Guide:ENBSeries

From Step Mods | Change The Game


A comprehensive guide for properly installing and editing ENBs for n00bs and gurus alike -- by the S.T.E.P. Team

GUIDE FORUM THREAD

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Welcome to the ENBSeries Graphics Modification for Skyrim Guide. The ENBSeries is a special type of mod created and maintained by Boris Voronstov. ENB adds effects to Skyrim that were not available before, such as screen space ambient occulsion (SSAO) and depth of field (DoF), and provides a memory manager known as ENBoost. This Guide will help newcomers become familiar with the basics of installing and using ENB and will also answer many questions for every user, from novice to expert. STEP now has a dedicated subforum for ENB presets; Post Processor Suggestions (ENB) and a dedicated ENB Support Forum for users to find help and get answers to questions regarding ENBs.

What is ENB?[edit | edit source]

ENBSeries is a powerful post processing modification available for Skyrim and other games. It was developed by Boris Vorontsov, who still maintains and updates the mod. ENBSeries enables users to create custom configurations (commonly referred to as ENBs or ENB Presets) by modifying rendering functions and the application of additional effects, such as bloom, depth of field, reflections, and SSAO among others. ENBSeries has also added a memory manager known as ENBoost which assists in managing system and video memory in order to prevent crashes. ENB presets enhance the visuals of the game, including overall lighting, colors, and shadows, but comes with a performance loss of anywhere between 5% to 50% of total frames per second (FPS), depending on the user's hardware, the ENB features enabled and the extent to which those features are utilized. Most users find this loss acceptable compared to the enhancements and features gained from the ENB.

Use the Quickstart tab to jump right into using an ENB Preset or explore the other tabs for more advanced and in-depth information pertaining to ENBs.

What is ENBoost?[edit | edit source]

ENBoost is a memory reduction feature added to ENBSeries to address the crashes and freezes of Skyrim due to hitting the system memory (RAM) limit of a 32-bit application. ENBoost is included in the ENBSeries graphics modification and is now a part of all up-to-date ENB presets or can be used without the graphic modifications of ENBSeries. ENBoost is explained across several of the sections for users that just want the to use the memory manager without the graphics modifications. ENBoost is designed to work better for more powerful computers that have more video memory (VRAM) available.

Use the Quickstart tab to jump right into using ENBoost which is located midway down the page.

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Quickstart guide for ENB Presets and ENBoost. This section is for users who simply want to get up and running quickly without needing or wanting to know all the details.

ENB Quickstart[edit | edit source]

  1. Download the latest 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 Down1.gif button located at the bottom of the page.
  2. Select and download an ENB preset from Nexus.
    • There is a list of recommended presets on the ENB Choices tab. If RealVision or Vividian ENB is the chosen ENB preset then ignore these directions. These presets use a FOMOD installer included in the download to install their ENBs. Check their Nexus pages for instructions.
  3. Download additional ENB mod files, if necessary.
    • Many ENB presets will provide additional files to enhance the in game settings.
  4. Download the ENB Helper file, if necessary.
    • Not all ENB presets need this file and those which do, most often, include it with the preset; therefore, check on the chosen ENB Preset's Nexus page to find out if it is needed.
  5. Extract the downloaded files to the correct folders as listed:
    1. Extract the d3d9.dll and enbhost.exe from the ENB binary archive in the WrapperVersion folder to the Skyrim game folder. NOT the DATA folder.
      File:ENBWrapperFolder.png
      File:ENBd3d9.png
    2. Extract the ENB Preset's archive to the Skyrim game folder. NOT the DATA folder. (Example below is for Phinix Natural ENB)
      File:ENBProfileFolder.png
    3. Only necessary for some ENB presets! Extract the ENB helper mod to the "enbseries" folder, which will be in the Skyrim folder.
      File:ENBHelper.png
      File:ENBSeriesFolder.png
    4. Install the additional ENB files, if there were any provided.
      • These are usually installed like regular mods and can be installed by a mod manager. Check the ENB Preset's Nexus page for instructions.
  6. Setup the enblocal.ini:
    1. Open the Skyrim folder and then open the enblocal.ini in a text editor (Notepad++ is recommended).
    2. Find the section marked [MEMORY] and change parameters using the recommended settings below:
      File:ENBLocalFolder.png
      File:ENBLocalMemory.png
    3. Enter total VRAM on line VideoMemorySizeMb=
      • Values are in Megabytes. For 32bit systems, VideoMemorySizeMb equals the amount of VRAM (2GB VRAM = 2048). For 64bit systems, use the formula: (VRAM + RAM) - 2048. The example below is for a 64bit system with 2GB VRAM and 8GB system RAM. (Refer to one of the photos above)
    4. Save enblocal.ini and close.
    5. Open the Skyrim Launcher and turn Antialiasing and Anisotropic Filtering to 'Off(best performance)'
      File:ENBLauncherSettings.png
    6. Now open SkyrimPrefs.ini. (This file is usually in the Documents/My Games/Skyrim folder or use the INI editor for Mod Organizer users. Mod Organizer picture shown second.)
    7. Set the following lines accordingly:
      bFloatPointRenderTarget=1
      bTreesReceiveShadows=1
      bDrawLandShadows=1
      bShadowsOnGrass=1
      File:ENBINISettings.png
      File:ENBMOSettings.png
  7. Load Skyrim and enjoy!

ENBoost Quickstart[edit | edit source]

  1. Download the latest ENB binary.
    • The links at the bottom of the page list all the binaries. Choose the latest file (usually the one on the top of the list), then on the next page click the Down1.gif button.
  2. Open the ENB binary archive and go to the WrapperVersion folder, then extract d3d9.dll, enbhost.exe, and enblocal.ini to the Skyrim folder. NOT the DATA folder.
    File:ENBoostFolder.png
  3. Open the Skyrim folder and then open the enblocal.ini in a text editor (Notepad++ is recommended).
    File:ENBLocalFolder.png
  4. Find the section named [GLOBAL] and change the line, UsePatchSpeedhackWithoutGraphics=false from false to true.
    • This line will disable the graphic effects of ENBSeries and only use the memory management feature known as ENBoost.
    File:ENBoostINI.png
  5. Enter total VRAM on line VideoMemorySizeMb=
    • Values are in Megabytes. For 32bit systems, VideoMemorySizeMb equals the amount of VRAM (2GB VRAM = 2048). For 64bit systems, use the formula: (VRAM + RAM) - 2048. The example below is for a 64bit system with 2GB VRAM and 8GB system RAM. (Refer to one of the photos above)
    File:ENBLocalMemory.png
  6. Save enblocal.ini and close.
  7. Load Skyrim and enjoy!
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ENBSeries[edit | edit source]

Before installing any ENB presets, get Boris Vorontsov's ENBSeries. 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 ENBSeries; therefore, please refer to the chosen ENB preset's documentation to ensure the correct version of ENBSeries is downloaded.

Using Only ENboost[edit | edit source]

ENBSeries now has the option of using the memory reducing features of ENB without the graphics modification. This is helpful for users with low end systems that can handle higher texture quality, but not the enhanced graphics and processing of ENBSeries such as, shadows, SSAO, and SkyLighting. The installation of ENBoost does not require an ENB preset.

