- description

Test drive unlimited 2 a pioneering open world racer, this package contains
some tweaks realized with helix (a precursor to 3dmigoto, works exclusively
with dx9) and sweetfx.

Helix tweaks contain thinned out fog, more transparent hud items, reduced
glass tint car (cockpit view) and less prominent markers for races, shops etc.

Further a sweetfx tone map reduces the rather heavy darkening and a
'poor mans form of tessellation' gives the assets (cars, environment, etc)
a bit of relief and more definition also smaa (so disable the in game AA)
and a fair amount of desaturation (the game has a tad to vibrant colors).

update 21/06/2023 v1.3
- reduce red tint skin avatar and npc's
- reduce dark eyes in shadows
- slight tweaks to tonemap

update 23/04/2023 v1.2
- update of the helix dlls
- added skin increase red specular, detail and change to bt 709
- added reduce tint glass in car (cockpit view) when raining
- added reduce presence headlight npc
- reduce intensity latern B light sleeve
- removed tdu2 reduce fogging close proximity. trees, etc
  vertex shader 4BA9C965 causes issues when alt-tab is used.
- tweaked tonemap added fake ambient light
- added curve shader though sweetfx
  the curve shader can be disabled see further tweaking for info.

- uninstall

if an older version is installed remove the following folders and files:

dumps
shaderoverride
sweetfx

d3d9.dll
d3d9.dll.hxdb
d3d9sfx2.dll
dx9settings.ini
SweetFX_preset.txt
SweetFX_settings.txt

- install

Copy the contents of the zip file to the install folder of test drive unlimited 2,
the folder which contains TestDrive2.exe.

- optional install

If you do not like using unverified dll's you can download helix from
http://helixmod.blogspot.com/
and place following files in the install dir of test drive unlimited 2
d3d9.dll
dx9settings.ini

Note:
This package contains a 'd3d9.dll.hxdb' this is the debug version
which allows shaders to be found in game, usage rename d3d9.dll to
d3d9.dll.o then rename d3d9.dll.hxdb to d3d9.dll and in some cases
set UseEndScene = false to UseEndScene = true in the dx9settings.ini

download sweetfx from
https://www.guru3d.com/files-details/sweetfx-shader-suite-download.html
rename d3d9.dll to d3d9sfx2.dll and copy it to the test drive unlimited 2
folder, then copy shaderoverride and sweetfx folders from the zip file to
the same dir aka folder plus the files SweetFX_preset.txt and SweetFX_settings.txt.

Note:
dx9settings.ini of helix contains the name of the linked proxy dll
(in this case sweetfx).

- verify

To test the fog reduction, etc you will have to start and the restart
the game without the d3d9.dll example rename it to d3d9.dll.o
and restart the game.

To test the sweetfx settings open sweetfx/shaders/main.h with
a text editor and modify the lines:

//#include "Splitscreen.h"
//FinalColor = SplitscreenPass(FinalColor,tex);
to
#include "Splitscreen.h"
FinalColor = SplitscreenPass(FinalColor,tex);

save the file and run the game you should see an vertical
splitscreen (left side unmodified, right side modified)

- tested

Tested with version 1.0.5.1 of test drive unlimited 2 on win 7 / nvidia 1050gtx ti
Note: this is a combination of sweetfx and helix (last versions,
both are no longer in development)

- performance

sweetfx / helix gpu usage
without - clock 974Mhz gpu usage ~55%
with       - clock 974Mhz gpu usage ~65%
approximately 10% increase (1050gtx ti on win 7)
max gpu: 1750Mhz gpu usage 100%

- further tweaking

Disbale the curve shader open:
\test drive unlimited 2\SweetFX\shaders\Main.h
change line 61 from:
  tex = curve(tex);
to:
  //tex = curve(tex);
save and close the file then restart game.

Specific shaders can be disabled by simply removing them
from the sub folders contained in 'shaderoverride'.

Most shaders <shadernumber>.txt have
a descriptive remark at top of the file.

If you like you can compare the modified shader(s), Dumps contains
the original shader, to alter values. The folder 'shaderoverride'
contains the modified versions.
Note helix works differently then 3dmigoto please search for a
tutorial or start looking here:
http://helixmod.blogspot.com/2010/12/how-to-guides.html

- tips

https://www.pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/Test_Drive_Unlimited_2