Very nice! Is it your very own crt consumer, @DariusG?
If configured properly, they definitely do, with the exceptions that @Nesguy stated. They will always be different under the hood, being crts analog devices and flat screen discrete ones, but perceptually and convenience-ly, let alone sheer size, the former can’t really compete.
The poor things. Mine are in storage as well :_)
Some shaders especially “fast” ones will stick to a very sharp image, since LCD is already sharp, they won’t do much to alter image to keep speed decent, and have that digital look like zfast-crt. While they do improve the raw LCD look, they won’t resemble a real CRT faithfully, if that was the target anyway.
You would need a heavier shader to actually worsen the image and make it look like a real CRT. Like crt-lottes, that’s how a typical crt looks more or less. Well probably a bit sharper than lottes, i think some shader creators remember the blurry composite and tried to recreate that too, e.g. crt-geom has those ringing artifacts that do exist in composite (at least in some TVs, do the use some window filter?) while being very sharp too. I think crt-pocket (silly name) i wrote, resembles a bit more how a real CRT looks like. Kept Lanczos there and removed it’s ringing, pixel shape is a good recreation how CRT pixels look like in RGB without that crt-geom “composite” ringing.
crt-lottes, close to how a CRT looks in composite bluriness, missing the NTSC artifacts and being too heavy.
crt-geom, closer to an extremely sharp RGB high quality monitor, still throwing that composite ringing upon you. That type of monitor probably didn’t ever exist too, curved with very high density Trinitron pixels.
crt-pocket, imo mixing both worlds better, sharper than lottes on crt-geom level (still using Lanczos), evading the ringing artifacts. Using some of lottes masks too.
Very good examples. I remember lottes was highly regarded during the time of early generation crt shaders, due to its quite impressive accuracy. Doesn’t that sound like nostalgia for old technology that replicates even older technology? Nostalgia^2
And your pocket looks fantastic 
That looks great. I’ve been using this screen as a sharpness test - both of Mario’s eyes should be “solid” black. Also the vertical lines, etc. Can it pass?
These are the settings I’m currently using for guest-advanced-ntsc, using an HDR1000 MiniLED with local dimming enabled.
For comparison’s sake
shaders = "19"
feedback_pass = "0"
shader0 = "shaders_slang/misc/shaders/grade-no-LUT.slang"
alias0 = ""
wrap_mode0 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input0 = "false"
float_framebuffer0 = "false"
srgb_framebuffer0 = "false"
scale_type_x0 = "viewport"
scale_x0 = "1.000000"
scale_type_y0 = "viewport"
scale_y0 = "1.000000"
shader1 = "shaders_slang/crt/shaders/guest/advanced/stock.slang"
alias1 = ""
wrap_mode1 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input1 = "false"
filter_linear1 = "false"
float_framebuffer1 = "false"
srgb_framebuffer1 = "false"
scale_type_x1 = "source"
scale_x1 = "1.000000"
scale_type_y1 = "source"
scale_y1 = "1.000000"
shader2 = "shaders_slang/crt/shaders/guest/advanced/stock.slang"
alias2 = "StockPass"
wrap_mode2 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input2 = "false"
filter_linear2 = "false"
float_framebuffer2 = "false"
srgb_framebuffer2 = "false"
scale_type_x2 = "source"
scale_x2 = "1.000000"
scale_type_y2 = "source"
scale_y2 = "1.000000"
shader3 = "shaders_slang/crt/shaders/guest/advanced/afterglow0.slang"
alias3 = "AfterglowPass"
wrap_mode3 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input3 = "false"
filter_linear3 = "true"
float_framebuffer3 = "false"
srgb_framebuffer3 = "false"
scale_type_x3 = "source"
scale_x3 = "1.000000"
scale_type_y3 = "source"
scale_y3 = "1.000000"
shader4 = "shaders_slang/crt/shaders/guest/advanced/pre-shaders-afterglow.slang"
alias4 = "PrePass0"
wrap_mode4 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input4 = "false"
filter_linear4 = "true"
float_framebuffer4 = "false"
srgb_framebuffer4 = "false"
scale_type_x4 = "source"
scale_x4 = "1.000000"
scale_type_y4 = "source"
scale_y4 = "1.000000"
shader5 = "shaders_slang/crt/shaders/guest/advanced/ntsc/ntsc-pass1.slang"
alias5 = "NPass1"
wrap_mode5 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input5 = "false"
filter_linear5 = "false"
float_framebuffer5 = "true"
srgb_framebuffer5 = "false"
scale_type_x5 = "source"
scale_x5 = "4.000000"
scale_type_y5 = "source"
scale_y5 = "1.000000"
shader6 = "shaders_slang/crt/shaders/guest/advanced/ntsc/ntsc-pass2.slang"
alias6 = ""
wrap_mode6 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input6 = "false"
filter_linear6 = "true"
float_framebuffer6 = "true"
srgb_framebuffer6 = "false"
scale_type_x6 = "source"
scale_x6 = "0.500000"
scale_type_y6 = "source"
scale_y6 = "1.000000"
shader7 = "shaders_slang/crt/shaders/guest/advanced/ntsc/ntsc-pass3.slang"
alias7 = ""
wrap_mode7 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input7 = "false"
filter_linear7 = "true"
float_framebuffer7 = "false"
srgb_framebuffer7 = "false"
scale_type_x7 = "source"
scale_x7 = "1.000000"
scale_type_y7 = "source"
scale_y7 = "1.000000"
shader8 = "shaders_slang/crt/shaders/guest/advanced/custom-fast-sharpen.slang"
alias8 = "NtscPass"
wrap_mode8 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input8 = "false"
filter_linear8 = "true"
float_framebuffer8 = "false"
srgb_framebuffer8 = "false"
scale_type_x8 = "source"
scale_x8 = "1.000000"
scale_type_y8 = "source"
scale_y8 = "1.000000"
shader9 = "shaders_slang/crt/shaders/guest/advanced/stock.slang"
alias9 = "PrePass"
wrap_mode9 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input9 = "true"
filter_linear9 = "true"
float_framebuffer9 = "false"
srgb_framebuffer9 = "false"
scale_type_x9 = "source"
scale_x9 = "1.000000"
scale_type_y9 = "source"
scale_y9 = "1.000000"
shader10 = "shaders_slang/crt/shaders/guest/advanced/avg-lum-ntsc.slang"
alias10 = "AvgLumPass"
wrap_mode10 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input10 = "true"
filter_linear10 = "true"
float_framebuffer10 = "false"
srgb_framebuffer10 = "false"
scale_type_x10 = "source"
scale_x10 = "1.000000"
scale_type_y10 = "source"
scale_y10 = "1.000000"
shader11 = "shaders_slang/crt/shaders/guest/advanced/linearize-ntsc.slang"
alias11 = "LinearizePass"
wrap_mode11 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input11 = "false"
filter_linear11 = "true"
float_framebuffer11 = "true"
srgb_framebuffer11 = "false"
scale_type_x11 = "source"
scale_x11 = "1.000000"
scale_type_y11 = "source"
scale_y11 = "1.000000"
shader12 = "shaders_slang/crt/shaders/guest/advanced/crt-guest-advanced-ntsc-pass1.slang"
alias12 = "Pass1"
wrap_mode12 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input12 = "false"
filter_linear12 = "true"
float_framebuffer12 = "true"
srgb_framebuffer12 = "false"
scale_type_x12 = "viewport"
scale_x12 = "1.000000"
scale_type_y12 = "source"
scale_y12 = "1.000000"
shader13 = "shaders_slang/crt/shaders/guest/hd/gaussian_horizontal.slang"
alias13 = ""
wrap_mode13 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input13 = "false"
filter_linear13 = "true"
float_framebuffer13 = "true"
srgb_framebuffer13 = "false"
scale_type_x13 = "absolute"
scale_x13 = "800"
scale_type_y13 = "source"
scale_y13 = "1.000000"
shader14 = "shaders_slang/crt/shaders/guest/advanced/gaussian_vertical.slang"
alias14 = "GlowPass"
wrap_mode14 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input14 = "false"
