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[[Category:Post-Processing Guides]][[Category:ENB]]{{PageTitle|logo=delta|title=ENBSeries Guide|subtitle=A comprehensive ENB guide|author=The Step Team and community|forumtid=710}}
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See also:
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: {{Fc|salmon|'''enblocal.ini'''}}
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:* [[SkyrimLE:ENBLocal_INI_Reference|{{fs|large|'''SkyrimLE ENBLocal INI Reference'''}}]]
''A comprehensive guide for properly installing and editing ENBs for n00bs and gurus alike -- by the S.T.E.P. Team and contributing members''
:* [[SkyrimSE:ENBLocal_INI_Reference|{{fs|large|'''SkyrimSE ENBLocal INI Reference'''}}]]


[http://forum.step-project.com/topic/710-enb-guide/ '''GUIDE FORUM THREAD''']<br />
: {{Fc|salmon|'''enbseries.ini'''}}
[http://forum.step-project.com/forum/57-enb-support/ '''SUPPORT FORUM''']<br />
:* [[SkyrimLE:ENBSeries_INI Reference|{{fs|large|'''SkyrimLE ENBSeries INI Reference'''}}]]
[http://forum.step-project.com/forum/74-post-processor-suggestions-enb/ '''POST-PROCESSOR SUGGESTIONS''']
:* [[SkyrimSE:ENBSeries INI Reference|{{fs|large|'''SkyrimSE ENBSeries INI Reference'''}}]]
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{{TOC}}{{Alert|text=This is the general overview of ENBSeries for all supported games. See the [[Guide:ENBSeries_INI|ENB INI Reference]] for descriptions of all settings by game.}}
==Introduction==
'ENB' is short for 'ENBSeries', which is a post-processing 'engine' with versions available for many games, including Skyrim. This Guide will help newcomers become familiar with the basics of installing and using ENBSeries and will also provide answers to many questions applicable to all users from those wishing to quickly install and configure ENBoost or a full-blown ENB preset, as well as, advanced users and ENB preset developers wanting to reference more of the technical information. The main guide is written to address novice and advanced users alike with 'quickstart' in mind. Links to more information and ancillary guides are included.  


===What is ENB?===
=== What is ENBSeries? ===
[http://enbdev.com/index_en.html ENBSeries] (ENB) is a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_post-processing post-processor modification] (mod) created and maintained by Boris Voronstov. What this means is that ENBSeries adds digital enhancements to games purely by modifying the video output ''after'' (or 'post') the decoding process of game assets into the initial graphical result. Initial post-processing is done by the game's [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shader shader program(s)], and ENBSeries builds upon this initial post-processing using more advanced techniques that the game's shader engine is either incapable of or simply doesn't implement itself. This is accomplished by using a custom API in the form of a dynamic link library (DLL) to the game shader engine. In addition to advanced shader post-processing, ENBSeries also implements a memory manager, called 'ENBoost', that enhances the efficiency of video memory management, resulting in increased performance and stabilization, in addition to the increased quality provided by the post-processing engine.
[https://enbdev.com/index_en.html ENBSeries] (or ENB) is a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_post-processing post-processing] suite created and maintained by Boris Voronstov. It's available for multiple games including most that Step Modifications supports. ENBSeries adds many enhancements and features to games, which aren't available from the vanilla game. This is accomplished by using a custom API in the form of a dynamic link library (DLL) to add to the game shader engine, thus, allowing additional processing that the game isn't capable of doing on its own. Features that overlap with game features are usually replaced entirely with more accurate code, thus, are always better quality versions.


If that was too technical, ENBSeries (ENB) is a mod that allows authors to make custom presets (commonly referred to as "ENBs") which change some effects, like lighting, and enhances or replaces others, like shadows and the sun. Each preset can offer a range of "look and feel" environments for the game it's used for. Such as providing a cooler or warmer color palette, fantasy or "realistic" lighting environments, and/or either more vibrant or bleak saturation. The combinations are endless and there is likely an ENB preset that is perfect for every user's personal tastes. However, all those added effects often come at a cost to performance. Luckily, most authors provide "performance" versions of their presets which are lighter on resources.
In addition to advanced shader post-processing, ENBSeries also implements a memory manager for several 32-bit games, called ''ENBoost'', that enhances the efficiency of video memory management while bypassing memory limits inherit within all 32-bit games. This results in increased performance and stabilization, in addition to the increase quality provided by the post-processing features.
 
The main draw to using ENBSeries is it allows vast customization that authors can take advance of to produce custom presets (commonly referred to as "ENBs" or "ENB Presets"). Presets offer a range of "look and feel", meaning each preset can create a different ambiance for the game. Ambiances such as a cooler or warmer color palette, "fantasy" or "realistic" lighting environments, more vibrant or bleak saturation...the list is very long. Given author can also include their own shaders in the mix, the combinations are nearly endless and there is likely already an ENB preset that is perfect for every users' personal tastes. However, all those added effects often come at a cost to performance. Luckily, most authors provide "performance" versions of their presets, which are lighter on system resources.


== ENBoost ==
== ENBoost ==
===What is ENBoost?===
=== What is ENBoost? ===
[[ENBoost]] is a memory management feature added to ENBSeries to address the crashes and freezes relating to the well-known system memory (RAM) limit of 32-bit applications like Skyrim. It is one major part of a multi-part solution STEP recommends for dealing with this limitation (see [http://wiki.step-project.com/STEP:Guide#2.C._Extenders 2.C. Extenders] section of the STEP Guide). ENBoost is included in the ENBSeries graphics modification and is now incorporated into all ENB presets using ENBSeries v0.192 and newer. ENBoost can also be implemented as a stand-alone video-graphics memory manager for Skyrim without implementing any ENB post-processing effects.
[[SkyrimLE:ENBoost|ENBoost]] is a memory management feature added to ENBSeries to address the crashes and freezes relating to the well-known system memory (RAM) limit of 32-bit applications. It's one major part of a multi-part solution Step Modifications recommends for dealing with this limitation on 32-bit games. ENBoost is included by default in ENBSeries versions that support it, and can be implemented as a standalone memory manager without the graphical effects from ENBSeries. The effectiveness and performance of ENBoost is determined by a number of factors, such as size of system RAM / VRAM, quality of video card, version of Windows OS, CPU, and even motherboard memory channel speed. Fortunately, there are a number of ENBoost settings to help account for the variety of system configurations.
 
{{AlertSmall|type=notice|text=Step Modifications considers ENBoost to be an essential tool recommended for ALL Skyrim LE users.}}
<br>


In order to understand how ENBoost works, it is important to first know how Skyrim manages memory. The main Skyrim game executable, TESV.exe, is a 32-bit Large-Address-Aware (LAA) application. This means that although TESV.exe can only use a maximum of 2GB of system RAM on 32-bit Windows systems, it can access up to about 3.1GB of system RAM (4GB - about 900MB of system resources) on 64-bit systems. To drive the video card in displaying Skyrim's 3D rendered graphics, TESV.exe must store object geometry (the shapes of things in the game) and texture data cached in its memory space, which is then copied to your video card's VRAM to display. The memory limit is not a problem with an unmodded Skyrim because the cached data is dynamically loaded and unloaded to make room for new data as it's needed, and it almost never completely fills up all of TESV.exe's available RAM. However, when mods are added to Skyrim, the memory needed for cached data is significantly increased, and the more mods that are used, ''especially higher resolution texture mods'', the higher the chance that TESV.exe will run out of memory. When this happens, either the program crashes or some objects do not get rendered. ENBoost overcomes this memory limitation by ...
=== How Does ENBoost Work? ===
# using available VRAM on your video card and
In order to understand how ENBoost works, it is important to first know how some 32-bit applications manage memory. Skyrim LE will be used for this explanation. The main Skyrim LE game executable, TESV.exe, is a 32-bit [https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/build/reference/largeaddressaware-handle-large-addresses?view=msvc-160 Large-Address-Aware] (LAA) application. This means that although TESV.exe can only use a maximum of 2GB of system RAM on 32-bit Windows systems, it can access up to about 3.1GB of system RAM (4GB minus about 900MB of system resources) on 64-bit systems. To drive the video card in displaying the game's 3D rendered graphics, TESV.exe must store object geometry (the shapes of things in the game) and texture data in its memory space, as a cache. This cache is then copied to the video card's VRAM to display on the screen.
# using system RAM outside of TESV.exe for dynamically allocated cached data.
The second method is accomplished by running an executable named ''enbhost.exe'', which adds up to another 4GB of memory available for ENBSeries to manage per instance. The effectiveness and performance of ENBoost is determined by a number of factors, such as size of system RAM / VRAM, quality of video card, version of Windows OS, CPU, and even motherboard memory channel speed. Fortunately, a number of ENBoost user-settings have been added to account for the enormous variety of user's system configurations.


===ENBoost Installation===
The memory limit is not a problem with an unmodded game because the cached data is dynamically loaded and unloaded to make room for new data as it's needed, and it almost never completely fills up all of TESV.exe's available RAM. However, when mods are added to Skyrim, the memory needed for cached data is significantly increased, and the more mods that are used, especially higher resolution texture mods, the higher the chance that TESV.exe will run out of memory. When this happens, either the program crashes or some objects do not get rendered. ENBoost overcomes this memory limitation by ...
{{fs|1.3em|→}} [[ENBoost#Recommendations|{{fs|1.1em|'''ENBoost Quickstart Instructions'''}}]]<br />
# using available VRAM on your video card and then...
{{Notice Small|text=ENBoost is ''not'' ENB per se. Rather, ENBoost stand-alone configuration implements only the memory-management features of ENB without the lighting enahncemets that most people associate with ENB. Thus, ENBoost is an essential extension that STEP recommends for ALL users, even those that are not running ENB 'proper'.}}
# using system RAM for dynamically allocated cached data via a helper executable.
#: This is accomplished by running one or more instances of an executable named ''enbhost.exe'', which adds up to another ~3GB of memory available per instance.


