- description

Assassins creed black flag received to much acclaim
how ever, despite it's charm, it suffers from much of
the typical gameplay tropes that where gradually reduced
in syndicate and later iterations of the assassins creed
franchise so buckle up me mateys when you take the
Jack Daw to sea...

The visual tweaks are listed below how ever a word of caution
regarding the hbao / ssao the tweak centers around the setting
'hbao high' other settings might give less desirable results
see 'further tweaking' for tips on how to disable specific shaders.

3dmigoto shader tweaks:
- increase presence ambient occlusion
- remove rain bokah
- reduce distance fog
- reduce vignette when using max speed boat
- reduce white clipping of global illumination
- increase light globally add a pinch of blue
- reduce glow light emitting objects
- remove vignette in cave or enclosed spaces
- reduce glow and bloom animus
- reduce secondary directional bloom
- reduce lens flare

update 07/02/2022 v1.1
- a custom shader upscale.hlsl (3dmigoto) replaces reshade
- no longer use smaa by reshade switched to smaa internal of game
- tested on windows 10 (v1903)
- reworked distance fog, cone now starts futher away from avatar
- reduce outline npcs
- increase presence ambient occlusion for hbao high (formely hbao low)
- tweaked frame based fx global contrast and brightness with fog

Note(s):
The  package has a customized shader 'upscale.hlsl' which
does some fullscreen tweaks as sharpening and color modification.

- updating

if the old package was installed remove the following
folder(s) and file(s) in the folder which contains ac4bfsp.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
assassins creed black flag, the folder which contains ac4bfsp.exe.

- install

Copy the contents of the zip file to the install folder of
assassins creed black flag, the folder which contains
ac4bfsp.exe.

- optional install

The following instructions are only needed
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 and place the following dlls in the install dir of
assassins creed black flag:
d3d11.dll (32bits)
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.

- verify

After running the game the folder ShaderFixes should contain the .bin versions:

15313b493fdb6d04-ps_replace.bin
1ad8ed0ce390e845-ps_replace.bin
1f3beee49966cf1b-ps_replace.bin
25dfd82393d9e604-ps_replace.bin
2bca216301be0891-ps_replace.bin
463bf3cc28e3f82e-ps_replace.bin
4e7b7fb7796aea82-ps_replace.bin
532ae9331f2c1a61-ps_replace.bin
58b171626d80833f-ps_replace.bin
5fc7c89f0f8e3fdc-ps_replace.bin
70fcfb0d18b602ba-ps_replace.bin
7a1acf8c7f73c1a6-ps_replace.bin
7a2b49590e1cfe05-ps_replace.bin
81023eaa74516e51-ps_replace.bin
96512d44f6cbf1e3-ps_replace.bin
9b556f0ec7071aaa-ps_replace.bin
a4ea7467062a9a4d-ps_replace.bin
b00df13796d7d77a-ps_replace.bin
ddf12c6c54db6acc-ps_replace.bin
f0a898cd26f5e8ab-ps_replace.bin

of

15313b493fdb6d04-ps_replace.txt
1ad8ed0ce390e845-ps_replace.txt
1f3beee49966cf1b-ps_replace.txt
25dfd82393d9e604-ps_replace.txt
2bca216301be0891-ps_replace.txt
463bf3cc28e3f82e-ps_replace.txt
4e7b7fb7796aea82-ps_replace.txt
532ae9331f2c1a61-ps_replace.txt
58b171626d80833f-ps_replace.txt
5fc7c89f0f8e3fdc-ps_replace.txt
70fcfb0d18b602ba-ps_replace.txt
7a1acf8c7f73c1a6-ps_replace.txt
7a2b49590e1cfe05-ps_replace.txt
81023eaa74516e51-ps_replace.txt
96512d44f6cbf1e3-ps_replace.txt
9b556f0ec7071aaa-ps_replace.txt
a4ea7467062a9a4d-ps_replace.txt
b00df13796d7d77a-ps_replace.txt
ddf12c6c54db6acc-ps_replace.txt
f0a898cd26f5e8ab-ps_replace.txt
upscale.hlsl
upscale.ini

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

- tested

Tested with file version 1.06 of assassins creed black flag
on win 7 / nvidia 1050gtx ti and windows 10 v1903
See screenshot for settings game.

