Pick up the crowbar of research scientist Gordon Freeman, who finds himself on an alien-infested Earth being picked to the bone, its resources depleted, its populace dwindling. Freeman is thrust into the unenviable role of rescuing the world from the wrong he unleashed back at Black Mesa. And a lot of people, people he cares about, are counting on him.
This is meant to enhance the overall games appearance. Bringing out the true colors and definition in the game. Works with HL2, HL2 Update, HL2 Eps1&2
Update Aug. 2022
I have improved the file structure & created new settings files, with tweaked effects for both ENB and Sweetfx.
Changes have been made for additional memory tweaks, image enhancement, lighting/shading, SSAO Occlusion and SMAA support.
ENB now provides additional effects through its 2 ini files, proxied through separate d3d9.dll (sweetfx&smaa).
Sweetfx also contains a DXGI file that is a dx10 file and has been renamed to d3d10.dll.
This allows for dx10 effects to be implemented in games supporting dx10 options in addition to dx9 options.
SMAA will help reduce and improve edges.
While SSAO Occlusion helps improve the rest of the game.
Slightly reduced glare while maintaining light levels.
Shadow improvement, appearing in a more natural gradient.
Improved picture clarity, color and character appearance.
Should not impact performance in any negative way.
To Install:
Download and extract to the following location :
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Half-Life 2
***move*** the D3D9.dll to the \Half-Life 2\bin folder.
To Uninstall:
Remove the same files.
By placing the files in the HL2 folder, it will be applied to Half Life 2, Ep.1,2 and Lost Coast as well as to any add-ons.
Original preset contained in preset folder should you want to switch the presets.
Adding 4GB LAA
Download the 4gb patch
Apply to the hl2.exe in the game folder.
After applying patch, add this to your steam game launch options.
Right click game in steam library, select properties, set launch options
-heapsize 4096000
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How to apply to other HL2 Based Valve titles.
Half Life 2 update Store.steampowered.com
Half Life 2 update: Place files in C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Half-Life 2 Update move the D3D9.dll to the Half-Life 2 Update\bin.
Half Life 2 Black Mesa (HL1 remake) store.steampowered.com
HL2 Black Mesa: Place files in C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Black Mesa move the D3D9.dll to the \Black Mesa\bin.
For Portal: Place files in C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Portal move the D3D9.dll to the Portal\bin.
For Deathmatch: Place files in C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Half-Life 2 Deathmatch move the D3D9.dll to the Half-Life 2 Deathmatch\bin.
For Team Fortress 2: Place files in C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Team Fortress 2 move the D3D9.dll to the Team Fortress 2\bin.
Most HL2 based games will work with this. Just remember to move the D3D9.dll to the \Bin folder.
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Trouble Shooting: Mod
Disable Antialiasing Mode or SweetFX won't work.
Install the DX9 final release if you haven't done so previously. DX9 Final Release June2010
DX install: Download and run the file, tell it to extract to c:\dx, then after goto c:\dx and run the dxsetup file.
Check to make sure you are using the newest graphics drivers.
Try disabling any turbo or overclocking software.
If you experience issues with the ENB D3D9 try this: CTD, Graphics issues.
Replace the d3d9.dll with one of the alternates provided.
If game has performance issues or microstutters.
Open the enbseries.ini in the main game folder and change the line under [GLOBAL] AllowAntialias=1 to 0.
Nvidia users can also use this mod (Thanks to khalilsm) to allow the game to run if you have any issues.
Rename the ENB d3d9.dll that came with this mod to d3d9orig.dll and place the d3d9.dll from that mod with it in the game folder.
If you experience a darkness issue, goto the preset file Half Life 2.txt file, found in the SweetFX\Presets folder and set SMAA to 0.
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Mod Information.
This is meant to enhance the overall games appearance.
It adds SMAA, FXAA, HDR, LUMASHARPEN, LIFTGAMMAGAIN, VIBRANCE and CURVES to help sharpen and bring out detail and natural colors in the game.
