DCS SweetFX + JSGME Tutorial

[FireFox500]

I see many people getting very confused while trying to get SweetFX to work with DCS. I am here to try and clear all that up, maybe this will get a sticky so everybody can see how to get it working properly. I apologize in advance for oversimplifying this, I just want to cover all the bases possible for everyone from the 1000hr forum power user to the person who just got their account.

 

I will be using JSGME to show you how to install this. It is the easiest way to install mods for DCS World. First, you will need JSGME, for those of you that already have it, skip ahead.

 

(8/27/2016): OVGME (a newer JSGME) just recently came out and it is a much-improved version. If you wish to use it, scroll down further

 

PART 1: JSGME + SweetFX

 

 

STEP 1: DOWNLOAD & EXTRACT JSGME

 

1. Go to the folder labeled 'JSGME v2.60.zip' below and click it, this will download it

 

1. Here is how you will extract this zipped folder:

 

2. Open the extracted folder in your downloads folder or straight from chrome once it finishes

 

3. If you are running Win10 look on the top bar and select 'Extract All'

 

4. You now have an unzipped folder

 

Tip: You may want to drag the unzipped folder onto your desktop for ease of access.

 

 

STEP 2: SETTING UP YOUR MODS FOLDER

 

1. Enter the unzipped JSGME folder you just created

 

2. Hold Alt while dragging the .exe ('G' logo) onto your desktop, this will create a desktop shortcut (HOLDING ALT IS CRUCIAL)

 

3. Right-click on the shortcut you created via Alt-dragging the JSGME.exe onto your desktop

 

4. Select the 'Shortcut' tab and in the 'Start In' field enter '(Drive Letter):\Program Files\Eagle Dynamics\DCS World' (MAKE SURE TO INCLUDE QUOTE MARKS)

 

5. Double click on the JSGME Shortcut and it will prompt you to make a DCS Mods folder, name it something like 'DCS MODS' or something that will stand out

 

6. Check in your '(Drive Letter):\Program Files\Eagle Dynamics\DCS World' folder to make sure the mods folder was created.

 

 

STEP 3: CREATING FOLDERS FOR INDIVIDUAL MODS

 

1. Navigate to '(Drive Letter):\Program Files\Eagle Dynamics\DCS World'

 

2. Open your mod folder

 

3. Here you will make folders titled based on what mods are inside them

 

Ex: If you want to put your Starway Texture Mod in DCS you will make a folder titled something like 'Starway Texture' and then paste the file path/files inside that

 

4. So for SweetFX make a folder inside '(Drive Letter):\Program Files\Eagle Dynamics\DCS World\(Mod Folder)' named 'SweetFX'

 

In the folders you create for each mod you must have the file paths so the mod goes in the right place, so if I wanted to make a folder for Starways texture you would need the folder named 'Starway Texture' and then the path: Mods> terrains > CaucasusBase >vfstextures > LandTextureAutumn/Spring/Summer, etc

 

 

STEP 4: DOWNLOAD & EXTRACT SWEETFX 2.0 + RESHADE

 

1. Download the 'SweetFX 2.0 +ReShade' folder below

 

2. Extract following the same instructions as step 1

 

3. Once you have an unzipped folder, drag all 'SweetFX 2.0 + ReShade' contents into the '(Drive Letter):\Program Files\Eagle Dynamics\DCS World\(Mods Folder)\SweetFX\bin'

 

 

STEP 5: INSTALLING SWEETFX 2.0 + RESHADE

 

1. Once you have the files in your folder you must download a setting, I personally use the one listed for download below

 

2. Drag this setting into '(Drive Letter):\Program Files\Eagle Dynamics\DCS World\(Mods Folder)\SweetFX\bin\SweetFX'

 

3. It will ask if you want to overwrite/replace the file, accept it and now a setting has been installed

 

4. Next, you must get DirectX to actually render the effect, go into '(Drive Letter):\Program Files\Eagle Dynamics\DCS World\(Mods Folder)\SweetFX'

 

5. Rename ReShade64.dll to dxgi (the .dll is not editable so just rename the file, dxgi), this ensures that DirectX11 is rendering the effect, DX11 support is a new feature in DCS 1.5

 

 

STEP 6: USING JSGME AND INSTALLING MODS

 

