- description

For mass effect 2 the legendary edition.

Here are some tweaks with 3dmigoto to try
to alleviate the excessive darkness in the game and
some other visual issues.

shader tweaks with 3dmigoto:
- reduce fog height illium also used in other environments urdnot camp, etc
- reduce bloom and dof exterior, planets, citadel, etc
- reduce fog external environments like pragia, etc
- reduce glare in reflections glass
- remove object and character selector hud
- reduce vignette and darkness tonemap
- reduce distance fog
- reduce bloom
- shepard hair less plasticy
- reduce vignette, sepia and slight reduction blue tint

update v1.2 19/01/2025
- tweaked hair shader shepard and npc's
- tweaked vignette and tonemap shader
- added reduction ambient light
- re-worked all fog shaders prevent
  distant hills going white
- removed an additional dof shader
- alterd additional tonemap in upscale.hlsl
- added a number of shaders tweaking glass
  objects, windows etc less reflection and
  brightness
- added tweaks to skydome clouds more present.
- reduced brightness in most ambient light shaders

update v1.1 03/03/2023
- added a custom shader for a slight curve
  can be disabled see 'further tweaking'
- added a custom shader with 3dmigoto to do
  tonemapping and lumasharpen replaces reshade
- no longer use smaa by reshade switched to internal aa of game
- added overlooked shepard hair shader tweak (outdoors)
- added black crush reduction in line with old mod see:
  https://www.nexusmods.com/masseffect2/mods/272
- added tweaks to mie / raleigh effect horizon

Note(s):
The  package has a customized shader 'upscale.hlsl' which
does some fullscreen tweaks as sharpening and color modification
it replaces reshade if needed remove old package see updating.

- updating (from v1.0)

if the old package (v1.0) was installed remove the following
folder(s) and file(s) in the folder which contains MassEffect2.exe

reshade
shadercache
shaderfixes

d3d11.dll
d3dcompiler_46.dll
d3dx.ini
dxgi.dll
dxgi.ini
ReShade.ini

Then copy the contents of the zip file to the install folder of
control, the folder which contains MassEffect2.exe.

- install

Copy the contents of the zip file to the install folder of,
mass effect legendary edition\Game\ME2\Binaries\Win64\
the folder which contains MassEffect2.exe.

- optional install

If you do not like using unverified dll's you can:

Download 3dmigoto from:
https://github.com/bo3b/3Dmigoto/releases
download version 1.3.16.0 (64bit) and place
the following dlls in the install dir of me2
d3d11.dll
d3dcompiler_46.dll
d3dx.ini
then copy ShaderCache and ShaderFixes from the zip file to the same dir aka folder.

note: if you choose to use the d3dx.ini contained in the github package
make sure to set (line 248):
hunting=0
the default setting is:
hunting=1
which sets 3dmigoto to a debug mode.

Also add at line 19:
include = ShaderFixes\upscale.ini
include = ShaderFixes\curve.ini

- verify

After running the game the folder ShaderFixes should
gradually (scene and level dependent) contain the .bin versions:

077e4356de8532a7-ps_replace.bin
0a77d73171be5d81-ps_replace.bin
0bbaea95f4bd00a4-ps_replace.bin
0c8bb52e8a357ec6-ps_replace.bin
0cf16426df02750e-ps_replace.bin
15e9215d0aa07212-ps_replace.bin
172c14e7b78546f0-ps_replace.bin
1ace3d7fe80f7dd7-ps_replace.bin
1f199fce5b951116-ps_replace.bin
241ff2316fb1f522-ps_replace.bin
24744ee554355b46-ps_replace.bin
268424a89d5af3c2-ps_replace.bin
3b660c9866266dd4-ps_replace.bin
3d03898badc90284-ps_replace.bin
430b9dccd8d0af45-ps_replace.bin
468af5b1d8cbd0c6-ps_replace.bin
4a8cae14ef2c3be1-ps_replace.bin
4d21a296ca29c3df-ps_replace.bin
5c9f58c794edcc02-ps_replace.bin
6bd16e873374354b-ps_replace.bin
6d772d9c1a575c04-ps_replace.bin
6e01c964a62f4abd-ps_replace.bin
7dd85185f34cff33-ps_replace.bin
807bd1547eb4d022-ps_replace.bin
9675e2f7520312ad-ps_replace.bin
97a9343e0692c7a5-ps_replace.bin
a209fcc67230f534-ps_replace.bin
a6d7eb431075097b-ps_replace.bin
a7c8c1e6ddbb9df7-ps_replace.bin
a7dd446173258fd8-ps_replace.bin
b1a93cf610017406-ps_replace.bin
bd853f7e742577a1-ps_replace.bin
c1d5bd599cbd5e5d-ps_replace.bin
c4e568564de0d275-ps_replace.bin
c5e85b6779873d5d-ps_replace.bin
d1c85cb3170f19b1-ps_replace.bin
d21115651a93e011-ps_replace.bin
de4ac08d77b6b8d0-ps_replace.bin
e63ff88ffd3363f7-ps_replace.bin
f3e7d5df139102d7-ps_replace.bin
fe4bc79c122c2984-ps_replace.bin