Installation:

  1. Get the latest version of ENBSeries from here.
  2. Extract the contents of the WrapperVersion folder to the root Skyrim folder (not the DATA folder).
    • Nvidia Optimus users will have to use the InjectorVersion folder.
  3. Navigate to the Skyrim folder and open the enblocal.ini file in a text editor. Under the [GLOBAL] section change UsePatchSpeedhackWithoutGraphics=false to true.
  4. Next, under the [MEMORY] section, set the required values. These can be found at the bottom of the Installation section of this Guide.
  5. Save and close the file. ENBoost is now installed and will run when you launch Skyrim.

Suggested ENB Configurations[edit | edit source]

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 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 ENB Guide Thread. For general installation instructions, see the Installation tab; however, it is highly recommended to follow the author's installation instructions found on the ENB Preset's Nexus page.

ENBSeries v0.236 vs v0.262+[edit | edit source]

The latest versions of ENBSeries available to download are v0.236 and 0.262. Most ENB Presets that are still in active development have been updated to utilize one of these two versions, or have stated that they are compatible with them. The recommendations below are current for either one or both of these versions. So, what's the difference?

There have been several improvements between the two releases. From v0.236 to v0.262 the following have been added:

  • Muddiness control of water
  • Cloud shadows
  • Volumetric rays
  • Mist effect
  • Supersampling for ambient occlusion
  • Optimization of ambient occlusion
  • Enhanced blending of certain effects
  • Lighting bug fixes
  • Other performance optimizations
  • Other bug fixes


ENB Presets[edit | edit source]

Vividian - Weather and Lighting Enhancment by Mangaclub and BenhatAlt text

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Baseline:
Vividian currently supports ENBSeries v0.262.
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 version also grant more realistic, shadows and weather.
The mod part of Vividian is a weather mod called Extended Weathers which has three different extensions. The first is 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. The second is Extended Groundfogs which adds groundfogs to 62 hand selected weathers. The final extension is Diverse Weathers which adds more weathers to all regions of Skyrim and raises the chances of rainy/snowy/stormy/foggy weathers.
Vividian is one of the most compatible ENB Profiles available and is currently compatible with vanilla Skyrim and the DLCs, Climates of Tamriel, Pure Weather, RCRN, ELFX, ELE, Relighting Skyrim, Extended Snow System, Real Shelter, Falskaar and Maids II.
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 with the ENB.
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 ENB by AiyenAlt text

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Baseline:
Skylight currently supports ENBSeries v0.262.
Description:
Skylight ENB is the result of the hard work from our own Moderate, 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 Profile 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


RealVision ENB by SkyrimTunerAlt text

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Baseline:
RealVision currently supports ENBSeries v0.262.
Description:
RealVision is an ENB Preset aimed nearly entirely towards realism. It will be realistic and atmospheric. The author has posted showcase videos on the Nexus page as well as on YouTube to give potential users a better sense of what the profile does. In short, the graphics are brighter and more vibrant, the shadows are darker and have more depth, and sky is bluer and the atmosphere of the game is more rich than vanilla. RealVision is stunningly beautiful and one of the most popular realism style ENBs available.
The RealVision Nexus page is a dream come true for detailed oriented users. The author has gone above and beyond in offering a mountain of details including system requirements, installation, list of mods in order to mod the game to look exactly like the videos, ENB setup, FAQs, uninstallation, a list of recommended mods and more!
Each version of RealVision requires Project Reality - Climates of Tamriel with the combination of a lighting mod in order to look correct. Currently the lighting mod choices are Enhanced Lights and FX or Realistic Lighting Overhaul.
Versions
RealVision comes in three versions:
  • The "Option A" version is for a Climates of Tamriel and Realistic Lighting Overhaul combination.
  • The "Option B" version is for a Climates of Tamriel and Enhanced Lights and FX combination.
  • The "Option C" version is for fantasy lovers. This version boast a more fantasy look and uses a Climates of Tamriel and Enhanced Lights and FX combination along with other special tweaks.
Performance
Each RealVision version has two performance versions available.
  • Full: is the main version which most users will be using. This version has all the effects enabled, yet is balanced between performance and quality.
  • Performance: is a version which has had some effects lightened or completely turned off. This version is recommended for less powerful systems.
RealVision Features
Some of the features of RealVision include:
  • A realistic atmosphere and style
  • Real-time cloud shadows
  • Volumetric Sunrays
  • Enhanced and customized sunrises and sunsets
  • Alternative color options
  • Several Depth of Field (DoF) options
  • A custom installer to install via mod managers


Phinix Natural ENB by PhinixAlt text

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Baseline:
Phinix Natural ENB currently supports ENBSeries v0.254. This version isn't available for download on ENB Dev; however, the author provides a mirror link to it. Users have also reported the profile working fine with v0.262 as well, though the profile hasn't been set up to use the newer features in the newest ENBSeries version.
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 profile simply because it enhances the vanilla atmosphere. It is one of the few ENB profiles 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 is for you!
Phinix Natural is compatible with Enhanced Lights and FX and Realistic Lighting Overhaul, as well as Climates of Tamriel; however, not all of the CoT weathers are customized for Phinix.
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


Seasons of Skyrim ENB by Bronze316Alt text

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Baseline:
Seasons of Skyrym currently supports ENBSeries v0.236.
Description:
Seasons of Skyrim aims to be a blend of fantasy and realism. It provides a unique atmosphere to Skryim. One that isn't so far towards realism that it would feel as if you're taking a walked across the Netherlands, but also one that isn't too far into the fantasy realm that it could never be real. Seasons of Skyrim has found this balance and does it well! The visuals are stunning and vibrant but never over-the-top like many other fantasy-like ENB Profiles. Many forget this setup so to mention it here; it is recommended by the author to turn the in-game brightness all the down! Don't forget!
Though Seasons of Skyrim isn't designed around any specific weather of lighting overhaul mods, the author claims most of them should be compatible; however, the look and feel of the ENB Preset will change depending on the overhaul. Feel free to experiment and test different options; although, Climates of Tamriel users are recommended by the author to use his other ENB Preset, Project ENB as it is designed for CoT.
Versions
Seasons of Skyrim comes in two versions:
  • The "True HDR" version is the main version of Seasons of Skyrim and is the one most used.
  • The "HD6 Tribute" version is pushed more into the fantasy realm with more bloom and other effects tweaks toward that end.
Performance
Each Season of Skyrim version has six performance options to choose from:
  • Full Graphics Mode: is the main version with all the effects enabled and turned up. This will be the most performance heavy option.
  • Option A: has SSAO-SSIL and DoF turned down to be slightly lighter on performance.
  • Option B: is the same as Option A but with DoF turned off.
  • Option C: is the same as Option A but with SSAO-SSIL turned off.
  • Option D: has both SSAO-SSIL and DoF turned off.
  • Option E: is the extreme performance edition with most of the effects turned down or off. This will be the lightest option on performance.
Season of Skyrim Features
Some of the features of Season of Skyrim include:
  • A perfect blend of realism and fantasy
  • Six optional effects to choose from
  • Optional Data folder which includes: Dark Dungeons for ENB, Revamped Exterior Fog, waterfoam fix and paper textures


Other ENB Options

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 search Nexus and browse through the 100+ ENB presets available.

ENB Complimenting Mods[edit | edit source]

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 one of these mods.

