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How To Make Gmod Graphics Look Better Using Post Processing

By Azebal

-The guide will show you on how to use the post processing tab.
-The is guide is mainly focusing on the shades (which is the way to change your Gmod graphics).
-This is my first guide.
-Future improvements will be made. Unfortunatley I have not remained relevant with this topic, though I would love to upload more community images, other screenshots taken at my leisurly time, interact with the community, and overall improve my guide so it may be coherent and easily procedured, lest puzzlement to my new and former viewers, I am unable to do so...

*Statements made to be acknowledge*
- This guide is not at par with garry's mod recently added addons, therefore this guide is limited; albeit, this mod is not entirely futile and can still be a strong resource to beginning your graphical improvements.
- Do not narrow yourself down to the offered settings I have mentioned throughout the guide nor to the guide itself. Explore! This guide was made to offer the basic comprehensions to the Post Processing System; do not limit yourself. Allow "Post Processing" to take majority of the graphical enhancement with the addition of complementary addons--lens flares, flares, maps, effects just to name a few. Allow yourself to create your own settings: there is a reason as to why I do not solely offer a set of settings.
- If you haven't figured it out yet, the PPS is to your liking: it's subjective. Hence why I stress on your exploration to this system.

Award

Created by

Azebal
Offline

Category: Modding or Configuration

Languages: English

Posted

Updated

1 Jul, 2013 @ 12:42am

27 Nov, 2019 @ 6:22pm

44,485	Unique Visitors
1,612	Current Favorites

Guide Index

Overview

Basic Video Tutorial (Outdated video but it still works)

Maps

Going To Advanced Post Processing System Intro

PPS -Color Modification

PPS -Bloom

PPS -Sharpen

PPS -Sobel

PPS -Toy Town

PPS -SunRays

Depth of Field

Summary

-Extended Content-

Settings for these maps ONLY

Before and After Images (Image Gallery)

Lost Coast (Image Gallery)

Community Showcase

Comments

Basic Video Tutorial (Outdated video but it still works)

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ShowCasing Dynamic Shadows, Ambient Occlusion, Bloom, and New Shaders

Maps

Before we begin, you must know that every map is different:

-All maps require different shade
-All maps require different DOF
-Some maps weren't made for better graphics

Going To Advanced Post Processing System Intro

Yerning for similar graphics to these images? Read ahead for more

This'll involve All the shades and the DOF effect.

PPS -Color Modification

What we're going to start with is ColorModification; enable it.

Q:Where is it located?
A: Press Q then click on Post Process>Shaders>ColorModification

Default Image

1) Start with the brightness. The lower the number on the brightness the better, though do not decrease it by massive amounts!

2) Increase your contrast. The higher the better, though do not increase it by massive amounts!

3) Color Multiplier Is what it sounds like. You can make your graphics vivid in color or have it in black in white. It's important to keep balance when messing with color multiplier. I don't have an imaged example but you can always test it on your own.

4) Color Add gives the game a colored overlay. It sound like 'Color Multiplier', however, color add offers one color overlay. You know how some movies look green or yellow or any other color but it's subtle? This is essentially the same thing. An example being the film Mad Max. There is an orange overlay that remains on screen for the entire movie. The orange effect conveys the environment of the desert and possibly a sense of action. Check out the few images below to help further visualize what I'm talking about. Additionally, the Color Add effect is optional and isn't mandatory like altering the bloom, brightness, and contrast; although, it can help immensely if used correctly.

Zoom in for a clearer look!

PPS -Bloom

Time for bloom. This bloom is a bit like contrast but more advanced. The higher the bloom the worse it gets. You want bloom to be at a good spot. You can find bloom right next to Color Modification.

Too high bloom:

Good bloom:

No bloom:

"Darken amount" and "Number of passes" are both opposite from each other. If Darken is set to 1.00 then there will be no bloom. If Passes is set to 1.00 then your whole screen will be coverd in whatever color you've set for "Color of the bloom", which we are going to talk about.

"Color of Bloom" sets the color for your bloom

Default color bloom:

My custom color bloom:

Horizontal and Vertical blur manipulates the bloom. With this option, you're able to manipulate the bloom into looking like anamorphic lens flare. Here's a video showcasing the Horizontal and Vertical blur options. I do no take credit for this video; all efforts were made by TheOMegaCheeseBurger.

PPS -Sharpen

Sharpen seems, to me atleast, like bump-map. You probably shouldn't use it, but if you do, use it in very small amounts.

The best settings for distance is between 0-1.00.
The best settings for contrast is 1.20.

No sharpen:

Sharpen:

Sharpen relys on other shades. By itself it isn't good looking.

PPS -Sobel

Sobel isn't much and it sometimes ruins it. There's not much to it and best sobel setting is at its fullest which is 1.00. It adds a 'comic-book' type of feel to it. Sort of like Borderlands.

No sobel:

With Sobel: You can see the outline on the mountains.

PPS -Toy Town

Toy town basically adds blur to you screen on the top and bottom.
Adjust how you want it—all yours.

No toy town:

ToyTown: You can see the blur on bottom and top of image. I didn't make the blur strong enough.

PPS -SunRays

Sun rays make everything better. Always enable it and make sure it's on at it's fullest settings.

No sun rays:

Defualt sun rays:

Custom sun rays:

You can always find custom sun rays in the Gmod Workshop addons. Search up "Lens Flares" for the sun rays.

