Shader Challenge: composite video on a PVM

[Nesguy]

Alright folks, lets see who can recreate the below image (the one on the left) while still blending the Sonic waterfall properly. Curvature optional- mainly looking at sharpness, scanlines, artifacts. Have fun!

[guest.r]

This one seems like a good base:

quality = "-1.000000"
cust_fringing = "1.000000"
cust_artifacting = "1.000000"
ntsc_ring = "1.000000"
ntsc_sharp = "-10.000000"
ntsc_shape = "0.900000"
HSHARPNESS = "2.000000"
SIGMA_HOR = "2.999998"
spike = "2.000000"
gamma_c = "1.200000"
scanline1 = "5.000000"
scanline2 = "50.000000"
beam_min = "1.200000"
beam_max = "1.100000"
scans = "0.900000"
maskstr = "-0.000000"

[Nesguy]

@guest.r

quality = "-1.000000"
cust_fringing = "1.000000"
cust_artifacting = "1.000000"
ntsc_ring = "1.000000"
ntsc_sharp = "-10.000000"
ntsc_shape = "0.900000"
HSHARPNESS = "2.000000"
SIGMA_HOR = "2.999998"
spike = "2.000000"
gamma_c = "1.200000"
scanline1 = "5.000000"
scanline2 = "50.000000"
beam_min = "1.200000"
beam_max = "1.100000"
scans = "0.900000"
maskstr = "-0.000000"

Are these settings scale/resolution-specific?

Here’s what I got

[guest.r]

There is a bug on some adapters with ntsc and HD versions filtering present in the older versions. Was fixed in versions in the ‘GDV’ thread.

I get something like this with ‘1080p’:

[Nesguy]

Here’s what I currently have, using the Composite direct FBx palette in Nestopia.

