Post-Processing in Games: 5 Key Aspects and Examples

Table of Contents:

• What is Post-Processing?
• Why Post-Processing in Games?
• Post-Processing Elements: What's Important to Consider?
• Post-Processing Technologies in Modern Games: Improving Visual Perception
• Situational Post-Processing Techniques in Games
• Post-Processing in Unreal Engine: A Complete Guide
• Efficient Post-Processing in Visual Projects

In today's world, visual content rarely goes without post-processing. This process includes a variety of effects - from breathtaking special effects in Hollywood films to simple filters on smartphones. In the gaming industry, post-processing also plays an important role and has become standard practice for large projects. In this article, we will take a detailed look at key post-processing techniques and offer recommendations for setting them up in Unreal Engine 4 and 5.

What is post-processing?

Post-processing, or post-processing, is a key stage in creating visual effects for the final images in video games. This process occurs after the main processing of frames by the game engine and before they are displayed on the screen. Post-processing utilizes shaders and filters to significantly improve image quality and enhance visual perception. The use of various effects, such as blur, lighting, and color correction, creates a more realistic atmosphere and enhances the gameplay experience. Effective post-processing plays a vital role in engaging players and creating the unique style of each game.

Increasing the number of graphic effects used requires significant computing resources, which can negatively impact performance on less powerful devices. Therefore, players on lower-end hardware are often forced to limit post-processing to prevent a drop in FPS (frames per second). This limitation can significantly impact the overall gaming experience, making it less smooth and enjoyable. Therefore, it is important to find a balance between graphics quality and performance, especially for users with older or less powerful systems.

Why is post-processing necessary in games?

Post-processing in video game development plays a key role in improving visual perception. This stage allows you to emphasize the unique atmosphere of the game and develop an original stylistic approach. Effective post-processing makes the game more attractive, memorable, and captivating for players, which contributes to increased interest and engagement. As a result, high-quality post-processing not only improves graphics but also significantly enriches the gaming experience, making it more immersive.

An important task of post-processing is the elimination of visual artifacts and low-resolution textures. The use of special techniques can significantly reduce the visibility of objects in the background, which in turn reduces the load on the system during rendering. This not only improves the quality of the final image but also optimizes performance, which is especially important for complex projects. Effective post-processing plays a key role in creating visually compelling content, ensuring a harmonious blend of elements and high-quality final results.

In modern AAA games, post-processing significantly expands the scope for creative expression. Almost every title features a photo mode, which allows players to adjust camera angles and tweak parameters such as brightness, contrast, depth of field, and color palette. Developers also implement unique shading settings, allowing for the creation of stylish and memorable visual effects. These tools not only improve graphics, but also help players create their own unique moments in the game, which increases engagement and satisfaction from the gameplay.

It's worth noting that if the built-in post-processing settings don't meet user requirements, numerous third-party tools with ready-made filters are available on the market. One popular solution is ReShade software, which provides easy integration of various visual effects and allows experimentation with them in real time. Using ReShade can significantly improve graphics quality and enrich the gaming experience, giving players the ability to customize the image to their liking.

These tools not only improve the visual quality of games but also give players the opportunity to express their individuality through graphics settings. Graphics settings allow you to customize the appearance of the game, adapting it to personal preferences and requirements. This creates a unique experience for each player, which makes the gaming process more engaging and personalized.

Post-Processing Elements: What is Important to Consider?

Post-processing in video games is a set of visual effects that depend on the art style and capabilities of the game engine. Basic elements such as HDR, motion blur, and color correction significantly affect the creation of atmosphere and the overall visual perception of the game world. Modern technologies, including ray tracing, significantly improve graphics quality, adding realism and depth to the image. Proper implementation of post-processing can not only enhance a game's visual style but also increase its appeal to players, making the gaming experience more immersive and engaging.

Post-processing technologies in modern games: enhancing visual perception

Modern video games employ a variety of post-processing techniques that significantly improve visuals and create an immersive atmosphere. One key technology is anti-aliasing, which eliminates the jagged edges of objects and ensures smooth contours. Various anti-aliasing methods, such as Temporal Anti-Aliasing (TAA), play a significant role in enhancing graphical realism. These technologies help players better perceive game worlds, making them more natural and engaging. Improving visual quality through effective anti-aliasing methods has become a standard in modern game development, allowing for a more immersive gaming experience.

