Filters and shaders!

[The Hectamancer]

CRT shaders mainly, I like the shaders Retro Crisis makes for most emulators like on 8, 16, and 32 bit systems.

For N64 I use CRT Frutbunn, with no scanlines as it causes issues with very bright textures.

For PS2 I just use built in CRT Lottes as it's usually enough for software rendering.

Systems like the Gamecube, I quite like CRT Hyllian.

 

[Koreandr]

I can fix that.

 

[RageBurner]

Just a thought, but maybe a reshade subforum would be useful.

 

[nickxcom]

On my MiSTer and Anologue Pocket I use the shaders and filters. The MiSTer- especially on a nice 4k OLED with the right shaders and filters- looks absolutely incredible. I never use them when I play on PC, no clue why lol . Steam Deck I don't either because the resolution is too low.

 

[McDoob]

So without starting a war what is your stance on filters.
Do you use them?
If so what are your favorite?

I have had a stance on not using them for the longest now but that's because they didn't look right to me.
Now I have seen some that actually look pretty decent and if given the right circumstance I would use them.
When I do use them I just use crt filters. I'm still against smoothing filters.

It depends on the game/system being emulated, really. For instance, 2D games like the earlier Final Fantasy series look great with Super2xSai, but that filter would make, say, Final Fantasy 7 look pretty terrible. I definitely prefer Super2xSai over SuperEagle, and always have. HQ2X/3X/4X is also a good option, and is what I use in DOSBox.

For the most part, I'll use smoothing filters on first- and second-gen console and handheld games, to help with the blocky-ness in high resolutions. Playing GameBoy games at 1080p, for example. But, after a certain point, it becomes a performance bottleneck for my poor Pi 4, or it just isn't necessary. Dreamcast or PSP emulation comes to mind.

As far as CRT or scanline filters, I've never really used them, I don't like the effect.

-McD

 

[SkoomaCatJesus]

For N64 I use CRT Frutbunn, with no scanlines as it causes issues with very bright textures.
For PS2 I just use built in CRT Lottes as it's usually enough for software rendering.
Systems like the Gamecube, I quite like CRT Hyllian.

So right. OMG, especially with PS2 and Dreamcast (custom 640x480 all the way)! The only thorn in my side is CRT Royale... BSNES is the only one to get Royale right... It's so upsetting. I just want a Royale with a custom dot-gain that works. Why must that be so hard? A custom dot and curve Royale for GBA would be a sweet luxury.

 

[thecrow2313]

Ares nightly builds @ https://nightly.link/ares-emulator/ares/workflows/build/master

 

[kyujin]

Often I use filters just for preserve the game than make it better, to be more close from the original in 2D games just 2D preservation filters I like to see pixel by pixel how good or bad someone make it, in 3D I have to confess the extremely quality filters combination I use more in PS1 Saturn and some 3D games in other non-3D consoles, the only exception is for N64 and 6th generation onwards, but it's more to see the model better or make more clean to see, recently I played Die Hard Trilogy 1 and I get a little bothered for don't seeing somethings correctly and was really great see all the game in 720p but I played crash bandicoot until the end without filter because I really like the graphics. It's more the game than habit

 

[fishboneKiller]

for the longest time i was staunchly against filters on emulators, but a couple of years ago i was fiddling around with settings in fceux and accidentally enabled an NTSC filter, and ever since i've been a huge fan of those specifically. ive always really loved the look of shoddy AV capture cards, (dazzles, cheap AV2USB stuff, things like that) and i think it nails that perfectly

 

[5thWolf]

The only filter I ever use, and I rarely use them, are ones to simulate the original monitors. Like if I was playing a game I remember on my Tandy1000 and just want to relive that horrible monitor for a little bit! hahahahaha. Or play NES game on old CRT