== ENBSeries {{fs|0.5em|(in all its glory)}}==
=== ENBoost Installation ===
As described in the Introduction above, an ENB Preset (aka 'ENB') encompasses all of the features of ENBSeries, including ENBoost and all the post-processing features.
{{Spoiler|shown=Show installation instructions|hidden=
# Download and install the [https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=8109 DirectX 9 Runtimes].
#: {{fc‏‎|salmon|text=''This step is to prevent the common issues of missing DirectX files required by ENBSeries. Be sure to install it and not just extract it!''}}
# Download the latest [https://www.enbdev.com/download_mod_tesskyrim.html ENBSeries version] for the game it will be install on.
## On the game pages, their is a list of major changes and links to the available versions.
## Click a version link to download the version required by the chosen preset. The latest version is usually the one at the top of the list.
## On the version page will be listed a changelog and a download link. Click the [[File:Down1.gif]] button located at the bottom of the page to download the version file.
# Open the downloaded archive and go into the WrapperVersion folder.
# Extract ''only'' the '''d3d9*.dll''' files, '''enbhost.exe''', and '''enblocal.ini''' into the game's folder where its executable is located.
# If the "WrapperVersion" does not function as advertised, try the "InjectorVersion".
## Remove any existing remnants of the Wrapper version
## Extract only the '''enbhost.exe''', '''ENBInjector.exe''', '''enbinjector.ini''', '''enblocal.ini''', and '''enbseries.dll''' files into the game's folder where its executable is located.
#: {{AlertSmall‏‎|type=notice|text=''ENBInjector.exe'' must be ran <u>''before''</u> running the game for the injector version to work properly.}}
}}


{{fc|#e6b69e|{{fs|1.3em|'''ENBSeries v0.236 vs v0.279+'''}}}}<br />
=== ENBoost Configuration ===
The latest versions of ENBSeries available to download are v0.236, v0.262, and v0.279. Most ENB Presets which are still in active development have been updated to utilize one of these versions, or have stated that they are compatible with them. Any ENB Preset which uses a version prior to v0.236 is most likely outdated and could possibly have issue with the latest ENBSeries versions. The Preset recommendations below are current for at least one of these versions. So, what's the difference?
The following are important changes that are either required for ENBoost to work:
{{Spoiler|shown=Show INI Configuration|hidden=
<syntaxhighlight lang="ini">
[GLOBAL]
UsePatchSpeedhackWithoutGraphics=true
UseDefferedRendering=false


There have been several improvements between the releases. From v0.236 to v0.279 the following have been added:
[MEMORY]
:*Parallax for terrain
ExpandSystemMemoryX64=false
:*Muddiness control of water
ReservedMemorySizeMb=128
:*Cloud shadows
;This value should be set to lowest possible value without experiencing stutter. Increase this value until stuttering is either gone or minimal. See advanced guide above for more information.
:*Volumetric rays
:*Mist effect
:*Supersampling for ambient occlusion
:*Edge AA on loading screens
:*Optimization of ambient occlusion plus a new visualization tool for Preset authors and tweakers
:*Enhanced blending of certain effects
:*Bug Fixes: Lighting
:*Detailed shadows added for light bulb types: hemisphere and spotlight
:*Other performance optimizations
:*Other bug fixes


===ENBSeries Installation===
VideoMemorySizeMb=<integer in MB>
This is a basic quickstart for setting up ENBSeries; however, most ENB Presets include installers or detailed installation instructions of their own. These instructions provide assistance where certain ENB Presets may be lacking. Always defer to the Preset instructions first, and use these instructions to fill in the blanks if necessary.
;Download and run Boris's VRamSizeTest tool [https://enbdev.com/download_vramsizetest.htm]. Run the '''VRamSizeDX9.exe''' for DX9 games and '''VRamSizeDX11.exe''' for others.
# Download the latest [http://www.enbdev.com/download_mod_tesskyrim.htm ENB binary]. The links at the bottom of the page list all the binaries. Choose the latest file (usually the one at the top of the list), then on the next page click the [[File:Down1.gif]] button located at the bottom of the page.
;Windows 7 - Subtract 170 from the value provided and use that value.
# Select and download a preset from Nexus (or see some of our suggested Presets below).
;Windows 8.1 - Use the value provided.
# If needed for the chosen Preset, download the [http://dev-c.com/skyrim/enbhelper/ ENB Helper], and extract ''enbhelper.dll'' into <code>.../skyrim/enbseries/</code>, creating the directory if necessary.{{Notice Small|size=max|border=dashed|text=The helper file is required by ENB v0.250+ for per-weather support and is usually provided with the preset if the preset requires it.}}
;Windows 10 - Subtract 350 from the value provided and use that value.
# Extract ''d3d9.dll'' and ''enbhost.exe'' from the "WrapperVersion" folder inside the ENB archive ([http://wiki.step-project.com/File:ENBd3d9.png enbseries_skyrim_v0xxx.zip]) into <code>.../skyrim/</code>.{{Warning Small|size=mid|border=dashed|text=Do '''NOT''' extract into <code>.../skyrim/Data</code> directory!}}
#* '''Alternatively''': If the "WrapperVersion" does not function as advertized, try the "InjectorVersion". Remove any existing remnants of the Wrapper version, and extract only ''enbhost.exe'', ''ENBInjector.exe'', ''enbinjector.ini'', ''enblocal.ini'', and ''enbseries.dll'' files from the "InjectorVersion" folder into <code>.../skyrim/</code>.
#*{{Notice Small|size=max|border=dashed|text=If running the injector version, the ENBInjector.exe must be running in the background before starting the game or ENBSeries will not work.}}
# Likewise, extract the content of the [http://wiki.step-project.com/File:ENBProfileFolder.png ENB Preset's archive] into <code>.../skyrim/</code>.{{Warning Small|size=mid|border=dashed|text=Do '''NOT''' extract into <code>.../skyrim/Data</code> directory!}}
# Configure ''enblocal.ini'' according to the [http://wiki.step-project.com/ENBoost#Recommendations ENBoost recommendations] '''EXCEPT''' with the following essential differences:
#*: <code>[GLOBAL]</code>
#*: <code>UsePatchSpeedhackWithoutGraphics=false</code>
#*: <code>UseDefferedRendering=true</code>
# Configure ''skyrimprefs.ini'' according to the following:
#*: <code>[Display]</code>
#*: <code>iMultiSample=0</code>
#*: <code>bFloatPointRenderTarget=1</code>


Also check out {{Video|FHCYoVB8P_Y|Slothability's ENBSeries Installation video}} for a very good video tutorial on basic ENB Installation.
AutodetectVideoMemorySize=false
</syntaxhighlight>
}}


===Warning About Enblocal.ini===
{{alert|type=notice|text=If they exist in the ''enblocal.ini'' file for the ENBSeries version in use, be sure the parameters under the [THREADS] section match what is below!<br>These are for special case use only and do not apply to 99% of users! The section should remain as follows:
Some ENB Presets will include an ''enblocal.ini'' file. This is '''not''' recommended practice and users should '''not''' overwrite their own file with the one included in some Presets. The reason for this is because this enb"local" file is meant to be used for each user's personal system. Only approximately one-third of the file is Preset-dependent. Best practice is for users to open their personal ''enblocal.ini'' copy alongside the file included with the Preset and copy over changes '''''only''''' from the following sections:
<syntaxhighlight lang="ini">[THREADS]
DataSyncMode=0
PriorityMode=0</syntaxhighlight>}}
<br>
 
== ENBSeries Presets ==
As described in the introduction, ENBSeries main attraction is the ability to customize its features and visuals using presets, commonly referred to as "ENB Presets" or "ENBs". These ENB Presets may encompass all of the features of ENBSeries or only a subset of them, depending on what the author intends as the final result.
 
=== ENBSeries Features ===
The features available will vary by game. ENBSeries is still in active development for the latest games it supports. Thus means it's constantly updated with bug fixes, enhancements to current features, as well as, new features. Below is a list of some of the features ENBSeries provides (version dependent):
* Game bug fixes
* Mist effect
* Cloud shadows
* Rain occlusion
* Volumetric rays
* Parallax for terrain
* Per location weather
* Wet surfaces during rain
* Muddiness control of water
* Supersampling for ambient occlusion
* Enhanced blending of certain effects
* Color filter parameters for direct light, fog and sky gradients
* Detailed shadows added for light bulb types: hemisphere and spotlight
* Optimization of ambient occlusion, plus a visualization tool for Preset authors and modders
* many, many others...
 
=== ENBSeries Installation ===
This is a basic and generic set of instructions for setting up ENBSeries. These instructions may provide assistance where certain Preset documentation may be lacking; however, always defer to the Preset documentation first and use these generic instructions to fill in the blanks, if necessary.
{{Spoiler|shown=Show Installation Instructions|hidden=
# Select and download a preset from Nexus Mods or some other source, and carefully read the author's instructions. The following are general instructions provided for convenience.
# Download the latest [https://www.enbdev.com/download_mod_tesskyrim.html ENBSeries version] for the game it will be install on.
## On the game pages, their is a list of major changes and links to the available versions.
## Click a version link to download the version required by the chosen preset. The latest version is usually the one at the top of the list.
## On the version page will be listed a changelog and a download link. Click the [[File:Down1.gif]] button located at the bottom of the page to download the version file.
# Extract the contents of the "WrapperVersion" into the game folder (e.g., <code>..\Steam\steamapps\common\GameFolder</code>). Note that only *.ini, *.dll files are required. The the \enbseries\ folder and additional files can also be included if the ENB preset that will be used relies on them (they are usually provided by the preset author though).
#: {{Fc|salmon|'''NOTE:''' ''If the "WrapperVersion" does not function as advertised, try the "InjectorVersion", if available. Remove any remnants of the Wrapper version prior to installing. When using the injector version, '''ENBInjector.exe''' must be running in the background before starting the game, else ENBSeries will not work.''}}
# All users, including ENBoost users, set the following in '''enblocal.ini''':
#: <p class="mpcode">[GLOBAL]<br>UsePatchSpeedhackWithoutGraphics=false<br>UseDefferedRendering=true</p>
# Verify the preset's instructions, but the following ''skyrimprefs.ini'' settings are required for the graphical features of ENBSeries to work with Skyrim. Other games may have similar requirements that also should be provided by the preset author:
:: '''Skyrim'''
::: <p class="mpcode">[Display]<br>iMultiSample=0<br>bFloatPointRenderTarget=1</p>
}}
 
==== {{fc|warning|Warning Regarding Enblocal.ini}} ====
Some ENB Presets will include an ''enblocal.ini'' file. This is not a recommended practice and should be maintained by the end user. The reason for this is because this enb''local'' file is meant to be used for each user's personal system. Best practice is to update the existing ''enblocal.ini'' file alongside the file included with the preset, copying only desired changes typically from the following sections (as applicable):
* <code>[PROXY]</code>
* <code>[PROXY]</code>
** Copy all settings
** Copy all settings
Line 86: Line 128:
** Copy all settings
** Copy all settings


==Recommended ENB Presets==
== Extra Options ==
Since the introduction of ENBSeries for Skyrim, there have been hundreds of ENB Presets created; however, most have not been updated to use the latest version of ENBSeries; therefore, please refer to the chosen ENB Preset's documentation to ensure the correct version of ENBSeries is downloaded.
 
There are ENB Presets that come in just about every style and color. As such, this section can be extremely subjective. STEP suggests browsing around to find the perfect preset to suit the user's personal preferences. There isn't an official STEP recommended ENB Preset (''yet''), however, below are a few excellent, widely-used Presets and information about them. To make a suggestion or comment on out-of-date information for the listed ENB Presets, do so on the [http://forum.step-project.com/topic/710-enb-guide/ ENB Guide Thread]. For general installation instructions, see the Installation section; however, it is highly recommended to follow the author's installation instructions found on the ENB Preset's Nexus page.
 
