Author Topic: Retroarch Overlays for GPD XD (Read 15599 times)

moff · « **on:** March 10, 2017, 11:22:18 pm »

Some Retroarch overlays optimised for GPD XD made by me.
I set myself the task of achieving maximum retro sensations when playing 2D games.
And to achieve this result, I used such techniques as: correct aspect ratio of 4:3, CRT monitor simulation with curvature effect and scan lines.

All credits to Nosh01 from libretro forums for this beatiful pictures, i've only added some effects on it and optimised them for GPD XD screen.

[link -> https://www.dropbox.com/s/2yha9ef38vccgvv/GPD%20XD%20Retroarch%20Overlays.ZIP?dl=0 <- link]

HOW TO:

[1] Install Retroarch app (if you don't have it already).
First of all go to Settings -> Configuration -> and turn off "Save Configuration on exit"

[2] Unzip "GPD XD Retroarch Overlays.ZIP" and place folder called Retroarch somewhere in you GPD XD memory.

[3] In Retroarch go to -> Settings -> Directory -> Video Shader -> and point to unzipped folder -> /Retroarch/Shaders/

[4] After, go to -> Settings -> Directory -> Overlays -> and point to unzipped folder -> /Retroarch/Overlays/

After the completion of paragraphs [3] and [4] in Retroarch go to Main Menu -> Configurations -> Save Current Configuration

[5] Then in Main Menu load any Core you want to configure, and after that in the Main Menu there will be an item called Quick Menu.

[6] In this Quick Menu go to -> Shaders -> Load Shader Preset -> and there you must select one of two presets, it depends on what style of game you will play (this only applies to MAME games):

- for horizontal scrolling games you must select crt-pi-curv.glslp preset
- for vertical scrolling games you must select crt-pi-vertical-curv.glslp preset

[It's very important to choose correct preset for horizontal / vertical games to avoid image artifacts]

After you select correct shader preset hit "Apply Changes" and exit from this menu.

[7] After that go to -> Setting -> Onscreen Display -> Onscreen Overlay -> Overlay Preset -> and select one of .cfg presets.
Then toggle Display Overlay to "on" and set Overlay Opacity to 85.

[8] After that go to -> Settings -> Video -> and set the following values:
Aspect Ratio = Custom
Custom Aspect Ratio X Pos = 160
Custom Aspect Ratio Y Pos = 0
Custom Aspect Ratio Width = 960
Custom Aspect Ratio Height = 720
Integer Scale = off
Threaded Video = off
Hard GPU Sync = off
Bilinear Filtering = off

[9] After that go to Main Menu -> Quick Menu -> and select Save Core Overrides

Now load any game and see the result.

Steps [5] through [9] you have to do with each core

How it looks like

(click to enlarge and do not pay attention to the rainbow effect on the thumbnails of the screenshot, this effect is given by the mask and it directly depends on the screen resolution, this is how it works, this effect is not present in the game and on full-sized screenshots)

[1] Clean game screen without Overlays and Shaders ▼

[2] Game screen with Overlay ▼

[2] Game screen with Overlay + CRT Shader + Scan lines ▼

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Several other examples of overlays contained in the package:

PsyOps · « **Reply #1 on:** March 11, 2017, 11:59:51 am »

That looks nice man. Did you do these yourself?

ah nvm I read the thread. Let me know if you need any help in photoshop. I'm no pro but im ok with it.

moff · « **Reply #2 on:** March 11, 2017, 07:07:17 pm »

Quote from: PsyOps on March 11, 2017, 11:59:51 am

Let me know if you need any help in photoshop. I'm no pro but im ok with it.

Ok thanks, but i read some newbie tutorials and now i know everything what i need

I'll post here a pack of all edited overlays with setings need to be tweaked in Retroarch to make them looks properly.

Test with CRT TV curvature effect:

moff · « **Reply #3 on:** March 12, 2017, 12:51:57 am »

*first post updated*

philexile · « **Reply #4 on:** March 12, 2017, 04:47:53 am »

Wow, these look great!

I have a few questions:

1. can you use integer scaling with these? (I hate distortion)

2. Is slowdown an issue?

3. Could there be used on an android tv, like a jail broken FireTV?

Also, I've always been turned off by Retroarch due to the controls. I'll have it all setup, play a game, then quit to the menu and at that point the controls no longer work. I have to quit and restart retroarch to have it work again. Is there something I'm doing wrong?