shaders = "18"
shader0 = "shaders_slang/crt/shaders/guest/advanced/stock.slang"
filter_linear0 = "false"
wrap_mode0 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input0 = "false"
alias0 = ""
float_framebuffer0 = "false"
srgb_framebuffer0 = "false"
scale_type_x0 = "source"
scale_x0 = "1.000000"
scale_type_y0 = "source"
scale_y0 = "1.000000"
shader1 = "shaders_slang/crt/shaders/guest/advanced/stock.slang"
filter_linear1 = "false"
wrap_mode1 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input1 = "false"
alias1 = "StockPass"
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/afterglow0.slang"
filter_linear2 = "true"
wrap_mode2 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input2 = "false"
alias2 = "AfterglowPass"
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/pre-shaders-afterglow.slang"
filter_linear3 = "true"
wrap_mode3 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input3 = "false"
alias3 = "PrePass0"
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/ntsc/ntsc-pass1.slang"
filter_linear4 = "false"
wrap_mode4 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input4 = "false"
alias4 = "NPass1"
float_framebuffer4 = "true"
srgb_framebuffer4 = "false"
scale_type_x4 = "source"
scale_x4 = "4.000000"
scale_type_y4 = "source"
scale_y4 = "1.000000"
shader5 = "shaders_slang/crt/shaders/guest/advanced/ntsc/ntsc-pass2.slang"
filter_linear5 = "true"
wrap_mode5 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input5 = "false"
alias5 = ""
float_framebuffer5 = "true"
srgb_framebuffer5 = "false"
scale_type_x5 = "source"
scale_x5 = "0.500000"
scale_type_y5 = "source"
scale_y5 = "1.000000"
shader6 = "shaders_slang/crt/shaders/guest/advanced/ntsc/ntsc-pass3.slang"
filter_linear6 = "true"
wrap_mode6 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input6 = "false"
alias6 = ""
float_framebuffer6 = "false"
srgb_framebuffer6 = "false"
scale_type_x6 = "source"
scale_x6 = "1.000000"
scale_type_y6 = "source"
scale_y6 = "1.000000"
shader7 = "shaders_slang/crt/shaders/guest/advanced/custom-fast-sharpen.slang"
filter_linear7 = "true"
wrap_mode7 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input7 = "false"
alias7 = "NtscPass"
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/stock.slang"
filter_linear8 = "true"
wrap_mode8 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input8 = "true"
alias8 = "PrePass"
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/avg-lum-ntsc.slang"
filter_linear9 = "true"
wrap_mode9 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input9 = "true"
alias9 = "AvgLumPass"
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/linearize-ntsc.slang"
filter_linear10 = "true"
wrap_mode10 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input10 = "false"
alias10 = "LinearizePass"
float_framebuffer10 = "true"
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/crt-guest-advanced-ntsc-pass1.slang"
filter_linear11 = "true"
wrap_mode11 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input11 = "false"
alias11 = "Pass1"
float_framebuffer11 = "true"
srgb_framebuffer11 = "false"
scale_type_x11 = "viewport"
scale_x11 = "1.000000"
scale_type_y11 = "source"
scale_y11 = "1.000000"
shader12 = "shaders_slang/crt/shaders/guest/advanced/gaussian_horizontal.slang"
filter_linear12 = "true"
wrap_mode12 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input12 = "false"
alias12 = ""
float_framebuffer12 = "true"
srgb_framebuffer12 = "false"
scale_type_x12 = "absolute"
scale_x12 = "800"
scale_type_y12 = "source"
scale_y12 = "1.000000"
shader13 = "shaders_slang/crt/shaders/guest/advanced/gaussian_vertical.slang"
filter_linear13 = "true"
wrap_mode13 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input13 = "false"
alias13 = "GlowPass"
float_framebuffer13 = "true"
srgb_framebuffer13 = "false"
scale_type_x13 = "absolute"
scale_x13 = "800"
scale_type_y13 = "absolute"
scale_y13 = "600"
shader14 = "shaders_slang/crt/shaders/guest/advanced/bloom_horizontal.slang"
filter_linear14 = "true"
wrap_mode14 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input14 = "false"
alias14 = ""
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/advanced/bloom_vertical.slang"
filter_linear15 = "true"
wrap_mode15 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input15 = "false"
alias15 = "BloomPass"
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/crt-guest-advanced-ntsc-pass2.slang"
filter_linear16 = "true"
wrap_mode16 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input16 = "false"
alias16 = ""
float_framebuffer16 = "true"
srgb_framebuffer16 = "false"
scale_type_x16 = "viewport"
scale_x16 = "1.000000"
scale_type_y16 = "viewport"
scale_y16 = "1.000000"
shader17 = "shaders_slang/crt/shaders/guest/advanced/deconvergence-ntsc.slang"
filter_linear17 = "true"
wrap_mode17 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input17 = "false"
alias17 = ""
float_framebuffer17 = "false"
srgb_framebuffer17 = "false"
scale_type_x17 = "viewport"
scale_x17 = "1.000000"
scale_type_y17 = "viewport"
scale_y17 = "1.000000"
quality = "-1.000000"
cust_fringing = "1.000000"
cust_artifacting = "1.000000"
ntsc_sharp = "-1.000000"
ntsc_shape = "0.500000"
SIGMA_HOR = "1.000000"
S_SHARP = "1.000000"
HSHARP = "0.000000"
HARNG = "4.000000"
spike = "2.000000"
glow = "0.000000"
gsl = "2.000000"
scanline1 = "5.000000"
scanline2 = "50.000000"
beam_min = "1.100000"
scans = "1.000000"
textures = "SamplerLUT1;SamplerLUT2;SamplerLUT3;SamplerLUT4"
SamplerLUT1 = "shaders_slang/crt/shaders/guest/advanced/lut/trinitron-lut.png"
SamplerLUT1_linear = "true"
SamplerLUT1_wrap_mode = "clamp_to_border"
SamplerLUT1_mipmap = "false"
SamplerLUT2 = "shaders_slang/crt/shaders/guest/advanced/lut/inv-trinitron-lut.png"
SamplerLUT2_linear = "true"
SamplerLUT2_wrap_mode = "clamp_to_border"
SamplerLUT2_mipmap = "false"
SamplerLUT3 = "shaders_slang/crt/shaders/guest/advanced/lut/nec-lut.png"
SamplerLUT3_linear = "true"
SamplerLUT3_wrap_mode = "clamp_to_border"
SamplerLUT3_mipmap = "false"
SamplerLUT4 = "shaders_slang/crt/shaders/guest/advanced/lut/ntsc-lut.png"
SamplerLUT4_linear = "true"
SamplerLUT4_wrap_mode = "clamp_to_border"
SamplerLUT4_mipmap = "false"

[GPDP1]

Here’s my attempt:

