Guide:Lighting: Difference between revisions
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[[Category:Guides]] | [[Category:Deprecated Guides]]{{alert|type=notice|text=This Guide is out of date as of 01/25/2013 with the release of Realistic Lighting Overhaul (previously known as RLwC) and will not likely be updated anytime soon. With the release of RLO and COT (March 30th) combined with additional lighting mods such as Relighting Skyrim; there is simply too much work to do and not enough time (or patience) to do it.}} | ||
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''A guide to popular lighting mods for newcomers and gurus alike -- by TechAngel85, the S.T.E.P. Team, and S.T.E.P Community'' | ''A guide to popular lighting mods for newcomers and gurus alike -- by TechAngel85, the S.T.E.P. Team, and S.T.E.P Community'' | ||
:Updated: {{ #time: G:i:s j F Y "(UTC)" | {{REVISIONTIMESTAMP}} }} | :Updated: {{ #time: G:i:s j F Y "(UTC)" | {{REVISIONTIMESTAMP}} }} | ||
[ | [https://stepmodifications.org/forum/showthread.php?tid=1206 '''GUIDE FORUM THREAD'''] | ||
= Introduction = | = Introduction = | ||
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The mods that will be covered by this guide are: | The mods that will be covered by this guide are: | ||
*[ | *[https://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/17802 Project Reality - Climates Of Tamriel] (CoT) | ||
*[ | *[https://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/1875 Realistic Colors and Real Nights] (RCRN) | ||
*[ | *[https://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/7654 Realistic Lighting with Customization] (RLwC) (Now Realistic Lighting Overhaul) | ||
== What is a lighting mod? == | == What is a lighting mod? == | ||
Without getting technical, a lighting mod changes either individual lighting aspects of a game, such as interiors and dungeons, or the the overall lighting of a game; often called overhauls. The above mods are overhauls; but are compatible with most other mods including ENBs to further enhance the ENB effects which is covered in the ENB Guide. They are ''not''; however, compatible with each other at this time. You can use only one lighting mod above. | Without getting technical, a lighting mod changes either individual lighting aspects of a game, such as interiors and dungeons, or the the overall lighting of a game; often called overhauls. The above mods are overhauls; but are compatible with most other mods including ENBs to further enhance the ENB effects which is covered in the ENB Guide. They are ''not''; however, compatible with each other at this time. You can use only one lighting mod above. (Realistic Lighting Overhaul and COT will be compatible with the release of COT v3.0) | ||
= Comparison = | = Comparison = | ||
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== Frame Rate Comparison == | == Frame Rate Comparison == | ||
The frame rates below are very subjective as they are based off a specific hardware setup. Please note that frame rates vary from system to system. This comparison is provided for a general idea of the performance impact only; therefore, if your frames rate do not match that is perfectly normal. Frame rates were gathered from various areas around Skyrim to provide diversity. | The frame rates below are very subjective as they are based off a specific hardware setup. Please note that frame rates vary from system to system. This comparison is provided for a general idea of the performance impact only; therefore, if your frames rate do not match that is perfectly normal. Frame rates were gathered from various areas around Skyrim to provide diversity. | ||
{{alert|type=notice|text=These numbers are out-of-date. Realistic Lighting Overhaul will most likely cause some performance loss.}} | |||
{| style="width: 100px;" | {| style="width: 100px;" | ||
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== Daylight Comparison == | == Daylight Comparison == | ||
These screen shots were taken during the day at the same location and time. | These screen shots were taken during the day at the same location and time. | ||
== Dusk Comparison == | == Dusk Comparison == | ||
These screen shots were taking at dusk (sun setting) at the same location and time. | These screen shots were taking at dusk (sun setting) at the same location and time. | ||
== Nighttime Comparison == | == Nighttime Comparison == | ||
These screen shots were taken during the night at the same location and time. | These screen shots were taken during the night at the same location and time. | ||
== Dungeon Comparison == | == Dungeon Comparison == | ||
These screen shots were taken in a semi-dungeon environment at the same location and time. | These screen shots were taken in a semi-dungeon environment at the same location and time. | ||
== Interior Comparison == | == Interior Comparison == | ||
These screen shots were taken inside an interior at the same location and time. | These screen shots were taken inside an interior at the same location and time. | ||
== Additional Lighting Comparison - Fire Glow == | == Additional Lighting Comparison - Fire Glow == | ||
These screen shots were taken inside a cave environment at the same location and time. | These screen shots were taken inside a cave environment at the same location and time. | ||
==== Results ==== | ==== Results ==== | ||
As you can see there is very little difference between Vanilla and CoT unless the optional presets are used for dungeons and interiors. The rest of the lighting remains very similar to Vanilla. RCRN livens up the colors and lighting to a more realistic tone. RCRN is easily one of the most popular lighting mods for this reason. Standing right next to RCRN on popularity is RLwC. RLwC - Hardcore is a brilliant piece of art as is it's lighter version, Vision. The Hardcore version provides vibrant colors and lighting with | As you can see there is very little difference between Vanilla and CoT unless the optional presets are used for dungeons and interiors. The rest of the lighting remains very similar to Vanilla. RCRN livens up the colors and lighting to a more realistic tone. RCRN is easily one of the most popular lighting mods for this reason. Standing right next to RCRN on popularity is RLwC (now Realistic Lighting Overhaul). RLwC - Hardcore is a brilliant piece of art as is it's lighter version, Vision. The Hardcore version provides vibrant colors and lighting with very dark nights. The Vision version is lighter and closer to RCRN lighting, but still providing most of the lighting present in the Hardcore version such as darker nights. | ||
''Note: All screen shots were taken with no AA and default game settings in order to generalize performance across all mods.'' | ''Note: All screen shots were taken with no AA and default game settings in order to generalize performance across all mods.'' | ||
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==== Realistic Colors and Real Nights (RCRN) ==== | ==== Realistic Colors and Real Nights (RCRN) ==== | ||
Like CoT, RCRN is more than just a lighting mod. It includes dynamic weathers, FXAA, and HDR as well. RCRN includes three optional night lighting levels to choose from; Legacy, Classic, and Pure. Legacy provides lesser contrast and slightly brighter nights and dungeons; torches will not be needed. Classic provides balanced colors and dark nights and dungeons; suggest you utilize your torch. Finally, Pure provides the ultimate experience with very dark nights and pitch black dungeons; torches are required if you wish to see. You can see an example of each on their [ | Like CoT, RCRN is more than just a lighting mod. It includes dynamic weathers, FXAA, and HDR as well. RCRN includes three optional night lighting levels to choose from; Legacy, Classic, and Pure. Legacy provides lesser contrast and slightly brighter nights and dungeons; torches will not be needed. Classic provides balanced colors and dark nights and dungeons; suggest you utilize your torch. Finally, Pure provides the ultimate experience with very dark nights and pitch black dungeons; torches are required if you wish to see. You can see an example of each on their [https://www.rcrncommunity.com/presets Web site]. | ||
==== Realistic Lighting with Customization (RLwC) ==== | ==== Realistic Lighting with Customization (RLwC) ==== | ||
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==== Imaginator ==== | ==== Imaginator ==== | ||
Imaginator is a powerful, yet easy to use in-game tool which allows individual control over visual elements such as: brightness, contrast, saturation, sunlight output, bloom, and tint. It is utilized in-game by the use of a "helper spell". This is a great tool to use as a first choice when tweaking lighting and one of the only | [https://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/13049 Imaginator] is a powerful, yet easy to use in-game tool which allows individual control over visual elements such as: brightness, contrast, saturation, sunlight output, bloom, and tint. It is utilized in-game by the use of a "helper spell". This is a great tool to use as a first choice when tweaking lighting and one of the only ways to tweak these mods besides using their presets. | ||
= Final Recommendation = | = Final Recommendation = | ||
The best experience in lighting, without using an ENB, is objective to the player's own personal likes and tastes. Climates of Tamriel doesn't provide much improved in overall lighting without using the optional files. Realistic Colors and Real Nights provides a very natural lighting overhaul and vamps up the colors to boot without overdoing it. Realistic Lighting with Customization using the Hardcore option gives you amazing lighting, vibrant colors, and very dark nights; a great game-play experience. Their Vision option provides the same experience with slightly less dark nights and slightly less vibrant colors. | |||
If you are planning on using an ENB in combination with a lighting mod, please review the [https://stepmodifications.org/wiki/Guide:ENB ENB Guide]. As always, this guide is provided only for general information. The choice of which mods are chosen or not is a personal choice for each person to decide themselves. | |||
<headertabs/> | <headertabs/> |
Latest revision as of 18:57, June 23, 2021
NOTE
This Guide is out of date as of 01/25/2013 with the release of Realistic Lighting Overhaul (previously known as RLwC) and will not likely be updated anytime soon. With the release of RLO and COT (March 30th) combined with additional lighting mods such as Relighting Skyrim; there is simply too much work to do and not enough time (or patience) to do it.A guide to popular lighting mods for newcomers and gurus alike -- by TechAngel85, the S.T.E.P. Team, and S.T.E.P Community
- Updated: 18:57:32 23 June 2021 (UTC)