Graphics trouble, one for the gurus I think

Public Technical problems / FAQ
1

Hi all,

Thanks in advance.

Being as brief as possible I am not at all happy with my graphics settings, things appear blocky, ie the sea, sunlight and evening / early morning missions look awful becuase of mad colours and reflections and I have the hardest time spotting bandits, frequently people I am flying with spot the bad guys long before me and have to point me in the right direction. Just after some help to clear things up.

I am running a Samsung SM913N monitor at 1280 x 1024 75Hz.

The graphics card is a GeForce 7800GTX 256mb using 81.98 drivers.

The rest of the PC is 2GB matched Corsair RAM and a AMD4800+ CPU.

I guess that is all you need on the hardware front?

Ok so heres an extraction of my conf.ini file from IL2.

BTW its only IL2 that I am not happy with, my other games all look very clear and sharp in great resolution and colour.

EXTRACT.
[window]
width=1280
height=1024
ColourBits=16
DepthBits=24
StencilBits=8
ChangeScreenRes=1
FullScreen=1
DrawIfNotFocused=0
EnableResize=0
EnableClose=1
SaveAspect=1
Use3Renders=0

[GLPROVIDER]
GL=Opengl32.dll

[GLPROVIDERS]
Open GL=Opengl32.dll
DirectX=dx8wrap.dll

[game]
Arcade=0
HighGore=1
mapPadX=0.64765626
mapPadY=-0.034375
viewSet=35
Intro=0
NoSubTitles=0
NoChatter=0
NoHudLog=0
NoLensFlare=0
iconTypes=3
eventlog=coop.txt
eventlogkeep=1
3dgunners=1
SubTitlesLines=3

[Render_DirectX]
TexQual=3
TexMipFilter=2
TexCompress=0
TexFlags.UseDither=1
TexFlags.UseAlpha=0
TexFlags.UseIndex=0
TexFlags.PolygonStipple=1
TexFlags.UseClampedSprites=0
TexFlags.DrawLandByTriangles=1
TexFlags.UseVertexArrays=1
TexFlags.DisableAPIExtensions=0
TexFlags.ARBMultitextureExt=1
TexFlags.TexEnvCombineExt=1
TexFlags.SecondaryColorExt=1
TexFlags.VertexArrayExt=1
TexFlags.ClipHintExt=0
TexFlags.UsePaletteExt=0
TexFlags.TexAnisotropicExt=0
TexFlags.TexCompressARBExt=1
TexFlags.TexEnvCombine4NV=0
TexFlags.TexEnvCombineDot3=0
TexFlags.DepthClampNV=0
TexFlags.SeparateSpecular=0
TexFlags.TextureShaderNV=0

HardwareShaders=0

Shadows=2
Specular=2
SpecularLight=2
DiffuseLight=2
DynamicalLights=1
MeshDetail=2
VisibilityDistance=3

Sky=2
Forest=1
LandShading=3
LandDetails=2

LandGeom=2
TexLarge=1
TexLandQual=3
TexLandLarge=1

VideoSetupId=4
ForceShaders1x=0
PolygonOffsetFactor=-0.15
PolygonOffsetUnits=-3.0

[Render_OpenGL]
TexQual=3
TexMipFilter=2
TexCompress=0
TexFlags.UseDither=1
TexFlags.UseAlpha=0
TexFlags.UseIndex=0
TexFlags.PolygonStipple=1
TexFlags.UseClampedSprites=0
TexFlags.DrawLandByTriangles=1
TexFlags.UseVertexArrays=1
TexFlags.DisableAPIExtensions=0
TexFlags.ARBMultitextureExt=1
TexFlags.TexEnvCombineExt=1
TexFlags.SecondaryColorExt=1
TexFlags.VertexArrayExt=1
TexFlags.ClipHintExt=0
TexFlags.UsePaletteExt=0
TexFlags.TexAnisotropicExt=1
TexFlags.TexCompressARBExt=1

TexFlags.TexEnvCombine4NV=1
TexFlags.TexEnvCombineDot3=1
TexFlags.DepthClampNV=1
TexFlags.SeparateSpecular=1
TexFlags.TextureShaderNV=1

HardwareShaders=0

Shadows=2
Specular=2
SpecularLight=2
DiffuseLight=2
DynamicalLights=1
MeshDetail=2
VisibilityDistance=3

Sky=1
Forest=2
LandShading=3
LandDetails=2

LandGeom=2
TexLarge=1
TexLandQual=3
TexLandLarge=1

VideoSetupId=2
Water=2
Effects=1
ForceShaders1x=0
PolygonOffsetFactor=-0.15
PolygonOffsetUnits=-3.0

Thanks again all.