of

077e4356de8532a7-ps_replace.txt
0a77d73171be5d81-ps_replace.txt
0bbaea95f4bd00a4-ps_replace.txt
0c8bb52e8a357ec6-ps_replace.txt
0cf16426df02750e-ps_replace.txt
15e9215d0aa07212-ps_replace.txt
172c14e7b78546f0-ps_replace.txt
1ace3d7fe80f7dd7-ps_replace.txt
1f199fce5b951116-ps_replace.txt
241ff2316fb1f522-ps_replace.txt
24744ee554355b46-ps_replace.txt
268424a89d5af3c2-ps_replace.txt
3b660c9866266dd4-ps_replace.txt
3d03898badc90284-ps_replace.txt
430b9dccd8d0af45-ps_replace.txt
468af5b1d8cbd0c6-ps_replace.txt
4a8cae14ef2c3be1-ps_replace.txt
4d21a296ca29c3df-ps_replace.txt
5c9f58c794edcc02-ps_replace.txt
6bd16e873374354b-ps_replace.txt
6d772d9c1a575c04-ps_replace.txt
6e01c964a62f4abd-ps_replace.txt
7dd85185f34cff33-ps_replace.txt
807bd1547eb4d022-ps_replace.txt
9675e2f7520312ad-ps_replace.txt
97a9343e0692c7a5-ps_replace.txt
a209fcc67230f534-ps_replace.txt
a6d7eb431075097b-ps_replace.txt
a7c8c1e6ddbb9df7-ps_replace.txt
a7dd446173258fd8-ps_replace.txt
b1a93cf610017406-ps_replace.txt
bd853f7e742577a1-ps_replace.txt
c1d5bd599cbd5e5d-ps_replace.txt
c4e568564de0d275-ps_replace.txt
c5e85b6779873d5d-ps_replace.txt
d1c85cb3170f19b1-ps_replace.txt
d21115651a93e011-ps_replace.txt
de4ac08d77b6b8d0-ps_replace.txt
e63ff88ffd3363f7-ps_replace.txt
f3e7d5df139102d7-ps_replace.txt
fe4bc79c122c2984-ps_replace.txt

This means that the file(s) .txt have been compiled by 3dmigoto (d3d11.dll)

- tested

Tested with version 2.0.0 of me2 on win 10 (1903) / nvidia 1050gtx ti
See screenshot for settings game.

- performance

3dmigoto gpu usage 1080p@~60fps
without - clock 1220Mhz gpu usage ~76%
with       - clock 1220Mhz gpu usage ~78%
approximately 2% increase (1050gtx ti on win 10)
max gpu: 1750Mhz gpu usage 100%

- further tweaking

If you like you can compare the modified shader, ShaderCache contains
the original shader, to alter values.

The curve shader can be disabled by opening d3dx.ini
in a text editor and altering line 20 from:
include = ShaderFixes\curve.ini
to:
;include = ShaderFixes\curve.ini

To disable specific tweaks open the shader from
the folder 'shaderfixes' with a text editor example:
C4E568564DE0D275-PS_REPLACE.TXT

Has a remark on the top line:
// remove object and character selector hud

So if you do not want that to happen
remove the shader from the folder 'shaderfixes'

C4E568564DE0D275-PS_REPLACE.TXT

and if compiled remove:

C4E568564DE0D275-PS_REPLACE.BIN

then restart the game.