Darkness
  • Dark Dungeons for ENB - This tells ENB to render dungeons as though its night (otherwise it lights them as though its daylight)
Many ENBs include optional files for darker caves, dungeons, and nights. Check with the ENB Profile for these options before using a third party mod for this. Some lighting mods may not be compatible.
Fixes
Some ENB Profiles include this patch during installation or provide it in as an optional file in the download section.
Fog
  • Remove Interior Fog V2 - This removes the ambient interior fog that is found indoors in many locations. It has support of all DLCs.
  • 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 compatibility version which should be used instead.
  • Interior and Dungeon Fog Remover - Completely removes fog meshes from most dungeon and indoor locations. This mod is not compatible with Removed Interior Fog V2; use one or the other, not both.
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
  • ENB and FXAA Remover - Removes ENB and FXAA installations and provides slots to load different ENB configurations for quick and painless switching.
  • ENB Manager and Changer - Utility which allows the switching between ENB configurations and presets. Useful when testing various ENBs.
  • Imaginator - In-game tool that allows adjustment of color and lighting setting such as brightness, tint, contrast, saturation, etc. This has been helpful to many user for adjusting ENB colors and lighting without having to mess with the ENB preset itself.
  • DynaVision - adds a controllable dynamic Depth of Field and Auto-Focus to Skyrim.
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Template:Notice

Prior to Installation[edit | edit source]

While slightly more involved than experienced ENB users may be accustomed to, the following installation procedure ensures that there will not be any possible issues related to the installation process.

This guide assumes the completion of the STEP Guide through at least Section 1.F. If this has not been done, please do so before continuing!

  • Monitor(s) Calibration: Lagom is great for LCD displays. For laptop users with limited controls use the Windows tool:
    Contol Panel >> Color Management >> Advance tab >> Calibrate display
File:ColorManagement.png
  • Make sure graphic drivers are up to date. If not, please download and install new drivers via a clean installation.
  • Download and save the recommended ENBSeries version for the chosen ENB Preset here.
  • If this is the first time installing and setting up ENBSeries, please read the TES documentation here.
  • Back up the Skyrim INIs. These are the Skyrim.ini and SkyimPrefs.ini, located in the My Documents\My Games\Skyrim folder. Mod Organizer (MO) uses will have to make backups of these files from the INI Editor within MO.
  • Back up game saves also located in the My Documents\My Games\Skyrim folder.
File:SkyrimFolder.png
  • If currently using an ENB, FXAA or SMAA, do the following:
  • Back up the current ENB, FXAA or SMAA post-processing injector to another folder.
  • Delete ALL ENB and post-processing injector related files and folders (.DLLs, .INIs, .FXs, enbseries folder, etc) that reside in the root Skyrim directory.
  • If the previously installed ENB preset included any extra mod elements, deactivate or uninstall them using the chosen mod manager.


ENB Installation[edit | edit source]

Template:Notice Small

Make sure the Skyrim INIs have been backed up from the previous steps above!

  1. Extract the file you downloaded from ENBSeries above.
  2. Open the WrapperVersion folder.
  3. Copy the d3d9.dll and enbhost.exe files into the root Skyrim folder. There is no need for any other files unless the chosen ENB Preset instructs otherwise.
    • Do not extract the files to the Data folder! They must be placed in the root Skyrim folder to work.
  4. Now copy the ENB files from the chosen ENB Preset's folder into the root Skyrim folder. The same place the d3d9.dll and enbhost.exe files have been placed.
  5. Edit Skyrim's INI file as shown below.


Game INIs[edit | edit source]

For ENBSeries to work as intended, modifications to Skyrim's INI is needed.

Open SkyrimPrefs.ini and set the following under the [Display] section: 

bFloatPointRenderTarget=1
bTreesReceiveShadows=1
bDrawLandShadows=1
bShadowsOnGrass=1
fGamma=1.0000  // this normalizes the gamma so the ENB coloring isn't off
iMultiSample=0  // turns off the game's multi-sampling AA
bTransparencyMultisampling=0  // turns off transparency AA

If any anti-aliasing (AA) is turned on in the video drivers, thye must be set to off or Application Controlled. Neither Skyrim's AA nor the driver's AA will work with ENBSeries. Use either the ENB's AA or SMAA which are discussed on the next few pages.

Template:MO Note

ENB INIs[edit | edit source]

Much of the information of this section is provided courtesy of Phinix.

With the addition of memory reducing features to ENBSeries, there are a few edits which need to be made to enblocal.ini.

Open enblocal.ini and under the [MEMORY] section the lines ReservedMemorySizeMb= and VideoMemorySizeMb= should be set according to the user's hardware specifications:
 

ReservedMemorySizeMb[edit | edit source]

For video cards with 2GB or more memory, 512 is a good baseline for ReservedMemorySizeMb and can be set up to 1024. For cards with less video memory, 256 can work better; however, testing will need to be done for individual systems. 

ReservedMemorySizeMb=(128, 256, 512, 768, 1024)  // Only choose one value


VideoMemorySizeMb[edit | edit source]

VideoMemorySizeMb= needs to be set manually based on the available video memory on 32bit systems and base on available system and video memory for 64bit systems. When setting this value, use megabytes rather than gigabytes. Here are some common conversions:

.5 GB = 512 MB
1 GB = 1024 MB
2 GB = 2048 MB
3 GB = 3072 MB
4 GB = 4096 MB
8 GB = 8192 MB

For 32bit systems set VideoMemorySizeMb= equal to the available video memory The below example is for a system with a 2GB video card: 

VideoMemorySizeMb=2048


To set VideoMemorySizeMb= for 64bit systems, use the formula: (video memory + system memory) - 2048. The below example is for a system with a 2GB video card and 8GBs of system memory: 

VideoMemorySizeMb=8192


In some cases where other running process (such as Adobe Photoshop or Premiere), bad video drivers causing additional video memory load or video memory is being maxed out while playing, reducing the value of VideoMemorySizeMb can improve stability and performance. For systems with large amounts of video and system memory, increasing VideoMemorySizeMb may offer similar improvements. Ultimately, some testing may be required to find the best settings for each individual system.
Do not increase VideoMemorySizeMb beyond the system memory limit!

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Editing the Enblocal INI[edit | edit source]

Template:Notice Small The enblocal.ini is now the location of the proxy library, memory reduction feature, FPS limiter, anisotropic filtering, and borderless window settings. Here is how to understand the format of the settings listed in this section:

parameterName=value

For example when you see this:

EnableAmbientOcclusion=(false, true)

EnableAmbientOcclusion is the name of the parameter. (false, true) are the two value options for the parameter; meaning the parameter can be set to either false or true. Setting the parameter to false will disable it. In turn, setting the parameter to true will enable it. The parameter is set by dropping the "( )" and defining one of the available values.

EnableAmbientOcclusion=false

Using a Proxy[edit | edit source]

The [PROXY] section of the INI file allows for use of a second d3d9.dll file. This enables the ENB to be compatible with other post-processors such as FXAA, SMAA, and SweetFX. The following is an explanation of the [PROXY] parameters:

This will either enable or disable the use of the proxy. Unless using a separate post-processor in combination with ENB, this parameter should remain disabled. Enable it whenever FXAA injector, SMAA or SweetFX is used. 