2

hy mate,

you tried to reinstall your graphics drivers for that card.
there is a tool that will help you remove that drivers, It’s called Driver Cleaner. Here’s a link: Driver Cleaner (http://www.driverheaven.net/cleaner/)

hope i could help

grtzzz Coop

3

Classic, at the time of 51’s mythical SE New Guinea Campaign with our fabulous 602 Mates, we had to fly a number of night missions over the jungle: most of us (not only Rookies like me) couldn’t spot anything, and we all got caught by this “Video Settings Syndrome”…:eek:

Much concerned about doing well (and hiding my low flying skills), I tried a Monitor Calibration Software, as my Video Settings were already complying to EAF Standards (just like yours, actually). :wink:

Well, I realized that 80% of the time, we tend to use a much too high Contrast level, giving an illusion of sharpness, but inhibiting tone separation between similar colour shades. :rolleyes:

I must honestly say that somebody else did not find sensible advantages in calibrating Contast/Brightness/Colour Balance, but to me it worked a treat!

I still have to work on my Situation Awareness, but at least I can’t blame my hardware anymore…:smiley:

If you want, before tampering your Config.ini IL2 File, give it a try, just follow those few important instructions:

http://www.hex2bit.com/index.asp

:banana:

4

Looks like you are on 16 bit colour.

Make sure you select 32 bit from the video modes.

You can only get this if using OpenGL, so if you’re on DirectX, change it!

5

As well as that, switch to perfect landscape settings in game. Your PC and graphics card has the horses for it.

6

Yep agree with the above. Use 32 bit and perfect settings.

7

Thanks guys, but IIRC ‘perfect’ settings in game is greyed out, what should I change in the conf.ini file to force it into perfect?

8

That’s because you’re at 16 bit colour.

In game Go to OpenGL settings, set the resolution and to 1024x768x32 (don’t worry, you’re going to change the resolution in the conf.ini file)

Once you’ve done that, go to the advanced settings tab, Perfect will now be available.

Click apply - close the game down and then change your resolution settings back:

width=1280
height=1024

You’ll see HardwareShaders will be set to 1 if perfect is enabled.

9

Thanks chaps, cant wait to give it a try tonight.

10

Rule of thumb is to change graphic settings using the ingame GUI’s, only go into conf.ini to make certain tweaks IE: screen res and water. But the truely best way is to use IL2 Stab, you’ll never have to go into the ini again.

11

IL2 Stab

I have heard of that one before, amongst others, but never bothered with it. I’ll go and look for it now. Thanks

12

Can you see anything else that I should change? I really want to get this cracked tonight, or perhaps even a suggestion for another possible change?

13

Did you make the changes suggested before?

I can post up my config.ini if you’re still suffering.

14

No, not changed anything yet, got to get home tonight and make some changes. I’ll post back then.

Thanks.

ps. seeing your conf.ini may be useful though, please :slight_smile:

15

“Don’t forget to calibrate your monitor!”, said the Persistent Itie (new nick by Joe90)…:smiley:

:roflmao:

16

I’ll try everything is this thread. Thanks all.

17

seeing your conf.ini may be useful though

Here you go:

[window]
width=1280
height=1024
ColourBits=32
DepthBits=24
StencilBits=8
ChangeScreenRes=1
FullScreen=1
DrawIfNotFocused=0
EnableResize=0
EnableClose=1
SaveAspect=0
Use3Renders=0

Note the SaveAspect=0 - you have yours set to 1, I’d recommend you change it

[Render_OpenGL]
TexQual=3
TexMipFilter=3
TexCompress=0
TexFlags.UseDither=1
TexFlags.UseAlpha=0
TexFlags.UseIndex=0
TexFlags.PolygonStipple=1
TexFlags.UseClampedSprites=0
TexFlags.DrawLandByTriangles=1
TexFlags.UseVertexArrays=1
TexFlags.DisableAPIExtensions=0
TexFlags.ARBMultitextureExt=1
TexFlags.TexEnvCombineExt=1
TexFlags.SecondaryColorExt=1
TexFlags.VertexArrayExt=1
TexFlags.ClipHintExt=0
TexFlags.UsePaletteExt=0
TexFlags.TexAnisotropicExt=1
TexFlags.TexCompressARBExt=1

TexFlags.TexEnvCombine4NV=1
TexFlags.TexEnvCombineDot3=1
TexFlags.DepthClampNV=1
TexFlags.SeparateSpecular=1
TexFlags.TextureShaderNV=1

HardwareShaders=1

Shadows=2
Specular=2
Sidewinders=9L
SpecularLight=2
DiffuseLight=2
DynamicalLights=1
MeshDetail=2
VisibilityDistance=3
AwacsMod=1

Sky=2
Forest=2
LandShading=3
LandDetails=2

LandGeom=2
TexLarge=1
TexLandQual=3
TexLandLarge=1
NakedLadies=1

TypeClouds=1
VideoSetupId=17
Water=1
Effects=1
ForceShaders1x=0

PolygonOffsetFactor=-0.15
PolygonOffsetUnits=-3.0

18

Thanks Keets.

BTW

NakedLadies=1

New effect? are they blondes or brunettes? maybe even redheads? :smiley:

19

LOL - you only spotted one entry then?

20

AwacsMod=1
:wink: