup a range of shaders listed as RF, Composite, S-Video, Component, VGA, SCART, PVM, & HDMI depending on what I feel fits the shoe the best. HDMI is just the sweeeet scaleNx shaders with xsoft on top. I think that’s all the connection types anyway…

#12

The Kurozumi edit of CRT-Royale is what I use. He posted his settings over on the shmups forums and they look really good and suit my tastes very well.

#13

[QUOTE=zx;37169]Royale takes some tweaking to get looking its best, especially on a 1080p screen. All of hunter’s suggestions are great for PS1 and I’d add hyllian to that list too for another easy, no fuss option. If you like easymode (and the awesome customizable halation version), stick with it and enjoy. It’s one of the best.

If you want to try a couple different options, these are my shaders I use for all my 240p content.

http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/169303

http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/169307

The first is like a nice Trinitron consumer TV and the mouseover image is like a professional style BVM (based around the aforementioned kurozumi cgp).

Trinitron is here: http://www51.zippyshare.com/v/YONaDsnZ/file.html

BVM is here: http://www51.zippyshare.com/v/AxgZVkPQ/file.html

If you like them, you can just drop the files in your shaders folder and try them out.[/QUOTE]

Odd, when i try and load your shaders they never seem to get applied, any ideas?

#14

The best imo is maister’s “crtglow_gauss_ntsc_3phase.cgp” which can be found in the common-shaders “crt” directory. You can switch from Composite (good for NES and earlier systems; default one used in this preset) to S-Video (good for SNES and later systems) quality if you just swap out the first shader in the preset for “ntsc-pass1-svideo-3phase.cg” and hit “Apply shader changes”.

#15

Probably has to do with the directories not matching up. You can either change them manually or, more easily, just make a copy of the royale+tvout+imageadjust cgp and add the values in this post: http://libretro.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5517&p=37214&viewfull=1#post37214

I’ll try to make some generic directories that will work, but I’ll have to figure out how to do that in the meantime.

EDIT: Looks like the file paths I’m trying aren’t working on my end. Anyone have an idea where they need to point to work for everyone?

#16

doesn’t the kurozumi version of royale need integer scaling turned on? Whenever I do that the picture is super small. I usually either play in 4:3 or stretched out across the entire tv.

#17

[QUOTE=rich2k4;37266]doesn’t the kurozumi version of royale need integer scaling turned on? Whenever I do that the picture is super small. I usually either play in 4:3 or stretched out across the entire tv.[/QUOTE] I think all shaders that use scanlines need integer scaling turned on to make the spacing correct. Otherwise the oddball stretching to scale 240 pixels up to 1080 makes it look all jacked up. This is the way I understand it anyways, not sure if i’m way off base here or not.

#18

Do you know of the settings needed to get the picture to fit the entire tv, or at least be 4:3? When I turn integer scaling on, i get a very small picture in the center of the screen, surrounded by black borders all around, top/bottom and sides.

#19

You can set the aspect ratio to custom and adjust the viewport x and y size but you will more than likely end up having part of the game window going off the top and bottom edges of the monitor. It really is a case of 1080 / 240 doesn’t fit evenly which is precisely what integer means. I don’t know how small the picture your game is displaying but it shouldn’t be that bad of black bars across the top and bottom. The black bars don’t bother me at all and the slightly smaller display actually helps counteract the effect of the giant pixels on a modern lcd display.

#20

On a 1080p screen, 5x integer cuts off a little bit from the top and bottom but it’s stuff that would have been in the potential overscan area anyway, so you generally won’t lose anything important.