Ambient Occlusion (AO) is an important technique for creating realistic shadows in computer graphics. It simulates darkening at corners and intersections of objects, adding depth and volume to an image. Modern methods, such as Screen Space Ambient Occlusion (SSAO) and Distance Field Ambient Occlusion (DFAO), significantly improve lighting quality in both static and dynamic scenes. These technologies are widely used in video games and 3D animation, helping to create more believable and visually appealing graphics. AO plays a key role in increasing the realism of visualization, making it an integral part of modern graphics engines.

Screen Space Local Reflections (SSLR) creates realistic reflections on various surfaces, including water and glossy materials. While SSLR can have a negative impact on system performance, the visual effect it creates is always impressive. For a deeper understanding of SSLR implementation in AAA games and its impact on graphical quality, it is highly recommended to read the corresponding article on the Habr platform.

Modern video games actively use ray tracing technology to create physically based lighting in real time. Despite the high demands on video card performance, this technology significantly improves visual effects, lending incredible realism to game scenes. Ray tracing allows for more accurate reflection of light, shadows, and color gradients, enriching the gaming experience and making it more immersive. As a result, games with ray tracing support attract the attention of players seeking high-quality graphics and a realistic gaming experience.

Fog significantly enhances the atmosphere of a game by creating a haze on distant objects. This visual technique not only helps improve the perception of the game world but also optimizes performance. By obscuring unimportant details, fog helps focus the player's attention on important elements, making the gameplay more engaging and dynamic. Proper use of this effect can significantly improve the overall graphics and player comfort.

Motion blur Motion blur is a visual effect that creates the illusion of speed and dynamism in videos and images, emphasizing the realism of a scene. The effect is often used to convey a sense of speed, for example when filming objects moving at high speed. Although most often applied to the background, motion blur can also cover the entire scene, which is especially effective when depicting rapid movement, such as when traveling in vehicles. Proper use of motion blur helps create more exciting and expressive works, enhancing the viewer's perception of dynamism and atmosphere.

via GIPHY

Situational Post-Processing Techniques in Games

Color grading is an essential tool for creating a unique atmosphere in video games. This process allows you to change and enhance the color palette of a scene, which significantly affects the emotional perception of the player. Similar to filters on social media, color grading shapes the visual style and mood of a game. It is widely used in photo modes and scenes related to memories or visions, adding expressiveness and depth. Effective use of color correction helps create a memorable gaming experience and enhances immersion in the story.

Depth of field plays an important role in visual perception, allowing specific objects to stand out against a blurred background. This effect, similar to bokeh, is often used in cutscenes to create a cinematic feel. This technique allows players to focus on key plot elements, enhancing emotional perception and immersion in the game world. Using depth of field in video games not only improves visual aesthetics but also helps convey important narrative moments, making gameplay more immersive.

The glow effect creates a visual perception in which bright areas of light are softly blurred at the edges of contrasting objects. This technique not only enhances the atmosphere of the image but also adds realism. Using the glow effect in graphic design and photography helps create depth and volume, making visual content more appealing to viewers. Proper use of this effect can significantly improve the perception of an image and emphasize key elements of the composition.

Vignetting is a technique that adds a darkening effect around the edges of an image, focusing attention on the central part of the frame. This technique is widely used in video games to highlight key moments, such as important dialogue or significant objects. Using vignetting helps improve visual perception and direct the player's gaze to the most important elements, creating a deeper immersion in the gameplay.

Grain forms A noise effect that can be either digital or film-based. This effect is actively used in horror games to create a tense atmosphere and also serves as a warning sign of impending danger when a hostile creature is nearby. Grain not only heightens the feeling of anxiety but also immerses the player in a dark and mysterious world, adding depth to the visual experience. Using this effect in game design highlights the importance of audiovisual elements in creating an immersive experience and allows players to better sense fear and tension, making gameplay more engaging.

Post-Processing in Unreal Engine: A Complete Guide

Let's learn the basics of post-processing in Unreal Engine 5 using the Third Person template. This tool provides the ability to significantly improve the visuals and atmosphere of a game. Post-processing includes various techniques such as color correction, blur, depth of field effects, and much more, which allows you to create a more immersive and engaging gaming experience. Understanding these basics will help you optimize graphics and improve the overall quality of your project.

Basic post-processing settings can be found in the Edit — Project Settings — Engine section. (Engine) — Rendering — Default Settings. This section contains standard settings that can be customized to suit your needs and preferences. Adjusting these parameters will optimize the rendering process and improve the quality of the final image.

