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About this mod
Experience Tamriel like never before with this breathtaking reshade for the Elder Scrolls Online.
• Smoother textures
• Enhanced details
• Richer tones
• Vibrant colors
• Improved lighting
- Requirements
- Permissions and credits
Step into the world of Tamriel in a whole new way with this breathtaking reshade for The Elder Scrolls Online.
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• UPDATES •
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Aronfel's Reshade v1.2
Thank you to everyone who has downloaded the reshade so far and provided feedback! I'm glad to hear experiences with the reshade have been overwhelmingly positive. A common thing I've been hearing though is that the Gaussian Blur effect was too much for many people and they had to turn it off. So with this update, I've gone ahead and decreased the intensity substantially, as well as made a couple of other minor changes, as noted below.
- Decreased Gaussian Blur intensity on all presets
- Increased saturation on "Low Contrast" and "Optimal Performance" presets
- Added Chromatic Aberration effect to "Ultra Sharp" preset to slightly soften texture edges (I was told the preset was a little too sharp)
If you have any other feedback for me, please feel free to let me know and I'll see about implementing it in a future update!
Aronfel's Reshade - Neutral Magentas
This is an optional file I've added by request. Some users didn't like that the change in magenta hues affected the color of epic items, making them appear pink instead of purple. It also affected some in-game items and mounts, and potentially some dyes as well. So for those who want the magenta hues to stay the same as the base game, download these configuration files in addition to the main file.
Note: This will change some aspects of the reshade that were intentionally made to look a certain way. Using this optional version of the reshade may negatively impact things such as skin tones and environment colors in ways that the original version was balanced to correct.
Installation: This download only includes the configuration files, not the shader effects themselves. To install this version of the reshade, you'll need to download the main file, and then replace the main configuration files (.ini) with the "Neutral Magenta" configuration files.
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• BACKGROUND •
____________________________________________________________________________________________What makes Aronfel's Reshade different?
My goal with this reshade was to enhance and "modernize" the look of the base game, as opposed to totally changing and overhauling it. Before I discovered shaders, I already thought ESO was a gorgeous game, and I didn't want to take away from that natural beauty. But after exploring many different shader presets and effects, and comparing them to the base game, it made me realize just how dated, lifeless, and "flat" it looked by comparison.
So my reshade is an attempt to build upon the game's natural beauty and unleash its full potential. There aren't any LUTs included that drastically change the colors of the game, so if you prefer reshades that make the game look more "filtered" or appear substantially different from the base game in terms of color grading, this may not be the reshade for you. Instead, this reshade focuses more on color correction and bringing the best of out of the colors that are already present.
What does Aronfel's Reshade do?
The main things that this reshade accomplishes:
- Adds a deeper sense of "realism" to the game.
- Smooths out "cartoon-ish" textures, while simultaneously sharpening and enhancing details.
- Enriches tones to create a deeper sense of contrast between highlights and shadows.
- Adjusts hue + saturation to breathe life into the game and make colors more vibrant and accurate.
- Improves light sources to create more discernible and realistic lighting effects.
____________________________________________________________________________________________• INSTALLATION •
____________________________________________________________________________________________Installation Instructions
IMPORTANT: Before attempting to install ReShade or my shader configuration, make a copy of your ESO "client" folder. The directory for your "client" folder should be similar to the following:
If downloaded from ESO website: C:\Program Files (x86)\Zenimax Online\The Elder Scrolls Online\game\client
If downloaded from Steam: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Zenimax Online\The Elder Scrolls Online\game\client
Seriously. Do it. It's highly unlikely that anything will go wrong, but it's better to be safe than sorry and avoid having to do a fresh install of the game.
NOTE: If you have any other reshades installed for ESO already, I would recommend uninstalling them to ensure that there are no conflicts.
Step 1: Download ReShade 6+
Follow this link and download the most recent version of the ReShade software:
Click here to install ReShade
Step 2: Install ReShade 6+
After downloading ReShade, you'll want to run the "ReShade_Setup_6.x.exe" file.
When the setup launches, click the box that says, "Click here to select a game and manage its ReShade installation." The Elder Scrolls Online will not auto-populate on the list of applications. So what you'll need to do it click, "Browse..." near the bottom of the window. That will pull up your file explorer to go searching.