filter_linear14 = "true"
float_framebuffer14 = "true"
srgb_framebuffer14 = "false"
scale_type_x14 = "absolute"
scale_x14 = "800"
scale_type_y14 = "absolute"
scale_y14 = "600"
shader15 = "shaders_slang/crt/shaders/guest/hd/bloom_horizontal.slang"
alias15 = ""
wrap_mode15 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input15 = "false"
filter_linear15 = "true"
float_framebuffer15 = "true"
srgb_framebuffer15 = "false"
scale_type_x15 = "absolute"
scale_x15 = "800"
scale_type_y15 = "absolute"
scale_y15 = "600"
shader16 = "shaders_slang/crt/shaders/guest/advanced/bloom_vertical.slang"
alias16 = "BloomPass"
wrap_mode16 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input16 = "false"
filter_linear16 = "true"
float_framebuffer16 = "true"
srgb_framebuffer16 = "false"
scale_type_x16 = "absolute"
scale_x16 = "800"
scale_type_y16 = "absolute"
scale_y16 = "600"
shader17 = "shaders_slang/crt/shaders/guest/advanced/crt-guest-advanced-ntsc-pass2.slang"
alias17 = ""
wrap_mode17 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input17 = "false"
filter_linear17 = "true"
float_framebuffer17 = "true"
srgb_framebuffer17 = "false"
scale_type_x17 = "viewport"
scale_x17 = "1.000000"
scale_type_y17 = "viewport"
scale_y17 = "1.000000"
shader18 = "shaders_slang/crt/shaders/guest/advanced/deconvergence-ntsc.slang"
alias18 = ""
wrap_mode18 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input18 = "false"
filter_linear18 = "true"
float_framebuffer18 = "false"
srgb_framebuffer18 = "false"
scale_type_x18 = "viewport"
scale_x18 = "1.000000"
scale_type_y18 = "viewport"
scale_y18 = "1.000000"
g_CRT_l = "2.300000"
g_vibr = "1.000000"
wp_saturation = "1.200000"
cust_artifacting = "0.000000"
ntsc_taps = "6.000000"
ntsc_shape = "1.000000"
CCONTR = "0.000000"
CDETAILS = "0.000000"
NDEBLUR = "8.000000"
GAMMA_INPUT = "2.200000"
gamma_out = "2.200000"
interm = "5.000000"
HSHARPNESS = "1.400000"
SIGMA_HOR = "0.800001"
S_SHARP = "1.000000"
HSHARP = "2.000000"
MAXS = "0.300000"
HARNG = "0.200000"
m_glow = "2.000000"
glow = "0.050000"
brightboost = "1.000000"
brightboost1 = "1.000000"
gsl = "2.000000"
scanline1 = "5.000000"
scanline2 = "40.000000"
beam_min = "1.200000"
beam_size = "0.000000"
scans = "1.500000"
shadowMask = "12.000000"
maskstr = "0.800000"
mcut = "1.000000"
deconrry = "1.000000"
deconrby = "-1.000000"
post_br = "1.500000"
textures = "SamplerLUT1;SamplerLUT2;SamplerLUT3;SamplerLUT4"
SamplerLUT1 = "shaders_slang/crt/shaders/guest/advanced/lut/trinitron-lut.png"
SamplerLUT1_mipmap = "false"
SamplerLUT1_wrap_mode = "clamp_to_border"
SamplerLUT2 = "shaders_slang/crt/shaders/guest/advanced/lut/inv-trinitron-lut.png"
SamplerLUT2_mipmap = "false"
SamplerLUT2_wrap_mode = "clamp_to_border"
SamplerLUT3 = "shaders_slang/crt/shaders/guest/advanced/lut/nec-lut.png"
SamplerLUT3_mipmap = "false"
SamplerLUT3_wrap_mode = "clamp_to_border"
SamplerLUT4 = "shaders_slang/crt/shaders/guest/advanced/lut/ntsc-lut.png"
SamplerLUT4_mipmap = "false"
SamplerLUT4_wrap_mode = "clamp_to_border"EDIT: these are a little blurry because the focus setting was set wrong.
Those are excellent mate. Excellent!
@anikom15 it looks good, but nothing like a PVM. A monitor like that is more in line with something like this. xVMs are notorious for their strong scanlines, high line counts and sharpness.
Yes the focus knob was set wrong, 0.5% instead of 50%. Gives me an opportunity to show off the focus knob setting though:
Focus setting 0.5%, sharpness 0%
Focus setting 50%, sharpness 0%
Focus setting 100%, sharpness 0%
There is a sharpness setting, but it isn’t quite ready yet:
Focus setting 25%, sharpness 50%
Yeah this second batch is getting closer, particularly the third shot 
What shader is it btw?