EnableProxyLibrary=(false, true)

For simplicity, if the above parameter is set to true this one should also be set to true; else leave it set to false. This parameter attaches drawing functions to the proxy library. When using a second post-procesor, only set this to false if the second .dll is not hooking rendering functions and needs to be injected into the game process. (i.e. bug fixes or process memory patchers). 

InitProxyFunctions=(false, true)

This is the name or full path to the proxy library to be loaded (second d3d9.dll file). For the majority of installations, only include the name of the second DLL because the two d3d9.dll files will be located in the root Skyrim folder. If the second DLL file is located elsewhere, the full path must be used starting with the drive letter. The name and full path does not support unicode symbols. 

ProxyLibrary=other_d3d9.dll

Proxy Section Example: 

[PROXY]
EnableProxyLibrary=true
InitProxyFunctions=true
ProxyLibrary=d3d9_smaa.dll


Global (enblocal)[edit | edit source]

These [GLOBAL] settings rarely need to be changed unless using an external file to store parameters or to turn on/off the graphic modification provided by ENB.

This parameter is used to turn the graphic modifications of ENB on or off. If just using the ENBoost memory reducing features set this to true to disable the ENB graphic modifications. If using an ENB Preset set the parameter to false. 

UsePatchSpeedhackWithoutGraphics=(false, true)

This parameter will enable or disable SSAO, Image Based Lighting, Reflections and Particle Lights. This can be enabled for users having performance issues; however, it will effect the look of the ENB preset. 

UseDefferedRendering=(false, true)

Tells ENB to whether or not to ignore the Creation Kit. 

IgnoreCreationKit=(false, true)

This parameter when set to true, forces software rendering to take place. It is generally not supported and is recommended to remain disabled. It was implemented as a fix for AMD users with Skyrim Patch 1.5 and users with older video cards, but should now be obsolete and should not be used with any newer video cards. However, it remains in ENB for users with older cards. 

ForceFakeVideocard=(false, true)

Global Section Example: 

[GLOBAL]
UsePatchSpeedhackWithoutGraphics=false
UseDefferedRendering=true
IgnoreCreationKit=true
ForceFakeVideocard=false


Performance[edit | edit source]

This setting was originally implemented to increase performance in some areas mainly by enabling or disabling DirectX Optimization code. Boris recommends this to be enable; however, many ENB Presets come with it disabled by default. Enabling this parameter is recommended. 

SpeedHack=(false, true)

The parameter either enables or disables Occlusion Culling. 

EnableOcclusionCulling=(false, true)

Performance Section Example: 

[PERFORMANCE]
SpeedHack=true
EnableOcclusionCulling=true


Multihead[edit | edit source]

These [MULTIHEAD] section parameters should normally not be changed. The default values should work for most systems.

If set to true, ENBSeries ignores the default video adapter output and uses the card selected by the VideoAdapterIndex parameter below. This allows use of multiple monitors and other uses with multiple video card systems. 

ForceVideoAdapterIndex=(false, true)

This sets which video adapter will be used for rendering via index numbers. This is mainly used for used for multiple card systems. The default adapter is '0'. 

VideoAdapterIndex=(0...6)

Multihead Section Example: 

[MULTIHEAD]
ForceVideoAdapterIndex=false
VideoAdapterIndex=0


Memory[edit | edit source]

Template:Notice Small

The [MEMORY] section parameters will need to be changed depending on the hardware within individual systems. ENBoost features depend heavily on these values to work correctly without experiencing issues in-game.

This parameter is a fix for game engine buffer limitations; it allows 64-bit systems to access 4GB or more of system memory with optimized performance. It is highly recommended to enable this parameter for all 64-bit systems; however, it can generally be left enabled even for 32-bit systems. If using a 32-bit system and having issues, disable it. For this parameter to work, ReduceSystemMemoryUsage must be set to true and EnableUnsafeMemoryHacks must be set to false below. 

ExpandSystemMemoryX64=(false, true)

This parameter will enable the ENBoost features to dramatically reduce CTDs. It is highly recommended to enable this feature! 

ReduceSystemMemoryUsage=(false, true)

This is mainly a fix for AMD video card users; however, it can also be helpful to other users as well. It reduces the chance of CTDs due to bad video drivers. When enabled with bad video drivers installed, the parameter will simply cause lower than optimal performance and/or pauses; whereas, without it enabled the drivers would cause a CTD. If experiencing CTDs even while ENBoost features are enabled, also try enabling this parameter; otherwise, it is best to leave it disabled. 

DisableDriverMemoryManager=(false, true)

When enabled this parameter can give faster cell load times as geometry/textures are not loaded into video memory until they are visible. This may cause stuttering since more data must be dynamically loaded into memory during gameplay as player looks and moves around the environment. If experiencing extended cell load times, before enabling this feature, it is recommended to first try using the "free VRAM" key (needs to be set below) to clean video memory before entering a new location or fast traveling. 

DisablePreloadToVRAM=(false, true)

For testing purposes only, since enabling this parameter is generally not safe. This is a workaround for users experiencing large amount of stuttering, typically on systems with large amount of VRAM (4GB+) or for 32-bit systems with more than 4GB of system RAM. When enabled, it does not use memory reallocation, compression, or enbhost.exe and will only work when ReduceSystemMemoryUsage is also enabled. A known bug is that Alt+tab will not work in fullscreen when this is enabled. 

EnableUnsafeMemoryHacks=(false, true)

This parameter is a buffer for system memory/VRAM swap. The values here are measured in megabytes. For video cards with 2GB or more VRAM, 512 is a good baseline and can be set up to 1024. For cards with less than 2GB VRAM, 256 can work better; however, users will need to test to find the value which works best for them. 

ReservedMemorySizeMb=(128, 256, 512, 768, 1024)

This parameter should be set according to the available VRAM for 32-bit systems. For 64-bit systems, users can use the formula: (VRAM + RAM) - 2048. Please refer to the Installation tab for additional information. 

VideoMemorySizeMb=(512,1024,...6144)

This parameter will enable more compression in system RAM by having more textures moved into VRAM. When enabled, this can reduce stutter, but at the cost of more VRAM usage. It is generally only recommended to be enabled on systems with more than 2GB VRAM. Any system that is already nearing its VRAM limit should leave this parameter disabled. 

EnableCompression=(false, true)

This feature will attempt to detect a system's system RAM and video RAM amounts and automatically set the VideoMemorySizeMb parameters for a user. In order for this to work, a user must enable this parameter and leave the VideoMemorySizeMb parameter blank. This feature generally works for most users; however, if issues such as stuttering and lag are present, disable this feature and set the VideoMemorySizeMb parameter manually to fine tune the ENBoost settings. 

AutodetectVideoMemorySize=(false, true)

Memory Section Example: 

[MEMORY]
ExpandSystemMemoryX64=true
ReduceSystemMemoryUsage=true
DisableDriverMemoryManager=false
DisablePreloadToVRAM=false
EnableUnsafeMemoryHacks=false
ReservedMemorySizeMb=512
VideoMemorySizeMb=10240
EnableCompression=true
AutodetectVideoMemorySize=false


Window[edit | edit source]

This section is used to enable borderless window with Skyrim. This can also enable the use of Alt+Tab to run Skyrim in the background. If EnableUnsafeMemoryHacks= is set to true in the [MEMORY] section above, Alt+Tab will not work regardless of these parameter's values set here.