#reference "shaders_slang/crt/crt-guest-advanced-ntsc.slangp"
quality = "-1.000000"
ntsc_scale = "0.990001"
cust_fringing = "1.500000"
cust_artifacting = "1.000003"
ntsc_shape = "1.000000"
CSHARPEN = "5.000000"
CCONTR = "0.150000"
CDETAILS = "0.000000"
lsmooth = "0.700000"
HSHARPNESS = "1.000000"
SIGMA_HOR = "1.000000"
S_SHARP = "0.000000"
HSHARP = "0.000000"
HARNG = "0.000000"
spike = "2.000000"
glow = "0.000000"
gsl = "2.000000"
scanline1 = "5.000000"
scanline2 = "50.000000"
beam_min = "1.100000"
beam_size = "0.600000"
vertmask = "-0.000000"
scans = "1.000000"

Screenshot was taken with NTSC Merge Fields turned on since otherwise the shot comes out weird.

I tried as best as I could to not only match the PVM pic, but also going off of my memory of how my NES looked like hooked up through composite to my old Sony WEGA. I have to say, I got pretty damn close. Only thing I couldn’t match was the ringing artifacts, as for some reason they only appear on the right side of edges on the pic, and the only way to remotely match those was to turn Sharpen Strength and Details Sharpened all the way up, which waaaaaaaay overdoes it for everything else, so not sure how to deal with that. Otherwise, it’s pretty much spot on, especially in motion with NTSC Merge Fields off.

[Nesguy]

Yep, I like yours better. Great job!

[Nesguy]

A few minor tweaks:

I’m trying to match the colors seen in the photo, which is probably a fool’s errand since as we know NES color palettes are an inexact science.

Here are the differences I’m still seeing:

-the black line around the hill and bush is BLACK, no active phosphors at all, and there’s actually some luma loss around the line, making it extra bold. The shader comes very close but it’s not a perfect 1:1 match, yet. I’d say it’s 95% of the way there.

-there is some ringing around the large letters in the logo, the M and B in particular, on the left side, which is not present in the photo.

-there’s a LOT of ringing around the small letters in the photo which is difficult to reproduce with the shader

-there’s some white ringing on the right edge of the large letters that is very hard to reproduce

-notice that there are no color artifacts in the photo, so I’ve removed NTSC artifacting

-there’s some deconvergence at the lower edges of the screen, evident in the black line surrounding the hill and the bush. This is probably a quirk of the CRT and not essential, since in theory you could remove that with a tune-up.

tweaks:

shaders = "18"
shader0 = "shaders_slang/crt/shaders/guest/advanced/stock.slang"
filter_linear0 = "false"
wrap_mode0 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input0 = "false"
alias0 = ""
float_framebuffer0 = "false"
srgb_framebuffer0 = "false"
scale_type_x0 = "source"
scale_x0 = "1.000000"
scale_type_y0 = "source"
scale_y0 = "1.000000"
shader1 = "shaders_slang/crt/shaders/guest/advanced/stock.slang"
filter_linear1 = "false"
wrap_mode1 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input1 = "false"
alias1 = "StockPass"
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/afterglow0.slang"
filter_linear2 = "true"
wrap_mode2 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input2 = "false"
alias2 = "AfterglowPass"
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/pre-shaders-afterglow.slang"
filter_linear3 = "true"
wrap_mode3 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input3 = "false"
alias3 = "PrePass0"
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/ntsc/ntsc-pass1.slang"
filter_linear4 = "false"
wrap_mode4 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input4 = "false"
alias4 = "NPass1"
float_framebuffer4 = "true"
srgb_framebuffer4 = "false"
scale_type_x4 = "source"
scale_x4 = "4.000000"
scale_type_y4 = "source"
scale_y4 = "1.000000"
shader5 = "shaders_slang/crt/shaders/guest/advanced/ntsc/ntsc-pass2.slang"
filter_linear5 = "true"
wrap_mode5 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input5 = "false"
alias5 = ""
float_framebuffer5 = "true"
srgb_framebuffer5 = "false"
scale_type_x5 = "source"
scale_x5 = "0.500000"
scale_type_y5 = "source"
scale_y5 = "1.000000"
shader6 = "shaders_slang/crt/shaders/guest/advanced/ntsc/ntsc-pass3.slang"
filter_linear6 = "true"
wrap_mode6 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input6 = "false"
alias6 = ""
float_framebuffer6 = "false"
srgb_framebuffer6 = "false"
scale_type_x6 = "source"
scale_x6 = "1.000000"
scale_type_y6 = "source"
scale_y6 = "1.000000"
shader7 = "shaders_slang/crt/shaders/guest/advanced/custom-fast-sharpen.slang"
filter_linear7 = "true"
wrap_mode7 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input7 = "false"
alias7 = "NtscPass"
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/stock.slang"
filter_linear8 = "true"
wrap_mode8 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input8 = "true"
alias8 = "PrePass"
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/avg-lum-ntsc.slang"
filter_linear9 = "true"
wrap_mode9 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input9 = "true"
alias9 = "AvgLumPass"
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/linearize-ntsc.slang"
filter_linear10 = "true"
wrap_mode10 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input10 = "false"
alias10 = "LinearizePass"
float_framebuffer10 = "true"
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/crt-guest-advanced-ntsc-pass1.slang"
filter_linear11 = "true"
wrap_mode11 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input11 = "false"
alias11 = "Pass1"
float_framebuffer11 = "true"
srgb_framebuffer11 = "false"
scale_type_x11 = "viewport"
scale_x11 = "1.000000"
scale_type_y11 = "source"
scale_y11 = "1.000000"
shader12 = "shaders_slang/crt/shaders/guest/advanced/gaussian_horizontal.slang"
filter_linear12 = "true"
wrap_mode12 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input12 = "false"
alias12 = ""
float_framebuffer12 = "true"
srgb_framebuffer12 = "false"
scale_type_x12 = "absolute"
scale_x12 = "800"
scale_type_y12 = "source"
scale_y12 = "1.000000"
shader13 = "shaders_slang/crt/shaders/guest/advanced/gaussian_vertical.slang"
filter_linear13 = "true"
wrap_mode13 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input13 = "false"
alias13 = "GlowPass"
float_framebuffer13 = "true"
srgb_framebuffer13 = "false"
scale_type_x13 = "absolute"
scale_x13 = "800"
scale_type_y13 = "absolute"
scale_y13 = "600"
shader14 = "shaders_slang/crt/shaders/guest/advanced/bloom_horizontal.slang"
filter_linear14 = "true"
wrap_mode14 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input14 = "false"
alias14 = ""
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/advanced/bloom_vertical.slang"
filter_linear15 = "true"
wrap_mode15 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input15 = "false"
alias15 = "BloomPass"
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/crt-guest-advanced-ntsc-pass2.slang"
filter_linear16 = "true"
wrap_mode16 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input16 = "false"
alias16 = ""
float_framebuffer16 = "true"
srgb_framebuffer16 = "false"
scale_type_x16 = "viewport"
scale_x16 = "1.000000"
scale_type_y16 = "viewport"
scale_y16 = "1.000000"
shader17 = "shaders_slang/crt/shaders/guest/advanced/deconvergence-ntsc.slang"
filter_linear17 = "true"
wrap_mode17 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input17 = "false"
alias17 = ""
float_framebuffer17 = "false"
srgb_framebuffer17 = "false"
scale_type_x17 = "viewport"
scale_x17 = "1.000000"
scale_type_y17 = "viewport"
scale_y17 = "1.000000"
quality = "-1.000000"
ntsc_scale = "0.990001"
cust_fringing = "1.500000"
ntsc_shape = "1.000000"
CSHARPEN = "5.000000"
CCONTR = "0.150000"
CDETAILS = "0.000000"
HSHARPNESS = "1.000000"
SIGMA_HOR = "1.000000"
S_SHARP = "1.000000"
HSHARP = "0.000000"
HARNG = "4.000000"
spike = "2.000000"
glow = "0.000000"
gsl = "2.000000"
scanline1 = "5.000000"
scanline2 = "50.000000"
beam_min = "1.100000"
scans = "1.000000"
textures = "SamplerLUT1;SamplerLUT2;SamplerLUT3;SamplerLUT4"
SamplerLUT1 = "shaders_slang/crt/shaders/guest/advanced/lut/trinitron-lut.png"
SamplerLUT1_linear = "true"
SamplerLUT1_wrap_mode = "clamp_to_border"
SamplerLUT1_mipmap = "false"
SamplerLUT2 = "shaders_slang/crt/shaders/guest/advanced/lut/inv-trinitron-lut.png"
SamplerLUT2_linear = "true"
SamplerLUT2_wrap_mode = "clamp_to_border"
SamplerLUT2_mipmap = "false"
SamplerLUT3 = "shaders_slang/crt/shaders/guest/advanced/lut/nec-lut.png"
SamplerLUT3_linear = "true"
SamplerLUT3_wrap_mode = "clamp_to_border"
SamplerLUT3_mipmap = "false"
SamplerLUT4 = "shaders_slang/crt/shaders/guest/advanced/lut/ntsc-lut.png"
SamplerLUT4_linear = "true"
SamplerLUT4_wrap_mode = "clamp_to_border"
SamplerLUT4_mipmap = "false"

