LUX
In Closed Beta development
Wiki
Type	Modification
Developers	ShiroDkxtro2
Engine	Source
Platforms	PC ( Linux (only in ) )
Based on	Source 2013

LUX is a mod made for Source 2013 Singleplayer and Source 2013 Multiplayer.
The goal of the Project is a reevaluated and rewritten set of shaders, that are faster to compile, easier to debug and modify.
It resolves caveats and introduces new features, sometimes replicating those from newer source branches.
The shaders are not designed to boost performance, don't expect superficial increases in fps.

LUX can serve as a drop-in replacement to the shaders from Mapbase.
Although it references Alien Swarm Code, the branch itself is not supported.
Similarly, macOS is not supported.

LUX is based on publicly available code and has a strict no leaked-code policy.

Goals

Total Overhaul of the materialsystem\ folder

Implementing

LUX is intended to be as easy as possible. To ensure this, changes are restricted to the

materialsystem\ folder.

Using Code from the Orange Box and Alien Swarm,

materialsystem\shaderlib has been added back in and is used to implement new features.

Previously LUX was limited to the

materialsystem\stdshaders folder. Now it's

materialsystem\ to allow for this.

Faster compile times for all Shaders

All shaders have been rewritten from scratch and the systems they use have been reevaluated.

Due to this, all shaders in the project can be compiled in about 15 minutes on dated hardware.

For newer Hardware ( r9 5950x ), you may see times as low as two minutes.

Various shaders now have their own .bat scripts. Making it easier to develop individual shaders.

This means modding specific shaders ( such as VertexLitGeneric ) is much faster.

Now changing a header does not mean having to 'recompile the universe'

Compatability with Mapbase

LUX intends to serve as a drop-in replacement for Mapbase Shaders

Thus it has features such as Parallax Corrected Cubemaps ( and much more.. radial fog, non-location specific Core Shader, .. )

To facilitate this, every SDK_ Prefixed Shader will fallback to LUX_

Stock Shader replacement

LUX allows for the selective replacement of existing shaders on

Source 2013 Multiplayer.

Using Various other methods such as memory patching or material passthrough this may also be used on

Source 2013 Singleplayer

Shadermodel 3.0 only

To allow for many of the new features, all of the Shaders use Shadermodel 3.0.

A limitation created by this is that Linux on

Source 2013 Singleplayer cannot run LUX, since ToGL does not have support for it,

DXVK may serve as an alternative here for Linux Users.

SM3.0 released in 2004, and Valve considered ps2.0b low end hardware in ~2008. See slide 8

This means that older hardware not capable of SM3.0 will not be able to use the new Shaders either.

Drastically more documentation, including their parameters, how they work and any possible caveats

Due to the Development of

LUX, Articles on the VDC such as $lightwarptexture, $detail, UnlitTwoTexture and $envmapmask

received massive updates, filling them with information about caveats and bugs.

LUX shaders themselves have many comments, notifying when the behaviour of stock shaders has to be considered to keep visual consistency.

A Github Wiki listing all shader parameters and all shaders in the project is in the works.

Helper strings have been added to all parameters and can be read back via the in-game console as well.

Implementing features unavailable to Source 2013

This includes old features such as $selfillumtexture and newer features like $phongalbedoboost(only in

).

Note that LUX is not made from leaked code. Features (such as $SSBumpMathFix) have been derived from visual research in branches with them present and logical conclusions.

Fixing parameter caveats when they don't break visual consistency.

Dozens of broken parameter combinations are fixed with LUX.

LUX has a habit of magically fixing things we didn't even know were broken on stock.

If there is a broken combination or a caveat that isn't fixed, make a github issue ( please check if it's broken on LUX first )

Features

Some Features from these Branches have been implemented:

Note:Code from

Alien Swarm engine branch is heavily adapted, cross-referencing may be difficult.

Warning:Features that couldn't be made with code reference will be prone to visual disparity.