When enabled this parameter removes the border lines of the game window while running in Windowed Mode. 

ForceBorderless=(false, true)

This parameter will remove the border lines of the game window when Skyrim is set to Fullscreen Mode. This is best used for down sampling. 

ForceBorderlessFullscreen=(false, true)

Window Section Example: 

[WINDOW]
ForceBorderless=false
ForceBorderlessFullscreen=false


Game Engine[edit | edit source]

The parameters in the [ENGINE] section involve game engine edits. It's noted by Boris that it is best to force anisotropic filtering here instead of in the video card drivers. His reasoning behind this is because if forced through video card settings, the filtering will be applied to all textures and some textures should not be filtered; filtering these textures could cause issues with SSAO and parallax. Forcing anisotropic filtering through the ENB; however, skips these textures which should not be filtered. (This theory has not been tested by STEP.) Template:Notice Small

This will force anisotropic filtering for all textures with a linear filtering type. Textures which should not have anisotropic filtering are not filtered. 

ForceAnisotropicFiltering=(false, true)

This is the level of anisotropy filtering. The values are 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16; higher values provide better quality. 16 is recommended. 

MaxAnisotropy=(1..16)

This parameter forces LOD Bias for all LOD textures. 

ForceLodBias=(false, true)

LOD Bias controls the sharpness of LOD textures. Values are should remain between -0.5 and 0.5; any higher or lower and texture degrading can occur. Lower values result in sharper textures. 

LodBias=(1..16)

This will enable vsync which is recommenced to always remain active because the Creation engine will have physics issues when over 60 FPS. 

EnableVSync=(false, true)

This parameter enables downsampling to be used without having to force it through the graphics driver. It is recommended to remain disabled and only to be used by advanced users. 

AddDisplaySuperSamplingResolutions=(false, true)

This tells the frame buffer to ignore the back buffer 0, 1, 2, or 3 contiguous cycles before grabbing a frame. This feature is mainly for users with high refresh rate monitors and should be left at 0 for most other users. 

VSyncSkipNumFrames=(0, 1, 2, 3)

Engine Section Example: 

[ENGINE]
ForceAnisotropicFiltering=true
MaxAnisotropy=16
ForceLodBias=true
LodBias=-0.33
EnableVSync=true
AddDisplaySuperSamplingResolutions=false
VSyncSkipNumFrames=0


Setting the FPS Limiter[edit | edit source]

The limiter included in ENBSeries is a frames per second (FPS) limiter and is found in the [LIMITER] section. This will limit or cap the upper FPS to a specified number. This feature is useful to control some performance issues such as lagging, crashes, freezes, stuttering, and physics issues which are present at high frame rates. The limiter can be turned on and off in-game by pressing and holding the Shift key and then pressing the Home key (Shift+Home). It should be noted, enabling the limiter could also increase load times.

Template:Notice Small

If enabled, each frame will wait until the GPU is finished drawing. This is not recommended for performance reasons; however, may fix some of the issues mentioned above in the notice. 

WaitBusyRenderer=(false, true)

When enabled, this will turn on the FPS Limiter feature. 

EnableFPSLimit=(false, true)

This parameter holds the value value of frames per seconds (FPS) at which the upper FPS will be capped to. 

FPSLimit=40.0

Limiter Section Example: 

[LIMITER]
WaitBusyRenderer=false
EnableFPSLimit=false
FPSLimit=60.0


Changing the Input Key Bindings[edit | edit source]

In the [INPUT] section you can change the key bindings for the features included in the ENBSeries.

By default, this is the Backspace key. This will reload the configuration file and shaders to view changes made without having to restart the game. Very useful when tweaking ENB presets. 

KeyReadConfig=8

By default, this is the Shift key. It is the primary key pressed and held for key combinations. 

KeyCombination=16

By default, this is the F12 key. This will turn the ENB effects on and off. This must be pressed together with KeyCombination key (Shift+F12 by default). 

KeyUseEffect=123

By default, this is the Home key. This turns the FPS Limiter on and off. This must be pressed together with the KeyCombinaton key (Shift+Home by default). 

KeyFPSLimit=36

By default, this is the * key on the number pad. This displays real-time frame rate in the upper right corner in the game. Set to 0 to disable. 

KeyShowFPS=106

By default, this is the Insert key; however, the Prt Sc (Print Screen) key also works. This captures a screenshot to a BMP and/or PNG file in the same folder where ENBSeries is installed. 

KeyScreenshot=45

By default, this is the Enter key. This will open up the in game GUI when pressing SHIFT+ENTER. 

KeyEditor=13

By default, the FreeVRAM function is assigned to f4. This will clear VRAM in use to help not hitting VRAM limit. 

KeyFreeVRAM=115


Adaptive Quality[edit | edit source]

The [ADAPTIVEQUALITY] section allows resource hungry graphical features to be turned off on-demand to maintain a minimum FPS. It does; however, require the proper code to exist in the .fx files to work. Probably best when added to enbeffectprepass.fx because it has the most demanding effects code.

Enables or disables Adaptive Quality. 

Enable=(false, true)

This parameter sets the quality of the effect. It can be set to 0, 1, or 2; where 0 is highest quality and 2 is the highest performance. 

Quality=(0, 1, 2)

This parameter sets the minimum FPS that is allowed. If this value is reached, features will start to turn off to stay above this threshold. This feature is only available if Adaptive Quality is available. 

DesiredFPS=

Adaptive Quality Section Example: 

[ADAPTIVEQUALITY]
Enable=false
Quality=0
DesiredFPS=20.0


Antialiasing[edit | edit source]

The [ANTIALIASING] section controls four of the ENB's antialiasing (AA) solutions. All four can be used together since Boris has taken great care to balance them, though using Temporal AA and Edge AA together can cause some blurriness around tree branches. It is also possible to enable these a with SMAA injector.

The EdgeAA solution is excellent for low-end systems because the performance impact is very small; however, it does come with some blurriness. Mid to High-end systems may find SMAA a better, higher quality solution for EdgeAA; however, EdgeAA and SMAA can be used together for improved results at a cost to performance. 

EnableEdgeAA=(false,true)

The TemporalAA setting no longer requires a helper mod, as of ENBSeries v0.213. This is excellent for screenshots at removing jaggies, but may not be preferable for general use because it can cause doubling on high motion objects. 

EnableTemporalAA=(false, true)

This parameter will enable SubPixelAA on specular reflections and should only cause a minimal performance impact. This setting recommended to be enabled. 

EnableSubPixelAA=(false, true)

Enable this parameter to use TransparencyAA. Transparency AA is applied to all textures in the game which have any form of transparency in them (grass, foliage, trees, hair, etc). Enabling this will cost a reduction in performance that will be substantial in forested areas! Generally not recommend for any system lacking a Ferrari engine since this feature can cripple even the highest end systems. 

EnableTransparencyAA=(false, true)

Antialiasing Section Example: 

[ANTIALIASING]
EnableEdgeAA=true
EnableTemporalAA=false
EnableSubPixelAA=true
EnableTransparencyAA=false


Game Fixes[edit | edit source]

The following are fixes for several issues introduced by the ENB or other aspects of the game/hardware. These settings should not normally be changed.

Allows the ENB to fix game related issues and errors. 

