RLO vs. ELFX vs. Vanilla

[Deathwing514]

Welcome Step Members and Guest alike,

 

I wanted to start the conversation for the future post processing packs which will include the lighting mods.

 

I know this will be one of the most opinionated topics as every individual has their own style that they enjoy.

 

As a result, I have taken a couple of screenshots on the most popular lighting mods on nexus which include RLO & ELFX

 

UPDATE: By request from step members, I have included a couple ELFX Enhancer version. ENJOY

 

Here are the screenshots below:

 

Vanilla                                           ELFX                           RLO

 

   

 

   

 

   

 

   

 

   

 

   

 

   

 

(These Pictures have been taken with Skyrelaism ENB that only includes detailed shadows, It does not include any of the SSAO, DOF, etc effects)

 

Vanilla                                     ELFX                                       ELFX Enchancer                      RLO

 

       

 

     

 

  https://i.imgur.com/VMXx642.jpg  https://i.imgur.com/db4oM7b.jpg  https://i.imgur.com/mnycOSu.jpg

 

https://i.imgur.com/RiqlImH.jpg  https://i.imgur.com/KiCQzUR.jpg  https://i.imgur.com/LE3H468.jpg  https://i.imgur.com/H8dWWqL.jpg

 

(These Pictures have been taken with Real Vision ENB that only includes detailed shadows, It does not include any of the SSAO, DOF, etc effects)

 

Extra

 

https://i.imgur.com/8hyrP43.jpg

 

Enjoy and Let me know your thoughts on which one you think is best =-)

 

If you would like me to finish the ELFX Enhancer version for the rest of the screenshots just ask. At the moment I have no plans to do them unless requested.

 

Update: Added More Different Interior Screenshots

 

If you want a certain lighting mod to be compared with these, let me know which one and give me the link.

[TechAngel85]

I've always have been and continue to be a fan of RLO. Of course this is from my seeking of realism in the game. ELFX has too many unnatural lighting situations (not saying that RLO is perfect; however, it's more realistic in my opinion).

[phazer11]

Personally all ELFX needs in my opinion is a bit of a light source brightness decrease. If the fires and such (moonlight through windows for example) weren't so bright I'd say ELFX win hands down in these compares. Oh I almost forgot are you using the release candidate or 4.0.7 of RLO.

[Deathwing514]

@phazer11

 

I am currently using the 4.0.7 Version.

 

BTW, what exactly is the release candidate version? Is it the weather version that you are speaking off or a beta version that I missed somehow?

[EssArrBee]

What's up with the Hall of the Kings or whatever from Windhelm? RLO is pretty much black.

[MontyMM]

I'm a bit of a heretic here. I really dislike the ambient lighting in vanilla, but I'm also not sold on any of the major lighting mods at this stage. I do think that RLO was doing some good work and showing promise, but it seems to be in development hell, perhaps understandably given Sidney's difficulties.

[phazer11]

By the Release Candidate version I mean: link. I think it's just the weathers they changed but who knows?

[Roogal]

While I do like both almost equally I like ehlfx more so.  I agree with phazer11 about it being a little too bright but this can be fixed with enb. I also think you cant really call any lighting pack the better one since enb enhances lighting packs so much and in different ways which is why in my opinion you should leave it up to the user.

 

As for step extended I think maybe have a review of what step thinks is most suited to become a main option but make it aware that the user should try experimenting to find there own enb/lighting preference.  I think it should also be known that from what I read on enb image forum (1300+ pages) most popular enb makers there use elfx when designing their enbs.  That doesnt mean you cant use rlo and enb of course just thought I'd point that out though.

[TechAngel85]

I seem to be noticing a theme. Most whom use ELFX also use ENB. In truth, you can't really discuss "this is better because ENB fixes the issues" when thinking in term of STEP unless the pack itself will also include a specific ENB. If you're just comparing the lighting mods as standalone, then ENB has no standing in the compare. Not everyone uses ENBs. Personally, I don't use them so I would never compare any lighting mod based on what an ENB could or couldn't fix in the mod.