$phongdisablehalflambert from Alien Swarm engine branch.
$lightmap from Source 2013 Multiplayer.
Spline Rope Support from Alien Swarm engine branch.
Radial Fog. Originally taken from Mapbase. However Source 2013 Multiplayer also has the code for this, since TF2SDK.
Parallax Corrected Cubemaps from Mapbase. Has identical parameter names to Mapbases, allow its vBSP to be used.
Brush $phong ( Original Implementation/Feature )
$Treesway from Alien Swarm engine branch. However Source 2013 Multiplayer also has the code for this, since TF2SDK.
$phongexponentfactor from Source 2013 Multiplayer.
$basemapluminancephongmask from Alien Swarm engine branch.
$phongalbedoboost - Logically adapted. (in all games since )
Rec. 709 HDTV Luminance Weights. float3(0.2126f, 0.7152f, 0.0722f) usable via lux_luminanceweights.
$selfillumtexture for VertexLitGeneric. Deprecated since Source 2007, works identical to $DetailBlendMode 5.
Water $flowmap support from Alien Swarm.
$envmaplightscale for brushes and models. From (in all games since ) ( Brushes ) and adapted for models (only in ).
$envmapsphere for VertexLitGeneric without $BumpMap and $Phong. ( Has a lot of Caveats )
$ReceiveFlashlight for all Shaders ( Original Implementation/Feature )
$NoTint and $AllowDiffuseModulation ( From Alien Swarm and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. Logically derived )
'Infected' Shader Left 4 Dead. ( Created from publically available Information )
'Black' Shader (in all games since ). ( Original Implementation/Feature )
..

Features that aren't planned to be supported

$bumpmask
$basealphaenvmapmaskminmaxexp from Alien Swarm
$EnvMapLightScaleMinMax from Counter-Strike: Global Offensive - No publically available code and it works a bit whacky?
..

Resolved Caveats

$bumpmap + $envmapmask. Used to be (only in ) and (only in )
$detailblendmode 0-9 and 11 now supported on VertexLitGeneric, LightmappedGeneric and WorldVertexTransition
$detailblendmode 10 now supports $SSBump. (only in )
$lightwarptexture + $detail. Doesn't work in and
$basealphaenvmapmask + bumpmap now supported on VertexLitGeneric.
$blendtintbybasealpha for LightmappedGeneric and WorldVertexTransition.
$selfillummask now supported on some Shaders that didn't have it previously.
For Main Shaders, all Transform Parameters can now work unattached to one another.
WVT Now supports separate Transforms for: Base, Base2, Bump, Bump2, Detail, Detail2, EnvMapMask, EnvMapMask2, BlendModulate
EnvMapMasks can now manually be flipped using $EnvMapMaskFlip. This is also used to reproduce stock behaviours.
$selfillum_envmapmask_alpha previously not on some main shaders in (not in )
$invertphongmask flips only the EnvMapMask on Stock. LUX solves this with $PhongNewBehaviour.
$phongalbedotint can now be used without $phongexponenttexture.
$phongalbedoboost(only in ) and $detail can now be used together.
$phongtint does not disable $phongalbedotint anymore.
$PhongFlatNormal introduced to override $basemapalphaphongmask behaviour of forcing a flat normal. ( Disabling the Normal Map )
Many Phong Issues have been resolved. To keep visual consistency with stock shaders, $PhongNewBehaviour has been introduced that disables broken behaviours.
$lightwarptexture can now be used on VertexLitGeneric without forcing BumpMapping, using $LightWarpNoBump.
$detailblendmode 5 and 6 on $BumpMap'd VertexLitGeneric.
.. Many.. MANY more Issues have been resolved. Simply too many to list here.

History

LUX started development on January 20th, 2023. Plans for it were made around January 14th.
Even before 2023, the idea of rewriting Valve's shaders was being considered, due to constant modification requests.
Requests are most commonly denied due to stock shader limitations, artificial complexity and long development times.

LUX

Contents

Goals

Features

Features that aren't planned to be supported

Resolved Caveats

History

See also

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LUX

Goals

Features

Features that aren't planned to be supported

Resolved Caveats

History

See also

Navigation menu

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