FixGameBugs=(false, true)

This fixes parallax texture rendering issues by changing the shader used on those textures in order to rendered them correctly. This fix should be used if there are any parallax textures being used; else, leave it disabled. 

FixParallaxBugs=(false, true)

This parameter helps reduce aliasing of snow on mountains and other similar objects. It is recommended to enable it, unless SMAA is being used. 

FixAliasedTextures=(false, true)

This line is missing in some versions of ENBSeries and will need to be added. This fix tells the ENB to ignore rendering on loading screens which speeds up loading times and prevents issues related to loading screens such as missing textures. It is recommended to be enabled and added if missing from the enblocal.ini file. 

IgnoreLoadingScreen=(false, true)

Same as above, but tells the ENB to ignore rendering on the inventory screen. It is also recommended to be enabled. 

IgnoreInventory=(false, true)

This fixes the a water transparency issue that can occur with SSAO, which sometimes causes some water textures to appear black or transparent. It is recommended to be enabled whenever SSAO is also enabled. (may be obsolete) 

FixSsaoWaterTransparency=(false, true)

The is a fix for the small color differences in various parts of models such as hair. If this setting is enabled and ColorPow parameter is greater than "1.0" the differences are more noticeable. 

FixTintGamma=(false, true)

This parameter will remove Skyrim's static Depth of Field which is used to blur distance landscapes when some weathers are active. The setting is generally left up the the ENB Preset. 

RemoveBlur=(false, true)

When enabled, this will fix issues with Subsurface Scattering for interiors and exteriors, and will prevent pixelated edges on characters and objects. It is recommended to be enabled. 

FixSubSurfaceScattering=(false, true)

This fixes an issue with the reflection of the sky flicking in some weathers. It is recommended to be enabled. 

FixSkyReflection=(false, true)

This fixes an issue with the cursor visibility after using Alt+Tab. When enabled, this will replace the Double Cursor Fix mod. It is recommended to be enabled. 

FixCursorVisibility=(false, true)

Fix Section Example: 

[FIX]
FixGameBugs=true
FixParallaxBugs=true
FixAliasedTextures=true
IgnoreLoadingScreen=true
IgnoreInventory=true
FixSsaoWaterTransparency=true
FixSsaoHairTransparency=true
FixTintGamma=true
RemoveBlur=false
FixSubSurfaceScattering=true
FixSkyReflection=true
FixCursorVisibility=true


[edit]

Editing the Enbseries INI[edit | edit source]

Template:Notice This will not be an inclusive list of all the parameters and their values that are included in the enbseries.ini file. This section of the ENB Guide is meant for novice users and as such, these users are recommended to not edit any other parameters than the ones listed below. The parameters below are considered the basics in modifying the enbseries.ini file. For more advanced editing of this file, see the Advanced Editing section.

To edit the parameters below, open the enbseries.ini file in a text editor such as Notepad or Notepad++ (recommended). Be sure when saving any changes to save the file with the .ini file extension. It is highly recommended to make a backup of the original file before doing any form of editing. Here is how to understand the format of the settings listed in this section:

parameterName=value

For example when you see this:

EnableAmbientOcclusion=(false, true)

EnableAmbientOcclusion is the name of the parameter. (false, true) are the two value options for the parameter; meaning the parameter can be set to either false or true. Setting the parameter to false will disable it. In turn, setting the parameter to true will enable it. The parameter is set by dropping the "( )" and defining one of the available values.

EnableAmbientOcclusion=false


Global (enbseries)[edit | edit source]

The [GLOBAL] parameter rarely need to be changed unless you are using an external file to store your parameters.

This will enable or disable the ENB graphical effects. In almost versions of ENBSeries, this can be switched on or off in-game by holding the Shift key and pressing F12 (Shift+F12). Enabling or disabling this will only effect the graphical part of ENBSeries and will have no effect on other features such as ENBoost. 

UseEffect=(false, true)


Editing the ENB Effects[edit | edit source]

The [EFFECT] section is where most of the edits will be made. It's here where users can enable or disable the ENB effects such as depth of field and SSAO. Different ENB presets use different values for these parameters so not all of them will remain the same from preset to preset. Many presets also have different performance versions which are various optimizations to these parameters and others so users would not have to manually edit these parameters and potentially mess up the quality of the preset. Disabling some of these effects will provide better performance; however, before doing so manually, please try the performance tips in the Troubleshooting section first and then check to see if the preset used has a performance version available. Both of these options are better than simply turning off effects which could affect the intended visuals of the preset used.

This parameter will enable Bethesda's vanilla game post-processing algorithm which is useful for rendering the game with the vanilla color palette. This is useful for users which like the vanilla look of Skyrim, but would like to use some of the ENBSeries effects. 

UseOriginalPostProcessing=(false, true)

This parameter has the same effect as the above parameter, but only affects objects. 

UseOriginalObjectsProcessing=(false, true)

This will enable or disable the bloom effect of the ENB preset which is higher quality than that of Vanilla Skyrim. Bloom is a computer graphics effect used to reproduce the imaging of real-world cameras. When a bright light shines on an object or when there is a light source behind an object, the object's edges become feathered and the object itself can sometimes appear hazing from the light. It is also responsible for the overall "hazy" effect in some ENB mods. This can be disabled for a small performance increase. The quality and amount of bloom can also be configured later down in the file. 

EnableBloom=(false, true)

The parameter will enable or disable the lens effect. This effect replicates the effect of a camera lens looking into a bright light without a filter. In Skyrim, this effect is seen when looking at the sun in the form of halos. This is a great effect for screenarchers; however, many disable it due to it being unrealistic since this effect can only be seen when looking through a lens and not natural eyes. 

EnableLens=(false, true)

This enables or disables the ENB's method of eye adaptation to the screen brightness. This effect mimics the duration it takes for the eyes to adjust to bright lights. Vanilla Skyrim has this feature; however, it happens unnaturally quick. Many ENB presets modify this duration; making it longer to provide a more natural feel. 

EnableAdaptation=(false, true)

This parameter will enable or disable the depth of field (DoF) effect. DoF is a blurring effect which focuses on the point at which you are looking and blurs the surroundings and background. This is a cinematic effect and most presets provide several options; each behaving differently. Disabling this also provides a performance increase. DoF can have up to a 12% FPS impact, depending on the type of DoF used. 

EnableDepthOfField=(false, true)

This parameter enables or disables the screen space ambient occlusion (SSAO) and indirect lighting effects. Disabling this provides a performance increase. It is; however, configurable to different levels which can be found below. Each level provides a different quality/performance ratio. This setting can have up to 15% FPS impact. 

EnableAmbientOcclusion=(false, true)

As the name suggests, this feature adjusts the games shadow rendering; making them more detailed and slightly blurrier than Vanilla. Disabling this provides a small performance increase. This parameter only has an average of a 2-5% FPS impact. It is recommended to leave enabled. 

EnableDetailedShadow=(false, true)

Sun rays are the bright rays of light you see when looking towards the sun through trees and clouds; also referred to as Godrays. Sunrays only have an average of a 2-5% FPS impact. 

EnableSunRays=(false, true)

This parameter will enable or disable the enbsunsprite.fx shader. This is recommended to be left set to whatever value the ENB preset's author uses unless having trouble with sun sprites. 