All shaders <shadernumber>ps_replace.txt have
a similar descriptive remark (see shader list).

- tips

See articles
https://www.pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/Mass_Effect_Legendary_Edition

- shader list

---------- 077E4356DE8532A7-PS_REPLACE.TXT
// reduce fog height illium also used in other enviroments urdnot camp, etc
// fix canalus geth base mission excessive fog
// ---- Created with 3Dmigoto v1.3.16 on Mon Jul 12 11:58:32 2021
    // reduce fog density
    // tricky try to reduce height issue certain planets tarith, etc

---------- 0A77D73171BE5D81-PS_REPLACE.TXT
// reduce opacity railings and glass
// ---- Created with 3Dmigoto v1.3.16 on Wed Jan 08 11:06:50 2025
  // rougher structure glass
  // redcue glare
  r0.w = dot(r4.xyz, float3(0.2126f,0.7152f,0.0722f)); // bt709
  // reduce light reflection

---------- 0BBAEA95F4BD00A4-PS_REPLACE.TXT
// ambient light illium B shipping and other locations
// ---- Created with 3Dmigoto v1.3.16 on Fri Jan 10 10:21:38 2025
  // reduce haze

---------- 0C8BB52E8A357EC6-PS_REPLACE.TXT
// reduce presence fx mist banks
// ---- Created with 3Dmigoto v1.3.16 on Thu Jan 09 11:28:33 2025
  // reduce presence

---------- 0CF16426DF02750E-PS_REPLACE.TXT
// reduce bloom and dof exterior, planets, citadel, etc
// ---- Created with 3Dmigoto v1.3.16 on Tue Jun 29 11:25:44 2021
  o0.w = 0.001; // reduce dof

---------- 15E9215D0AA07212-PS_REPLACE.TXT
// interior drinking glass A
// ---- Created with 3Dmigoto v1.3.16 on Sun Jan 05 10:52:34 2025
  r1.x = dot(r1.xyz, float3(0.2126f,0.7152f,0.0722f)); // bt709
  // add slight green tint
  // reduce brightness
  // decrease opacity

---------- 172C14E7B78546F0-PS_REPLACE.TXT
// reduce glare and reflections glass B
// ---- Created with 3Dmigoto v1.3.16 on Mon Jan 06 10:12:33 2025
  // reduce glare
  // reduce opacity

---------- 1ACE3D7FE80F7DD7-PS_REPLACE.TXT
// reduce fx god rays sun
// ---- Created with 3Dmigoto v1.3.16 on Wed Jan 08 10:03:28 2025
  // softer light shafts

---------- 1F199FCE5B951116-PS_REPLACE.TXT
// shepard hair less plasticy B outdoors
// ---- Created with 3Dmigoto v1.3.16 on Thu Feb 23 10:55:36 2023
  // reduce plastic hair
  // compensate darker hair
  // reduce plastic hair

---------- 241FF2316FB1F522-PS_REPLACE.TXT
// reduce glare and reflections glass C
// ---- Created with 3Dmigoto v1.3.16 on Mon Jan 06 10:22:30 2025

---------- 24744EE554355B46-PS_REPLACE.TXT
// try to fix grass tarith fog issue
// ---- Created with 3Dmigoto v1.3.16 on Fri Jan 10 10:46:44 2025
  // reduce overbright grass

---------- 268424A89D5AF3C2-PS_REPLACE.TXT
// reduce glare and reflections glass G floor panels
// ---- Created with 3Dmigoto v1.3.16 on Mon Jan 06 11:00:29 2025
  // reduce reflections
  // reduce opacity

---------- 3B660C9866266DD4-PS_REPLACE.TXT
// reduce fx light shafts
// ---- Created with 3Dmigoto v1.3.16 on Wed Jan 08 10:21:41 2025
  // softer light shafts

---------- 3D03898BADC90284-PS_REPLACE.TXT
// skydome
// ---- Created with 3Dmigoto v1.3.16 on Wed Jan 08 10:11:52 2025
  // slightly more presence clouds