[GPDP1]

@Nesguy

-notice that there are no color artifacts in the photo, so I’ve removed NTSC artifacting

It’s subtle, no doubt due to the photo not perfectly capturing all the details of the image, but they’re there. Look closely at the x in the coin counter up top - there’s clearly some color artifacts present. Maybe tone them down just a tad from how I had them, but I know for a fact the NES composite output should have at least some artifacting going on.

[Nesguy]

Different decoders and such, but yes you’re right, there should be just a tad.

It seems that no combination of settings can perfectly recreate the photo. I think, ultimately, we’re limited by the various filtering methods that are available, which can only approximate what’s happening on a CRT. Even with all the tricks available in guest-ntsc, there’s always something that doesn’t quite match up.

[Nesguy]

Inching closer?

@guest.r one thing I’ve observed is that in the photo of the PVM, there’s a lot of ringing but it’s all on the right side of an object. The left side is clean. Is there such a thing as uni-directional ringing that could be implemented in guest-ntsc?

shaders = "18"
shader0 = "shaders_slang/crt/shaders/guest/advanced/stock.slang"
filter_linear0 = "false"
wrap_mode0 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input0 = "false"
alias0 = ""
float_framebuffer0 = "false"
srgb_framebuffer0 = "false"
scale_type_x0 = "source"
scale_x0 = "1.000000"
scale_type_y0 = "source"
scale_y0 = "1.000000"
shader1 = "shaders_slang/crt/shaders/guest/advanced/stock.slang"
filter_linear1 = "false"
wrap_mode1 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input1 = "false"
alias1 = "StockPass"
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/afterglow0.slang"
filter_linear2 = "true"
wrap_mode2 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input2 = "false"
alias2 = "AfterglowPass"
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/pre-shaders-afterglow.slang"
filter_linear3 = "true"
wrap_mode3 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input3 = "false"
alias3 = "PrePass0"
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/ntsc/ntsc-pass1.slang"
filter_linear4 = "false"
wrap_mode4 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input4 = "false"
alias4 = "NPass1"
float_framebuffer4 = "true"
srgb_framebuffer4 = "false"
scale_type_x4 = "source"
scale_x4 = "4.000000"
scale_type_y4 = "source"
scale_y4 = "1.000000"
shader5 = "shaders_slang/crt/shaders/guest/advanced/ntsc/ntsc-pass2.slang"
filter_linear5 = "true"
wrap_mode5 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input5 = "false"
alias5 = ""
float_framebuffer5 = "true"
srgb_framebuffer5 = "false"
scale_type_x5 = "source"
scale_x5 = "0.500000"
scale_type_y5 = "source"
scale_y5 = "1.000000"
shader6 = "shaders_slang/crt/shaders/guest/advanced/ntsc/ntsc-pass3.slang"
filter_linear6 = "true"
wrap_mode6 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input6 = "false"
alias6 = ""
float_framebuffer6 = "false"
srgb_framebuffer6 = "false"
scale_type_x6 = "source"
scale_x6 = "1.000000"
scale_type_y6 = "source"
scale_y6 = "1.000000"
shader7 = "shaders_slang/crt/shaders/guest/advanced/custom-fast-sharpen.slang"
filter_linear7 = "true"
wrap_mode7 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input7 = "false"
alias7 = "NtscPass"
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/stock.slang"
filter_linear8 = "true"
wrap_mode8 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input8 = "true"
alias8 = "PrePass"
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/avg-lum-ntsc.slang"
filter_linear9 = "true"
wrap_mode9 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input9 = "true"
alias9 = "AvgLumPass"
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/linearize-ntsc.slang"