EnableSunGlare=(false, true)

This will enable or disable the sky lighting. This feature mimics the real world shadowing fade; making shadows darker in the middle and gradually lightening them while moving out towards the edge. This setting can have up to a 15% FPS impact. Other effects also rely on this to be enabled; therefore, it is not recommended to disable it. 

EnableSkyLighting=(false, true)

This setting enables an effect that enhances SkyLighting by adding a simulated real world indirect lighting created by the atmosphere to most exterior surfaces. 

EnableImageBasedLighting=(false, true)

This will enable or disable the dynamic reflections effects that are added to surfaces. 

EnableReflection=(false, true)

This will enable or disable softening or smoothing of particle effects, like fires and fire sprites. 

EnableSoftParticles=(false, true)

This will enable or disable glow effects that can be found around light sources such as candles, lanterns, and fireplaces. If the LiteSprite parameter is set to true, then those objects will cast light. This does not decrease performance. 

EnableParticleLights=(false, true)

Subsurface scattering (SSS) is an effect to give objects, like skin, candle wax and some vegetation a more transparent look. Light can pass through objects to light the back side or return to the surface to help give off a glow or make them look more natural and realistic. 

EnableSubSurfaceScattering=(false, true)

This will enable or disable the water effects of ENB which include light dispersion, caustics (light reflection), parallax, shadows, displacement and other lighting effects that are seen on the surface of the water. 

EnableWater=(false, true)

This will enable or disable underwater effects including dispersion, parallax, silhouettes, blurring, and shadows among other effects which are seen while under the water. 

EnableUnderwater=(false, true)

Cloud shadows are shadows seen on the ground caused by clouds in the sky. This effect brings a great deal of realism into Skyrim and is highly recommended! 

EnableCloudShadows=(false, true)

Volumetric rays are rays of light which past through a texture such as clouds, fog and mist. In Skyrim these rays can be seen around clouds in the sky and through fog while looking in the sun's direction. 

EnableVolumetricRays=(false, true)

Procedural Sun was added to ENB as a fix for the Vanilla sun. It tends to have issues with some sun retextures; however, provides more control such as size, intensity and curves that you could never have with a simple retexture. 

EnableProceduralSun=(false, true)

Mist is a combination of the fog and haze effects and was previously called Haze in older ENBSeries versions. In Skyrim this basically boils down to effects on the fog. ENB preset authors also have the ability to place fog in the worldspce via anchors with this effect; therefore, if it is originally enabled, it is highly recommended to keep it enabled. 

EnableMist=(false, true)


Using ENB Weathers[edit | edit source]

There is a weather system which allows edits to parameters for each specific weather in Skyrim. All weather configurations are placed in a folder named enbseries which, in turn, is placed within the root Skyrim directory.

To use the weather system, users must download the ENB helper mod and install it to the Data folder just like any other normal mod is installed.

If using an ENB preset with custom weathers, then this parameter found under the [WEATHER] section must be enabled to use the customized weathers. 

EnableMultipleWeathers=(false, true)


Adjusting the Bloom Quality[edit | edit source]

You can adjust the quality of bloom in the [BLOOM] section. Other parameters are discussed in the Advanced Editing tab.

Quality
- determines the blurring quality of the bloom. Values range from 0 to 2 where lower values are higher quality and vise versa.

This parameter adjusts the quality of the Bloom effect which is described above. 0 is the highest quality and 2 is the highest performance. Unless a preset has this value specifically set, it's not recommended to set this to anything other than 0, since the performance increase is minimal at best. 

Quality=(0, 1, 2)


Adjusting the SSAO Quality[edit | edit source]

You can adjust the quality of SSAO in the [SSAO_SSIL] section. Screen resolution has a direct effect on SSAO performance; the higher the resolution, the greater the SSAO performance impact is. The other parameters are discussed on the Advanced Editing tab.

This parameter enables more detailed AO, and will place AO better into the scene. Disabling this will provide a slight performance improvement at the cost of quality. 

UseComplexAmbientOcclusion=(false, true)

Modifying this parameter will adjust the quality of SSAO. -1 is the extreme quality and 2 is the lowest. Recommended setting is either 0 or 1. Using 2 can cause issues with AO and Indirect Lighting with a loss of definition. 

SamplingQuality=(-1, 1, 0, 2)

This parameter determines the resolution of textures that SSAO effect reads data. Using 0.5 to 1.0 is better for low resolution display mode. There is no cache for texture reads, so this setting should not be set above 1.0. 

SourceTexturesScale=(0.0...1.0)


Editing SkyLighting Quality[edit | edit source]

The [SKYLIGHTING] section is for creating more depth in shadows. Skylighting is an effect that makes shadows darker at the center of the shadow where less light would reach, and the shadows are less dark farther from the center. There is a bug with Skylighting that can occur depending on overall lighting settings that appear when moving the camera view at certain viewing angles.

This parameter adjusts the overall quality of Skylighting. The values are 0, 1, and 2. 0 is the highest quality, and 2 is the highest performance. 

Quality=(0, 1, 2)

This parameter adjusts the quality of the skylighting effect on textures. Values are 0, 1, and 2. 0 is the highest quality, and 2 is the highest performance. 

FilterQuality=(0, 1, 2)


Editing Depth of Field[edit | edit source]

Depth of Field (DoF) is an effect that allows the scene to be focused on the center of the screen to mimic the way a camera or human eye might view the scene. Most ENB Profiles will use only one DoF algorithm and make it an option that can be turned on or off, so check with the Profile author. The most common algorithm is Matso's Fast DoF.

This parameter adjusts the quality of the DoF effect, if it is setup to do so in the enbeffectprepss.fx file. The different quality settings will depend on the DoF implemented, so check with the preset author if modifying this parameter. Lower values are higher quality and higher values are higher performance. 

Quality=(0...2)

This parameter will affect the speed that DoF focuses while looking from one place to another. 

FadeTime=(0.0...10.0)


Editing Shadow Quality[edit | edit source]

The [SHADOW] section will allow changes to the quality of shadows, which can have a high performance it in Skyrim.

This parameter adjusts the overall quality of the detailed shadows. Values are 0, 1, or 2. 0 is the higher quality while 2 is the highest performance. 

DetailedShadowQuality=(0, 1, 2)

This parameter will decrease the amount of noise from shadows. The values are 0, 1, and 2 with 0 being the highest quality and 2 being the highest performance. 

ShadowFilterQuality=(0, 1, 2)


Adjusting Reflection Quality[edit | edit source]

The following section will adjust reflections effects from the blur to Supersampling AA of reflections. These parameters are going to be balanced for the ENB prest in use, so changing them may change the look of reflections in game. This section is also quite performance heavy.

This parameter adjusts the quality of the reflection effects. Values are 0, 1, or 2. 0 is the highest quality and 2 is the highest performance. 

Quality=(0, 1, 2)

This parameter will reduce the noise of the reflections in the scene Values are 0, 1, or 2. 0 is the highest quality and 2 is the highest performance. 

FilterQuality=(0, 1, 2)

This parameter activates x4 supersampling for reflections with an impact to performance that is 4 times slower! This is a very performance heavy parameter, so it is recommended to use with caution. If it is enabled, disabling it will provide a good performance increase. 

