Messed up lighting (solved now)

[akeley]

I managed to build a fairly well-behaved Skyrim some time a few months ago, following STEP guidelines, though it`s not a 100% STEP build. Then I sold my GSYNC monitor, stopped playing for a while (left the install alone), bought another monitor and now I`m trying to play again.

 

Game seems mostly okay, with one exception: there is a super annoying lighting pop in which I`m pretty sure wasn`t there before. By this I don`t mean singular light sources appearing (the fFlickeringLightDistance thingy) but more of the whole "light map", if that makes any

sense.

 

Say I`m standing in Whiterun, under the big statue and pan around. Looking at the roof of the boat house, where Companions live, the light/dark will creep on/off whilst panning, same on assorted city walls. It all seems distance related, so walking to & fro the boathouse will

have similar effect.

 

Seems I have triggered something in the period when I wasn`t playing. I did run the SkyrimLauncher before resuming, to adjust for my new monitor resolution. Apart from that I don`t recall any messing around with .inis and such. But something has clearly happened.

 

I know it`s a long shot, since there can be a bazillion variables responsible, but maybe somebody could come up with a fresh idea. I`m quite burned out, since it took me weeks to set this thing up properly, and now another afternoon trying to sort this new f-up. Any suggestions most appreciated.

 

I`m on Win 8.1 x64, 780Ti & GSYNC @ 1080p

 

[skyrim.ini]

 

[General]
sLanguage=ENGLISH
sIntroSequence=
fFlickeringLightDistance=8192

uExterior Cell Buffer=36

[Display]
fShadowLODMaxStartFade=1000.0
fSpecularLODMaxStartFade=2000.0
fLightLODMaxStartFade=3500.0
iShadowMapResolutionPrimary=2048
bAllowScreenshot=0
fSunShadowUpdateTime=0.25
fSunUpdateThreshold=1.5
iPresentInterval=1
iFPSClamp=60
[Audio]
fMusicDuckingSeconds=6.0
fMusicUnDuckingSeconds=8.0
fMenuModeFadeOutTime=3.0
fMenuModeFadeInTime=1.0

[Grass]
bAllowCreateGrass=1
bAllowLoadGrass=0
fGrassFadeRange=10000
iMaxGrassTypesPerTexure=7
iMinGrassSize=40


[GeneralWarnings]
SGeneralMasterMismatchWarning=One or more plugins could not find the correct versions of the master files they depend on. Errors may occur during load or game play. Check the "Warnings.txt" file for more information.

[Archive]
sResourceArchiveList=Skyrim - Misc.bsa, Skyrim - Shaders.bsa, Skyrim - Textures.bsa, Skyrim - Interface.bsa, Skyrim - Animations.bsa, Skyrim - Meshes.bsa, Skyrim - Sounds.bsa
sResourceArchiveList2=Skyrim - Voices.bsa, Skyrim - VoicesExtra.bsa

[Combat]
fMagnetismStrafeHeadingMult=0.0
fMagnetismLookingMult=0.0


[interface]
bShowTutorials=0

[MapMenu]
fMapWorldYawRange=400
fMapWorldMinPitch=0
fMapWorldMaxPitch=90

[Papyrus]
fPostLoadUpdateTimeMS=500.0
bEnableLogging=0
bEnableTrace=0
bLoadDebugInformation=0
[Water]
bReflectLODObjects=1
bReflectLODLand=1
bReflectSky=1
bReflectLODTrees=1

 

 

[skyrimPrefs.ini]

 

[General]
fBrightLightColorB=1.0000
fBrightLightColorG=1.0000
fBrightLightColorR=1.0000
iStoryManagerLoggingEvent=-1
bEnableStoryManagerLogging=0
[imagespace]
bDoDepthOfField=1
iRadialBlurLevel=2
[Display]
iBlurDeferredShadowMask=3
fInteriorShadowDistance=3000.0000
fShadowDistance=8000.0000
iShadowMapResolutionSecondary=1024
iShadowMapResolutionPrimary=2048
iShadowSplitCount=2
iMaxAnisotropy=1
fLeafAnimDampenDistEnd=4600.0000
fLeafAnimDampenDistStart=3600.0000
fTreesMidLODSwitchDist=8192.0000
fGamma=1.0000
fDecalLOD2=1500.0000
fDecalLOD1=1000.0000
fSpecularLODStartFade=2000.0000
fShadowLODStartFade=200.0000
fLightLODStartFade=3500.0000
iTexMipMapMinimum=0
iTexMipMapSkip=0
iWaterMultiSamples=0
iMultiSample=4
iShadowMode=3
bTreesReceiveShadows=1
bDrawLandShadows=1
bFull Screen=1
iSize H=1080
iSize W=1920
fMeshLODFadePercentDefault=1.2000
fMeshLODFadeBoundDefault=256.0000
fMeshLODLevel2FadeTreeDistance=4096.0000
fMeshLODLevel1FadeTreeDistance=6144.0000
fMeshLODLevel2FadeDist=10000000.0000
fMeshLODLevel1FadeDist=10000000.0000
iScreenShotIndex=2
bShadowMaskZPrepass=0
bMainZPrepass=0
iMaxSkinDecalsPerFrame=25
iMaxDecalsPerFrame=100
bFloatPointRenderTarget=0
sD3DDevice="NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 Ti "
bFXAAEnabled=1
iShadowMapResolution=4096
fShadowBiasScale=0.2500
iShadowMaskQuarter=4
iAdapter=0

