Guide:ENBSeries

Template:Notice A comprehensive guide for properly setting up ENB for n00bs to gurus -- by Staind716 & S.T.E.P. Team

Updated: 21:01:48 31 August 2012 (UTC)

GUIDE FORUM THREAD

Introduction

Installation

SMAA

Configuration

Troubleshooting

Final Checklist

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This guide is designed to answer the most common questions related to the use of ENBSeries mods for Skyrim. Please note this is intended as a general overview of ENBSeries mod use. While this guide does contain many helpful tips, it is not meant to answer questions about any specific ENBSeries mod configuration. If seeking answers related to a particular ENB mod please contact that mod's author. Thank you.

What is ENB?

ENBSeries is a powerful post processing modification available for Skyrim. This tool enables users to create custom configurations designed to their own specifications by modifying rendering functions and the application of additional effects.

Much more detailed explanation to come.

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NOTE: ENB MUST be installed manually; it is NOT compatibile with any mod manager.

While slightly more involved than experienced ENB users may be accustomed to, this installation procedure ensures you will not encounter any possible issues related to the installation process.

Prior to Installation

• Calibrate your monitor
• Make sure your graphic drivers are up to date. If not, please download and install new drivers via a clean installation.
• Download the recommended ENB d3d9.dll for your chosen ENB mod here.
• Save the folder you just downloaded on your desktop.
• Please, if this is your first time using an ENB, read the TESV documentation here.
• Back up your game INIs. These are the "Skyrim.ini" and "SkyimPrefs.ini", located in your "My Documents\My Games\Skyrim" folder.
• Back up your game saves.
• If you're currently using an ENB or FXAA, do the following as well:

• Back up your current ENB or FXAA post-process injector to another folder.
• Delete ALL ENB and post-processing injector files in your root Skyrim folder.

Then, follow this process:

1. Make sure you've backed up your game INIs.
2. Delete "RendererInfo.txt" in "My Documents\My Games\Skyrim".
3. Launch "TESV.exe". Skyrim will recognize your renderer. The launcher will then regenerate two default game INIs.
4. Don't launch the game, quit.
5. Delete the two default INIs.
6. Put your saved INIs back in "My Documents\My Games\Skyrim" and keep a copy on your desktop.
7. Quit.

Game INIs

For ENB to work as intended, you will have to make some modifications in your game INIs.

In your "SkyrimPrefs.ini", set the following in the [Display] section:

bFloatPointRenderTarget=1

For Enbseries .117 and later you also need

bTreesReceiveShadows=1
bDrawLandShadows=1
bShadowsOnGrass=1

Files

Make sure to read the documentation provided on the mod's description page and in any available Readme's.

• Copy ONLY the "d3d9.dll" from the package you just downloaded from enbdev.com to your root Skyrim folder. The root Skyrim folder is where the TESV executable is located. You do NOT need any of the other files, ONLY the "d3d9.dll".
• Copy the files provided in your chosen ENB mod to the correct destination folders, as indicated in the mod's documentation.

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SMAA (Highly Recommended)

Note: This section is entirely optional and SMAA is NOT required to run ENB.

SubPixel Morphological Anti-Aliasing is a fantastic post-processing anti-aliasing method. Unlike MSAA, SMAA is processed after ENB, sparing a lot of headroom performance wise, and ensuring full compatibility. If you wish to use SMAA, set the following in the [Display] section of your "SkyrimPrefs.ini":

For users with low to mid range computers SMAA is a great replacement for the game engines AA or a forced driver AA, you get 80% of the quality improvements with only 20% of the performance hit. For users with a high end machine we recommend you use a forced driver SGSSAA in addition to the SMAA.

iMultiSample=0 
bTransparencyMultisampling=0

Then, copy the following files provided in the ENB mod download files to your root Skyrim folder :

• d3d9_smaa.dll
• injector.ini
• SMAA.h
• SMAA.fx

Note

Even though some ENB mods may not include SMAA in their download files it is still possible to use SMAA for anti-aliasing as long as you do not have an additional d3d9.dll already enabled in "enbseries.ini".

You can download SMAA here.

Copy the following files into your Skyrim main folder :

• d3d9_smaa.dll
• injector.ini
• SMAA.h
• SMAA.fx

To enable SMAA set the following in the [PROXY] section of your "enbseries.ini":

EnableProxyLibrary=TRUE
InitProxyFunctions=true
ProxyLibrary=d3d9_smaa.dll

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Editing the Enbseries ini

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Strange things happening?

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Before you Play

After following the above steps, run through this process once again:

1. Backup your INIs to your desktop from "My Documents\My Games\Skyrim".
2. Delete "RendererInfo.txt".
3. Launch "TESV.exe" and Skyrim will recognize your renderer. If you wish to use SMAA, set AA to 0 in the launcher. The launcher will then regenerate two default game INIs.
4. Don't launch the game; quit.
5. Delete the two default INIs.
6. Return the INIs you just backed up to "My Documents\My Games\Skyrim".
7. Save and quit.
8. Finally, Launch the game and enjoy!