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Better graphics and screenshots for newer cards
puzzlezaddict
Posts: 1,877 Member
As many players know, it's not always necessary for TS3 to recognize a newer graphics card—the game will often run just fine without intervention. But forced recognition makes an obvious difference, as I've recently seen for myself. While my screenshots already looked good, there are some distinct improvements—for example, the water shading is nicer and gives a better sense of depth. And the shadows across a sim have mostly lost their jagged edges.
The reason I now have a recognized graphics card is that BluebellFlora was kind enough to help me edit my .sgr files. In fact, she's offering to assist any mac user who posts on her site and provides specs and a card's Device ID. You'll know it worked when your deviceconfig says "[Found: 1, Matched: 1]" after your card name. (And if you do take her up on her offer, please let her know that it worked!) Here's her post on the subject:
https://bluebellflora.com/2018/07/24/sims-3-mac-players-i-need-your-help/
I tried to take identical screenshots for comparison, but I didn't always get the angle quite right. Still, the improvement is obvious, at least to me. The first pic in each pair is before, and the second is after. (I used clean folders for both, with the same save copied fresh into each. The resolution was 1280x800, and all the graphics settings were maxed out except for high detail lots.)
The shadows across a sim are still not perfect, but I think they're a lot better. Before on the left, after on the right:
The reason I now have a recognized graphics card is that BluebellFlora was kind enough to help me edit my .sgr files. In fact, she's offering to assist any mac user who posts on her site and provides specs and a card's Device ID. You'll know it worked when your deviceconfig says "[Found: 1, Matched: 1]" after your card name. (And if you do take her up on her offer, please let her know that it worked!) Here's her post on the subject:
https://bluebellflora.com/2018/07/24/sims-3-mac-players-i-need-your-help/
I tried to take identical screenshots for comparison, but I didn't always get the angle quite right. Still, the improvement is obvious, at least to me. The first pic in each pair is before, and the second is after. (I used clean folders for both, with the same save copied fresh into each. The resolution was 1280x800, and all the graphics settings were maxed out except for high detail lots.)
The shadows across a sim are still not perfect, but I think they're a lot better. Before on the left, after on the right:
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Comments
I can give people some examples of my graphics card. It's a "Geforce GTX 650", so honestly not the most powerful one, and I sort of wish I had just gone full out when I was buying one, but it was affordable and I figured it was going to be good enough. Sims3 as far as I remember, could be really finicky with the older graphics cards.
I seem to have high noon shadows on the simmies, but not so much on the simmies themselves rather than the objects. I can't remember what my settings are, but I believe most, if not all, are set to max. So not sure as to why I had such a hard time finding screenshots of any random simmies with a shadow across their bodies. Hmm. But I am using a lighting mod, (Brntwaffles' mods, sorry I might have butchered their username haha). How are your settings in the game?
Here's a collection of screenshots, I might have had different mods throughout, but any light mod I use, has been from Brntwaffles I'm almost sure. (+ the sky map, I don't remember who made that)
here you can see they have shadows underneath them but not on their bodies
I believe this is SuvaDiva Resort?
I still have some banding in the sky. I had a lot less banding with custom sky mods, and I've been told there will be less banding if you print screen rather than screenshot, but I don't know. The banding has always sort of annoyed me.
As you can see, there's less banding in that sky than normal. Would love to see more of your screenshots, especially the before and after. I honestly can't tell any different between your first and after, (I mean that in a good way haha), it looks fantastic either way. Very crisp and clear without jagged edges. How does your night sky look?
edit: oh apparently imgur crashed on me for some reason so no images are working. bah.
I don't have any night sky ones right now—I just wanted a few easy comparisons. The biggest difference I can see is that the water has less diffuse white coloring, and what's there looks more like a bit of mist or fog blowing across the surface of the bay. The churn from the waves is also more detailed. Those screenshots were all taken between 8 and 9 am. The ones of the sim were from around 11 am, when I got a good look at the shadows. They don't show up as well when they fall across clothing, so that may be why you're having trouble seeing them. The angles also matter.
And yes, I maxed out the graphics settings for both before and after.
(This location may be different depending on where you have installed the base game.)
*You may notice the GPU working harder. I recommend starting off at 3840 before jumping to 7680. Even with having mine adjusted to 7680, it's still slightly jagged but much better.
S3 simblr: http://simplysimming.tumblr.com/
S4 simblr: http://simlogic.tumblr.com/
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Ok, after Googling I can confirm my game has this banding issue... I try to ignore it but it is ugly. I take screenshots with Fraps which is a screen capture program. I'm not sure if it's any worse without Fraps. @Pary I don't think a graphics card update would fix this. It's most likely the game.
S3 simblr: http://simplysimming.tumblr.com/
S4 simblr: http://simlogic.tumblr.com/
PoppySims Archive
InnaLisa Pose Archive
Devolution of Sims - a once customisable open world sandbox which has become a DLC Party catalog in a shoebox
I ♡ Pudding