post process pre output filters

[fenderbender]

No, it's not a thread about something awesome I found, it's one about finding something awesome. At least, I think it would be..

I like blurring stills from hl2, as well as trying other effects, but blurring makes the frames source renders quite photorealistic. Even with high AA and antioscopic filters, I think a lot of cinematic quality could come from a program that could add a slight blur to monitor output.

Can anything affect monitor output on top of a game? Running underneath it? *shrugs* however you put it, in so many words, my question is this:

Is there software avalible that alters each frame being sent to the monitor, or that runs visibly on top of all other programs to produce a blurring effect?

I might be going out on a limb here, as I've never heard of anything like this.

to clarify my reasoning behind this thread's title: post process, meaning, the blur comes into play as each frame of hl2 is rendered, or pre output, meaning, a semi-transparent filter that applies its effect to whatever is on the screen.

bah, this is hard to describe, hopefully some of you will be able to clue me in. Just say, "woo hoo, first post, can't be done, k thx"

Mike

 

[VirusType2]

Thats a great idea.

A program that aplies asdjustable amounts of anti aliasing to a game

I asume the anti-aliasing in the options is not enough for this effect

Thing is, this might use more resources than the normal anti-aliasing built into the game

However if there was a program that could aply 1 layer of translucence that sounds like it wouldn't use hardly any resources!

Good idea! Do some hardcore searching. Sometimes the best ideas are kept underground for lack of anyone knowing about it, interest, or money.

 

[VirusType2]

I noticed Gran Tourismo 4 uses an "out of focus" effect perfectly, it really makes things look realistic when something in the distance is a little out of focus, just like it would be if you saw it with your eyes

I thought of something that wouldnt affect your hardware but would blur your screen !

Wax paper!
Just place a sheet across your monitor!

-It's teh realism-filter

 

[fenderbender]

mwahaha, I know of games that use motion blurs and such. The more I thought about it, the less realistic the frame-by-frame idea seemed. A translucent filter that blurs whatever's on the screen doesn't seem too far off base, or too expensive on hardware.

I'm doing some googling currently, cause it seems like if such a program were possible, some college kid would have written it just for fun by now. I'll probably tape a piece of wax paper over my screen at the end of the day, wiseass. Thanx for your interest VT2

Anybody else know anything?

 

[blahblahblah]

Here is whats up, there are games that do can do motion blur. In fact it's fully support by DX 9. However, there is a trade off if you use motion/screen blurs in todays game. It requires the use of your video cards back buffer which is also the place where AA takes place. So you can't have AA and motion blur at the same time.

 

[VirusType2]

You remember almost 10 years ago, every business monitor had a clear anti-glare, anti-radiation shield? I always wanted one of those, but I guess they just make monitors better now and they don't make them anymore.

I mean think about it, If you can come up with some material that is about as transparent as glass, that would apply an anti-aliasing like effect to your monitor.

IT wouldnt even use any CPU power....
If you can come up with the idea, I'll be rich!!

 

[fenderbender]

case closed

*thinks* acrylic in a 16x9 windoframe


blahblahblah says, after telling him I had a GForce 5900:

There are 3 major things regarding graphics in computer games.

1) Hardware
2) Interface between the hardware and the game (DirectX). DX is responsible for providng a set of standards that tells game developers what they can do with a given set of hardware.
3) The game itself

All three things must support motion blur in order for it to be used. In your case, you hardware and DX9 support motion blur. However, afaik, motion blur wasn't implemented in HL2.

This means that unless somebody re-writes apart of the HL2 engine (with mod makers it could very well happen), you will not be able to experience motion blur in HL2. Motion blur is a part of the graphics engine like the lighting and shadow.

Hope that helps. This is my best understanding on the subject of motion blur and computer games.

 

[The Dark Elf]

I mean think about it, If you can come up with some material that is about as transparent as glass, that would apply an anti-aliasing like effect to your monitor.

An array of lenses. Take a larger resolution image, send it through compact lenses to a smaller display, analogue FSAA. Vibrate/rotate (very finely) a couple of the lenses a little on some axis, for blur effects n such.

No electronics involved.. well apart from the display part, and controlling the minute vibration/rotation.

But by the time anyone bothers, the video cards will be doing it all without a care in the world at much higher resolutions with more polygons and higher res textures on giant plasma screens. So not a lot of point really