Boris Vorontsov has released a brand new version of the ENBSeries mod for Grand Theft Auto 5 that adds a new graphical feature. This new graphics option is called Normal Mapping Shadows, and will enhance most environmental shadows.
According to Vorontsov, not a lot of games use this technique. And, to be honest, that’s a shame as they can noticeably improve the visuals of a game. Thanks to Normal Mapping Shadows, environments can look more realistic and detailed.
Now one way to “fake” this effect is by adding ambient occlusion on normal maps. However, and when there is direct/dynamic sunlight, this workaround may not be possible.
The following video will give you an idea of what Normal Mapping Shadows do. Basically, this technique applies self-shadowing to bump/normal maps.
In order to showcase this effect in GTA5, Vorontsov released the following comparison screenshots. These comparison screenshots will give you an idea of the visual improvement that this effect brings. We suggest opening the images in new tabs so you can more easily notice the differences.
Lastly, only the early access version of ENBSeries mod for Grand Theft Auto 5 supports Normal Mapping Shadows. There is currently no ETA on when the public release will support them.
Enjoy!
John is the founder and Editor in Chief at DSOGaming. He is a PC gaming fan and highly supports the modding and indie communities. Before creating DSOGaming, John worked on numerous gaming websites. While he is a die-hard PC gamer, his gaming roots can be found on consoles. John loved – and still does – the 16-bit consoles, and considers SNES to be one of the best consoles. Still, the PC platform won him over consoles. That was mainly due to 3DFX and its iconic dedicated 3D accelerator graphics card, Voodoo 2. John has also written a higher degree thesis on the “The Evolution of PC graphics cards.”
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