- performance

3dmigoto gpu usage 1080p@~55.4 fps
without - clock 1100Mhz gpu usage ~94%
with    - clock 1250Mhz gpu usage ~93%
approximately 4% increase (1050gtx ti on win 10)
max gpu: 1772Mhz gpu usage 100%
**clamped frame rate to 55.4 no sync

- further tweaking

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

For the setting hbao low overwrite the shader
b00df13796d7d77a-ps_replace.txt
in shaderfixes with:
ShaderCache\b00df13796d7d77a-ps_replace.txt.hbaolow
rename the shader to
b00df13796d7d77a-ps_replace.txt

or alter
  o0.xyz = 1.25f * g_SSAOControl.xxx * r0.xxx + float3(1,1,1);
to:
  o0.xyz = 1.7f * g_SSAOControl.xxx * r0.xxx + float3(1,1,1);
in shader b00df13796d7d77a-ps_replace.txt

To disable the hbao (ambient occlusion) tweak please remove
the following shader from the folder 'shaderfixes'

b00df13796d7d77a-ps_replace.txt

Has a remark on the top line:
// increase presence ambient occlusion

and if compiled remove:

b00df13796d7d77a-ps_replace.bin

then restart the game.

All shaders <shadernumber>ps_replace.txt have
a similar descriptive remark.

- tips

Settings used in game (also see screenshot):
[Graphics_DX11]
AdapterVendorID=4318
AdapterDeviceID=7298
DisplayWidth=1920
DisplayHeight=1080
RefreshRate=60
DisplayableRefreshRate=60
AntiAliasingMode=2
VSync=0
EnvironmentQuality=4
TextureQuality=2
ShadowQuality=2
ReflectionQuality=2
GodRays=1
MotionBlur=0
SSAO=3
UseVolumetricFog=1
ApexParticles=0

reduce startup time of game move the
following files in \videos and \videos\en:

abstergo_logo.bik
TWIMTBP.bik
ubi_logo.bik

to an other location outside the game install folder.

See for details:
https://www.pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/Assassin's_Creed_IV:_Black_Flag

- shader list

---------- 15313B493FDB6D04-PS_REPLACE.TXT
// remove rain bokah
// ---- Created with 3Dmigoto v1.3.16 on Thu Dec 17 14:52:58 2020

---------- 1AD8ED0CE390E845-PS_REPLACE.TXT
// reduce distance fog
// ---- Created with 3Dmigoto v1.3.16 on Thu Dec 17 14:18:41 2020
  r0.z = (g_FogParams.y + -g_FogParams.x) * 1.8f; // reduce mist landmass layer

---------- 1F3BEEE49966CF1B-PS_REPLACE.TXT
// reduce vignette when using max speed boat
// ---- Created with 3Dmigoto v1.3.16 on Sat Dec 19 16:26:40 2020

---------- 25DFD82393D9E604-PS_REPLACE.TXT
// reduce white clipping of global illumination daytime
// increase blue and artifical light sources
// ---- Created with 3Dmigoto v1.3.16 on Thu Dec 17 14:42:35 2020
  r8.x = r7.x * 0.2126f + r7.y * 0.7152f + r7.z * 0.0722f; // bt709

---------- 2BCA216301BE0891-PS_REPLACE.TXT
// reduce white clipping of global illumination under water
// increase blue and artifical light sources
// ---- Created with 3Dmigoto v1.3.16 on Sat Dec 19 16:31:34 2020
  r13.x = r9.x * 0.2126f + r9.y * 0.7152f + r9.z * 0.0722f; // bt709

---------- 463BF3CC28E3F82E-PS_REPLACE.TXT
// frame based fx global contrast and brightness with fog
// ---- Created with 3Dmigoto v1.3.16 on Thu Feb 24 20:23:52 2022
  r0.x = saturate(r0.x / g_VolumetricFogConstants.m_Distance) * 0.70f; // increase start fog cone
  //r0.x = 0.833333313 * r0.x;
  //r0.x = 1.333333313 * r0.x;
  //r0.xyz = r0.xyz * float3(0.993749976,0.98888886,0.984375) + float3(0.00312500005,0.00555555569,0.0078125);
  //r1.xyz = float3(2.20000005,2.20000005,2.20000005) * r1.xyz;
  r1.xyz = float3(2.04400005,2.04400005,2.04400005) * r1.xyz; // reduce darkness lower part screen
  r0.xyz = log2(1.30f + (1.0f - r0.y) * 0.030f)* r0.xyz; // decrease brightness nearby