You'll now want to navigate to your "client" folder where the "eso64.exe" file is located and direct ReShade to that file and then click "Open." As noted above, the default directory for the game is:
If downloaded from ESO website: C:\Program Files (x86)\Zenimax Online\The Elder Scrolls Online\game\client
If downloaded from Steam: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Zenimax Online\The Elder Scrolls Online\game\client
NOTE: If your eso64.exe file isn't in the default location, but you do know where it is located, direct ReShade accordingly. However, if your eso64.exe file isn't in the default location, and you don't know/can't find where it's located, follow the troubleshooting guide at the end of this description.
SECOND NOTE: If you'd like, you can go ahead and create a shortcut to this folder for quick access, as we'll be coming back to it several more times throughout this setup.
Next, when it asks you, "Which rendering API does ESO use?," you'll want to select "Direct3D 10/11/12."
Lastly, when it asks you "Select effects packages to install," you'll simply want to click the button that says "Skip." And after that, you'll be all done setting up ReShade for ESO!
Step 3: Install "Aronfel's Reshade"
Next up is actually installing my reshade! I provide everything you'll need, so you won't have to go download anything else in addition to this. To download my reshade, navigate over to the "Files" tab above. You'll want to click the button that says "Manual Download," which will then open a pop-out menu. Assuming you've already followed the directions in steps 1 & 2 and have successfully installed ReShade, you'll just need to click the "Download" button.
You'll then be redirected to a page where you will select your download type. If you happen to be a "Premium" member of Nexus Mods already, you can select the "Fast Download" option. Otherwise, just select the "Slow Download" option (don't worry though; the file isn't that big so the download really isn't that slow).
Once you've downloaded it, you'll need to unzip the file to access its contents. You can unzip it to your desktop and then move the contents of the folder, or you can just unzip it directly into your ESO "client" folder (the same location of the "eso64.exe" file you directed ReShade to in the previous step):
If downloaded from ESO website: C:\Program Files (x86)\Zenimax Online\The Elder Scrolls Online\game\client
If downloaded from Steam: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Zenimax Online\The Elder Scrolls Online\game\client
The folder and files in the "Aronfel's Reshade.zip" folder will go directly into the "client" folder. Do not remove anything from the "reshade-shaders" folder; simply place it in the "client" folder as-is along with the .ini configuration files.
Step 4: Configure ReShade In-Game
Alright, now that you've successfully installed my reshade, you're just about ready to load it up in-game and give it a whirl! But first, there is a quick, final setup to do in order to get everything working properly. So first, you'll want to go ahead and launch ESO. You should see a little banner pop up when you open the game. Whenever you open the ReShade interface for the first time, it will ask if you want to run through the tutorial. If you want to, knock yourself out. But it won't be necessary to get this reshade working, so you can just click "Skip." Now if you haven't already, you'll want to press the "Home" key on your keyboard to pull up the ReShade interface.
Next, you'll want to make your way to the menu bar up top and select "Settings." What we're going to do now is direct ReShade to the proper folder to load the effects and textures you'll need to run my reshade. So go ahead and click Alt+Tab on your keyboard to minimize the game. Go into your file explorer and make your way back to your ESO "client" folder and open the "reshade-shaders" folder, and then the "Shaders" folder. Once you're in the "Shaders" folder, you'll want to go up to your navigation bar, right click "Shaders" to pull up the options menu, and click "Copy address as text."
Reopen ESO (the game) and press the "Home" key on your keyboard to pull up the ReShade interface again, if it's not already opened. In the "Settings" menu under the "General" section, you'll see an entry for "Effects search path." Click the "+" button and that will open up a sub-menu. In the search path box at the top, you will want to press Ctrl+V to paste the file path we just copied. Now go ahead and click "Ok" and your effects search path should be all set!
The last thing you'll need to do is repeat this process for the "Texture search path" entry below the "Effects search path" entry; only this time, you'll be directing it to the "Textures" folder instead of the "Shaders" folder. So for one last time, make your way back to your ESO "client" folder and then open the "reshade-shaders" folder, and then the "Textures" folder. Once you're in the "Textures" folder, you'll want to go up to your navigation bar, right click "Textures" to pull up the options menu, and once again click "Copy address as text." Then follow the same steps you did for the "Effects search path" process.
Now all that's left is to load the preset you want to use and be on your way. To select or change the preset, press the "Home" key on your keyboard to pull up the ReShade interface. Make sure you're in the "Home" menu and you'll see a box at the top that currently says "Default Preset." Click on that and it will open a drop-down menu with all of your available presets. Simply click on the one you want to use and you're all set!
Step 5: Enjoy!
