Project Carmen, a graphics mod by GTAce

[G.T.Ace]

- Project Carmen, a graphics mod by GTAce -

Version 4.0

What is "Project CARMEN"?

Project CARMEN is a graphics mod, containing several different files,
which change the look of the game.

What exactly is included in the mod?

New post processing filters, a ReShade setting and .ini files,
altering colour, contrast, brightness, sharpness and much more.

The filters:

Ben Lee's amazing cloud textures, which he allowed me to use.

Tweaked smoke/particle effects on and off-track.

Custom weather presets with their own colour curve edits.

Is there a performance hit?

Slightly, yes, although I made the smoke effects so, that they're not affecting the performance too much.
I couldn't test with different hardware configurations, so results may vary.

Do I have to use the ReShade settings and PP filter?

To get the most out of it, yes. You can switch it on and off
with 'Q' on your keyboard.

How do I install the mod?

Please read the ReadMe file.

What if I like other filters and tweaks more?

Uninstalling instructions are included in the ReadMe file.
SERIOUSLY, READ IT!

UPDATED October 8th, 2016:
Replaced the old SweetFX with ReShade.​

Please uninstall the old version as described in the ReadMe.
Below are pictures of the current version:

DOWNLOAD via MediaFire

DOWNLOAD via MEGA

DOWNLOAD via FileHorst​

DOWNLOAD via RaceDepartment​

 

[ICEMAN_ZIDANE]

Which track is it on the last picture ?

Good job looks good.
I hope Kunos will finally start to really optimize this game, it doesnt run well...

 

[Whitestar]

Not sure what you mean, Iceman. I have run many many PC games on my current rig, and AC is one of those with very high framerate. But then again I have a solid rig (4.4Ghz, 670 SLI). The game might punish older rigs more.

@G.T.Ace: Not sure if it's just my monitor but those forests look maybe a little dark. Is it possible to "lighten" the shadows a bit? Maybe a slight contrast and brightness adjustment?

 

[G.T.Ace]

Which track is it on the last picture ?

Good job looks good.
I hope Kunos will finally start to really optimize this game, it doesnt run well...

Monza 1966. What was the last build you played? I find the performance currently pretty good.

Not sure what you mean, Iceman. I have run many many PC games on my current rig, and AC is one of those with very high framerate. But then again I have a solid rig (4.4Ghz, 670 SLI). The game might punish older rigs more.

@G.T.Ace: Not sure if it's just my monitor but those forests look maybe a little dark. Is it possible to "lighten" the shadows a bit? Maybe a slight contrast and brightness adjustment?

Yeah, still tweaking brightness and contrast. The contrast is actually already lowered (the shadows aren't full black, which I find good), it's really difficult to find a good balance.

 

[KamyKaze1098]

Monza 1966. What was the last build you played? I find the performance currently pretty good.


Yeah, still tweaking brightness and contrast. The contrast is actually already lowered (the shadows aren't full black, which I find good), it's really difficult to find a good balance.

It seems fmod is causing huge fps drops online. So it still needs optimization

 

[ICEMAN_ZIDANE]

I think i started with 0.22 or something like that, and played all other versions up to the latest , 1.09.

I have a Intel I7 4790k
Sapphire R9 280x Toxic 3GB
8GB RAM
Win 7 64 Bit

I had the same topic going on on a other forum, where i compared it to Grid Autosport (only graphics and performance).
The graphics in Grid are much better and still it performs much much better than AC.
People were saying "you cant compare a Game from a big comapny like Codemasters to AC". Why not ? Really instead of modelling new cars and tracks they should instead optimize the game better. If i dont like the performance of this game i cant think of what people are getting a performance with a less powerful rig.
The best thing was the CPU Occupancy problems (with a i7 4790k hahaha cant say more about that).

Back to the topic. In Grid i limited my frames to 90 and it never dropped below it. Everything on Ultra. Even not at the Start with full grid ...
In Assetto Corsa i have a huge FPS difference. Its limited to 90FPS too but in most of the time its going between 30 and 90. W.T.F is that ? On Spa there is a corner which didnt have much to render but the frames there are lower than on the Start Finish or on the straight which goes to Eau Rouge. This just doesnt make sense.

ps: Thanks for the track. I never really played Monza on AC ...

 

[G.T.Ace]

First custom smoke test:

 

[Ak1504]

Is there any documentation for the AC PP effects ? Have not found anything like that on the YEBIS website and trail and error takes alot more time ^^

Btw: nice project but personally i still miss something in your PP profile > Color

 

[G.T.Ace]

Nope, no documentation, all trial and error and TONS of work.