Auto Exposure is one of the main functions that provides Adjusts lighting depending on the brightness of the scene. This function allows the image to adapt to changes in illumination, but can cause sharp flashes when moving from dark to light areas. Such abrupt changes can negatively affect the perception of cutscenes, which makes it important to correctly set automatic exposure to achieve a high-quality visual effect.

In Unreal Engine 5, as in previous versions, post-processing is performed using the Post Process Volume. These volumes provide the ability to define unique visual effects that can be applied to the entire scene or to specific sections. This can significantly improve visual perception and create the desired atmosphere in a game or project. Using Post Process Volumes opens up a wide range of options for adjusting lighting, color correction, and other effects, which contributes to higher graphics quality and a better user experience.

The Third Person template includes a SkyLight, which is the primary lighting source. We disabled auto exposure and created a small room with virtually no light, resulting in a very dark environment. This allows you to explore the possibilities of lighting and shadow in conditions of limited visibility.

To add a Post Process Volume, open the toolbar and select the icon for adding an object. Find the Visual Effects section and select PostProcessVolume. Adjust the frame to cover the entire structure, thereby providing a post-processing effect for the entire object. This will allow you to enhance the visual quality and atmosphere of your project by applying various filters and lighting settings.

Open the Post Process Volume settings in the Details panel and enable the All option to access all post-processing options. This will allow you to customize the visual effects and improve the image quality in your project.

The first step in adjusting a photo is to adjust the exposure using exposure compensation. This will significantly brighten the dark areas of the image. Afterwards, you can experiment with various effects, such as depth of field, glow, and color correction. These tools will help enhance the overall look of the photo and highlight important details, adding drama and atmosphere to the image.

Additional lighting options in Post Process Volume provide a choice of Global Illumination methods, including options such as Lumen and Screen Space. Ambient Occlusion intensity settings are also available, allowing for more precise lighting control in each area. This helps achieve realistic lighting and shadows, improving the visual perception of the scene.

To apply post-processing to the entire scene, simply activate the Infinite Extent (Unbound) parameter in the Details section. This will avoid the need to stretch the boundaries of the Post Process Volume, ensuring the post-processing effect covers the entire scene.

Post-processing zones function like regular actors in a scene. They can be duplicated and placed in different parts of the composition, and also superimposed on each other to create combined effects. This significantly expands the possibilities for working with visual elements and improves the overall result of post-processing. Using post-processing volumes adds flexibility and creativity to the workflow, which is especially important for achieving the desired artistic effect in a project.

Post Process Volume provides extensive capabilities for creating effects that go beyond the standard settings. With this tool, you can integrate materials to achieve various visual effects, such as color correction and cel shading. All the necessary settings can be found in the Details section under Rendering Features — Post Process Materials. Using these features, you can significantly improve the graphics of your project and achieve a unique visual style.

In version 5.4, the function of connecting materials for stylized effects is temporarily disabled. In this version, only the existing settings in the Rendering Features section are available, as well as the ability to customize materials via Blueprints. This change should be taken into account when working with projects to make the most of the available tools and capabilities.

Efficient Post-Processing in Visual Projects

Post-processing is a key stage in the creation of visual effects, significantly improving the aesthetic perception of a project. This process not only enhances the visual appeal but also creates a unique atmosphere, making it indispensable in video games, animated films, and static renders. Proper post-processing allows you to highlight details, improve the color palette, and create the desired mood, which ultimately influences the overall perception of the work. Without high-quality post-processing, even the best visual effects can lose their appeal and expressiveness.

It is important to remember that effects are applied after the original frames are rendered. This can impact overall system performance, especially when using high graphics settings. For example, resource-intensive effects like ray tracing require significant computing resources, which can impact the smoothness of gameplay. Optimizing graphics settings and selecting less demanding effects can improve performance and provide a more comfortable gaming experience.

Modern gaming systems, such as NVIDIA RTX and AMD Radeon, handle the latest technologies well. However, many users choose medium graphics settings to avoid overloading the graphics card. In competitive games, minimizing visual effects is especially important: every frame per second can be crucial for victory, and distracting elements can disrupt concentration. Proper graphics settings ensure stable FPS and improve overall performance, which is critical for successful gaming.

The post-processing approach must be tailored to the unique characteristics of each project. Finding the optimal balance between visuals and performance is essential. This is the foundation for creating a high-quality gaming experience that meets user requirements and hardware capabilities. Proper post-processing settings not only improve graphics but also contribute to a smoother gameplay experience, which ultimately increases overall player satisfaction.