Now that you've successfully completed the installation and setup process, you can sit back and enjoy Tamriel in a whole new way. If you like the reshade, please consider endorsing to help others find it and enjoy it for themselves :)
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• BEFORE & AFTER •
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• RESHADE BREAKDOWN •
____________________________________________________________________________________________Reshade Versions
For this reshade, I've configured several different presets that are all based on the same core settings, but differ in their broader appearance. The color correction is the same throughout each version, but each one has its own, unique style. Read the descriptions to learn more, and try out each version in-game to find out which one you like best!
(Classic)
This is the original reshade that all other versions use as their foundation. This is the most balanced configuration and will enhance sharpness, texture, color, lighting, and contrast without going too heavy on any one, particular effect. Use this version if you want the reshade to look the way it was originally intended to look.
(Cinematic)
This is my personal favorite configuration and the one I use when I play; it's also the preset I used in all of my showcase videos. It's almost exactly the same as the "Classic" version, but it adds a bloom effect that integrates softer light and a mild blur that gives the game a more modern, cinematic look. Use this version if you prefer the look of modern games, want a more immersive game experience, and/or like to frequently take screenshots.
NOTE: Due to the bloom effects that this configuration utilizes, it is likely to be the most resource-intensive preset and may not run well on lower-end gaming PCs.
(Low Contrast)
This configuration reduces contrast to give the game a flatter, more even look with less dramatic lighting. Use this version if you enjoy the appearance of the base game, but want enhanced colors and textures.
(Ultra Sharp)
This configuration was created as a recommendation from a few of my friends who tried the reshade and weren't fans of the softer look of the Classic and Cinematic configurations. It removes all blur effects and focuses on sharpness and contrast, in addition to the color corrections of the classic configuration. Use this version if you prefer a sharper, less soft look.
(Optimal Performance)
This configuration is for people who want to run this reshade on a lower-end gaming PC, or don't want to sacrifice any amount of FPS while playing. It may not look quite as good as the others, but I tried to get it as close as I could using the fewest number of effects possible. Use this version if the other versions are too resource intensive on your PC.
Shader Effects
- Ambient Light: This effect increases the amount and intensity of ambient light in the game, creating more pronounced and realistic lighting.
- Chromatic Aberration: This effect adds a very subtle distortion to smooth/feather rough edges on textures and give the game a slightly more "three-dimensional" look.
- Filmic Tonemap: This effect implements a tonemap that creates a deeper sense of contrast and enriches tones, making the game look much less "flat."
- Fake HDR: This effect slightly increases the contrast between highlights and shadows, making white tones more "white" and black tones more "black."
- Color Gamut: This effect changes the color gamut (or range of colors reproduced on your screen) to Apple's "Apple RGB" color gamut. This is a subtle effect most notable in red and green hues.
- Lightroom: This effect covers a wide range of settings, similar to the editing tools in Adobe Lightroom. The main focus of this effect is making broad changes to colors and tone curves.
- Selective Color: This effect focuses on more surgical color correction, building upon the color changes made in the "Lightroom" effect.
- Colorfulness: This effect adds a splash of saturation to all colors, making them appear more, well... colorful, as the name would imply.
- Vibrance: This effect increases the intensity of more muted colors by intelligently detecting which colors are already well-saturated, and excluding those colors from its process.
- Color Lab: This effect makes subtle changes to warm and cool hues independently, while also slightly decreasing the brightness of all colors.
- Color Temperature: This effect adds a "cooling" filter to balance out the overall color temperature, keeping it from looking too orange and warm.
- Clarity: This effect increases the contrast levels in mid-tones specifically, reducing haziness and making textures appear clearer and more detailed.
- Sharpen: This effect adds a deeper level of texture by increasing the contrast of individual pixels along detected edges.
- Gaussian Blur: This effect adds a subtle blur that softens "cartoon-y" textures and and makes the game look smoother.
- Bloom: This effect introduces a soft light that extends from the borders of bright areas in the game, making everything appear more feathered and cinematic.
- Blooming HDR: This effect increases the contrast within areas of intense light, making them more clear and balanced.
- Vignette: This effect adds a subtle, transparent dark circle around the corners of the screen, slightly increasing the intensity of scenes in the center of the screen.
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• TECHNICAL SUPPORT •
____________________________________________________________________________________________Troubleshooting
1. "I can't find my eso64.exe file."
If you're having a hard time locating your "client" folder or "eso64.exe" file (and it isn't in the default directory listed in the installation instructions above), there is an easy way to find it! All you need to do is launch the game and then open your task manager by pressing Ctrl+Alt+Delete on your keyboard. Once you do that, find the "ESO" process and right-click on it. A list will appear and you will want to click on the "Open File Location" option.