===Vividian - Weather and Lighting [[File:Wikilink.png|link=Vividian_ENB |alt=Alt text |Visit Vividian Mod Page]]===
: ''by Mangaclub and Benhat'' {{fs|1.3em|→}} [http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/36067 {{fs|1.1em|'''Download'''}}]<br />
 
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: '''Baseline''':
:: Vividian currently supports ENBSeries v0.305+.
: '''Description''':
:: Vividian is a two part Preset; an ENB and a mod. The ENB adds a more vivid character to Skyrim without completely removing the dense atmosphere from the vanilla game. Depending on the version chosen it provides either more vibrant colors and effects or simply enhances the vanilla colors. Both versions also grant more realistic shadows and weather.
:: The mod part of Vividian is a weather mod called, ''Vivid Clouds and Fog''. This mod includes several options:
:::* Clouds, fogs, smoke, and steam replacers which replace the vanilla versions and are designed to work well with ENB features.
:::* Windy Clouds which enhances the cloud speed of weathers so the clouds actually look as if they're moving and not standing still in the sky.
:::* Extended Groundfogs which adds distant clouds and fogs to all weathers as well as more fog to foggy weathers.
::Vividian is one of the most compatible ENB Presets available and is currently compatible with vanilla Skyrim and the DLCs, Climates of Tamriel, Pure Weather, Purity, RCRN, ELFX, ELE, Relighting Skyrim, NLA, Extended Snow System, Real Shelter, and Falskaar.
: '''Versions'''
:: Vividian comes in two versions:
:::* The "''Vivid''" version has more saturation and vivid colors compared to vanilla Skyrim.
:::* The "''Vanilla''" version maintains vanilla Skyrim colors and saturation; simply enhancing them by making them deeper and richer.
: '''Performance'''
:: Vividian has three performance versions available.
:::* Performance: is a version which has had some effects lightened or completely turned off. This version is recommended for less powerful systems.
:::* Normal: is the main version which most users will be using. This version has all the effects enabled, yet is balanced between performance and quality.
:::* High Quality - is the extreme version. Use this with caution! It will be crippling on all but the most powerful systems.
: '''Features'''
:: Some of the features of Vividian include:
:::* 6 Depth of Field (DOF) options
:::* Real-time cloud shadows
:::* Volumetric Sunrays
:::* Enhanced and customized sunrises and sunsets
:::* Custom sunflares/glares
:::* Realistic and dynamic night lighting
 
===Skylight [[File:Wikilink.png|link=Skylight_ENB |alt=Alt text |Visit Skylight Mod Page]]===
: ''by Aiyen'' {{fs|1.3em|→}} [http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/48730 {{fs|1.1em|'''Download'''}}]<br />
 
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: '''Baseline''':
:: Skylight currently supports ENBSeries v0.279.
: '''Description''':
:: Skylight ENB is the result of the hard work from our own Moderator, Aiyen. Skylight provides a balance between cinematic, fantasy and realism styles without adding too much of any one style. As a result, you get a unique ENB Preset that isn't overly saturated or too heavy on the bloom which can wash out the visuals with a hazy light. The skies are blue as they should be and the dusks are a sight to behold. Nights in Skylight aren't aimed to be realistic but rather provide an immersive, yet subtle, atmosphere to explore in. Interiors; however, are designed to be realistic to a point; they aren't pitch black but the player will still benefit from using a torch.
:: Skylight is currently compatible with vanilla Skyrim and the DLCs, Climates of Tamriel, Pure Weather, ELFX, ELE, Supreme Storms, and Extended Snow System.
: '''Skylight Features'''
:: Some of the features of Skylight include:
:::* A custom Depth of Field (DoF) which is light on performance and designed with gameplay in mind
:::* A unique set of shaders
:::* Completely rewritten and highly customized ENB files
:::* Real-time cloud shadows
:::* Volumetric Sunrays
:::* Enhanced and customized sunrises and sunsets
:::* Lantern and Torch light options
 
===Phinix Natural ENB [[File:Wikilink.png|link=Phinix_Natural_ENB |alt=Alt text |Visit Phinix Natural Mod Page]]===
: ''by Phinix'' {{fs|1.3em|→}} [http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/24235 {{fs|1.1em|'''Download'''}}]<br />
 
::{{Gallery
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: '''Baseline''':
:: Phinix Natural ENB currently supports ENBSeries v0.305.
: '''Description''':
:: Phinix Natural is an ENB Preset for Skyrim purist. The atmosphere and environment of the vanilla game is one that is Nordic which is cold and wintery. Phinix Natural emphasizes on being natural to the vanilla atmosphere and; thus, provides an enhanced cold and wintery feel. Colors will not be overly saturated; however, will have more depth. The sky is slightly washed out as you would see in colder regions and the sun gives off more glare. Phinix Natural can also be described as being a subtle ENB Preset simply because it enhances the vanilla atmosphere. It is one of the few ENB Presets that can be installed and forgotten that an ENB is even running due to its subtlety. Nights and interiors are more or less the same levels as vanilla; however, dungeons are just slightly darker. If you're looking for the true Skyrim experience as Bethesda meant it to be, then this ENB might be for you!
:: Phinix Natural is compatible with all lighting mods; however, the author recommends [[Relighting Skyrim]]. The author has also customized all vanilla weathers for those who choose not to run Climates of Tamriel. CoT is full supported, though, with all CoT weathers customized so it is also recommended.
: '''Performance'''
:: Although Phinix Natural does not come with different performance options, the author does discuss how to lessen the performance impact on his Nexus page.
: '''Phinix Natural Features'''
:: Some of the features of Phinix Natural include:
:::* A true-to-Skyrim atmosphere and style
:::* A special fixes file which fixes various issues that arise when using ENBs
:::* An alternative DoF style (optional)
:::* A custom night sky mod (optional)
:::* Custom Lens Sunsprite Shaders
:::* Fully compatible with Night Eye effects
 
===Tundra ENB [[File:Wikilink.png|link=Tundra_ENB |alt=Alt text |Visit Tundra ENB Mod Page]]===
: ''by Whiplashwang'' {{fs|1.3em|→}} [http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/37997/ {{fs|1.1em|'''Download'''}}]<br />
 
::{{Gallery
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: '''Baseline''':
:: Tundra ENB currently supports ENBSeries v0.266+.
: '''Description''':
:: Tundra ENB is perhaps not as popular or well known as the others on this list; however, it's not to be taken lightly. Tundra ENB aims to be versatile by providing three different "atmosphere" versions which should suit a wide range of preferences from fantasy to cold and harsh. Though this Preset can be used without it, the author recommends having ELFX installed. One negative for some users will be that Tundra ENB doesn't support CoT and the author claims the Preset is unlikely to ever support it due to the immense amount of work doing so would take.
: '''Versions'''
:: Tundra ENB comes in three versions:
:::* Vibrant: the author says it best, "''Vibrant is for those who want to slay trolls on LSD.''" Though it's not that crazy, this version has more saturated and vibrant colors, more bloom, and a brighter atmosphere bringing a more fantasy feel to the game.
:::* Warm: this version was the author's attempt to stay close to vanilla colors to retain the original atmosphere. The colors have only been emphasized a little more and it's likely the most popular version.
:::* Chilly: designed with less focus on color and more on bringing a cold atmosphere into Skyrim. This version's colors are not saturated or emphasized and have a blue overtone. In fact, the colors are ever so slightly washed out which gives players a sense of the cold environment Skyrim really is! This version can also be seen as a little gloomy due to the tinting, but this provides a refreshing experience to an old game.
:::* ''The shots above are a mix of these versions.''
: '''Performance'''
:: Tundra ENB is not made with performance as a main concern; however, there are two versions available made for high-end and mid-range systems. This doesn't mean these options will cripple your system, but the author does not and is unlikely to provide a "performance" version due to this requiring effects being turned off; which would alter the look and feel of the Preset. The author runs a higher-end card, so users not getting the performance they desire will likely have to do some tweaking of their own.
: '''Tundra ENB Features'''
:: Some of the features of Tundra ENB include:
:::* Three custom flavors to choose from
:::* Custom weathers for foggy, snowy, stormy, rainy, ash, cloudy and clear weathers
:::* Compatibility with Nigh Eye effects and Predator Vision
 
===Other ENB Presets===
: The above mentioned ENB Presets are a very small sample of the presets available on Nexus. They are both popular and up-to-date; however, users are encouraged to explore other options to find the ENB preset that fits their style. Users can [http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/searchresults/?src_cat=97 search Nexus] and browse through the 100+ ENB presets available.
 
===ENB-Complimenting Mods===
Below are a few mods which normally work well when combined with ENB Presets; however, be sure to view the chosen ENB Preset's documentation for mod compatibility before using any of the mods below.
 
:'''Darkness'''
:* [http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/12454/? Dark Dungeons for ENB] - This mod tells ENB to render dungeons as though it's night.
::: ''Many ENBs include optional files for darker caves, dungeons, and nights. Check with the ENB Preset for these options before using a third party mod for this. Some lighting mods may not be compatible.''
:'''Fixes'''
:* [http://enbseries.enbdev.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1499 Skyrim Particle Patch for ENB] - This fixes shaders or blending properties on some object meshes which have their parameters set incorrectly.
::: ''Some ENB Presets include this patch during installation or provide it in as an optional file.''
:'''Fog'''
:* [http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/29253/? Remove Interior Fog V2] - This removes the ambient interior fog that is found indoors in many locations. It has support of all DLCs.
:* [http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/736/? Interior and Dungeon Fog Remover] - Completely removes fog meshes from most dungeon and indoor locations. This mod '''is''' compatible with Removed Interior Fog V2 above, the two can be used together.
:* [http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/9930/? Revamped Exterior Fog] - This reduces the density of exterior fog and increases the distance that it starts becoming opaque. If using RCRN, there is a [http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/26742 compatibility version] which should be used instead.
::: ''Some mods that are often combined with ENBs are not compatible with the mods mentioned here (i.e. Climates of Tamriel, Realistic Colors and Real Nights, etc). As good modding practice, please review the Readme of any mod being used.''
:'''Utilities'''
:* [http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/7804/? ENB FXAA SweetFX Manager and Remover] - Removes ENB and FXAA installations and provides slots to load different ENB configurations for quick and painless switching.
:* [http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/13049/? IMAGINATOR - Visual Control Device for Skyrim] - In-game tool that allows adjustment of color and lighting setting such as brightness, tint, contrast, saturation, etc. For many users this has been a useful way to adjust adjusting colors and lighting in-game with or without ENB.
:* [http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/12525/? DYNAVISION - Dynamic Depth of Field] - adds a controllable dynamic Depth of Field and Auto-Focus to Skyrim.
{{Notice Small|size=50|border=dashed|text=<br>IMAGINATOR has largely been replaced by the ENBSeries GUI Editor now included in all ENBSeries versions.<br>DYNAVISION has largely been replaced by custom DoF provided by Preset authors.}}
 
==ENB Extensions==
The following components and tweaks are optional and NOT required for a successful ENB implementation.
The following components and tweaks are optional and NOT required for a successful ENB implementation.