filter_linear10 = "true"
wrap_mode10 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input10 = "false"
alias10 = "LinearizePass"
float_framebuffer10 = "true"
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/crt-guest-advanced-ntsc-pass1.slang"
filter_linear11 = "true"
wrap_mode11 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input11 = "false"
alias11 = "Pass1"
float_framebuffer11 = "true"
srgb_framebuffer11 = "false"
scale_type_x11 = "viewport"
scale_x11 = "1.000000"
scale_type_y11 = "source"
scale_y11 = "1.000000"
shader12 = "shaders_slang/crt/shaders/guest/advanced/gaussian_horizontal.slang"
filter_linear12 = "true"
wrap_mode12 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input12 = "false"
alias12 = ""
float_framebuffer12 = "true"
srgb_framebuffer12 = "false"
scale_type_x12 = "absolute"
scale_x12 = "800"
scale_type_y12 = "source"
scale_y12 = "1.000000"
shader13 = "shaders_slang/crt/shaders/guest/advanced/gaussian_vertical.slang"
filter_linear13 = "true"
wrap_mode13 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input13 = "false"
alias13 = "GlowPass"
float_framebuffer13 = "true"
srgb_framebuffer13 = "false"
scale_type_x13 = "absolute"
scale_x13 = "800"
scale_type_y13 = "absolute"
scale_y13 = "600"
shader14 = "shaders_slang/crt/shaders/guest/advanced/bloom_horizontal.slang"
filter_linear14 = "true"
wrap_mode14 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input14 = "false"
alias14 = ""
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/advanced/bloom_vertical.slang"
filter_linear15 = "true"
wrap_mode15 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input15 = "false"
alias15 = "BloomPass"
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/crt-guest-advanced-ntsc-pass2.slang"
filter_linear16 = "true"
wrap_mode16 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input16 = "false"
alias16 = ""
float_framebuffer16 = "true"
srgb_framebuffer16 = "false"
scale_type_x16 = "viewport"
scale_x16 = "1.000000"
scale_type_y16 = "viewport"
scale_y16 = "1.000000"
shader17 = "shaders_slang/crt/shaders/guest/advanced/deconvergence-ntsc.slang"
filter_linear17 = "true"
wrap_mode17 = "clamp_to_border"
mipmap_input17 = "false"
alias17 = ""
float_framebuffer17 = "false"
srgb_framebuffer17 = "false"
scale_type_x17 = "viewport"
scale_x17 = "1.000000"
scale_type_y17 = "viewport"
scale_y17 = "1.000000"
quality = "-1.000000"
cust_fringing = "1.000000"
cust_artifacting = "0.500000"
CSHARPEN = "2.000000"
CCONTR = "0.050000"
HSHARPNESS = "1.999999"
SIGMA_HOR = "1.000000"
S_SHARP = "2.000000"
HSHARP = "0.000000"
HARNG = "4.000000"
spike = "2.000000"
glow = "0.000000"
brightboost = "0.500000"
brightboost1 = "1.000000"
gsl = "2.000000"
scanline1 = "5.000000"
scanline2 = "30.000000"
scans = "0.500000"
shadowMask = "-1.000000"
deconrry = "-1.000000"
addnoised = "0.000000"
textures = "SamplerLUT1;SamplerLUT2;SamplerLUT3;SamplerLUT4"
SamplerLUT1 = "shaders_slang/crt/shaders/guest/advanced/lut/trinitron-lut.png"
SamplerLUT1_linear = "true"
SamplerLUT1_wrap_mode = "clamp_to_border"
SamplerLUT1_mipmap = "false"
SamplerLUT2 = "shaders_slang/crt/shaders/guest/advanced/lut/inv-trinitron-lut.png"
SamplerLUT2_linear = "true"
SamplerLUT2_wrap_mode = "clamp_to_border"
SamplerLUT2_mipmap = "false"
SamplerLUT3 = "shaders_slang/crt/shaders/guest/advanced/lut/nec-lut.png"
SamplerLUT3_linear = "true"
SamplerLUT3_wrap_mode = "clamp_to_border"
SamplerLUT3_mipmap = "false"
SamplerLUT4 = "shaders_slang/crt/shaders/guest/advanced/lut/ntsc-lut.png"
SamplerLUT4_linear = "true"
SamplerLUT4_wrap_mode = "clamp_to_border"
SamplerLUT4_mipmap = "false"

[guest.r]

Maybe you can try/replace with this “custom-fast-sharpen.slang”. Best results are if used together with ntsc-anti-ringing option or effects will be on both sides still.