bDeferredShadows=1
bShadowsOnGrass=1
iShadowFilter=3
bTransparencyMultisampling=0
bDrawShadows=1

[Grass]
b30GrassVS=0
fGrassStartFadeDistance=7000.0000
fGrassMaxStartFadeDistance=7000.0000
fGrassMinStartFadeDistance=0.0000
[MAIN]
bGamepadEnable=1
bCrosshairEnabled=1
fHUDOpacity=1.0000
bSaveOnPause=1
bSaveOnTravel=1
bSaveOnWait=1
bSaveOnRest=1
fSkyCellRefFadeDistance=150000.0000
[GamePlay]
bShowFloatingQuestMarkers=1
bShowQuestMarkers=1
iDifficulty=4
[interface]
bDialogueSubtitles=0
bGeneralSubtitles=0
fMouseCursorSpeed=1.0000
bShowCompass=1
[Controls]
fGamepadHeadingSensitivity=1.2400
fMouseHeadingSensitivity=0.0125
bAlwaysRunByDefault=1
bInvertYValues=0
bGamePadRumble=1
bMouseAcceleration=0
bUseKinect=0
fGamepadHeadingYScale=1.5000
fGamepadHeadingXScale=0.8500

fRThumbDeadzone=0.0000
fLThumbDeadzone=0.0000
fDirectionalDeadzone=0.0000
fLookGraphY4=0.1000
fLookGraphX4=0.1000
fLookGraphY3=0.1000
fLookGraphX3=0.1000
fLookGraphY2=0.1000
fLookGraphX2=0.1000
fLookGraphY1=0.1000
fLookGraphX1=0.1000
iNumLookGraphSettings=4
fMoveGraphY3=0.1000
fMoveGraphX3=0.1000
fMoveGraphY2=0.1000
fMoveGraphX2=0.1000
fMoveGraphY1=0.1000
fMoveGraphX1=0.1000
iNumMoveGraphSettings=3
fHeadingAxisDeadzone=0.0000
fMovementAxisDeadzone=0.0000
fMaxLookRampUpDelta=0.1300
fMaxMoveRampDownDelta=500.0000
fFreezeDirectionDefaultSpeedThreshold=100.0000
fFreezeDirectionDefaultAngleThreshold=100.0000
bFreezeDirectionOnLargeDelta=1


[Particles]
iMaxDesired=750
[saveGame]
fAutosaveEveryXMins=15.0000
[AudioMenu]
fAudioMasterVolume=0.0000
fVal7=1.0000
uID7=0
fVal6=1.0000
uID6=0
fVal5=1.0000
uID5=0
fVal4=1.0000
uID4=0
fVal3=1.0000
uID3=94881
fVal2=0.4000
uID2=466532
fVal1=1.0000
uID1=554685
fVal0=0.8000
uID0=1007612
[Clouds]
fCloudLevel2Distance=262144.0000
fCloudLevel1Distance=32768.0000
fCloudLevel0Distance=16384.0000
fCloudNearFadeDistance=9000.0000
[TerrainManager]
fTreeLoadDistance=75000.0000
fBlockMaximumDistance=250000.0000
fBlockLevel1Distance=70000.0000
fBlockLevel0Distance=35000.0000
fSplitDistanceMult=1.5000
bShowLODInEditor=0
[NavMesh]
fObstacleAlpha=0.5000
fCoverSideHighAlpha=0.8000
fCoverSideLowAlpha=0.6500
fEdgeFullAlpha=1.0000
fEdgeHighAlpha=0.7500
fEdgeLowAlpha=0.5000
fTriangleFullAlpha=0.7000
fTriangleHighAlpha=0.3500
fTriangleLowAlpha=0.2000
fLedgeBoxHalfHeight=25.0000
fEdgeDistFromVert=10.0000
fEdgeThickness=10.0000
fPointSize=2.5000
[Trees]
bRenderSkinnedTrees=1
uiMaxSkinnedTreesToRender=200
[Decals]
uMaxDecals=1000
bDecals=1
bSkinnedDecals=1
uMaxSkinDecals=100
uMaxSkinDecalsPerActor=60
[LOD]
fLODFadeOutMultObjects=15.0000
fLODFadeOutMultItems=15.0000
fLODFadeOutMultActors=15.0000
fLODFadeOutMultSkyCell=1.0000
[Launcher]
bEnableFileSelection=1
bShowAllResolutions=1
uLastAspectRatio=3
[blurShaderHDR]
bDoHighDynamicRange=1
[blurShader]
bUseBlurShader=0
[water]
iWaterReflectHeight=1024
iWaterReflectWidth=1024