===SMAA (Highly Recommended)===
=== SubPixel Morphological Anti-Aliasing (SMAA) ===
For ENB users, any version of ENBSeries after v0.119, hardware AA is no longer supported. Therefor, ENB users only have the following options available to them; ENB EdgeAA, SMAA or SweetFX using an injector. For users on low-end systems, the ENB's EdgeAA is probably the best choice because it comes with almost no performance loss. ''SubPixel Morphological Anti-Aliasing'' (SMAA) is a fantastic post-processing anti-aliasing method.  SMAA is processed after the ENBSeries process which provides nearly equal quality of MSAA, at a faction of the performance hit. Users can also use SMAA injector with EdgeAA enabled to possibly gain an even better image quality. SMAA is a great replacement for driver AA or the game engine's AA for users on mid to high-end machines. So for these users, SMAA will be the best option. It's also worth noting that SMAA injector can be used without ENB as a standalone replacement for the game's or driver's AA method.
''SubPixel Morphological Anti-Aliasing'' (SMAA) is a fantastic post-processing antialiasing method that provides similar results to MSAA, but usually at a fraction of the performance cost. As such, it provides exceptional smoothing of jagged lines on both straight and curved lines, as well as, transparent textures like foliage. Furthermore, SMAA can either replace the game's AA method entirely or stack on top of it, since it is a post-process. This makes SMAA useful and versatile for many situations, however, it only supports DX9 and DX10 games.
 
Even though some ENB presets may not include SMAA in their packaged files, it's still possible to use SMAA with any preset as long as there is not an additional d3d9.dll already in use in the <code>[PROXY]</code> section of the ''enbseries.ini'' file. To install SMAA, do the following:
# If SMAA is not supplied by the ENB preset, users can download it from [http://mrhaandi.blogspot.com/p/injectsmaa.html here].
# Extract the file downloaded to a desired location
# In the ''d3d9 folder'' (do not use the files from the d9d10 folder!!!) rename ''d3d9.dll'' to ''d3d9_smaa.dll''. Non-ENB users do not need to rename this file.
# Now copy the following files into the root Skyrim directory (not the Data directory):
#:* ''d3d9_smaa.dll''
#:* ''injector.ini''
#:* ''SMAA.h''
#:* ''SMAA.fx''


To enable SMAA with ENBSeries, set the following in the <code>[PROXY]</code> section of the ''enblocal.ini'' file:
The reason SMAA is important, is because some versions of ENBSeries don't support hardware antialiasing, due to the implementation of some of its features. If the PC doesn't support SMAA, only the following options are available:
<pre>
* ENBSeries EdgeAA (when available)
* SMAA (post-process)
* SweetFX (post-process)
For those on low-end systems, ''ENBSeries EdgeAA'' is probably the best choice as it comes with almost no performance loss, and will be similar to 4xMSAA. For all others, SMAA is recommended for superior results. SMAA is processed after ENBSeries; thus, ''ENBSeries ENB'' can be supplemented with SMAA to gain better image quality. It's possible to use SMAA with any ENB Preset, as long as there is not an additional ''d3d9.dll'' already in use in the <code>[PROXY]</code> section of the ''enbseries.ini'' file. To install SMAA:
{{Spoiler|shown=Show Installation Instructions|hidden=
# [https://mrhaandi.blogspot.com/p/injectsmaa.html Download SMAA from here]
# Extract the downloaded archive
#* For DirectX 9 games, use the '''d3d9''' folder.
#* For DirectX 10 games, use the '''d9d10''' folder.
# Rename the DLL from '''xxxx.dll'' to '''xxxx_smaa.dll''' (i.e., ''d3d9_smaa.dll'' )
# Copy the following files from the folder above to the location where the game's executable resides:
#* xxxx_smaa.dll
#* injector.ini
#* SMAA.h
#* SMAA.fx
# To enable SMAA with ENBSeries, set the following in the ''enblocal.ini'' file:
<syntaxhighlight class="ml-5" lang="ini">[PROXY]
EnableProxyLibrary=true
EnableProxyLibrary=true
InitProxyFunctions=true
InitProxyFunctions=true
ProxyLibrary=d3d9_smaa.dll
ProxyLibrary=d3d9_smaa.dll
</pre>
</syntaxhighlight>
 
}}
To change the quality of SMAA, open the ''injector.ini'' file in a text editor (''such as Notepad++'') and change the <code>preset</code> parameter:
<pre>
preset = SMAA_PRESET_HIGH
</pre>
 
:The available quality presets are listed above the parameter. The standard presets are: Low is 60% quality, Medium is 80%, High is 95%, and Ultra is 99% quality. This is similar to 2xAA, 4xAA, etc and each step higher comes with more of a performance loss. Additionally, a custom preset can be created in the ''SMAA.h'' file as seen in the image below for the ''Uber'' preset; however, this is a very advanced process, as such, it is not recommend for most users and will not be discussed here.
:[[File:SMAA_presets.png]]
 
For users wanting to learn more about SMAA, there is a very in-depth and technical PDF available [http://www.iryoku.com/smaa/downloads/SMAA-Enhanced-Subpixel-Morphological-Antialiasing.pdf here].
 
===ELE (Enhanced Lighting [for] ENB)===
Enhanced Lighting for ENB (ELE) is a set of mods, by the author JawZ, aimed toward balancing the lighting of Skyrim. It adjusts every type of lighting in the game to both make Skyrim look better with ENBSeries and to make it easier for preset authors to customize and balance their presets without having to sacrifice one area of lighting over another. There are currently six modules to ELE, each of which balances a separate area of lighting in the game. These are ''Exterior Lighting and Weathers, Interior Lighting, Light Bulbs, FX Effects, Spell and Torch Lighting, and Plugins''. These modules are still a work in progress; however, of these modules, ''Interior Lighting'' is the most complete and the most used most by ENB preset authors to date. Each of these modules are discussed further below.
 
{{fs|1.3em|→}} [http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/59733/ {{fs|1.1em|'''Download'''}}]<br />
... there is also an [http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/40729/? ENB Preset] created by JawZ which uses a lightweight ELE setup. This ENB Preset was created as a modder's resource; however, can be used as a standalone preset. It is very lightweight on performance, provides vanilla-like colors, and also provides the basic enhancements of ENBseries such as improved shadows. Modders can use it to enhance/fix some vanilla issues. Authors can use it to create their own ENB Presets.
 
{{fc|#e6b69e|{{fs|1.3em|Installing ELE'''}}}}<br />
Simply installing the ELE modules (described below) will not usually result in an outcome that looks great with the chosen ENB Preset. Presets must be designed to work with ELE or the results from installing it might not be desirable. Most often, if an author does design their preset around ELE, it will be the Interior Lighting module because it's the most complete of all the modules and provides authors better control over interior spaces than without it. Installing ELE is as simple as installing any other mod. Simply download the desired module(s), and install them using a mod manager like Mod Organizer. Load order is very important when ELE is combined with other lighting mods. The author has kindly provided several load-order examples designed around various setups that should provide a point of reference for most users. He has also provided a list of popular lighting mods that are and aren't compatible with the individual modules. This list is not only helpful for modders, but to preset authors as well. Authors can use the compatibility list when determining which lighting overhauls to support with their presets, if they choose to also use any of the ELE modules.
 
====ELE - Weathers Lite BETA====
In this module, weathers have been given more natural colors and they will no longer be dependent on imagespaces. Weathers also have been given better night/day detection during the daytime, nighttime, sunrise, and sunset. Sunlight has been balanced throughout all weathers as well and shadows have been edited to better enhance the visual appearance of the SkyLighting effect. Sky banding has also been reduced significantly with this module. Some visual bugs such as dark horizons during certain weathers have been fixed. Finally, a new sun texture is included to go along with the weather changes. It enhances the Sun Rays feature, has no grain/noise, zero banding, and will not overexpose most of the sky as the vanilla sun texture does.
 
====ELE - Lite====
This is the default version of ELE and has the Interior Lighting module combined with these other modules: ''ELE - Spell and Torch Lighting'', ''ELE Plugin - RS Light Color'', and ''ELE Plugin - FX Emittance''. For more information on these individual modules, see below.
 
====ELE - Interior Lighting====
The Interior Lighting module covers changes in the imagespaces and LightingTemplates which have been balanced for more natural occurring colors. The imagespaces and LightingTemplates have also been named based on what type of interior cell they affect. This has been done for preset authors so they can simply edit a particular interior cell type without affecting anything else. Interior shadows have also been edited so they are properly lit and placed based on the exterior light that shines in from cracks in the walls or based on the amount of windows in the interior cell. Interior DirectLighting has been tweaked to be better used as an indirect lighting which the author believes serves as a good character lighting; therefore, the direction and color of DirectLighting have both been tweaked towards that end. The visual "bug" with dungeons looking bright as daylight as also been corrected. Finally, all of the interior classed cells have been fixed so they look more natural based on location. For example, the Temple of Kynareth is a "bright" classed interior while the Dragonsreach Basement is a "dark" classed interior; therefore, the lighting will now match the interior class.
 
====Light Bulbs====
The Light Bulbs module covers light bulbs for both interiors and exteriors. Light Bulbs are the light that emit from fireplaces, candles and chandeliers among other things. Light Bulb placement has been corrected and new new coloring assigned to them based on "real life" sources. The Light Bulbs has also been named based on what type of light source they are placed at so preset authors can edit a particular Light Bulb type without affecting any of the other Light Bulb types.
 
====FX Effects====
The FX Effects module handles all FX changes introduced by the ELE suite. It makes changes to the "windows dynamic changes" so ENBSeries, itself, can have full control of those changes. This module will also adjust the placement of FX effects, as well as, add or remove some FX effects based on the authors judgement.
 
====Spell and Torch Lighting====
Spell and Torch Lighting module changes the color, radius and intensities of all the spell Light Bulbs while doing the same for the Torch light as well. As with the other modules this one edits the lighting to have a more natural color and specifically alters the spell lighting to fit the different types of spells more accurately.


====Plugins====
==== SMAA Quality Settings ====
======ELE Plugin - RS Light Color======
SMAA comes with several available presets to use, which changes the quality of the effect. To change the SMAA quality, open the ''injector.ini'' file and change the ''preset'' parameter:<br><code>preset = SMAA_PRESET_HIGH</code>
: This plugin was created for Relighting Skyrim and is, thus, fully compatible with it; however, it is also compatible with any other lighting mods that doesn't alter the ParentLight Bulb found in the Object window in the Creation Kit. It makes changes to the ParentLight Bulbs by altering the colors so they emit a more natural color based on their placement in Skyrim. For example, all light bulbs placed at fire type light sources will give off a natural "fire light".
: {{GallerySimple|id=SMAAPresets|width=352|img=File:SMAA_presets.png}}{{clear}}
The available quality presets are listed above the parameter in the file. The standard presets are:
* Low is 60% quality
* Medium is 80%
* High is 95%
* Ultra is 99% quality.
These presets are similar to 2xAA, 4xAA, etc., and each step higher comes with more of a performance loss. Additionally, a custom preset can be created in the '''SMAA.h''' file for the ''Uber'' preset. However, due to this is being an advanced process, it's not necessary for the purposes of this guide and will not be discussed further. For those wanting to learn more about SMAA, there is a very in-depth and technical [https://www.iryoku.com/smaa/downloads/SMAA-Enhanced-Subpixel-Morphological-Antialiasing.pdf PDF available].