Once you do that, your file explorer should open up to the location of the "eso64.exe" file. Make note of the location in the navigation bar and commit it to memory so you can properly direct ReShade to the correct file.
2. "My game is crashing at launch."
It turns out it's actually a problem with the ReShade installer and not my reshade specifically. The fix for this is actually pretty easy. What you'll want to do is navigate to your "client" folder where the "eso64.exe" file is located (and if you don't know where that is, refer to the troubleshooting guide above) and look for a file named "dxgi.dll."
Once you've found that file, you'll want to right-click on it and select "Rename" and change the name of the file to "d3d11.dll." Once you do that, everything should be working as normal. If not, then unfortunately I don't have a fix for you and I hope you made a copy of your "client" folder like I told you to do at the beginning of this post for this very reason!
3. "I tweaked your reshade too much and now it looks bad."
If you decided to take matters into your own hands and adjust my reshade settings, but made a horrible mistake and now the game looks really bad, worry not! This is another easy fix. Just go into your "client" folder and delete the configuration file for whichever preset you were tweaking (e.g. "Aronfel's Reshade (Classic).ini") and then re-download the file and replace it. This will set everything back to my default settings and you'll be all set. And if you want to tweak the shaders in the future, be sure to make a copy and edit the copy just in case things go wrong (trust me, I've learned this the hard way one too many times).
4. "It turns out I don't like your reshade; how do I get rid of it?"
If you install my reshade and decide you don't like it (no hard feelings), or it's unfortunately too resource intensive for your PC to handle, then getting rid of it is even easier than installing it! What you'll want to do is run the "ReShade_Setup_4.x.exe" again and direct it to the "eso64.exe" file again. Whenever you do this, you will be offered two choices: "Update" or "Uninstall."
Go ahead and click "Uninstall" and you'll be all set. And even if you didn't like it, I appreciate you giving my reshade a chance! And if there's something in particular you didn't like about it, or areas where you think I could improve the reshade, I'm 100% open to any and all constructive feedback.
For additional assistance, join the Discord Tech Support Server.
____________________________________________________________________________________________• DISCLAIMER/THINGS TO NOTE •
____________________________________________________________________________________________Differences in Monitor Calibration
One thing to keep in mind is that during the process of configuring this reshade, everything was tweaked to look best on my monitor and PC setup; from color correction to tone enhancements to brightness adjustments. This means that everything may not translate perfectly to your setup. It should be pretty close, but colors may look slightly different, and things may possibly look darker or brighter on your monitor than mine.
Something I recommend doing is adjusting your "Screen Gamma" setting in your video settings in-game after you've installed my reshade. If you keep the same gamma settings as you had when you were running the game with the vanilla appearance, things may seem too bright or too dark. Don't use the "Calibrate" option though, as the game won't take the reshade into consideration. Use the slider to adjust it and use your eyes to decide what level of brightness looks best.
And along the same note, you may find you need to tweak some settings of the reshade itself to get it looking right on your setup. Which leads me to my next point.
Tweaking the Reshade Yourself
A lot of people are going to choose to adjust the reshade settings to their liking. I can't stop anyone from doing this; and even if I could, I wouldn't. On the contrary, I fully support tweaking the settings yourself! I feel it gives people a better understanding of what's happening "under-the-hood," and tweaking the settings of other reshades is actually what inspired me to configure this reshade from the ground up.
The only thing I would advise is making a copy of any configuration files before you decide to tweak them, just in case you change things to a point where you no longer like it. However, if you've made changes without making a backup and want to revert to my default settings, follow the instructions in the "Troubleshooting" section above.
Please Don't Redistribute My Reshade
If you find that you really enjoy my reshade and want to share it with others, that truly means a lot and I'm humbled! All I ask is that you direct people here to my Nexus Mods page. Please don't upload it elsewhere. Since ReShade is freeware and I don't own any of the assets I used to create this reshade, I don't technically have any legal ownership of this reshade
But always remember that modders like myself put a lot of time and effort into creating things for the community for no other reason than wanting to make our favorite games more enjoyable for others. So whether it's me or another modder, always try to support us by sending people directly to our pages.
And if you decide to tweak the settings yourself, please don't try to upload your changes somewhere and pass it off as your own work. If you wind up creating a configuration that is substantially different from my own, that's a different matter. But if you only change a couple of small things and it still more or less looks the same, just keep those changes for yourself.