---------- 4E7B7FB7796AEA82-PS_REPLACE.TXT
// reduce glow light emitting objects
// ---- Created with 3Dmigoto v1.3.16 on Sun Dec 20 19:48:16 2020

---------- 532AE9331F2C1A61-PS_REPLACE.TXT
// reduce white clipping of global illumination daytime B
// increase blue and artifical light sources
// ---- Created with 3Dmigoto v1.3.16 on Fri Dec 18 11:26:34 2020
  r7.x = r6.x * 0.2126f + r6.y * 0.7152f + r6.z * 0.0722f; // bt709

---------- 58B171626D80833F-PS_REPLACE.TXT
// reduce white clipping of global illumination ships cabine
// increase blue and artifical light sources
// ---- Created with 3Dmigoto v1.3.16 on Sat Dec 19 17:06:52 2020
  r6.x = r5.x * 0.2126f + r5.y * 0.7152f + r5.z * 0.0722f; // bt709

---------- 5FC7C89F0F8E3FDC-PS_REPLACE.TXT
// remove vignette in cave or enclosed spaces
// ---- Created with 3Dmigoto v1.3.16 on Fri Dec 18 17:39:34 2020

---------- 70FCFB0D18B602BA-PS_REPLACE.TXT
// reduce white clipping of global illumination night
// increase blue and artifical light sources
// ---- Created with 3Dmigoto v1.3.16 on Fri Dec 18 11:33:17 2020
  r10.x = r8.x * 0.2126f + r8.y * 0.7152f + r8.z * 0.0722f; // bt709

---------- 7A1ACF8C7F73C1A6-PS_REPLACE.TXT
// reduce glow and bloom animus
// ---- Created with 3Dmigoto v1.3.16 on Sun Dec 20 20:06:01 2020

---------- 7A2B49590E1CFE05-PS_REPLACE.TXT
// reduce white clipping of global illumination enclosed spaces
// increase blue and artifical light sources
// ---- Created with 3Dmigoto v1.3.16 on Tue Dec 22 10:46:54 2020
  r9.x = r7.x * 0.2126f + r7.y * 0.7152f + r7.z * 0.0722f; // bt709

---------- 81023EAA74516E51-PS_REPLACE.TXT
// reduce outline npcs
// ---- Created with 3Dmigoto v1.3.16 on Fri Feb 25 10:19:27 2022
  o0.w = r0.x * 0.35f; // reduce outline

---------- 96512D44F6CBF1E3-PS_REPLACE.TXT
// reduce secondary directional bloom
// ---- Created with 3Dmigoto v1.3.16 on Sun Dec 20 20:13:13 2020

---------- 9B556F0EC7071AAA-PS_REPLACE.TXT
// reduce lens flare B
// ---- Created with 3Dmigoto v1.3.16 on Thu Dec 17 15:38:45 2020

---------- A4EA7467062A9A4D-PS_REPLACE.TXT
// reduce white clipping of global illumination caves and interiors
// increase blue and artifical light sources
// ---- Created with 3Dmigoto v1.3.16 on Fri Dec 18 12:32:08 2020
  r9.x = r8.x * 0.2126f + r8.y * 0.7152f + r8.z * 0.0722f; // bt709

---------- B00DF13796D7D77A-PS_REPLACE.TXT
// increase presence ambient occlusion for hbao high
// ---- Created with 3Dmigoto v1.3.16 on Thu Dec 17 14:35:36 2020

---------- DDF12C6C54DB6ACC-PS_REPLACE.TXT
// reduce lens flare
// ---- Created with 3Dmigoto v1.3.16 on Thu Dec 17 14:30:47 2020

---------- F0A898CD26F5E8AB-PS_REPLACE.TXT
// reduce white clipping of global illumination caves etc B
// increase blue and artifical light sources
// ---- Created with 3Dmigoto v1.3.16 on Fri Dec 18 17:41:16 2020
  r11.x = r9.x * 0.2126f + r9.y * 0.7152f + r9.z * 0.0722f; // bt709

---------- SHADERS.TXT