======ELE Plugin - Falskaar======
=== Lighting and Weather Mods ===
:This plugin was created for Falskaar. It alters some interior cell menu values to allow the ''ELE - Interior Lighting'' module to take full control of the Falskaar interior cells. This plugin is necessary for Falskaar users who want ''ELE - Interior Lighting'' to have any affect in the Falskaar interiors. Due to changes the Falskaar mod makes, without this plugin Falskaar interiors will have the vanilla lighting.
Lighting and weather mods can have a dramatic impact on the overall look and feel of a game. These mods typically alter vanilla color palettes, brightness, contrast, saturation, and more. As such, it's necessary for ENB Presets to provide support for specific lighting and weather mods. What mods Preset will support. The mods supported vary from Preset to Preset and many authors choose a specific combination of mods to exclusively support. Below are some of the most popular choices for lighting and weather mods in combination with ENBSeries:


======ELE Plugin - FX Emittance======
==== Enhanced Lighting for ENB (Skyrim LE & SE) ====
:In vanilla Skyrim and the Relighting Skyrim mod, the sun-lit Light Bulbs in the interiors uses an effect called ''Exterior Emittance'' to make the Light Bulbs change their color based on the time of the day such as during sunset and sunrise. In vanilla, these colors are plain white and grey mainly. This plugin changes those colors more to more natural colors for a more realistic feel.
Enhanced Lighting for ENB (ELE) is a set of mods developed by the author JawZ. Later several of these mods were merged together to form the ELE mods we have today. ELE is aimed toward balancing the lighting of Skyrim. It adjusts every type of lighting in the game to both make Skyrim look better with ENBSeries and to make it easier for preset authors to customize and balance their Presets, without having to sacrifice one area of lighting over another.
: <i class="fas fa-long-arrow-alt-right"></i> [https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/59733/ {{fs|large|'''Download for LE'''}}]
: <i class="fas fa-long-arrow-alt-right"></i> [https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/1377/ {{fs|large|'''Download for SE'''}}]


==INI Configurations==
== Advanced Configuration ==
The ENB configuration files (''enblocal.ini'' and ''enbseries.ini'') contain all of the user-configurable parameters required for customizing ENBSeries and/or Presets.  
The ENB configuration files (''enblocal.ini'' and ''enbseries.ini'') contain all of the user-configurable parameters required for customizing ENBSeries.  


===enblocal.ini===
===enblocal.ini===
Typically, ''enblocal.ini'' should not change at all among presets (although, a couple of key settings must be changed to enable/disable ENB lighting enhancements offered by ENB 'proper'), so this file is usually conserved among presets as well as ENB updates. For this reason, ''enblocal.ini'' configuration settings do not appear in this guide (other than as referenced within the quickstart guides above) but are referenced in an an ancillary guide:<br />  
Typically, ''enblocal.ini'' should be setup and left; not changing between Presets. Due to the detailed nature of the setup, ''enblocal.ini'' configuration settings do not appear in this guide (other than as referenced within the instructions) but are referenced in an ancillary guide:
{{fs|1.3em|→}} [[Guide:ENBlocal_INI|{{fs|1.1em|'''ENBlocal INI Guide'''}}]]<br />
: <i class="fas fa-long-arrow-alt-right"></i> [[SkyrimLE:ENBLocal_INI_Reference|{{fs|large|'''SkyrimLE ENBLocal INI Reference'''}}]]
: <i class="fas fa-long-arrow-alt-right"></i> [[SkyrimSE:ENBLocal_INI_Reference|{{fs|large|'''SkyrimSE ENBLocal INI Reference'''}}]]


===enbseries.ini===
===enbseries.ini===
Conversely, ''enbseries.ini'' can change dramatically among presets, and some presets offer far more configurability than others by way of extensions within the preset. The 'default' ''enbseries.ini'' comes packaged with ENBseries itself, but some presets lack certain 'new' settings or contain certain 'deprecated' settings. The configuration file contains all of the user-configurable parameters that dictate the behavior and result of the ENB post-processing engine. There are ''many'' configurable parameters, and documenting (or correctly ''implementing'') them all is challenging to say the least. A comprehensive description of all parameters by section is available in the ENBseries INI Guide:<br />  
Conversely, ''enbseries.ini'' can change dramatically among ENB Presets. The 'default' ''enbseries.ini'' comes packaged with ENBSeries, itself. The file contains all of the user-configurable parameters that dictate the behavior and result of the post-processing. There are ''many'' configurable parameters, and documenting (or correctly ''implementing'') them all is challenging, to say the least. WIP, comprehensive references of all parameters by section are available in the ENBSeriesINI Guides below:
{{fs|1.3em|→}} [[Guide:ENBseries_INI|{{fs|1.1em|'''ENBseries INI Guide'''}}]]<br />
: <i class="fas fa-long-arrow-alt-right"></i> [[SkyrimLE:ENBSeries_INI Reference|{{fs|large|'''SkyrimLE ENBSeries INI Reference'''}}]]
 
: <i class="fas fa-long-arrow-alt-right"></i> [[SkyrimSE:ENBSeries INI Reference|{{fs|large|'''SkyrimSE ENBSeries INI Reference'''}}]]
====Using ENB Weathers====
There is a [http://dev-c.com/skyrim/enbhelper/ helper library (enbhelper.dll)] that allows edits to parameters for each specific weather in Skyrim. The helper is essentially an API that queries current weather information from Skyrim and applies variants of ''enbseries.ini'' parameters using external configuration INIs. These external configuration INIs will override conflicting parameters within the main ''enbseries.ini'' file for specific weathers. This allows configuration of, say, bloom settings to differ among different weather types. These weather variations can be very complex (one config per unique Skyrim weather) or very general (one configuration for only a small number of specific weather classes).
 
The helper library and all weather configurations are placed within <code>.../skyrim/enbseries</code>. Most ENB Presets that are configured to work with multiple Skyrim weathers package the "weather helper" with installation instructions by default. For those that do not, see the [[Guide:ENB#ENBSeries_Installation|ENB Installation]] section above for assistance.


<pre>[WEATHER]
===Multiple Weathers===
EnableMultipleWeathers=(false, true)</pre>
Some versions of ENBSeries support a weather framework known as "Multiple Weathers". The Multiple Weathers framework grants the ability to customize multiple ENBSeries features on a per weather and/or per location basis.
''Enables/disables use of the "weather helper" library and configurations to provide ENB customized weathers.''
: <i class="fas fa-long-arrow-alt-right"></i> [[Guide:ENBSeries/MultipleWeathers|Learn mores about Multiple Weathers]]


{{Notice Small|text=Configuring an ENB Preset that does not support variation per weather is currently not covered by this Guide. This would be a great addition if anyone would like to provide some basic information.}}
===Shaders===
: <i class="fas fa-long-arrow-alt-right"></i> [[Guide:ENBSeries/Shaders|Learn mores about shaders]]


==Troubleshooting==
== Troubleshooting ==
===Performance Tips===
=== CTD on game launch (DX9 games) ===
While ENB Presets greatly enhance the visuals of Skyrim, these additional effects also take a toll on performance. How much of an FPS decrease users experience depends on their system hardware, INI settings, texture mod resolutions, display resolution, and a host of other variables. This is why it's virtually impossible to estimate how much any ENB Preset will affect a user's personal system. That being said, there are some things users can do to improve their performance.  
{{fc|salmon|''First be positive this is ''not'' a missing master issue!''}}<br>
Some will experience a CTD after installing ENBSeries or an ENB Preset due to having missing components of DirectX9. The solution is to re-install DirectX 9. It's recommended to update DirectX by downloading the [https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=8109 DirectX End-User Runtimes]. If that option doesn't work, try installing the [https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=6812 DirectX SDK] and running the installer within.


First and foremost it's important for users to keep their systems in top gaming condition. Like anything else, "''if you take care of it, then it will take care of you''". Some simple ways to do this:
=== Disable ENB In-game ===
A common issue with Depth of Field is it can make it difficult to see the character during character creation. To fix this, while in-game, press <kbd>Shift</kbd>+<kbd>F12</kbd> to disable the ENBSeries processing entirely. This can be quite useful when creating characters or modifying them later via the [https://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Console#showracemenu showracemenu] console command. When finished, just press <kbd>Shift</kbd>+<kbd>F12</kbd> again to re-enable processing.


* Defrag the hard drives which games are installed on. {{fc|#E64848|Do not defrag solid state drives (SSDs)!}} These should '''NEVER''' be defragmented and doing so could reduce their lifespan. However, defragging hard disk drives (HDDs) will not only help improve performance while gaming, but can also decrease load times in games and for other applications as well. Although Windows comes with a simple defragging program, STEP recommends either [http://www.auslogics.com/en/software/disk-defrag/ Auslogics Disk Defrag] or [http://www.puransoftware.com/Puran-Defrag.html Puran Defrag Free Edition]. If using Auslogics, use the "''Defrag & Optimize''" option since this will also move the most frequently accessed files closer to the front of the drive. Defrag hard drives at least once a month or any time the fragmentation is 10% or over.
=== Enable Windowed Mode ===
This may be a necessary performance enhancement for some. If experiencing stuttering and the <code>[MEMORY]</code> section of ''enblocal.ini'' is verified to be correct, enabling or disabling these parameters within ''enblocal.ini'' could help resolve some stuttering:
<syntaxhighlight lang="ini">
[WINDOW]
ForceBorderless=true
ForceBorderlessFullscreen=true
</syntaxhighlight>


* If user's CPUs are being utilized 100% or system RAM is being close to filled, disable all unnecessary programs running in the background while gaming to free up more resources. Anti-virus programs disk access usage can cause slowdowns in saving and loading, and any files scanned. Instead of turning it off, setting it to ignore game directories and any mod directories used will prevent the antivirus from occupying the files in use. It also limits your viral exposure to a trusted folder (trusted if it came from legitimate sources). Some anti-virus programs now have a "gaming mode" which can be turned on during gaming sessions to automatically reduce the program's resource use on the system.
=== Long Loading Times ===
Some users may experience long loading times while using ENBSeries. This is because ENBSeries also applies its features to the loading screen of some games (not all). An easy way to decrease the wait is by pressing <kbd>Shift</kbd>+<kbd>F12</kbd> before or just after entering a loading screen to disable ENBSeries processing. When the game is loaded press <kbd>Shift</kbd>+<kbd>F12</kbd>, again, to re-enable processing.
: {{fc|salmon|''Although this still works, it's for use with older versions of ENBSeries. The framerate has been clamped to 60FPS in newer version of ENBSeries to help eliminate this issue.}}


* Keep Steam in [https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=3160-agcb-2555 offline mode]. This is just one more thing depleting resources that really isn't needed.
=== Performance Tips ===
While ENB Presets greatly enhance the visuals of a game, these additional features take a toll on performance; how much depends on individual system hardware, INIs, texture mod resolutions, display resolution, and a host of other variables. As such, it's impossible to estimate how much any ENB Preset will affect a user's personal system. That being said, there are some things that can be done to improve performance.


