Shadows options and optimisation

[Msportdan]

im loving the visuals at the moment on RRe tracks cars all look great, one thing that lets it all down for me is the shadows..

Firstly what exactly does these options do. I know theres a FAQ page but doesn't explain well enough these options.

Shader detail (cant tell)

Shadow detail (looks horrid in everything but high is this shadow resolution? As shadow complexity doesn't change)

Contact shadow (is this how many shadows under cars in front are viewed, haven't noticed)

Split shadow (kills fps)


Ive noticed these points

- Needs a shadow option for complex or simple shadows. Only shadow resolution available? Needs a shadow complexity setting to change polygons in shadows.
Example: the 2nd screenshot below, The vette would be the complex shadow, and the merc the simple. I cant find this option so far.

- FIXED!!!!! USE 32 CONTACT SHADOWS AND SPLIT ON Shadows LOD are well to near the camera.. A shot of 6 cars and the vette is already lost its shadow not that far from camera. ( this is contact shadows set to 8 btw) Makes cars look like there floating.

-FIXED!!!!! USE 32 CONTACT SHADOWS AND SPLIT ON The more detailed shadow under car is the one in focused in replay, So possibly a nearer car to the camera will have a more basic shadow.. Makes replays look odd. (see merc compared to vette) This appears with split shadows on and off.

I have messed with all settings but cant find one that looks nice, I don't care for a complex shadow but at least be visible under all cars in view.

IMO the shadows are the only visuals that need lots of work, much better optimised and look better at medium settings.

Cheers

 

[theravenousbeast]

it depends on what your looking for but a sure way to add a few fps (if thats what your after ) is to stop the track animations and set the track detail (not textures) to low , ok you losse the people around the track ; but you aldso loose the waving flags and loads of stuff that is just eyecandy , that in reality you dont need to race with ...
i have an old card ,and i can get good fps and reasonable graphics (car and track textures on high /shadow split on /32 shadows etc , just keep the reflections/shaders turned down and its ok

Andi
http://gyazo.com/d80195e846af55970bc5356df7ccd8ea
http://gyazo.com/8ec66846b31e9eec439445924106a8fd
http://gyazo.com/b0196ec70a48caea8b6f664f56aaad01

Those work great for me, but for some reason I get random stutters. I have the FPS limited to 58 through Nvidia inspector ( no Vsync for me ) and it's constantly at the limit with it freezing for half a second every 2-3 minutes.

edit: it might be my older HDD it's installed for, I'll repost later after transferring to the SSD.