#version 450

/*
   Fast Sharpen Shader (Custom)
   
   Copyright (C) 2005 - 2022 guest(r) - [email protected]

   This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
   modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License
   as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2
   of the License, or (at your option) any later version.

   This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
   but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
   MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
   GNU General Public License for more details.

   You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
   along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
   Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111-1307, USA.
*/

layout(push_constant) uniform Push
{
	vec4 SourceSize;
	vec4 OriginalSize;
	vec4 OutputSize;
	uint FrameCount;
	float CSHARPEN, CCONTR_L, CCONTR_R, CDETAILS;
} params;

#pragma parameter CSHARPEN  "Sharpen strength"       0.00 0.0 5.00 0.10 
#pragma parameter CCONTR_L  "Ammount of ringing - left"  0.05 0.0 0.25 0.01
#pragma parameter CCONTR_R  "Ammount of ringing - right"  0.05 0.0 0.25 0.01
#pragma parameter CDETAILS  "Details sharpened "     1.00 0.0 1.00 0.05 

#define CSHARPEN params.CSHARPEN
#define CCONTR_L params.CCONTR_L
#define CCONTR_R params.CCONTR_R
#define CDETAILS params.CDETAILS

layout(std140, set = 0, binding = 0) uniform UBO
{
	mat4 MVP;
} global;

#pragma stage vertex
layout(location = 0) in vec4 Position;
layout(location = 1) in vec2 TexCoord;
layout(location = 0) out vec2 vTexCoord;

void main()
{
   gl_Position = global.MVP * Position;
   vTexCoord = TexCoord;
}

#pragma stage fragment
layout(location = 0) in vec2 vTexCoord;
layout(location = 0) out vec4 FragColor;
layout(set = 0, binding = 2) uniform sampler2D Source;


void main()
{
	vec2 g01 = vec2(-1.0, 0.0)*params.SourceSize.zw;
	vec2 g21 = vec2( 1.0, 0.0)*params.SourceSize.zw; 

	vec3 c01 = texture(Source, vTexCoord + g01).rgb;
	vec3 c21 = texture(Source, vTexCoord + g21).rgb;
	vec3 c11 = texture(Source, vTexCoord      ).rgb;
	
	vec3 b11 = 0.5*(c01+c21); 
	
	float contrast  = max(max(c11.r,c11.g),c11.b);
	float contrastl = mix(2.0*CCONTR_L, CCONTR_L, contrast);
	float contrastr = mix(2.0*CCONTR_R, CCONTR_R, contrast);
	
	vec3 mn1 = min(min(c01*(1.0-contrastl),c11), min(c21*(1.0-contrastr),c11));
	vec3 mx1 = max(max(c01*(1.0+contrastl),c11), max(c21*(1.0+contrastr),c11));
	
	vec3 dif = pow(mx1-mn1+0.0001, vec3(0.75,0.75,0.75));
	vec3 sharpen = mix(vec3(CSHARPEN*CDETAILS), vec3(CSHARPEN), dif);
	
	c11 = clamp(mix(c11,b11,-sharpen), mn1,mx1);
	
	FragColor = vec4(c11,1.0); 
}

[GPDP1]

@Nesguy perhaps it would be fruitful to make “accurate” composite presets for more consoles? I think there’s one covering Genesis elsewhere in this forum already, but perhaps at the very least we could cover SNES as well, though, and my memory could be hazy here, I don’t recall its composite output having any particular noteworthy peculiarities compared to NES and Genesis, but I’d love to be proven wrong. In any case, some high quality pics of SNES composite output would be nice.

[Cyber]

@Nesguy

recreate the below image (the one on the left) while still blending the Sonic waterfall properly.

How can one hope to achieve this using a single preset when the blending of the waterfall and the sharpness of the NES output have a lot to do with not only how a CRT handles the signal but in how both consoles produce and output the signal?

Genesis uses 2 phase NTSC while NES uses 3 phase. NES merges fields to deal with colourburst while Genesis does not.

This produces different kinds of and levels of artifacting on either console which is why I think that a preset shouldn’t only attempt to emulate the different input and output characteristics of a TV but also the individual output characteristics of the different systems and media hooked up to that TV.