* GPU settings play a tremendous role in determining quality and performance. Striking the right balance in these settings is essential in achieving a beautiful game with smooth, playable frame rates. Use the guides provided in the STEP guide as a starting point. Adjust and test the settings until the right balance, with smooth game-play, is achieved. The thing to remember here is to be realistic with what the hardware is capable of.
: {{fc|highlight|''First and foremost, it's important to keep the PC in top gaming condition. Like anything else, "if you take care of it, then it will take care of you".''}}


* Be realistic with INI settings, as well. Over-tweaking can, and will, cause performance issues if the system is not capable of handling the additional strain. Use the STEP recommended tweaks and nothing else until it's known whether the system can handle higher settings or not.
* Defrag hard disk drives (HDDs) that games are installed on. {{fc|salmon|''Do not defrag solid state drives (SSDs)!''}} However, HDDs will not only help improve performance while gaming, but can also decrease load times. Although Windows comes with a simple defragging program, Step recommends [https://www.ccleaner.com/defraggler Defraggler]. Defrag HDDs at least once a month or any time the fragmentation is 10% or over.


* High resolution textures and higher polygon count meshes also affect performance. There are countless mods which add these higher resolution assets to the game. Careful consideration should be used when adding these assets with an ENB Preset enabled. Experimentation and testing might be required to find the right balance of quality and performance which best fits the system hardware capabilities.
* If a system CPU is being utilized 100% or system RAM is being filled, disable all unnecessary programs running in the background while gaming to free up more resources. This includes browsers, editors, chats apps, putting antimalware suites into low resource modes, putting Steam in [https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=3160-agcb-2555 offline mode], etc.


* Be realistic with screen resolutions. Users are not going to be able to play Skyrim in 4K resolution with a single GTX770/AMD 7870. The maximum resolution of the video card is not the maximum resulotion it is capable of playing a heavily modded game with an intensive ENB Preset running. Users may have to lower their screen resolution if they want the full quality that presets provide. Again, it's all about balancing visual quality with performance and this will be different for every user.
* Game video settings play a tremendous role in determining quality and performance. Striking the right balance in these settings is essential in achieving a beautiful game with smooth, playable frame rates. Adjust and test video settings until the right balance, with smooth game-play, is achieved. Be realistic with what system hardware is capable of.


* Some of the more intensive ENB effects can also be disabled or lowered in the ''enbseries.ini'' file to improve performance at the cost of some quality. Instructions on how to disable these effects can be found in the INI sub-sections of this Guide. Changing to the performance version of some ENB Presets (where available) will essentially do the same thing; therefore, users are encouraged to explore that route before disabling effects.
* High resolution textures and higher polygon count meshes also affect performance. There are countless mods that add higher resolution assets to games. Careful consideration should be used when adding such assets with ENBSeries. Testing may be required to find the right balance of quality and performance that best fits the system hardware.


If after following these performance tips users are still unable to achieve playable frame rates, the system hardware may not be capable of running ENBSeries or the chosen preset might be too intensive to for it. At this point users may want to consider either using other presets which may not be as demanding on hardware, upgrading their hardware, or not using ENBSeries altogether.
* Be realistic with screen resolutions. Skyrim won't be playable in 4K resolution with a single GTX1060. The maximum resolution of the video card is ''not'' the maximum resolution it is capable of playing a heavily modded game with an ENB Preset. Lower the screen resolution to get the full quality that presets provide.


===CTD on game launch===
* Some of the more intensive ENBSeries features can also be disabled or lowered in quality within the ''enbseries.ini'' file to improve performance, at the cost of some quality.  Changing to the performance version of some ENB presets (when available) will essentially apply the same trade-offs mentioned previously and is preferable to making edits to an existing preset.
'''First be positive this is ''not'' a missing master issue!''' After you've ruled that out, some users will experience a CTD after installing an ENB Preset due to having missing components of DirectX. The solution is to re-install DirectX 9 for games such as Skyrim and Fallout: New Vegas. Windows users will have to update DirectX by downloading the [https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=8109 DirectX End-User Runtimes]. If that option doesn't work, try installing the [https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=6812 DirectX SDK] and running the installer within. Re-installing/updating DirectX should install missing components needed by ENBSeries.


===Shadow Striping===
If playable frame rates are not achieved after following the previous recommendations, the system hardware may not be capable of running ENBSeries or the chosen ENB Preset might be too performance intensive. At which point, consider either using different presets that are not be as demanding on system hardware or upgrading the hardware.
One of the great things about ENBSeries is that it usually fixes shadow striping. Some users, however, will still experience this issue if they've edited their Skyrim INIs. In the screenshots below it's hard to tell from their reduced size in the gallery, but notice the fuzziness along the edges of the shadows and the lines across some of the textures like the post and rock; this is shadow striping.


:[[File:ShadowStriping.jpg|300px|highslide=1:'''Figure 1.''' Shadow Striping]] [[File:ShadowStriping2.jpg|300px|highslide=1:'''Figure 2.''' Shadow Striping]]<br/>
=== Shadow Striping (SkyrimLE) ===
:(To view the full sized images, click on the image to open the gallery, then right click on image and click "View Image".)
One of the great things about ENBSeries is that it usually fixes shadow striping; however, some will still experience this issue if the game INIs have been modified manually. In the screenshots below it's hard to tell from their reduced size in the gallery, but notice the fuzziness along the edges of the shadows and the lines across some of the textures like the post and rock; this is shadow striping.
{{GallerySimple|id=UseOriginalPostProcessing|width=240|img=File:ShadowStriping.jpg|caption='''Figure 1.''' Shadow Striping}}
{{GallerySimple|id=UseOriginalPostProcessing|width=240|img=File:ShadowStriping2.jpg|caption='''Figure 2.''' Shadow Striping}}
{{clear}}


If this is preset, adjust the <code>iBlurDeferredShadowMask</code> parameter in the ''SkyrimPrefs.ini'' file (MO users will have to adjust it in the INI Editor in MO). It will be set to its default from when the INI files where created by the game launcher, unless users have manually adjusted it. Turning this parameter down to a lower usually results in sharper shadow detail; however, turning it down too low can result in striping. Users can adjust this setting from 0-7. If striping occurs while ENBSeries is enabled, increase this parameter's value by one, save the change, and test the new setting in-game. Continue to repeat this process until the shadow striping is gone. Usually between 3 and 5 are the best values.
If this is preset, adjust the <code>iBlurDeferredShadowMask</code> parameter in the ''SkyrimPrefs.ini'' file (MO users will have to adjust it in the INI Editor in MO). It will be set to its default from when the INI files where created by the game launcher, unless it has been manually adjusted. Turning this parameter down to a lower usually results in sharper shadow detail; however, turning it down too low can result in striping. The valid range of this setting is 0-7. If striping occurs while ENBSeries is enabled, increase this parameter's value by one, save the change, and test the new setting in-game. Continue to repeat this process until the shadow striping is gone. Usually between 3 and 5 are the best values.


If the above is not helping or making the shadows too blurry, adjusting the <code>fShadowDistance</code> parameter may also help. This is the distance at which shadows are drawn from the object. Decreasing this will make these shadows less elongated and help to eliminate striping at lower <code>iBlurDeferredShadowMask</code> values; however, adjusting this value too long can also result in unnatural looking shadows.
If the above is not helping or making the shadows too blurry, adjusting the <code>fShadowDistance</code> parameter may also help. This is the distance at which shadows are drawn from the object. Decreasing this will make these shadows less elongated and help to eliminate striping at lower <code>iBlurDeferredShadowMask</code> values; however, adjusting this value too long can also result in unnatural looking shadows.


===AMD/ATI Users===
=== AMD/ATI Users (SkyrimLE) ===
Set the following in ''enbseries.ini''.
Set the following in ''enbseries.ini'':
 
<syntaxhighlight lang="ini">
In the <code>[SHADOW]</code> section:
[SHADOW]
<pre>UseBilateralShadowFilter=false</pre>
UseBilateralShadowFilter=false
</syntaxhighlight>


* When updating drivers be sure to uninstall your current drivers before installing your new drivers. It is also not recommended to use Beta drivers. The current stable drivers can be found [http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/Pages/index.aspx here].
* When updating drivers be sure to uninstall your current drivers before installing your new drivers. It is also not recommended to use Beta drivers. The current stable drivers can be found [https://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/Pages/index.aspx here].
* If you must use anisotropic filtering (AF), then either ENB-enabled or CCC-enabled is fine, but this depends entirely on the capability of your CPU since Skyrim is more CPU-intensive than GPU. ENB-enabled is better, but up to 8x is recommended unless you have at least 2GB of VRAM (generally the 69xx, 78xx, and 79xx series).
* If you must use anisotropic filtering (AF), then either ENB-enabled or CCC-enabled is fine, but this depends entirely on the capability of your CPU since Skyrim is more CPU-intensive than GPU. ENB-enabled is better, but up to 8x is recommended unless you have at least 2GB of VRAM (generally the 69xx, 78xx, and 79xx series).


==== Possible Crossfire Fix ====
==== Possible Crossfire Fix ====
Please apply the following process to ensure Crossfire compatibility:
{{Spoiler|shown=Show Instructions|hidden=Please apply the following process to ensure Crossfire compatibility:


# Right-click on your desktop and open the Catalyst Control Center.
# Right-click on your desktop and open the Catalyst Control Center.
Line 420: Line 274:
# "TESV.exe" should now show up on that page. Select it and scroll down to "CrossfireX Mode"
# "TESV.exe" should now show up on that page. Select it and scroll down to "CrossfireX Mode"
# Select "Use AMD Pre-defined profile" and locate the "Assassin's Creed Brotherhood profile" (acp?b.exe)
# Select "Use AMD Pre-defined profile" and locate the "Assassin's Creed Brotherhood profile" (acp?b.exe)
# Overwrite the default profile when prompted.
# Overwrite the default profile when prompted.}}
 
===Disable ENB In-game===
A common issue with Depth of Field effects is that it is difficult to see the character while in the creation menu. There is a very simple solution for this. While playing, just press {{ui|Shift+F12}} to disable the ENBSeries processing entirely. This can be quite useful when creating characters or modifying them later via the [http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Console#showracemenu showracemenu] console command. When finished, just press {{ui|Shift+F12}} again to re-enable processing.
 
===Long Loading Times===
Some people may experience long loading times while using ENBSeries. An easy way to decrease your wait is by pressing {{ui|Shift+F12}} before or just after entering the loading screen to disable ENBSeries processing. When the game is loaded press {{ui|Shift+F12}} again to re-enable processing.
{{Notice Small|text=Although this still works, it's an old trick for those with v0.119 or older. Starting with ENBSeries v0.265+, Boris has fixed the framerate to 60FPS in order to help eliminate this issue}}


===ENB Support Forum===
=== ENB Support Forum ===
If the above troubleshooting did not help, please refer to our [http://forum.step-project.com/forum/57-enb-support/ ENB Support Forum] for assistance.
If the above troubleshooting did not help, please refer to our [https://stepmodifications.org/forum/forum/57-enb-support/ ENB Support Forum] for assistance.

