Existor Profile Joined July 2010 Russian Federation 4282 Posts Last Edited: 2012-09-23 22:23:19 #1



These settings will not work good with patch 1.5.3 or later.

You can reset your graphics settings by deleting both variables.txt



Also that means that Blizzards are reading TL.net forums. Because there was not much time after 1.5.2 with updated Hybridic Settings, when they're released 1.5.3 with full fix to a variables graphical editing



The explanation of stoped working Hybrid setting is simply and short. Blizzard added settings checker into Accounts/variables too, what means, that now you can't add custom settings into account variables and override some default graphical settings. So for now with patch 1.5.3 (or later) it's not possible to use Hybridic settings anymore. I have no idea how to bring non-shiny effect with hdr and visible force-fields, you can continue experiment with both variables, because some parameters still working (like switching on/off alternate low textures).



Here are closest and similar settings to Hybridic ones. The difference is old shiny effect and higher resolution of shadows, also some other slighty differences like sharper edges of creep.[/center]



All settings to Low



to Low Textures - Medium



- Medium Shaders - Medium



- Medium Models - High



- High Terrain - Medium (if you want animated creep)





Old Hybridic settings instructions. Not works (or works uncorrectly) with patch 1.5.3 or later

+ Show Spoiler + How to get hybridic settings Set Low Graphics (including Textures)



Shaders to Medium



Shadows to Medium (already done)



Models to High



Close SC2 and go to the folder C:\Users\< your_username >\Documents\StarCraft II\



Open variables.txt (or create it) and add this line:



GraphicsOptionOverallQualityVer7[8]=5



and add this line: Still in Starcraft II folder, open the folder Accounts\< some_random_numbers >\



In this folder, there is another variables.txt - open and add these lines to the bottom:



spec=0

creeptrans=1

texQualityLevel=1

preblendedcreep=0

shadowmapsize=1024

alternateLowTextures=1



If you have lag, purple terrain/models and FPS drops, try to clear cache from ProgramData / BlizzardEntertainment / StarCraft II (this folder might be hidden, google how to show hidden folders)



If you still have problems with FPS drops and lags, in "Arcade" search map called preloader and launch it. Do this every time you launch SC2 for better performance.





Watching many streams and most players are using low settings. I understand them: less details, less attention spread, more clear and readable game, and sometimes more smooth game with 50-60-80+ FPS.



I've tried to experiment a bit more with parameters in variables.txt. And found an interesting preset, that can be called "Low-Medium Hybrid Settings". You can't get those settings via ingame options. This graphical settings preset was fully created in variables.txt file





The main differences of "Low-Medium Hybrid Settings" from LOW settings are:

More detailed models - now you can see awesome green deaths from acid weapons (banelings, roaches) or flame deaths (from helions, colosus)



Shadows and better lighting. On fully-low settings the game becomes a bit darker, and sometimes it's TOO dark, especially on night maps, like Cloud Kingdom, Metalopolis or Shakuras Plateau. This settings preset fixes that



Another important feature of this preset is more visible/detailed Force Fields and Cloaked units than on low settings



You will be able to see what unit your enemy is warping. On low settings it's impossible to see



Small glossy effect on Overlords. On low settings they are very dark, but on medium and higher they are more noticeable with their glow on left-right sides of unit model



On low settings, the game is a bit more saturated. On medium-high-ultra settings, with HDR turned on, the game is a bit less saturated and a bit more realistic and less toy-ish



Pylon circle is same, as medium-high settings. No more ugly blue circle without animation!





The main differences of "Low-Medium Hybrid Settings" from MEDIUM settings are:

Instead standart textures it uses special low textures, that have lower sizes, meaning that they require less memory to load these textures



Every unneeded graphic parameter is turned to LOW for more FPS and more smooth game



Not much bloom, probably fully deleted bloom effect from the game



Everything feels more matt than glossy, especially with Zerg buildings (easier on the eyes)



Less special lighting, like green light from injection or blue light under workers with minerals in hands



More stability and more FPS, especially high stability is noticeable when watching replays on 4x and 8x speeds





Important information These settings require a bit more from your PC, than standart ingame low settings. And probably you will need PC that can smoothly launch SC2 on standart medium settings.





Screenshots















Video Demonstrations

http://ru.twitch.tv/colminigun/b/325133339

http://ru.twitch.tv/colminigun/b/325130968









Explanation of those parameters above



alternateLowTextures uses less memory and are sharper than standard ground textures.



Standard textures are 1024x1024 in DXT5 compression format (with Alpha channel) while low textures are in DXT1 format (no alpha) and with half resolution per axis (512x512 resolution.) That means: Standard textures support up to "ultra" texture detail level while low textures only support up to "high" texture detail level.