This is the same reason why if you wanted video footage to look like it came from a VHS VCR, you’d also have to simulate the tracking and other unique artifacts produced by the VHS VCR hardware device.

If you use a preset that only focused on being the perfect PVM or NES preset, VHS Video is going to look far from accurate because you’re missing an important part of the equation.

[Nesguy]

Hey all, been a while. Just checking in. What’s the current state of NTSC shaders? Are they all still too blurry?

[Nesguy]

Ok new challenge, then: recreate the image while blending the dithering that’s supposed to be blended on the NES

[Cyber]

This is my most recent work on NES NTSC presets:

CyberLab Mega Bezel Death To Pixels Shader Preset Pack

CyberLab_SNES_S-Video_Slot_Mask_IV_OLED_NTSC_II + CFRS_Mega_TV.slangp [Super Mario World (U) !-230117-203921] CyberLab_NES_Composite_Slot_Mask_IV_OLED_NTSC + CFRS_Mega_TV.slangp [Super Mario Bros. + Duck Hunt + World Class Track Meet (USA) (Rev 1)-230119-125821]

CyberLab Mega Bezel Death To Pixels Shader Preset Pack

This method should work fine: Do note that you don’t have to rename any presets to .params. So leave the filenames as they are. For any secondary presets that you want to use as a params file, you would have to delete or comment out the reference line. In this case you would be using the presets containing graphics as the secondary presets/params files. The only thing you might want to add is a line below the second reference line that says HSM_INT_SCALE_MODE = "0.000000" …as well as thi…

CyberLab Mega Bezel Death To Pixels Shader Preset Pack

Just doing some experimentation with low gamma as well as trying to match the intensity and accuracy of the artifacting compared to reference image just for fun. I did the gamma adjustment from memory and in hindsight it ended up much darker than the reference image below. Reference image is also quite saturated. [ng1comp] [Ninja Gaiden (USA)-230214-042701] [Ninja Gaiden (USA)-230214-042715] This seems like a very interesting and informative picture to study if one were tweaking somethin…

And this post has some clean NES Shadow Mask screenshots, not using the NTSC shader though but looks good to me.

CyberLab Mega Bezel Death To Pixels Shader Preset Pack

Just a sneak peak at what I’ve been up to lately. I really like the way these new Shadow Mask presets are shaping up! Tap on image then zoom in for best viewing. Desktop users, right click then Open in New Tab, then press F11 for FullScreen. Non 4K users, zoom in until it looks correct. [sf2ceuc-230209-153652] [sf2ceuc-230209-154003] [sf2ceuc-230209-151026] [Street Fighter II Turbo - Hyper Fighting (U) !-230209-144006] [mk-230210-162759] [mk-230210-162910] [mk-230210-163848] [mk…

[guest.r]

@Nesguy

Hey all, been a while. Just checking in. What’s the current state of NTSC shaders? Are they all still too blurry?

NTSC adaptive are still as they were. I could mess a bit with the luma coefs to produce a sharper blend, but it’s tricky because of the “integral sum” can easily produce luma artifacts. Meanwhile you could boost up adaptive sharpening a notch.

Meanwhile @sonkun has mastered the old mame ntsc shader and created very nice and sharp presets for different signal types.

[Cyber]

@guest.r

I could mess a bit with the luma coefs to produce a sharper blend, but it’s tricky because of the “integral sum” can easily produce luma artifacts.

Are you sure that’s even necessary?

This example below uses the NTSC preset and it’s very sharp. It can even be sharper if I adjusted the setting below Horizontal Filter Range but then that would be really harsh.

CyberLab_SNES_S-Video_Slot_Mask_IV_OLED_NTSC_II + CFRS_Mega_TV.slangp

This one below has more NTSC artifacts but isn’t as sharp but I could easily make it sharper by adjusting the Subtractive Sharpness, Horizontal Filter Range and the setting directly below it if necessary.

CyberLab_NES_Composite_Slot_Mask_IV_OLED_NTSC + CFRS_Mega_TV.slangp

Has @Nesguy fully explored all the possibilities when it comes to sharpness using the existing tools available in the shader?

[sonkun]

@guest.r

Meanwhile @sonkun has mastered the old mame ntsc shader and created very nice and sharp presets for different signal types.

Almost getting there lol. I think he’s looking for something a little different from what I’ve been tweaking though.