openmw/docs/source/reference/modding/settings/shaders.rst

Shaders Settings
################

.. omw-setting::
   :title: force shaders
   :type: boolean
   :range: true, false
   :default: false

   Force rendering with shaders for all objects, even those that do not strictly need them.
   Required if enhancements like shadows or reverse z are enabled.
   May have a significant performance impact.

.. omw-setting::
   :title: force per pixel lighting
   :type: boolean
   :range: true, false
   :default: false
   :location: :bdg-info:`In Game > Settings > Options > Video > Lights`

   Force per-pixel lighting on all shader objects.
   Changes lighting behavior from the original MW engine.
   Groundcover shaders and particles ignore this setting.

.. omw-setting::
   :title: clamp lighting
   :type: boolean
   :range: true, false
   :default: true

   Restrict lighting to a maximum of (1,1,1) on shader objects.
   Prevents overly bright or shifted colors but can dull lighting.
   Terrain is always drawn with shaders to prevent seams.

.. omw-setting::
   :title: auto use object normal maps
   :type: boolean
   :range: true, false
   :default: false
   :location: :bdg-success:`Launcher > Settings > Visuals > Shaders`

   Automatically detect and use object normal maps named with pattern defined by :ref:`normal map pattern`.
   Otherwise normal maps must be explicitly listed in mesh files.

.. omw-setting::
   :title: auto use object specular maps
   :type: boolean
   :range: true, false
   :default: false
   :location: :bdg-success:`Launcher > Settings > Visuals > Shaders`

   Automatically detect and use object specular maps named with pattern defined by :ref:`specular map pattern`.
   Only supported in `.osg` files.

.. omw-setting::
   :title: auto use terrain normal maps
   :type: boolean
   :range: true, false
   :default: false
   :location: :bdg-success:`Launcher > Settings > Visuals > Shaders`

   Same as :ref:`auto use object normal maps`, but applies to terrain.

.. omw-setting::
   :title: auto use terrain specular maps
   :type: boolean
   :range: true, false
   :default: false
   :location: :bdg-success:`Launcher > Settings > Visuals > Shaders`

   Use terrain specular maps if matching :ref:`terrain specular map pattern` texture exists.
   Texture RGB is layer color, alpha is specular multiplier.

.. omw-setting::
   :title: normal map pattern
   :type: string
   :default: _n

   Filename pattern used to detect normal maps automatically.

.. omw-setting::
   :title: normal height map pattern
   :type: string
   :default: _nh

   Alternative pattern for normal maps containing height in alpha channel for parallax effects.

.. omw-setting::
   :title: specular map pattern
   :type: string
   :default: _spec

   Filename pattern to detect object specular maps.

.. omw-setting::
   :title: terrain specular map pattern
   :type: string
   :default: _diffusespec

   Filename pattern to detect terrain specular maps.

.. omw-setting::
   :title: apply lighting to environment maps
   :type: boolean
   :range: true, false
   :default: false
   :location: :bdg-success:`Launcher > Settings > Visuals > Shaders`

   Enable lighting effects on environment map reflections to prevent glowing in dark areas.

.. omw-setting::
   :title: lighting method
   :type: string
   :range: legacy | shaders compatibility | shaders
   :default: shaders compatibility
   :location: :bdg-info:`In Game > Settings > Options > Video > Lights` :bdg-success:`Launcher > Settings > Visuals > Lighting`

   Controls internal light source handling:
   - `legacy`: fixed-function pipeline, max 8 lights per object.
   - `shaders compatibility`: removes light limit, better attenuation, recommended for older hardware.
   - `shaders`: modern lighting approach, higher light counts, better for modern GPUs.

.. omw-setting::
   :title: light bounds multiplier
   :type: float32
   :range: 0.0-5.0
   :default: 1.65
   :location: :bdg-info:`In Game > Settings > Options > Video > Lights`

   Multiplier for point light bounding sphere radius, affecting light transition smoothness and performance.

.. omw-setting::
   :title: classic falloff
   :type: boolean
   :range: true, false
   :default: false
   :location: :bdg-info:`In Game > Settings > Options > Video > Lights`

   Use traditional point light attenuation without early fade out.
   Reduces lighting seams but may darken the scene.

.. omw-setting::
   :title: match sunlight to sun
   :type: boolean
   :range: true, false
   :default: false
   :location: :bdg-info:`In Game > Settings > Options > Video > Lights`

   Aligns the sun light source direction with the visible sun position for realism.

.. omw-setting::
   :title: maximum light distance
   :type: float32
   :range: full float range
   :default: 8192
   :location: :bdg-info:`In Game > Settings > Options > Video > Lights`

   Maximum distance at which lights illuminate objects.
   Set to ≤ 0 to disable fading for lights.

.. omw-setting::
   :title: light fade start
   :type: float32
   :range: 0.0-1.0
   :default: 0.85
   :location: :bdg-info:`In Game > Settings > Options > Video > Lights`

   Fraction of max distance where light fading begins.

.. omw-setting::
   :title: max lights
   :type: int
   :range: 2-64
   :default: 8
   :location: :bdg-info:`In Game > Settings > Options > Video > Lights`

   Maximum lights affecting each object.
   Too high values may reduce performance unless using 'shaders' method.

.. omw-setting::
   :title: minimum interior brightness
   :type: float32
   :range: 0.0-1.0
   :default: 0.08
   :location: :bdg-info:`In Game > Settings > Options > Video > Lights`

   Minimum ambient brightness inside interiors.
   Should be small to avoid unwanted visual changes.

.. omw-setting::
   :title: antialias alpha test
   :type: boolean
   :range: true, false
   :default: false
   :location: :bdg-success:`Launcher > Settings > Visuals > Shaders`

   Converts alpha testing to alpha-to-coverage for smoother edges with MSAA enabled.

.. omw-setting::
   :title: adjust coverage for alpha test
   :type: boolean
   :range: true, false
   :default: true
   :location: :bdg-success:`Launcher > Settings > Visuals > Shaders`

   Mitigates shrinking artifacts on alpha-tested textures without coverage-preserving mipmaps.

.. omw-setting::
   :title: soft particles
   :type: boolean
   :range: true, false
   :default: false
   :location: :bdg-success:`Launcher > Settings > Visuals > Shaders`

   Enables soft particles effect for smoother particle intersections.

.. omw-setting::
   :title: weather particle occlusion
   :type: boolean
   :range: true, false
   :default: false
   :location: :bdg-success:`Launcher > Settings > Visuals > Shaders`

   Prevents rain and snow clipping through ceilings by using an extra render pass.
   
   .. warning::

      Experimental and may cause visual oddities.