Depth of Field

DOF(Depth of Field) is located in:
Post Process>Effects

DOF is optional and there are times when it makes your game better or worse. DOF can make you lag. DOF is mainly used for screenshots not gameplay. I use it for gameplay though.

No DOF:

DOF:

Summary

Adding all of what I've taught you will make this:

DOF+

No DOF

You can do more and get more results than just this! Get creative and be curious on using the Post Processing System!

Check the collection out! It has many maps, sun rays, and more realistic stuff to improve your Gmod!
Click me to find all the addons I use to make Gmod look better!

Also check out SharpeYE for better, smooth, and realistic gameplay!
Also SharpeYE is recommended for better, smooth, and realisticgameplay! Click on this to get it!

Just putting time and effort makes your Gmod look like this or even better!

Leave comments below so I know if this helped or not.

Any questions? Leave a comment below.

If this helped rate it up, also share this guide with some friends!

-Extended Content-

Everything below is additional content for my guide. You've finished the guide and now you're ready to start making Gmod look fantastic!

Settings for these maps ONLY

These settings are only good for THIS MAP: Rp_Ineu

I guess you can use these settings for other maps but it most likely won't look good.

Color Modification - Brightness: 0.13
Contrast:1.67
For Color Add this is what adds color overlay. This is what adds tints to your game.
In color add, choose whatever color you want first. Second make sure the 3 settings onto the sides are low (about 1-4 is fine)
*I'll add an image soon*

Toy Town - Height: 0.40
Passes: 3

Bloom - Number of passes: 1
Darken amount: 0.65

Sharpen - Distance: 0.62
Contrast: 1

Do more with this! Don't just copy the settings! EXPLORE IT!

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Settings for Gm_BigCity

Color Modification - Brightness: 0.13
Contrast:1.67

Bloom - Number of passes: 1
Darken amount: 0.90

Toy Town - Height: 0.40
Passes: 3

Sharpen - Distance: 0.62
Contrast: 1

Before and After Images (Image Gallery)

Leave comments below so I know if this helped or not.

Any questions? Leave a comment below.

If this helped rate it up.

Lost Coast (Image Gallery)

This map comes from the game Half Life: Lost Coast. All of these have very detailed textures and have very nice shaders added to it.

I will add my settings for this map later.

Leave comments below so I know if this helped or not.

Any questions? Leave a comment below.

If this helped rate it up, also share this guide with some friends!

Community Showcase

Here, you can find different community-made artwork.
I just added this section, so if you have any great screenshots of Garry's Mod in-game(effects must stay in-game), send me it and I'll take a look at it!

By: DJ Keebs

By: AxeL AquariuS

By: [BFF] COMMANDO SNIPER

By: PSI7

By: Pascal Bukkake (Anti-TF)

By: 1nd3gamer[/i]

By: ZeShirky

By: [BFF] COMMANDO SNIPER

By: Azebal Agradavel

164 Comments

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RapidFire57821 8 Jun @ 10:12am

This is the best realism for Gmod

Earl Lancaster 13 Mar @ 5:31pm

Just use reshade.....

andrew 23 Jul, 2024 @ 4:02pm

first time uploaded: 2013.. jesus

vex 3 Jun, 2023 @ 10:44pm

what is the map on the sobel part?

Female Ghost Fox 23 Mar, 2023 @ 3:48am

what mod? or not a mod

{ Blocky } 12 Nov, 2022 @ 10:40am

its so bad on graphics when i make vids i need help by making the resolution better.

Dory 1 Aug, 2022 @ 2:26am

WHAT FUCKING MAPS

mrzach11 23 Sep, 2021 @ 10:16pm

anyway heres some cool screenshots i found without even having to tweak the graphics settings to make it look more "realistic", hope you enjoy

all from ph_resortmadness
https://i.imgur.com/WXEFHKj.png

https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/910169477151435668/331223E6EA43B767A63BE60C735ECFAE83215C02/?imw=637&imh=358&ima=fit&impolicy=Letterbox&imcolor=%23000000&letterbox=true

https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/910169477151480697/C72E8F628692530A82D7D92E0D8E881FB2C5CB8E/?imw=637&imh=358&ima=fit&impolicy=Letterbox&imcolor=%23000000&letterbox=true

https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/910169477151492107/CBC57975F607EE79DE63C5E6000433B9103D712E/?imw=637&imh=358&ima=fit&impolicy=Letterbox&imcolor=%23000000&letterbox=true

mrzach11 23 Sep, 2021 @ 10:15pm

if you were going to use color modification id make it look more dried out, but for indoor places id recommend different lighting, however when you go outside the lighting doesnt change dynamically which is why i dont recommend these for actual gun fights and gameplay, also please find any replacement addons for items and stuff, because the default food items and furniture are super low quality, however this may have some consequences because the source engine can barely handle high resolution textures, and most of the time you need anti aliasing on

mrzach11 23 Sep, 2021 @ 10:14pm

the screenshots look absolutely garbage, but if you actually tweak the settings to be less vibrant and more tarkov like you can get some really good results, or if you dont want to go through the process of doing all that, you can just download maps with actual atmosphere and high quality textures, such as csgo maps and stuff like gm_abstraction, and ph_resortmadness if you wanted to go even further you could use reshade which could make it look better by adding reflections instead of adding obnoxious lighting effects, some screenshots with absolutely no addons btw, the only post processing effects id recommend would be toy town, sun rays, depth of field, but these are mainly for screenshots and not for actual gameplay

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