Latest revision as of 01:50, March 27, 2024

Delta c.png

ENBSeries Guide

A comprehensive ENB guide

by: The Step Team and community  | Forum Topic

See also:

enblocal.ini
enbseries.ini


Info-Logo.png

NOTE

This is the general overview of ENBSeries for all supported games. See the ENB INI Reference for descriptions of all settings by game.

What is ENBSeries?[edit | edit source]

ENBSeries (or ENB) is a post-processing suite created and maintained by Boris Voronstov. It's available for multiple games including most that Step Modifications supports. ENBSeries adds many enhancements and features to games, which aren't available from the vanilla game. This is accomplished by using a custom API in the form of a dynamic link library (DLL) to add to the game shader engine, thus, allowing additional processing that the game isn't capable of doing on its own. Features that overlap with game features are usually replaced entirely with more accurate code, thus, are always better quality versions.

In addition to advanced shader post-processing, ENBSeries also implements a memory manager for several 32-bit games, called ENBoost, that enhances the efficiency of video memory management while bypassing memory limits inherit within all 32-bit games. This results in increased performance and stabilization, in addition to the increase quality provided by the post-processing features.

The main draw to using ENBSeries is it allows vast customization that authors can take advance of to produce custom presets (commonly referred to as "ENBs" or "ENB Presets"). Presets offer a range of "look and feel", meaning each preset can create a different ambiance for the game. Ambiances such as a cooler or warmer color palette, "fantasy" or "realistic" lighting environments, more vibrant or bleak saturation...the list is very long. Given author can also include their own shaders in the mix, the combinations are nearly endless and there is likely already an ENB preset that is perfect for every users' personal tastes. However, all those added effects often come at a cost to performance. Luckily, most authors provide "performance" versions of their presets, which are lighter on system resources.

ENBoost[edit | edit source]

What is ENBoost?[edit | edit source]

ENBoost is a memory management feature added to ENBSeries to address the crashes and freezes relating to the well-known system memory (RAM) limit of 32-bit applications. It's one major part of a multi-part solution Step Modifications recommends for dealing with this limitation on 32-bit games. ENBoost is included by default in ENBSeries versions that support it, and can be implemented as a standalone memory manager without the graphical effects from ENBSeries. The effectiveness and performance of ENBoost is determined by a number of factors, such as size of system RAM / VRAM, quality of video card, version of Windows OS, CPU, and even motherboard memory channel speed. Fortunately, there are a number of ENBoost settings to help account for the variety of system configurations.

Info-Logo.png
NOTE:
Step Modifications considers ENBoost to be an essential tool recommended for ALL Skyrim LE users.


How Does ENBoost Work?[edit | edit source]

In order to understand how ENBoost works, it is important to first know how some 32-bit applications manage memory. Skyrim LE will be used for this explanation. The main Skyrim LE game executable, TESV.exe, is a 32-bit Large-Address-Aware (LAA) application. This means that although TESV.exe can only use a maximum of 2GB of system RAM on 32-bit Windows systems, it can access up to about 3.1GB of system RAM (4GB minus about 900MB of system resources) on 64-bit systems. To drive the video card in displaying the game's 3D rendered graphics, TESV.exe must store object geometry (the shapes of things in the game) and texture data in its memory space, as a cache. This cache is then copied to the video card's VRAM to display on the screen.

The memory limit is not a problem with an unmodded game because the cached data is dynamically loaded and unloaded to make room for new data as it's needed, and it almost never completely fills up all of TESV.exe's available RAM. However, when mods are added to Skyrim, the memory needed for cached data is significantly increased, and the more mods that are used, especially higher resolution texture mods, the higher the chance that TESV.exe will run out of memory. When this happens, either the program crashes or some objects do not get rendered. ENBoost overcomes this memory limitation by ...

  1. using available VRAM on your video card and then...
  2. using system RAM for dynamically allocated cached data via a helper executable.
    This is accomplished by running one or more instances of an executable named enbhost.exe, which adds up to another ~3GB of memory available per instance.

ENBoost Installation[edit | edit source]

➕ [Click to show]➖ [Click to hide] Show installation instructions
  1. Download and install the DirectX 9 Runtimes.
    This step is to prevent the common issues of missing DirectX files required by ENBSeries. Be sure to install it and not just extract it!
  2. Download the latest ENBSeries version for the game it will be install on.
    1. On the game pages, their is a list of major changes and links to the available versions.
    2. Click a version link to download the version required by the chosen preset. The latest version is usually the one at the top of the list.
    3. On the version page will be listed a changelog and a download link. Click the Down1.gif button located at the bottom of the page to download the version file.
  3. Open the downloaded archive and go into the WrapperVersion folder.
  4. Extract only the d3d9*.dll files, enbhost.exe, and enblocal.ini into the game's folder where its executable is located.
  5. If the "WrapperVersion" does not function as advertised, try the "InjectorVersion".
    1. Remove any existing remnants of the Wrapper version
    2. Extract only the enbhost.exe, ENBInjector.exe, enbinjector.ini, enblocal.ini, and enbseries.dll files into the game's folder where its executable is located.
    Info-Logo.png
    NOTE:
    ENBInjector.exe must be ran before running the game for the injector version to work properly.

ENBoost Configuration[edit | edit source]

The following are important changes that are either required for ENBoost to work:

➕ [Click to show]➖ [Click to hide] Show INI Configuration
[GLOBAL]
UsePatchSpeedhackWithoutGraphics=true
UseDefferedRendering=false

[MEMORY]
ExpandSystemMemoryX64=false
ReservedMemorySizeMb=128
;This value should be set to lowest possible value without experiencing stutter. Increase this value until stuttering is either gone or minimal. See advanced guide above for more information.

VideoMemorySizeMb=<integer in MB>
;Download and run Boris's VRamSizeTest tool [https://enbdev.com/download_vramsizetest.htm]. Run the '''VRamSizeDX9.exe''' for DX9 games and '''VRamSizeDX11.exe''' for others.
;Windows 7 - Subtract 170 from the value provided and use that value.
;Windows 8.1 - Use the value provided.
;Windows 10 - Subtract 350 from the value provided and use that value.

AutodetectVideoMemorySize=false
Info-Logo.png

NOTE

If they exist in the enblocal.ini file for the ENBSeries version in use, be sure the parameters under the [THREADS] section match what is below!
These are for special case use only and do not apply to 99% of users! The section should remain as follows: 

[THREADS]
DataSyncMode=0
PriorityMode=0


ENBSeries Presets[edit | edit source]

As described in the introduction, ENBSeries main attraction is the ability to customize its features and visuals using presets, commonly referred to as "ENB Presets" or "ENBs". These ENB Presets may encompass all of the features of ENBSeries or only a subset of them, depending on what the author intends as the final result.

ENBSeries Features[edit | edit source]

The features available will vary by game. ENBSeries is still in active development for the latest games it supports. Thus means it's constantly updated with bug fixes, enhancements to current features, as well as, new features. Below is a list of some of the features ENBSeries provides (version dependent):

  • Game bug fixes
  • Mist effect
  • Cloud shadows
  • Rain occlusion
  • Volumetric rays
  • Parallax for terrain
  • Per location weather
  • Wet surfaces during rain
  • Muddiness control of water
  • Supersampling for ambient occlusion
  • Enhanced blending of certain effects
  • Color filter parameters for direct light, fog and sky gradients
  • Detailed shadows added for light bulb types: hemisphere and spotlight
  • Optimization of ambient occlusion, plus a visualization tool for Preset authors and modders
  • many, many others...

ENBSeries Installation[edit | edit source]

This is a basic and generic set of instructions for setting up ENBSeries. These instructions may provide assistance where certain Preset documentation may be lacking; however, always defer to the Preset documentation first and use these generic instructions to fill in the blanks, if necessary.

➕ [Click to show]➖ [Click to hide] Show Installation Instructions
  1. Select and download a preset from Nexus Mods or some other source, and carefully read the author's instructions. The following are general instructions provided for convenience.
  2. Download the latest ENBSeries version for the game it will be install on.
    1. On the game pages, their is a list of major changes and links to the available versions.
    2. Click a version link to download the version required by the chosen preset. The latest version is usually the one at the top of the list.
    3. On the version page will be listed a changelog and a download link. Click the Down1.gif button located at the bottom of the page to download the version file.
  3. Extract the contents of the "WrapperVersion" into the game folder (e.g., ..\Steam\steamapps\common\GameFolder). Note that only *.ini, *.dll files are required. The the \enbseries\ folder and additional files can also be included if the ENB preset that will be used relies on them (they are usually provided by the preset author though).
    NOTE: If the "WrapperVersion" does not function as advertised, try the "InjectorVersion", if available. Remove any remnants of the Wrapper version prior to installing. When using the injector version, ENBInjector.exe must be running in the background before starting the game, else ENBSeries will not work.
  4. All users, including ENBoost users, set the following in enblocal.ini:

    [GLOBAL]
    UsePatchSpeedhackWithoutGraphics=false
    UseDefferedRendering=true

  5. Verify the preset's instructions, but the following skyrimprefs.ini settings are required for the graphical features of ENBSeries to work with Skyrim. Other games may have similar requirements that also should be provided by the preset author:
Skyrim

[Display]
iMultiSample=0
bFloatPointRenderTarget=1

Warning Regarding Enblocal.ini[edit | edit source]

Some ENB Presets will include an enblocal.ini file. This is not a recommended practice and should be maintained by the end user. The reason for this is because this enblocal file is meant to be used for each user's personal system. Best practice is to update the existing enblocal.ini file alongside the file included with the preset, copying only desired changes typically from the following sections (as applicable):

  • [PROXY]
    • Copy all settings
  • [GLOBAL]
    • Copy all settings
  • [ENGINE]
    • ForceLodBias=
    • LodBias=
  • [FIX]
    • Copy all settings

Extra Options[edit | edit source]

The following components and tweaks are optional and NOT required for a successful ENB implementation.

SubPixel Morphological Anti-Aliasing (SMAA)[edit | edit source]

SubPixel Morphological Anti-Aliasing (SMAA) is a fantastic post-processing antialiasing method that provides similar results to MSAA, but usually at a fraction of the performance cost. As such, it provides exceptional smoothing of jagged lines on both straight and curved lines, as well as, transparent textures like foliage. Furthermore, SMAA can either replace the game's AA method entirely or stack on top of it, since it is a post-process. This makes SMAA useful and versatile for many situations, however, it only supports DX9 and DX10 games.