1. Double click on your JSGME Shortcut

 

2. If all previous steps were done properly then there should be a folder named 'SweetFX' on the left side of the window that pops up

 

3. In order to enable the mod, you must click it and also hit the arrow that points right, this will enable the mod

 

 

STEP 7: TESTING

 

1. Fire up DCS and see if there is an obvious shift in color, saturation, etc, the effect will take effect after a few seconds so it should be extremely obvious

 

2. If the screen is split down the middle with one side being vanilla then go into '(Drive Letter):\Program Files\Eagle Dynamics\DCS World\(Mods Folder)\SweetFX\SweetFX' and open the 'SweetFX_Settings' .txt file in an app like Notepad or Notepadd++. Hit Ctrl+F and search for 'split', this will bring you to a line called '#define USE_SPLITSCREEN', if you want the screen to be split, the number must be a 1. If you do not want the screen split, the number must be a 0. The setting I use has this as a 0 by default.

 

 

I hope this helps many people out, if I need to clear anything up or add anything just let me know and I will do so as soon as I can.

 

 

PART 2: OVGME + SWEETFX

 

 

USING OVGME INSTEAD OF JSGME

 

I recently discovered a post over on ED Forums > English > Sim Topics > Mods and Apps > New GME Software, it is MUCH faster at loading in mods than JSGME and instead of JSGME crashing every time you click while loading in a mod you can write a damn essay and play Bloons Tower Defense while loading in mods via OVGME. Installation is also much simpler and it is an all round better experience. Here is how to install OVGME and your mods with it:

 

 

STEP 1: DOWNLOAD AND ADDING A GAME

 

1. Download the latest version (1.6.3 for 64bit) here: https://github.com/sedenion/ovgme/releases/download/1.6.3-64/ovgme_1_6_3_setup_64.exe

- Here is 32 bit: https://github.com/sedenion/ovgme/releases/download/1.6.3-32/ovgme_1_6_3_setup_32.exe

 

2. Install this, when it asks you what you want to be installed, tick the English box and MAKE SURE HELP FILES IS TICKED as well, it will be very helpful, trust me, also make sure to create a desktop icon

 

3. Click on the desktop icon you created and enter DCS World as the name (hell, it could be named Wheres Waldo, just make sure the paths are right). The path for the game should be: (drive name):\Program Files\Eagle Dynamics\DCS World. The Mod folder path should be (drive name):\Program Files\Eagle Dynamics\DCS World\(Mod Folder).

 

4. Delete the JSGME.ini file (config txt file) from your mods folder

 

Tip: You can add other games in the app by clicking add game in the top right corner.

 

 

STEP 2: INSTALLING MODS WITH OVGME

 

1. Run OVGME as an administrator (right-click, run as administrator) or you will get an error when enabling mods (credit to sedenion for helping me on that)

 

2. If all subsequent steps were completed correctly then your mods should be on the list like they were in JSGME.

 

3. Left-click a mod and hit "Enable selected" to enable a mod OR Right-click and press "Enable selected".

 

 

STEP 3: INSTALLING SWEETFX

 

1. Do the same as you would for JSGME (follow step

 

 

STEP 4: GOING FROM JSGME TO OVGME

 

1. All that is require to go from JSGME to OVGME is deleting the .ini config file if your file paths and folders are all correct.

 

 

 

FEEL FREE TO PUT YOUR OWN SETTINGS IN THIS THREAD AND ANY OTHER QUESTIONS/TIPS YOU HAVE

 

 

If I forget anything, please tell me and I will fix ASAP

JSGME_v2.60.zip

SweetFX 2.0 + ReShade.zip

SweetFX_settings.txt

Edited August 27, 2016 by FireFox500

[doodenkoff]

You need to finish your thought at Step 7, item 2.

[FireFox500]

You need to finish your thought at Step 7, item 2.

 

Thank you, fixed

[REDEYE_CVW-66]

Thank you for this! Been trying to get my head around this for a few days- this sorted it nicely. Great starter preset provided too!

 

I generally think that DCS is way to bright and is a bit lacking in colour and tone. This goes a long way to help:)

[Schwarzfeld]

Just for kicks, here's my personal settings in JSGME ready format, no setup needed just drop it in your JSGME folder and play, tested on 2.0.2 and 1.5.4. If anyone wants to publish this file on ED User Files, feel free to!