It’s my own which I’ve been providing updates and using as a blog here:
https://forums.libretro.com/t/the-scanline-classic-shader/41497/32?u=anikom15
That beta you are welcome to try, but it’s already out-of-date and I think I will post a new ‘beta’ this evening (I actually ended up changing the structure around A LOT; hopefully that won’t need to happen again for a long time). The new beta should also run faster; not sure if it will make a difference for our lighter hardware friends.
I try to limit postings in this thread to things I think people will find interesting or aesthetically pleasing. For example we don’t see a lot of 3D and I wanted to show how 3D at 240p can look good with the right shader. In my thread you are mostly just going to see screenshots of F-Zero over and over 
Ah it’s your own, cool! Sure thing I will try it, love exploring new territory. Oh and btw F-Zero rocks, and the Snes is a great benchmark. I tend to use arcades (for 2D) and PS1 (lo-res 3D) for my experiments.
I hadn’t messed with the N64 (not the easiest system to make look pretty) for quite a while, and that Ocarina PVM test made me want to create a good preset for that system. This is only WIP based on my most recent xVM settings, and of course there’s room for improvement (highlight masks are clipped, for starters), but it is already the best looking Super Mario 64 rendition I have ever seen. As per usual, download to see it without scaling issues.
Small test: I’m trying to create a good shader for arcade. I started from the base of crt-guest-advanced-hd.slangp
That’s really nice! Gamma a bit high maybe? Of course that depends on your monitor, but how about this? It looks better on my 2.2 display
#reference "shaders_slang/crt/crt-guest-advanced-hd.slangp"
gamma_out = "2.200000"
h_sharp = "2.800000"
s_sharp = "0.800000"
SIZEHB = "2.000000"
SIGMA_HB = "1.000000"
SIZEVB = "2.000000"
SIGMA_VB = "1.000000"
warpX = "0.040000"
warpY = "0.050000"
c_shape = "0.200000"
csize = "0.020000"
bsize1 = "0.050000"
glow = "0.050000"
bloom = "0.150000"
mask_bloom = "-0.200000"
halation = "0.080000"
hmask1 = "-0.000000"
brightboost = "2.200000"
brightboost1 = "1.800000"
gsl = "2.000000"
scanline1 = "12.000000"
beam_min = "1.000000"
beam_max = "1.400000"
scans = "0.600000"
shadowMask = "1.000000"
maskstr = "0.350000"
maskboost = "1.800000"
mask_layout = "1.000000"
smoothmask = "0.100000"
mclip = "0.150000"
maskmid = "1.000000"
Here’s my setting.
It’s looking great. If you agree that it appears a bit washed out though, just tone the gamma down a few notches
There you go, that’s much better. Gamma can be a bit problematic when one sets the display up himself. This image is a reliable, quick way to know where your monitor is. You want to be as close as possible to 2.2.
Download it and look at it at its original size by the way. Don’t use it from the browser! Scaling it will give you terrible results. If you need to understand how to use it, take a look here
THANK YOU, I’ll take a look at that to fine-tune my shader.
new: #reference “shaders_slang/crt/crt-guest-advanced-hd.slangp”
GAMMA_INPUT = "2.400000"
gamma_out = "2.200000"
h_sharp = "2.700000"
s_sharp = "0.800000"
SIZEHB = "2.000000"
SIGMA_HB = "1.000000"
SIZEVB = "2.000000"
SIGMA_VB = "1.000000"
warpX = "0.045000"
warpY = "0.050000"
c_shape = "0.210000"
csize = "0.022000"
bsize1 = "0.055000"
glow = "0.060000"
bloom = "0.180000"
mask_bloom = "0.050000"
halation = "0.100000"
hmask1 = "-0.000000"
brightboost = "2.200000"
brightboost1 = "1.900000"
gsl = "2.000000"
scanline1 = "12.500000"
beam_min = "1.050000"
beam_max = "1.400000"
scans = "0.620000"
shadowMask = "1.000000"
maskstr = "0.350000"
maskboost = "1.800000"
mask_layout = "1.000000"
smoothmask = "0.100000"
mclip = "0.150000"
maskmid = "1.000000"GG! I love that boss! Got it working in stereoscopic 3D last year so I could shove that module down the alien’s throat in VR. Still got some 3D pics from the video to watch with red and cyan glasses. Fun times!
Haha wow cool! How did you do that? What a game that is… the crowning jewel of a most illustrious saga!