The alpha channel for standard textures doesn't seems to be used for alpha (= transparancy) though, it looks more like a monochrome version of the texture – probably used for some lighting effects.



spec adds shiny effect that is most noticeable on Zerg buildings. Works badly with alternatelowtextures=1 because causes double lighting on the ground, so it will be too bright and like in the Fire-wall mission in WoL



shadowmapsize - I've decreased resolution of default shadows from 2048 to 1024. It's a bit pixelated, but not that much like 512 or 768, but it's less sharp than 2048 resolution. So I think it's the most balanced visual variation of shadows - not much sharp (less memory usage), but not that ugly and pixelated.



creeptrans - it's a smooth edges of creep, If you turn it off, creep will be more sharp at the end of creep territory. It's just a texture, so it does not takes a lot of your perfomance



preblendedcreep - if you have this parameter set to 1, then your creep will spread like it was in StarCraft: BroodWar or WarCraft 3 for Undeads, with bricky-animation instead of smoothly one



texQualityLevel - makes textures on buildings and units a bit more sharper and less blurred-smoothed. It does not takes your perfomance so why not?





If you have FPS problems or high temperature, try to add those 2 parameters to the end of variables.txt file



frameratecap=60

frameratecapGlue=30





Request: You want to bring back shiny effect back (most noticeable on Zerg buildings and zerg creep)

Solution: Change back SPEC=0 to 1 in the C:\Users\<your_name>\Documents\StarCraft II\Accounts\<numbers>\variables.txt. With alternateLowTextures=1 you will see very brightness ground, so change then alternateLowTextures=1 to 0.



Request: You want bring back animation on creep

Solution: Change CREEPNORMALMAP=0 to 1. Requires Medium Shaders for the animation



Request: You want SC1 and WC3 styled creep spread animation (blocks/bricks instead smoothly)

Solution: Open C:\Users\<your_name>\Documents\StarCraft II\Accounts\<numbers>\variables.txt and edit preblendedcreep=0 to 1.



Request: You want bring back blue circle for Pylon power field

Solution: Change in game options Models from Medium to Low. Relaunch game

But: You lose understandable warp animation, acid/flame deaths, decals on units/buildings



Request: You want black hole texture for burrowed units

Solution: Change in game options Effects from Low to Medium (this folder might be hidden, google how to show hidden folders)Watching many streams and most players are using low settings. I understand them: less details, less attention spread, more clear and readable game, and sometimes more smooth game with 50-60-80+ FPS.I've tried to experiment a bit more with parameters in variables.txt. And found an interesting preset, that can be called "Low-Medium Hybrid Settings". You can't get those settings via ingame options. This graphical settings preset was fully created in variables.txt fileThese settings require a bit more from your PC, than standart ingame low settings. And probably you will need PC that can smoothly launch SC2 on standart medium settings.uses less memory and are sharper than standard ground textures.Standard textures are 1024x1024 in DXT5 compression format (with Alpha channel) while low textures are in DXT1 format (no alpha) and with half resolution per axis (512x512 resolution.) That means: Standard textures support up to "ultra" texture detail level while low textures only support up to "high" texture detail level.The alpha channel for standard textures doesn't seems to be used for alpha (= transparancy) though, it looks more like a monochrome version of the texture – probably used for some lighting effects.adds shiny effect that is most noticeable on Zerg buildings. Works badly with alternatelowtextures=1 because causes double lighting on the ground, so it will be too bright and like in the Fire-wall mission in WoL- I've decreased resolution of default shadows from 2048 to 1024. It's a bit pixelated, but not that much like 512 or 768, but it's less sharp than 2048 resolution. So I think it's the most balanced visual variation of shadows - not much sharp (less memory usage), but not that ugly and pixelated.- it's a smooth edges of creep, If you turn it off, creep will be more sharp at the end of creep territory. It's just a texture, so it does not takes a lot of your perfomance- if you have this parameter set to 1, then your creep will spread like it was in StarCraft: BroodWar or WarCraft 3 for Undeads, with bricky-animation instead of smoothly one- makes textures on buildings and units a bit more sharper and less blurred-smoothed. It does not takes your perfomance so why not?frameratecap=60frameratecapGlue=30Request:Solution: Change back SPEC=0 to 1 in the C:\Users\ \Documents\StarCraft II\Accounts\ \variables.txt. With alternateLowTextures=1 you will see very brightness ground, so change then alternateLowTextures=1 to 0.Request:Solution: Change CREEPNORMALMAP=0 to 1. Requires Medium Shaders for the animationRequest:Solution: Open C:\Users\ \Documents\StarCraft II\Accounts\ \variables.txt and edit preblendedcreep=0 to 1.Request:Solution: Change in game options Models from Medium to Low. Relaunch gameBut: You lose understandable warp animation, acid/flame deaths, decals on units/buildingsRequest:Solution: Change in game options Effects from Low to Medium The explanation of stoped working Hybrid setting is simply and short. Blizzard added settings checker into Accounts/variables too, what means, that now you can't add custom settings into account variables and override some default graphical settings.. I have no idea how to bring non-shiny effect with hdr and visible force-fields, you can continue experiment with both variables, because some parameters still working (like switching on/off alternate low textures)..[/center]