AMD FSR 2 UE plugin enhancements part 5 Making materials reactive Applying the LitReactiveShadingModel patch

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What is this blog post series about?

When we made FSR 2.1 available, we also updated our FSR 2 Unreal Engine plugin. This update not only brings significant improvements to the plugin generally, but we’ve also provided two patches with the package which can increase visual fidelity. FSR 2.2 further improves the plugin and adds Unreal Engine 5.1 support.

This five part blog post series – this is the final part – highlights the issues these patches address, and how you can use them in your own Unreal Engine projects.

Part 1 – Improving foliage appearance: Introduction and using the base pass for velocity generation.

Part 2 – Improving foliage appearance: Improvements via content changes.

Part 3 – Improving foliage appearance: Applying the ImproveStaticWPO patch.

Part 4 – Making materials reactive: How to make a specific shading model write to the reactive mask.

→  Part 5 – Making materials reactive: Applying the LitReactiveShadingModel patch. 

Introducing part 5

Back in part 4, we showed how to improve the visual quality of animated materials by making shading models write to the reactive mask.

Here in part 5, we show you how to apply the LitReactiveShadingModel patch, and the results.

Important!

There is a separate guide for how to use the FSR 2 Unreal Engine plugin - don't miss it! This blog series relates specifically to enhancements available with FSR 2.2, and using the patches bundled with this release.

Note: Patches to Unreal Engine do require that developers build from source, as the patches cannot be applied to the binary editor distributed by Epic. However, this blog post series also shows you how to make changes to their project settings and content to achieve the same results where possible.

Additional shading model patch

For projects where it is not possible to repurpose a shading model in the fashion outlined in part 4, there is now an optional engine patch file, LitReactiveShadingModel.patch , provided with the FSR 2 plugin that adds a new Lit Reactive shading model. This new shading model operates identically to Default Lit except that it also allows developers to write a value to the CustomData0.x channel which will then be consumed by the CreateReactiveMask pass in the FSR 2 plugin.

Applying the patch

For developers building from source the patches can be applied using the following steps.

Git

At a terminal supporting Git:

  1. Download the FSR 2 plugin and unzip.
  2. Clone the Unreal Engine Repository:
    • git clone where should be replaced with the URL to the source repository.
  3. Navigate to the root of the Unreal Engine:
    • cd UnrealEngine
  4. Checkout the version of Unreal Engine to be patched:
    • git checkout where should be replaced by the version number such as 4.26, 4.27 or 5.0.
  5. Install the appropriate FSR 2 plugin version to Engine/Plugins/Runtime/AMD .
  6. Apply the patch with Git:
    • git am replacing with the path to the LitReactiveShadingModel.patch file appropriate for the engine version.
  7. Build the engine and check that the patch functions correctly.
  8. Push the change upstream:
    • git push origin HEAD

Other SCMs

  1. Download the FSR 2 plugin and unzip.
  2. Clone the Unreal Engine from the SCM and setup the correct Unreal Engine version as needed.
  3. Install the appropriate FSR 2 plugin version to Engine/Plugins/Runtime/AMD .
  4. Navigate to the root of the Unreal Engine:
    • cd UnrealEngine
  5. Patch the files using the ‘patch’ command-line tool:
    • patch -p1 < <path/to/patch> replacing <path/to/patch> with the path to the LitReactiveShadingModel.patch file appropriate for the engine version.
  6. Build the engine and check that the patch functions correctly.
  7. Submit to the SCM.

Using the patch

Once applied and the engine is rebuilt it is then possible to select the Lit Reactive shading model in the material editor:

Once selected it is possible to pass a value to the Custom Data 0 output:

You then must select the Lit Reactive as the Reactive Shading Model in the FSR 2 settings and disable the Force value for Reactive Shading Model by setting it to 0.0 .

Select Lit Reactive as the Reactive Shading Model in FSR 2 settings Select Lit Reactive as the Reactive Shading Model in FSR 2 settings

Disabling force value for Reactive Shading Model by setting it to 0 Disabling force value for Reactive Shading Model by setting it to 0

In this configuration only the specific assets using the new shading model will write into the reactive mask and write the value specified in the material graph, while still providing the improved rendering of the obscured animated material.

Lit Reactive Off
Lit Reactive On

Below: 1:1 pixel comparison of the 4K screenshots above.

Lit Reactive Off
Lit Reactive On

Thank you for reading!

We hope you have found this blog post series helpful with improving the visual quality of FSR 2 in your Unreal Engine game.

Before you go, feel free to take a look back at any parts you’d like to read again:

Part 1 – Improving foliage appearance: Introduction and using the base pass for velocity generation.

Part 2 – Improving foliage appearance: Improvements via content changes.

Part 3 – Improving foliage appearance: Applying the ImproveStaticWPO patch.

Part 4 – Making materials reactive: How to make a specific shading model write to the reactive mask.

→  Part 5 – Making materials reactive: Applying the LitReactiveShadingModel patch. 

Get the Unreal Engine FSR 2 plugins now!

The package linked below contains the latest version of all our currently available UE 4/5 plugins [~600MB]

  • Includes the patches referred to in this blog series.
Download FSR 2 Unreal Engine plugin

Find out more about FSR 2 and our Unreal Engine plugin

Learn more about FSR and Unreal Engine

FOOTNOTE:

The information contained herein is for informational purposes only, and is subject to change without notice. While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this document, it may contain technical inaccuracies, omissions and typographical errors, and AMD is under no obligation to update or otherwise correct this information. Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. makes no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this document, and assumes no liability of any kind, including the implied warranties of noninfringement, merchantability or fitness for particular purposes, with respect to the operation or use of AMD hardware, software or other products described herein. No license, including implied or arising by estoppel, to any intellectual property rights is granted by this document. Terms and limitations applicable to the purchase or use of AMD’s products are as set forth in a signed agreement between the parties or in AMD’s Standard Terms and Conditions of Sale.

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