Regarding the colours, thanks to ACs engine, less looks more realistic, but as mentioned in the OP, you can tweak it yourself.

 

[Whitestar]

First custom smoke test:

I'm no expert on smoke but that looks really good.

 

[Ak1504]

as mentioned in the OP, you can tweak it yourself.

Ya i have done that already

 

[G.T.Ace]

I'm no expert on smoke but that looks really good.

Thanks! Density might need some work, but I don't want it to kill the framerate too much.
By the way, it's not only an .ini file tweak, it includes a custom texture.

 

[eSZee]

Density/opacity definitely needs work.

 

[G.T.Ace]

Goddamn smoke is annoying me right now.
The cars in AC start to blow plumes of smoke from their tires even when they're just rolling.
So more dense smoke looks way to extreme at low speed, but the lighter smoke looks stupid at burnouts etc.
Trying to find a good compromise is killing me, but at least it looks better than the original smoke already.

 

[KingPing]

IMO there is no way to make realistic smoke that works in all situations. The engine should have at least 4 ways instead of 1 of calculating smoke all of them blending with each other:

1) for burnouts.
2) for heavy braking with locked wheels.
3) for moderate braking with wheels starting to lock.
4) for extreme (car out of control) maneuvers.

I modded my files to be a mix of 2 and 3 which IMO is what you will see most of the time.

 

[G.T.Ace]

Yeah, that's why I'm trying not to make it too extreme.
Maybe I'll redo the texture itself a bit, so it's more transparent on top, we'll see.
I'm taking my time, don't wanna rush anything.

 

[KingPing]

Question: what service would you recommend to upload the files?, i would like to share my files but i never uploaded anything.

 

[G.T.Ace]

Question: what service would you recommend to upload the files?, i would like to share my files but i never uploaded anything.

MediaFire, or if it's just a small .ini file, attach it to a forum post.

 

[G.T.Ace]

Original with Default PP - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Current Progress

View fullsize to better see the difference.

The difference feels much, much bigger while actually playing.

 

[G.T.Ace]

I updated the OP with pictures, of what it looks like currently.

 

[Johnnypenso]

Your current file you have in the OP, is it also used with SweetFX? What are your SweetFX settings?

 

[G.T.Ace]

Can I use your settings without SweetFX? Is there a primer on SweetFX you can recommend and what are your settings in SweetFX?

The attached filter above yes, the full mod will need SweetFX, or you'll get different results.
I will include the SweetFX package at release, so you only have to install everything and be done with it.

 

[Johnnypenso]

The attached filter above yes, the full mod will need SweetFX, or you'll get different results.
I will include the SweetFX package at release, so you only have to install everything and be done with it.

Do you have anything for SweetFX I can use at the moment? I haven't installed or downloaded it yet.

 

[Wiz]

@Johnnypenso This is the SweetFX I use along with Project Carmen - http://www.assettocorsa.net/forum/i...assetto-corsa-win-7-8-0-8-1-compatible.11822/

It includes both a "PP ON" version and a "PP OFF" version. You'll want to only install the ON.

This combination makes the game look incredible. Thanks again @G.T.Ace

 

[G.T.Ace]

Thanks, but again, "Project Carmen" isn't out yet.

EDIT: The linked SweetFX is perfect for my PP filter I attached though.

 

[G.T.Ace]

Any comments? Tried to make it denser.

 

[Whitestar]

That looks really good!! I suppose there are limits to how thick it can be. Wouldn't want the whole field of 24 rubber burning cars to slow the fps down to a crawl once they start. It doesn't matter much though, because the remainder 99% of the race there won't really be much smoke.

But this looks very nice indeed. It seems that your smoke texture produces a less repetitive pattern than the default one. Great job!

Btw, I tested your Carmen mod this weekend. Unfortunately only on a couple of modded tracks. I put it next to my own customized Dynamic filter and switched a lot. Looks like you have found a nice color/brightness/contrast/colortemp balance. I'll test it again on official tracks and give you my honest opinion. But so far it's looking good.

 

[G.T.Ace]

Thanks!

Btw, I tested your Carmen mod this weekend. Unfortunately only on a couple of modded tracks. I put it next to my own customized Dynamic filter and switched a lot. Looks like you have found a nice color/brightness/contrast/colortemp balance. I'll test it again on official tracks and give you my honest opinion. But so far it's looking good.

Hehe, again, you just used my old filter which isn't part of the actual mod.
The stuff I'm working on now blows the filter away. I'm glad you like it though!

 

[Whitestar]

Ok, well looking forward to your release then.

 

[Meithyk]

Make it comparable to and look like Project Cars for Graphics Hungry PCs.