Lastly: I am an expert with Photoshop so if you need help, please let me know. I'm busy with work, but I could probably fit this in.

moff · « **Reply #5 on:** March 12, 2017, 05:10:57 am »

Quote from: philexile on March 12, 2017, 04:47:53 am

1. can you use integer scaling with these? (I hate distortion)

I think this depends of which core to use, i'm not testing this yet

moff · « **Reply #6 on:** March 12, 2017, 05:14:44 am »

Quote from: philexile on March 12, 2017, 04:47:53 am

2. Is slowdown an issue?

Absolutely no performance problems

Quote from: philexile on March 12, 2017, 04:47:53 am

3. Could there be used on an android tv, like a jail broken FireTV?

Possibly it could be used in any retroarch version even on Windows, and this frames optimised for 16:9 screens.
I can not say for sure, because I only tested it on GPD XD, but as far as i now it can be used on other platforms.

philexile · « **Reply #7 on:** March 12, 2017, 05:19:58 am »

Thanks for the responses - what about the controller issue? Has that been a problem for you? I'd like to get Retroach working well especially with these overlays!

moff · « **Reply #8 on:** March 12, 2017, 05:27:53 am »

Quote from: philexile on March 12, 2017, 05:19:58 am

Thanks for the responses - what about the controller issue? Has that been a problem for you?

On which devise you have controller issues?
In latest version 1.5.0 on GPD XD there is no controller problems, all works as it should be

philexile · « **Reply #9 on:** March 12, 2017, 05:47:54 am »

Just downloaded it. Ok so I'll load a game, say Batman for NES, play it for a bit and return to retroarch. At that point the directional pad works but the A and B button do not, so I can't select anything. I can "fix" this by pushing the task manager button (next to power) and then returning to retroarch.

It's just really annoying.

Also where did you get the CRT-Pi shader preset?

moff · « **Reply #10 on:** March 12, 2017, 06:00:19 am »

Quote from: philexile on March 12, 2017, 05:47:54 am

Also where did you get the CRT-Pi shader preset?

In retroarch main menu open "online updater" then select "Update GLSL Shaders".
After that you need to load any game, open quick menu - shaders - load shader preset
Than open folder /glsl shaders/crt
In this folder find crt-pi.glslp and load it.

If you want to enable curvature effect, you must manualy edit crt-pi.glsl file in any text editor
line 15 is:
//#define CURVATURE
delete the two slashes in front and it will be curved.

Or i can upload already edited crt-pi.glsl file later when i'll be at home

moff · « **Reply #11 on:** March 12, 2017, 06:15:49 am »

Quote from: philexile on March 12, 2017, 05:47:54 am

Just downloaded it. Ok so I'll load a game, say Batman for NES, play it for a bit and return to retroarch. At that point the directional pad works but the A and B button do not, so I can't select anything. I can "fix" this by pushing the task manager button (next to power) and then returning to retroarch.

Very strange, never had such issues even in previous versions

philexile · « **Reply #12 on:** March 12, 2017, 07:45:40 am »

I just installed Skeleton's Legacy Rom. Maybe that will fix it.

moff · « **Reply #13 on:** March 12, 2017, 07:57:30 am »

Quote from: philexile on March 12, 2017, 07:45:40 am

I just installed Skeleton's Legacy Rom. Maybe that will fix it.

I'm using it too and this must solve you problems

moff · « **Reply #14 on:** March 14, 2017, 09:10:58 am »

For past 2 days i'm testing crt-pi shader on GPD XD.
I really like it for it's performance based, but without "integer scale"(which crops image and leave black borders or stretchs image to much) it's impossible to get proper scanlines without artefacts especialy with curvature=on(and i really like that effect).
So i decided to just turn scan lines off and try to add them as an overlay image.

I added a layer with scan lines.
And i've experimented with opacity of them a bit.

Here's what I got with crt-pi shader (curvature=on; scanlines=off)

Click on image to see difference more detail

Original look without scan lines▼

Opacity of scan lines=30%▼

Opacity of scan lines=35%▼

Opacity of scan lines=40%▼

So, what do you guys think? Is this looks ok?

moff · « **Reply #15 on:** March 15, 2017, 08:13:29 pm »

*First post updated*

Xaijiqq · « **Reply #16 on:** March 15, 2017, 11:33:31 pm »

image looks great

does this heat up the XD's battery like other retroarch shaders?

moff · « **Reply #17 on:** March 15, 2017, 11:39:50 pm »

Quote from: Xaijiqq on March 15, 2017, 11:33:31 pm

image looks great does this heat up the XD's battery like other retroarch shaders?

No, it's performance based because originally this shader was written for use on Raspberry Pi

philexile · « **Reply #18 on:** March 17, 2017, 02:30:48 pm »

If you use integer scaling the scanlines will line up and the entire picture will look better. The only downside is that the image will be smaller overall.

moff · « **Reply #19 on:** March 17, 2017, 03:50:02 pm »

Quote from: philexile on March 17, 2017, 02:30:48 pm

If you use integer scaling the scanlines will line up and the entire picture will look better. The only downside is that the image will be smaller overall.

Yes, i know this.
But on such a small screen i don't want to use integer scaling, i prefer maximum game space instead.
And if I used the integer scaling, then there would be no need in scan lines manualy drawn on the overlay, because CRT-Pi shader can generate this scan lines.

In any case, the purpose of my project was to achieve crt like effect, but at the same time to keep the maximum game space.

Author Topic: Retroarch Overlays for GPD XD (Read 15599 times)

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