EnableSupersampling=(false, true)


Adjusting Surface Water Effects Quality[edit | edit source]

This section will adjust the quality of water effects which are visible to on the surface of the water. These parameters are going to be balanced for the ENB prest in use, so changing them may change the look of the water. 

DisplacementQuality=2
DisplacementFilterQuality=2
ShadowQuality=2


[edit]

General[edit | edit source]

So you've used ENBs for a while now, found your favorite one and are happy with it. But there are one or two small things that annoy you about it. You've come to the right place to get you started on fixing those small things.

Below, advanced editing of the enbseries.ini file is covered. The intent is not to teach you how to create ENB presets, but rather how to do some advanced tweaking to the ENB. Think of it as a "getting started" guide to point you in the right direction. Most sections below the [ANTIALIASING] section will be described and summarized. These are the sections of the enbseries.ini file that define how the effects are rendered among other aspects of the ENB.

It is HIGHLY recommended you back up your enbseries.ini file before continuing! Users that are not familiar with ENBs, should not edit these settings until some experienced is gained.

Coming Soon[edit | edit source]

[edit]

Template:Notice Small

SMAA (Highly Recommended)[edit | edit source]

SubPixel Morphological Anti-Aliasing is a fantastic post-processing anti-aliasing method. Unlike MSAA, SMAA is processed after ENB, which provides nearly equal quality at a faction of the performance hit. For ENB users, any version of the ENBSeries after v0.119, hardware AA is no longer supported. So ENB users only have two options available to them; Edge AA, SMAA or SweetFX using an injector. For users on low-end systems, the ENB's Edge AA is probably the best choice because it comes with almost no performance loss. Users can also use SMAA injector and keep all of the AA option of ENB enabled. SMAA is a great replacement for driver AA or the game engine's AA, so for users on mid to high-end machines, SMAA will be the best option. Transparency AA also can be forced in the drivers for those with systems that can handle the extra bang.

Even though some ENB mods may not include SMAA in their download files it is still possible to use SMAA for anti-aliasing as long as there is not an additional d3d9.dll already enabled in "enbseries.ini".

Download SMAA here.

It is also worth noting that SMAA injector can be used without ENB as a standalone replacement for AA. To do so just use extract the SMAA injector from the download above to the root Skyrim directory.

Extract the folder to a desired location and in the d3d9 folder (do not use the files from the d9d10 folder!!!) rename "d3d9.dll" to "d3d9_smaa.dll".

Now copy the following files into the root Skyrim directory:

  • d3d9_smaa.dll
  • injector.ini
  • SMAA.h
  • SMAA.fx

To enable SMAA set the following in the [PROXY] section of "enbseries.ini": 

EnableProxyLibrary=true
InitProxyFunctions=true
ProxyLibrary=d3d9_smaa.dll

To change the quality of AA, open the injector.ini file in a text editor (such as Notepad++) and change the "preset" parameter: 

[smaa]
;smaa preset one of {SMAA_PRESET_LOW, SMAA_PRESET_MEDIUM, SMAA_PRESET_HIGH, SMAA_PRESET_ULTRA}
preset = SMAA_PRESET_HIGH

The presets are listed above the parameter. 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; however, this is a very advanced process so it is not recommend for most users and will not be covered here.

ELE (Enhanced Lighting for ENB)[edit | edit source]

Coming Soon...[edit | edit source]

[edit]

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Performance Tips[edit | edit source]

While ENB does greatly enhance your game, these additional effects also take a toll on performance. How much of an FPS decrease you will experience depends on your system specs, INIs, texture mods, and a host of other variables. This is why it is virtually impossible to estimate how much any ENB will affect you personally. That being said, there are some things you can do to improve your performance.

First and foremost it is important to keep your PC 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:

  • Make sure that you defragment your hard drive, unless it's an SSD (These should NEVER be defragmented). Not only will this help improve performance with gaming, but can also decrease load times in other applications. Although Windows comes with a simple defragging program, STEP recommends either Auslogics Disk Defrag or Puran Defrag Free Edition. If using Auslogics, use the "Defrag & Optimize" option. Defragment your hard drive at least once a month.
  • Disable all unnecessary programs running in the background while gaming in order to free up more resources. Anti-virus programs are especially resource intensive and aren't needed while playing. Some anti-virus software have a "Gaming Mode" or something similar; check the options menu. If you disable your anti-virus program while gaming remember to enable it again when you finish.
  • Keep Steam in offline mode. This is just one more thing depleting your resources that really isn't needed.
  • Your 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 for your card (nVidia or ATi) provided in the STEP guide as your starting point. Adjust and test your setting until you achieve the right balance with smooth game-play.
  • Be realistic with your INI settings. Over-tweaking can and will cause performance issues if your system is not capable of handling the additional strain.
  • High resolution texture mods also affect your performance. Careful consideration and experimentation should be used when adding these with ENB in order to find the right balance of quality and performance that best fits your system.
  • Some of the more FPS-intensive effects can also be disabled in the INIs to improve performance at the cost of some quality. Instructions on how to disable these effects can be found in the INI sections of this guide. Changing to the performance version of some ENBs (where available) will essentially do the same thing so you might want to this first before editing the INIs.

If after following these performance tips you are still unable to achieve playable frame rates, your system may not be capable of running ENB. At this point you may want to consider not using an ENB or upgrading your PC to the right performance levels.

Shadow Striping[edit | edit source]

One of the great things about ENBs is that they usually fix shadow striping; however, some configurations don't get it quite right and some striping can remain. In the screenshots below it's hard to tell from their reduced size in the gallery, but if you'll notice the fuzziness along the edges of the shadows and the lines across some of the textures; this is shadow striping.

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


(click on the image to open the gallery, then right click on image and click "View Image" to be able to see it in full size and the full effect)

To fix this adjust the iBlurDeferredShadowMask parameter in your SkyrimPrefs.ini file. It should already be set to "3" from the STEP Installation Guide. You can adjust this setting from 0-7. If you find you have striping, increase this parameter's value by one (up to 4 from 3), save your ini, and test the new setting in-game. Continue to repeat this process until your shadow striping is gone.

If the above is not helping enough or making the shadows too blurry, adjusting the fShadowDistance parameter may 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.

AMD/ATI Users[edit | edit source]

Set the following in "ENBSeries.ini".

In the [FIX] section:

The following tweaks should only be used for pre version 113 configurations. 

ForceFakeVideocard=true

In the [SHADOW] section: 

UseBilateralShadowFilter=false
  • SSAA is not recommended for use with ENB, unless you have an AMD 7870 or above. If using a less powerful GPU, SMAA is the better option.
  • 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]

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.

Disable ENB In-game[edit | edit source]

A common issue with DOF is that it is difficult to see your character while in the creation menu. There is a very simple solution for this. While playing, just press Shift+F12 to disable ENB. This can be quite useful when creating your character or modifying it later via the showracemenu console command. When finished, just press Shift+F12 again to enable ENB.

Long Loading Times[edit | edit source]

Some people may experience long loading times while using ENB. An easy way to greatly decrease your wait is by pressing Shift+F12 before or just after entering the loading screen to disable ENB. When the screen is loaded press Shift+F12 again to enable ENB.

Although this still works, it's and old trick for those with v0.119 or older. On newer ENBSeries versions, simply edit the enbseries.ini file; setting the IgnoreLoadingScreen parameter under [FIX] to true. Now never worry about this again.

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