 

If I'm going to use a lighting mod, then it would be standalone and this is also what STEP would do as well. ENBs are far too numerous to compare and too based on personal tastes for STEP to really recommend a single best option (or even a small group).

 

In any case, it's been decided that all lighting mods that are good candidates are not mature enough to be considered and compared for any official STEP inclusion. If anyone wishes to author a pack; however, feel free to do so.

[Neovalen]

For me I guess my view is tainted in that I will not play Skyrim WITHOUT an ENB... its just not the same game. :)

[Deathwing514]

I am so torn right now with both these lighting mods.

 

I love Realistic Lighting Overahul because

 

a. It has a realistic feeling

b. I love the warm pallette

 

However, I dislike RLO because

 

a. The dungeons are not complete

b. Some interiors have a overly saturated orange look (for example, the morgue picture)

 

I love Enchanced Light FX because

 

a. the way that the light works with the window

b. the fact that the dungeons are complete

 

However I dislike ELFX because

 

a. the brightness in some interiors ( i call it the moonlight effect) is too bright. (example:Interior of Windhelm Inn)

b. the dungeons are very dark.

 

 

Its really a toss up at this point.

 

If RLO finishes the dungeons and reduces the over-saturated orange, they would defiantly be a front contender.

 

On the other hand,

 

If ELFX fixes the overly bright moonlight effect, they would also be in the front contender.

 

Hmm, its really a matter of opinion but, we need to analyze both these mods and see which one actually benefits the vision of STEP.

[TechAngel85]

The only problem is that we can't properly analyze these mods yet. Neither are complete. RLO's next release should include a finished weathers module which is being likened to an ENB without the performance hit. Future plans include finished dungeons, revamped cities and towns, and Dragonborn DLC. Problem is, development is extremely slow right now with only one active author.

 

I don't know anything about ELFX's releases. I only know from the 100+ screenshots I've viewed over time that it's more cinematic than realistic and not my forte.

[Garfink]

My favorite ENBs are Ruvaak Dahmaan (for a more vanilla palette cinema experience that works great with Climates of Tamriel which is a BIG plus) and Somber (for a more stylistic vintage cinema experience), so you can gather that I am a cinematic loving sort of guy. As it stands currently I prefer ELFX, I found RLO overly warm, realistic yes, since most of the light sources in a medieval world is fire, but it made the game less colorful and I prefer the darker dungeon of ELFX, in my opinion, I don't think the dungeons or nights are dark enough even with ELFX & Blackout! The light through the windows is very nice and looks amazing of course. (too bad COT's darker nights mess with brightness of light sources as well as the ambient brightness, or it would fix my issues with ELFX)

 

I agree that if ELFX toned down the brightness of light sources in taverns and inns, it would be perfect. Looking at the screen shots alone, no doubt in my mine ELFX, RLO looks unfinished in some of those screenies.

 

Not to mention that most ENBs (the ones I like anyway) out there support ELFX over RLO.

 

As for Vanilla lighting.... meh, talk about moonlight effect, its amazing how bright everything is!

[thunderclam]

ELFX+RCRN was what I used back before I found STEP. It was a glorious combination. Then some changes were made in both mods and it got less good. Now it seems like ELFX and a very vanilla-conscious ENB are the way to go. But I actually think ELFX still works very nicely without ENB.

[gamingsrc]

From the beginning of my play through of Skyrim I started with the old "Realistic Lighting with Customization" and I was quite happy with it. Then after come RLO v4 (and Realistic Lighting with Customization v3 deleted from tesnexus, for what reason?). I tested RLO v4 for some weeks and discovered that it was far to be a finished work and his development was quite slowing. Then I converted to RCRN 3.6, then v2.0.0 beta for several months. This lighting mod has great potential but has some flaws (concerning weather transport). I tested COT v3.5 and ELFX v0.3 and was not convinced.

Now I have come back to "Realistic Lighting with Customization v3.5" (fortunately I kept a downloaded copy in my hard disk) and I have been playing with for more two months. No scripts, no loss of performances. Happy again with this lighting mod.