bUseWaterDisplacements=1
bUseWaterRefractions=1
bUseWaterReflections=1
bUseWaterDepth=1

 

 

[LOOT]

 

 0  0 Skyrim.esm
 1  1 Update.esm
 2  2 Dawnguard.esm
 3  3 HearthFires.esm
 4  4 Dragonborn.esm
 5  5 Skyrim Project Optimization - Full Version.esm
 6  6 Unofficial Skyrim Legendary Edition Patch.esp
 7  7 Campfire.esm
 8  8 ClimatesOfTamriel.esm
      HighResTexturePack01.esp
      HighResTexturePack02.esp
      HighResTexturePack03.esp
      Unofficial High Resolution Patch.esp
 9  9 Dead Body Collision.esp
10  a NoAnimalsReportCrimes-DG+DB.esp
11  b dD - Realistic Ragdoll Force - Realistic.esp
12  c RealisticNeedsandDiseases.esp
13  d RND_Dawnguard-Patch.esp
14  e RND_Dragonborn-Patch.esp
15  f DD_Dawnguard Additions.esp
16 10 DD_Dragonborn Additions.esp
17 11 Disease Descriptions_RND Compatibile.esp
18 12 SkyUI.esp
19 13 TradeBarter.esp
20 14 LessIntrusiveHUD.esp
21 15 iHUD.esp
22 16 EnhancedLightsandFX.esp
      ClimatesOfTamriel-Dungeons-Hardcore.esp
23 17 Immersive Citizens - AI Overhaul.esp
24 18 Guard Dialogue Overhaul.esp
25 19 RealShelter.esp
26 1a Point The Way.esp
27 1b Dark Light Templates.esp
28 1c SMIM-Merged-All.esp
29 1d SFO - Dragonborn.esp
30 1e Unbelievable Grass Two.esp
31 1f Skyrim Flora Overhaul.esp
32 20 Footprints.esp
33 21 ClimatesOfTamriel-Dawnguard-Patch.esp
34 22 ClimatesOfTamriel-Dragonborn-Patch.esp
35 23 Frostfall.esp
36 24 RND_HearthFires-Patch.esp
37 25 Duel - Combat Realism.esp
38 26 DYNAVISION Dynamic Depth of Field.esp
39 27 BetterQuestObjectives.esp
40 28 abotFiresHurt.esp
41 29 Realistic_Regeneration.esp
42 2a RealisticRoomRental-Basic.esp
43 2b Weapons & Armor Fixes_Remade.esp
44 2c TCSO - Total Carryweight System Overhaul with Backpacks.esp
45 2d The Dance of Death.esp
46 2e Weapons & Armor_TrueWeaponsLvlLists.esp
47 2f WetandCold.esp
48 30 Immersive NPC in the dark.esp
49 31 RealisticNights.esp
50 32 RSPatch.esp
51 33 RealisticNightsCOT_DB.esp

 

 

EDIT: Sorted. As I feared, the reason was simple, but embarrassing: I forgot that MO keeps its own .ini files and was tweaking the "dead" /MyGames .inis  :/ After replacing MO inis with my backup ones it`s okay now: the effect is still there but much less pronounced so it`s just below my OCD level.

 

I think the ol` fShadowBiasScale parameter is the main culprit, at 0.2500 it`s okay but ENB (or other things?) seem to set it to 0.15 and cause trouble.

Edited May 30, 2016 by akeley