---------- 430B9DCCD8D0AF45-PS_REPLACE.TXT
// reduce fog B external enviroments like pragia
// ---- Created with 3Dmigoto v1.3.16 on Mon Jul 12 10:56:59 2021
  r0.xyz = r0.yzw * 0.2f * r0.xxx; // reduce fog nearby

---------- 468AF5B1D8CBD0C6-PS_REPLACE.TXT
// female hair style B less plasticy
// ---- Created with 3Dmigoto v1.3.16 on Sun Jan 12 10:54:53 2025
  // reduce plastic hair
  // compensate darker hair
  // reduce plastic hair

---------- 4A8CAE14EF2C3BE1-PS_REPLACE.TXT
// remove secondary vignette?
// ---- Created with 3Dmigoto v1.3.16 on Thu Jan 09 11:17:53 2025

---------- 4D21A296CA29C3DF-PS_REPLACE.TXT
// reduce glare and reflections glass D
// odd issue only half of glass surface is rendered correct
// ---- Created with 3Dmigoto v1.3.16 on Mon Jan 06 10:27:53 2025
  // reduce reflections
  // reduce opacity

---------- 5C9F58C794EDCC02-PS_REPLACE.TXT
// ambient light migrant fleet
// ---- Created with 3Dmigoto v1.3.16 on Sat Jan 11 10:27:24 2025
  // reduce brightness

---------- 6BD16E873374354B-PS_REPLACE.TXT
// reduce glare and reflections glass possibly effects other surfaces as well
// ---- Created with 3Dmigoto v1.3.16 on Mon Jun 28 00:11:41 2021
  r0.xyz = TextureCube_1.Sample(TextureCube_1Sampler_s, r0.xyz).xyz * 0.1f; // reduce glare glass reflection
  r2.xyz = TextureCube_0.Sample(TextureCube_0Sampler_s, r2.xyz).xyz * 0.1f; // reduce glare glass reflection

---------- 6D772D9C1A575C04-PS_REPLACE.TXT
// reduce fx ambient haze sun
// ---- Created with 3Dmigoto v1.3.16 on Wed Jan 08 10:00:26 2025
  // reduce ambient haze

---------- 6E01C964A62F4ABD-PS_REPLACE.TXT
// remove object and character selector hud B
// ---- Created with 3Dmigoto v1.3.16 on Mon Jun 28 00:04:16 2021

---------- 7DD85185F34CFF33-PS_REPLACE.TXT
// remove frame based dof planets B tarith only?
// ---- Created with 3Dmigoto v1.3.16 on Fri Jan 10 10:58:55 2025

---------- 807BD1547EB4D022-PS_REPLACE.TXT
// female hair style B less plasticy second layer
// ---- Created with 3Dmigoto v1.3.16 on Sun Jan 12 11:01:54 2025
  // reduce plastic hair
  // compensate darker hair

---------- 9675E2F7520312AD-PS_REPLACE.TXT
// reduce glare and reflections glass H illium
// ---- Created with 3Dmigoto v1.3.16 on Fri Jan 10 09:45:25 2025
  // reduce glare
  // reduce opacity

---------- 97A9343E0692C7A5-PS_REPLACE.TXT
// reduce vignette and darkness tonemap B
// ---- Created with 3Dmigoto v1.3.16 on Sun Jun 27 23:59:02 2021
  // reduce black crush
  // increase if more bloom is needed for lamp halos
  // fix and set to bt709
  // reduce darkness plus red and green
  //r0.xyz = float3(0.0916082214,0.0916082214,0.0916082214) * r0.xyz;
  //r0.xyz = float3(0.0916082214,0.0996082214,0.1016082214) * r0.xyz;
  //r0.xyz = GammaOverlayColor.xyz + r0.xyz;
  // reduce black crush
  //r0.xyz = max(float3(9.99999975e-005,9.99999975e-005,9.99999975e-005), r0.xyz);
  //r0.w = 200 * r0.w;  // reduce vignette