Will work with any mod or add-on.
Due to a darkness issue SMAA is not enabled in this version.
To make adjustments to ENB alter the enbseries.ini.
To make adjustments to the sweetfx settings goto the preset file Half Life 2.txt file, found in the SweetFX\Presets folder.
Using "Pause Break" will enable and disable the effects
Using the Printscreen, will generate ingame screenshots. They can be found placed in the game folder, where the files were placed.
Use FastStone Image Viewer, to convert them to jpg or other formats.
Cleanmem Setup Majorgeeks.com
Nvidia DSR setup Nvidia.custhelp.com
ATI VSR setup Support.amd.com
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Thanks to Christian Jensen (CeeJay.dk) and Crosire for reshade and sweetfx.
Thanks for enb by Boris Vorontsov.
I hope you find these programs and adjustments helpful at making your game more enjoyable.
Thanks also to Mod DB and the Mod DB Community.
Average
9.67 votes submitted.
This can be used in combination with any texture packs or add-ons.
To make adjustments to ENB, alter the enbseries.ini configuration settings file, found in the main folder.
To make adjustments to Sweetfx, go to \SweetFX\Presets and alter the Half Life 2.txt file.
The default settings file is located in the main folder, SweetFX_settings.txt. However, it is not used for the settings as the SweetFX_preset.txt file is directing it to the presets folder (alter to match, if you make change to location or name of settings file).
Alter ENB and SweetFX settings as you like.
Full ENB Download available here:
Enbdev.com
Full Sweetfx Download available here:
Sweetfx.thelazy.net
I hope you find these programs and adjustments helpful at making your Half Life 2 game more enjoyable.
Pretty nice job :)
Thanks very much:D
Nice Job!
Thanks very much:D
Where do i put the files to make it work?
You place the files in the C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Half-Life 2 then move only the d3d9.dll to the \Half-Life 2\bin
If you have trouble using this. Try the reshade and sweetfx.
Download this one, it's settings are basically the same for this game Nexusmods.com
Delete any of the enb and sweetfx files you placed, then run the ReShade Setup.exe from the rar file or extract it to a folder on the desktop and run it, don't place it in the game folder when you run it, it will install the files there.
Run it, then direct it to the game folder and apply it to the C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Half-Life 2\hl2.exe , set it on the bar to direct3d 9 after it detects the game. Close the bar.
Once installed, goto the C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Half-Life 2 and move the sweetfx folder, d3d9.dll, ReShade.fx and Sweet.fx into the Bin folder.
Make this adjustment to the SweetFX_settings.txt in the sweetfx folder, set HDR settings, define HDRPower 1.3673 and define radius2 0.81287 (those are the HL2 #'s)
Turn off FXAA (set it to 0)if your game text looks smudgy.
Start the game. (you shouldn't need the mat fullbright with this one)
And you can run it with AntiAliasing On with this one.
For the hotkeys and bindings check the sweetfx/docs folder.
It uses sweetfx 2.0 and you can do changes on the fly.
For the dx install, run it, tell it to extract to c:\dx then goto c: drive and it should be listed, run the dxsetup file in the dx folder.
Why did I get this in my updates feed now.
Hi,
I recently updated the files to correct a few issues. I've made video's and am updating as the video's go up. The description has been slightly altered and I'm just waiting for the gameplay video to switch to it's 1440p then I'll add those also. You'll find the new version more closely matches the game with the light tones, shading and radiance all being more closely matched as a clearview colormatch setting. It also matches up with the nexus version, so there is no issues and they are all the same. The older versions can be found on nexus also.
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Very nice job, amazing work. Very impressed how nice looks game now. Also the best one is Collapsing Citadel (ep1 background_01), this one is especially amazing. Greatly improving graphics. Thanks for this :thumb_up:
how do i use this with MMOD? thank for your work btw, looks great