SweetFX 2.0 ReShade 1.1.0.zip

[REDEYE_CVW-66]

FireFox: after doing some tweaking to your settings I am extremely happy with it- however; what paramater do I need to tweak to adjust the general gamma/darkness? I am happy with deeper and darker tones now- but the image is stilla bit do dark for my taste:)

[FireFox500]

FireFox: after doing some tweaking to your settings I am extremely happy with it- however; what paramater do I need to tweak to adjust the general gamma/darkness? I am happy with deeper and darker tones now- but the image is stilla bit do dark for my taste:)

I am not sure, I just put the setting in and went with it, I believe I tampered with settings awhile ago but I do not believe I saw a difference. You can look up a tutorial is you wish however or just go through a very long trial and error.

 

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

[FireFox500]

Just for kicks, here's my personal settings in JSGME ready format, no setup needed just drop it in your JSGME folder and play, tested on 2.0.2 and 1.5.4. If anyone wants to publish this file on ED User Files, feel free to!

Thank you for this, I am going to edit my original post to add something to say that posting your own settings is welcome

 

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

[FireFox500]

Thank you for this! Been trying to get my head around this for a few days- this sorted it nicely. Great starter preset provided too!

 

I generally think that DCS is way to bright and is a bit lacking in colour and tone. This goes a long way to help:)

You are very welcome, this is exactly what I wanted to clear up, I went through hell to get SweetFX working and I wanted to prevent that for others

 

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

[droopy114]

FireFox: after doing some tweaking to your settings I am extremely happy with it- however; what paramater do I need to tweak to adjust the general gamma/darkness? I am happy with deeper and darker tones now- but the image is stilla bit do dark for my taste:)

 

Tonemap settings>define Gamma, lowering the value will give a brighter image.

[javelina1]

Many thanks FireFox. appreciate your help with this.

[uscstaylor]

Hey Guys

For those of you who posted their settings to use please post some screen shots for us to look at. Its much easier to sort of look at a sample of what the settings will look like before we install them. Thanks alot for the hard work.

 

Salute!

[Boss86005]

Great tutorial! Thank you.

[REDEYE_CVW-66]

Very unfortunate that we cannot use this in MP to my understanding.

[FireFox500]

Very unfortunate that we cannot use this in MP to my understanding.

 

Use what in MP? SweetFX is fine in MP, and using JSGME or OVGME is not going to affect the game, it just installs mods. If you go to play an MP server with a green shield, it means it has an integrity check. There are a few files that integrity checks will flag; flyable mods, certain files in texture mods and things that modify certain LUAs will need to be removed from the mods if you wish to use them in MP. You can often just remove the flagged file from your mod and it will operate with little to no difference (prime example is the shadow.lua in Starways Texture Mod). SweetFX is just a filter, it does not edit any game files, it just applies a visible filter and is in a separate folder which the game does not flag in integrity checks.

[FireFox500]

Great tutorial! Thank you.

 

You are very welcome!

[FireFox500]

Many thanks FireFox. appreciate your help with this.

 

You are welcome, I am glad to know this post served its purpose!

[REDEYE_CVW-66]

Really?? Awesome- I must have msiread a post just recently now where someone was discussing this.

 

Great news then:D

[mafuasu]

Hi guys.

 

The guide ist perfect, but... don't solve the problems for a clean windows installation. I found solution for this. Install the "old" DirectX End-User Runtimes (June 2010). This will not be there when you install a fresh Windows 10. After the installation of this file sweetfx work fine :pilotfly:

[FireFox500]

Hi guys.

 

The guide ist perfect, but... don't solve the problems for a clean windows installation. I found solution for this. Install the "old" DirectX End-User Runtimes (June 2010). This will not be there when you install a fresh Windows 10. After the installation of this file sweetfx work fine :pilotfly:

 

I'd never heard of this happening, thanks for the great addition to the thread.

[Schwarzfeld]

I'll post some screens in a bit from inside the cockpit (thats where the difference with SweetFX really shines) but here's a shot from a hop over Sochi in the 51 using the JSGME ready SFX settings I attached on page one:

 

 

I took the F-86 for a spin over vegas this morning and I was supremely impressed with how much improved the SFX contrast tweaks make the picture look from inside the cockpit.