The reason SMAA is important, is because some versions of ENBSeries don't support hardware antialiasing, due to the implementation of some of its features. If the PC doesn't support SMAA, only the following options are available:

  • ENBSeries EdgeAA (when available)
  • SMAA (post-process)
  • SweetFX (post-process)

For those on low-end systems, ENBSeries EdgeAA is probably the best choice as it comes with almost no performance loss, and will be similar to 4xMSAA. For all others, SMAA is recommended for superior results. SMAA is processed after ENBSeries; thus, ENBSeries ENB can be supplemented with SMAA to gain better image quality. It's possible to use SMAA with any ENB Preset, as long as there is not an additional d3d9.dll already in use in the [PROXY] section of the enbseries.ini file. To install SMAA:

➕ [Click to show]➖ [Click to hide] Show Installation Instructions
  1. Download SMAA from here
  2. Extract the downloaded archive
    • For DirectX 9 games, use the d3d9 folder.
    • For DirectX 10 games, use the d9d10 folder.
  3. Rename the DLL from xxxx.dll to xxxx_smaa.dll' (i.e., d3d9_smaa.dll )
  4. Copy the following files from the folder above to the location where the game's executable resides:
    • xxxx_smaa.dll
    • injector.ini
    • SMAA.h
    • SMAA.fx
  5. To enable SMAA with ENBSeries, set the following in the enblocal.ini file:
[PROXY]
EnableProxyLibrary=true
InitProxyFunctions=true
ProxyLibrary=d3d9_smaa.dll

SMAA Quality Settings[edit | edit source]

SMAA comes with several available presets to use, which changes the quality of the effect. To change the SMAA quality, open the injector.ini file and change the preset parameter:
preset = SMAA_PRESET_HIGH

The available quality presets are listed above the parameter in the file. The standard presets are:

  • Low is 60% quality
  • Medium is 80%
  • High is 95%
  • Ultra is 99% quality.

These presets are similar to 2xAA, 4xAA, etc., and each step higher comes with more of a performance loss. Additionally, a custom preset can be created in the SMAA.h file for the Uber preset. However, due to this is being an advanced process, it's not necessary for the purposes of this guide and will not be discussed further. For those wanting to learn more about SMAA, there is a very in-depth and technical PDF available.

Lighting and Weather Mods[edit | edit source]

Lighting and weather mods can have a dramatic impact on the overall look and feel of a game. These mods typically alter vanilla color palettes, brightness, contrast, saturation, and more. As such, it's necessary for ENB Presets to provide support for specific lighting and weather mods. What mods Preset will support. The mods supported vary from Preset to Preset and many authors choose a specific combination of mods to exclusively support. Below are some of the most popular choices for lighting and weather mods in combination with ENBSeries:

Enhanced Lighting for ENB (Skyrim LE & SE)[edit | edit source]

Enhanced Lighting for ENB (ELE) is a set of mods developed by the author JawZ. Later several of these mods were merged together to form the ELE mods we have today. ELE is aimed toward balancing the lighting of Skyrim. It adjusts every type of lighting in the game to both make Skyrim look better with ENBSeries and to make it easier for preset authors to customize and balance their Presets, without having to sacrifice one area of lighting over another.

Download for LE
Download for SE

Advanced Configuration[edit | edit source]

The ENB configuration files (enblocal.ini and enbseries.ini) contain all of the user-configurable parameters required for customizing ENBSeries.

enblocal.ini[edit | edit source]

Typically, enblocal.ini should be setup and left; not changing between Presets. Due to the detailed nature of the setup, enblocal.ini configuration settings do not appear in this guide (other than as referenced within the instructions) but are referenced in an ancillary guide:

SkyrimLE ENBLocal INI Reference
SkyrimSE ENBLocal INI Reference

enbseries.ini[edit | edit source]

Conversely, enbseries.ini can change dramatically among ENB Presets. The 'default' enbseries.ini comes packaged with ENBSeries, itself. The file contains all of the user-configurable parameters that dictate the behavior and result of the post-processing. There are many configurable parameters, and documenting (or correctly implementing) them all is challenging, to say the least. WIP, comprehensive references of all parameters by section are available in the ENBSeriesINI Guides below:

SkyrimLE ENBSeries INI Reference
SkyrimSE ENBSeries INI Reference

Multiple Weathers[edit | edit source]

Some versions of ENBSeries support a weather framework known as "Multiple Weathers". The Multiple Weathers framework grants the ability to customize multiple ENBSeries features on a per weather and/or per location basis.

Learn mores about Multiple Weathers

Shaders[edit | edit source]

Learn mores about shaders

Troubleshooting[edit | edit source]

CTD on game launch (DX9 games)[edit | edit source]

First be positive this is not a missing master issue!
Some will experience a CTD after installing ENBSeries or an ENB Preset due to having missing components of DirectX9. The solution is to re-install DirectX 9. It's recommended to update DirectX by downloading the DirectX End-User Runtimes. If that option doesn't work, try installing the DirectX SDK and running the installer within.

Disable ENB In-game[edit | edit source]

A common issue with Depth of Field is it can make it difficult to see the character during character creation. To fix this, while in-game, press Shift+F12 to disable the ENBSeries processing entirely. This can be quite useful when creating characters or modifying them later via the showracemenu console command. When finished, just press Shift+F12 again to re-enable processing.

Enable Windowed Mode[edit | edit source]

This may be a necessary performance enhancement for some. If experiencing stuttering and the [MEMORY] section of enblocal.ini is verified to be correct, enabling or disabling these parameters within enblocal.ini could help resolve some stuttering: 

[WINDOW]
ForceBorderless=true
ForceBorderlessFullscreen=true

Long Loading Times[edit | edit source]

Some users may experience long loading times while using ENBSeries. This is because ENBSeries also applies its features to the loading screen of some games (not all). An easy way to decrease the wait is by pressing Shift+F12 before or just after entering a loading screen to disable ENBSeries processing. When the game is loaded press Shift+F12, again, to re-enable processing.

Although this still works, it's for use with older versions of ENBSeries. The framerate has been clamped to 60FPS in newer version of ENBSeries to help eliminate this issue.

Performance Tips[edit | edit source]

While ENB Presets greatly enhance the visuals of a game, these additional features take a toll on performance; how much depends on individual system hardware, INIs, texture mod resolutions, display resolution, and a host of other variables. As such, it's impossible to estimate how much any ENB Preset will affect a user's personal system. That being said, there are some things that can be done to improve performance.

First and foremost, it's important to keep the PC in top gaming condition. Like anything else, "if you take care of it, then it will take care of you".
  • Defrag hard disk drives (HDDs) that games are installed on. Do not defrag solid state drives (SSDs)! However, HDDs will not only help improve performance while gaming, but can also decrease load times. Although Windows comes with a simple defragging program, Step recommends Defraggler. Defrag HDDs at least once a month or any time the fragmentation is 10% or over.
  • If a system CPU is being utilized 100% or system RAM is being filled, disable all unnecessary programs running in the background while gaming to free up more resources. This includes browsers, editors, chats apps, putting antimalware suites into low resource modes, putting Steam in offline mode, etc.
  • Game video settings play a tremendous role in determining quality and performance. Striking the right balance in these settings is essential in achieving a beautiful game with smooth, playable frame rates. Adjust and test video settings until the right balance, with smooth game-play, is achieved. Be realistic with what system hardware is capable of.
  • High resolution textures and higher polygon count meshes also affect performance. There are countless mods that add higher resolution assets to games. Careful consideration should be used when adding such assets with ENBSeries. Testing may be required to find the right balance of quality and performance that best fits the system hardware.
  • Be realistic with screen resolutions. Skyrim won't be playable in 4K resolution with a single GTX1060. The maximum resolution of the video card is not the maximum resolution it is capable of playing a heavily modded game with an ENB Preset. Lower the screen resolution to get the full quality that presets provide.
  • Some of the more intensive ENBSeries features can also be disabled or lowered in quality within the enbseries.ini file to improve performance, at the cost of some quality. Changing to the performance version of some ENB presets (when available) will essentially apply the same trade-offs mentioned previously and is preferable to making edits to an existing preset.

If playable frame rates are not achieved after following the previous recommendations, the system hardware may not be capable of running ENBSeries or the chosen ENB Preset might be too performance intensive. At which point, consider either using different presets that are not be as demanding on system hardware or upgrading the hardware.

Shadow Striping (SkyrimLE)[edit | edit source]

One of the great things about ENBSeries is that it usually fixes shadow striping; however, some will still experience this issue if the game INIs have been modified manually. In the screenshots below it's hard to tell from their reduced size in the gallery, but notice the fuzziness along the edges of the shadows and the lines across some of the textures like the post and rock; this is shadow striping.

Figure 1. Shadow Striping
Figure 1. Shadow Striping
Figure 2. Shadow Striping
Figure 2. Shadow Striping

If this is preset, adjust the iBlurDeferredShadowMask parameter in the SkyrimPrefs.ini file (MO users will have to adjust it in the INI Editor in MO). It will be set to its default from when the INI files where created by the game launcher, unless it has been manually adjusted. Turning this parameter down to a lower usually results in sharper shadow detail; however, turning it down too low can result in striping. The valid range of this setting is 0-7. If striping occurs while ENBSeries is enabled, increase this parameter's value by one, save the change, and test the new setting in-game. Continue to repeat this process until the shadow striping is gone. Usually between 3 and 5 are the best values.

If the above is not helping or making the shadows too blurry, adjusting the fShadowDistance parameter may also help. This is the distance at which shadows are drawn from the object. Decreasing this will make these shadows less elongated and help to eliminate striping at lower iBlurDeferredShadowMask values; however, adjusting this value too long can also result in unnatural looking shadows.

AMD/ATI Users (SkyrimLE)[edit | edit source]

Set the following in enbseries.ini: 

[SHADOW]
UseBilateralShadowFilter=false
  • When updating drivers be sure to uninstall your current drivers before installing your new drivers. It is also not recommended to use Beta drivers. The current stable drivers can be found here.
  • If you must use anisotropic filtering (AF), then either ENB-enabled or CCC-enabled is fine, but this depends entirely on the capability of your CPU since Skyrim is more CPU-intensive than GPU. ENB-enabled is better, but up to 8x is recommended unless you have at least 2GB of VRAM (generally the 69xx, 78xx, and 79xx series).

Possible Crossfire Fix[edit | edit source]

➕ [Click to show]➖ [Click to hide] Show Instructions

Please apply the following process to ensure Crossfire compatibility:

  1. Right-click on your desktop and open the Catalyst Control Center.
  2. Enter the 3D Applications Profiles.
  3. Choose "Use AMD Pre-defined profile" in the list at the bottom
  4. Select the "Assassin's Creed Brotherhood profile" (acp?b.exe)
  5. Go back to the top, select "New application" and press the "Save" button.
  6. Choose the "TESV.exe" application (in the root Skyrim folder) when the browser window pops up.
  7. Answer "Yes" when CCC asks if you want to override the default TESV profile.

For users using 13.x drivers

  1. Open up the AMD Vision Engine Control Center (or the Catalyst Control Center).
  2. Make sure your are in Advanced View mode by clicking Preferences.
  3. Select "Gaming" and choose "3D Applications Profiles".
  4. Select "Add" and browse to and select "TESV.exe".
  5. "TESV.exe" should now show up on that page. Select it and scroll down to "CrossfireX Mode"
  6. Select "Use AMD Pre-defined profile" and locate the "Assassin's Creed Brotherhood profile" (acp?b.exe)
  7. Overwrite the default profile when prompted.

ENB Support Forum[edit | edit source]

If the above troubleshooting did not help, please refer to our ENB Support Forum for assistance.

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