I decided to create a thread for my series of 'tech demo' videos of Skyrim ENB visual effects. I will add new videos to this thread on the ENBdev.com forums as I continue to create them. The first five videos are included below:
This video demonstrates the real-time screen-space reflections effect of ENB series for Skyrim, calculating true reflections in real-time as opposed to the standard simulated cube-map techniques.
This video demonstrates the image-based lighting (IBL) effect of ENB series for Skyrim, an effect that is only now beginning to appear in commercial video games. IBL is an effect where the scene is illuminated from above by the light from the sky. To oversimplify: a image of the sky is reflected onto the scene. IBL also has potenial applications for interior scenes, but the Skyrim ENB only uses this effect in exterior scenes with the sky.
This video demonstrates the underappreciated subsurface scattering (SSS) effect of ENB series for Skyrim, another effect that is only now starting to appear in commercial video games in 2015. Subsurface scattering is the diffusion of light within a translucent material. For more info, see <!-- m -->En.wikipedia.org<!-- m -->
In ENB series for Skyrim, subsurface scattering is mostly used to help skin to look more like skin, rather than like leather or rubber.
This video demonstrates the screen-space indirect lighting (SSIL) effect of ENB series for Skyrim, an effect rarely used in ANY commercial video games to date. SSIL is an effect where light cast onto one surface is reflected onto other nearby surfaces. It can be considered a 'sister effect' to screen-space ambient occlusion (SSAO), working with light rather than shadow.
This video demonstrates the screen-space ambient occlusion (SSAO) effect of ENB series for Skyrim. Ambient occlusion is an effect that calculates how exposed each point in a scene is to ambient lighting; areas with less light exposure, like corners & crevices,are darkened accordingly. ENB's implementation of SSAO is more sophisticated than most found in commercial games today; it respects lighting and transparency, and applies realistic darkening to affected areas rather than overlaying 'black blobs' as bound in some games. (*cough* ... Far Cry 4 ... *cough*). SSAO can be considered a 'sister effect' to screen-space indirect lighting (SSIL).
Screen-Space Ambient Occlusion Tech Demo - 1080p@30FPS
This video demonstrates the volumetric mist effect of ENB series for Skyrim. ENB for Skyrim allows for volumetric mist to be added to areas of the game world. The appearance of mist depends on weather conditions and requires an ENB preset designed to use the effect, such as Enhanced Shaders NLA.
Volumetric mist helps foggy days feel more atmospheric, and also helps to mask lower quality distant textures and models with a realistic effect.
Looks really nice, I would have installed it if it wasn't so complicated and cut in so many files !
+I already have a couple mods making the game look better so I guess it would cause conflicting issues :( *sigh* I already spent a lot of time installing all the mods I have.
Anyway, if one day a full "beautification" mod comes out with everything packed in and easy to install (exe or big file to just unzip somewhere) including face lift and environment + lighting and spell effects... I would definitely give it a try !!!
Please keep us up to date with that too :)
This mod is compatible with most other visual mods, just not other mods that change weather. I use this along with 200+ other mods and don't have any issues. A list of the visual mods I use can be found at the bottom of the mods page on the Nexus: Nexusmods.com?
That being said, it does take some work to install 200+ mods to get your game looking nice, though in my mind it is worth it. There are many configuration options to choose from based on your particular hardware and desired level of performance, so a '1 size fits all' overhaul installer does not seem likely. Also, all the individual modders would have to allow for their mods to be included....
Weird , im using it with Climates Of Tamriel , and it works perfectly lol
Hmm, well if you have the Natural Lighting and Atmospherics.esp lower in your load order than Climates of Tamriel, this might work ok, though it may look weird when any CoT-specific weather type loads. Anyway, if it's working for you then right on! :)
Nice, not sure on the SSIL, seems a bit dramatic, however if it works with the SSAO, i guess it wouldn't make objects glow from the bottom.
The SSIL is fairly dramatic in the demo video, but it is actually less intense as per my recommended settings and it can be further reduced to taste --just reduce one value until it feels right to you. It also works nicely with SSAO, they are kind of like two sides of the same coin...
Would you recommend this for Dawn of War Soulstorm?
This particular mod only works for Skyrim, though there may be a version of ENB series that works for that Warhammer 40K game. I suggest poking around the ENB forums, here: Enbseries.enbdev.com