---------- A209FCC67230F534-PS_REPLACE.TXT
// interior drinking glass B slightly larger
// ---- Created with 3Dmigoto v1.3.16 on Sun Jan 05 10:53:46 2025
  // add slight green tint
  // reduce brightness
  // decrease opacity

---------- A6D7EB431075097B-PS_REPLACE.TXT
// reduce distance fog
// ---- Created with 3Dmigoto v1.3.16 on Tue Jun 29 11:27:55 2021
    // compensate horizon slope
    //r0.w = log2(r0.w);
    // reduce distant fog density
    // increase global light of scene not usable causes shadow glitch

---------- A7C8C1E6DDBB9DF7-PS_REPLACE.TXT
// reduce glare and reflections glass E
// ---- Created with 3Dmigoto v1.3.16 on Mon Jan 06 10:54:43 2025
  // reduce glare
  // reduce opacity

---------- A7DD446173258FD8-PS_REPLACE.TXT
// reduce light shafts sun B
// ---- Created with 3Dmigoto v1.3.16 on Wed Jan 08 10:45:08 2025
  // compsentate length reduction shaft
  // reduce presence

---------- B1A93CF610017406-PS_REPLACE.TXT
// reduce bloom
// ---- Created with 3Dmigoto v1.3.16 on Sun Jun 27 23:22:55 2021
  // reduce bloom

---------- BD853F7E742577A1-PS_REPLACE.TXT
// reduce fx sun flare
// ---- Created with 3Dmigoto v1.3.16 on Wed Jan 08 10:07:41 2025
  // reduce sun flare

---------- C1D5BD599CBD5E5D-PS_REPLACE.TXT
// shepard hair less plasticy
// ---- Created with 3Dmigoto v1.3.16 on Sun Jun 27 23:16:19 2021
  // reduce plastic hair
  // compensate darker hair
  // reduce plastic hair
  // compensate darker hair

---------- C4E568564DE0D275-PS_REPLACE.TXT
// remove object and character selector hud
// ---- Created with 3Dmigoto v1.3.16 on Sun Jun 27 23:14:19 2021

---------- C5E85B6779873D5D-PS_REPLACE.TXT
// fx global ambient lights B compensate brighter tonemap
// ---- Created with 3Dmigoto v1.3.16 on Sun Jan 05 11:24:13 2025
  // reduce brightness

---------- D1C85CB3170F19B1-PS_REPLACE.TXT
// fx global ambient lights A compensate brighter tonemap
// ---- Created with 3Dmigoto v1.3.16 on Sun Jan 05 11:19:31 2025
  // reduce brightness

---------- D21115651A93E011-PS_REPLACE.TXT
// reduce vignette, sepia and slight reduction blue tint
// ---- Created with 3Dmigoto v1.3.16 on Sun Jun 27 23:08:26 2021
  // reduce red and green
  r0.w = dot(r1.yzx, float3(0.2126f, 0.7152f, 0.0722f)); // bt 709
  r1.xyz = 0.5f * float3(0.400000006,0.400000006,0.400000006) * r0.xyz; // reduce sepia
  //r0.w = 200 * r0.w; // reduce vignette
  // increase blue and green
  //r1.xyz = float3(0.0103630004,5000.75000013e-006,0.1130924946) + r0.www;

---------- DE4AC08D77B6B8D0-PS_REPLACE.TXT
// reduce black crush korlus, okeer mission, only?
// ---- Created with 3Dmigoto v1.3.16 on Thu Feb 23 10:29:03 2023

---------- E63FF88FFD3363F7-PS_REPLACE.TXT
// fx ambient and bloom illium liaras appartment
// maybe other locations as well
// ---- Created with 3Dmigoto v1.3.16 on Fri Jan 10 09:39:46 2025
  // reduce haze

---------- F3E7D5DF139102D7-PS_REPLACE.TXT
// restore mie or raleigh fx on horizon (planet) only?
// ---- Created with 3Dmigoto v1.3.16 on Thu Feb 23 10:46:07 2023
  // restore mie or raleigh fx

---------- FE4BC79C122C2984-PS_REPLACE.TXT
// remove frame based dof planets A tarith only?
// ---- Created with 3Dmigoto v1.3.16 on Fri Jan 10 10:49:33 2025

---------- SHADERLIST.TXT