Special K

https://wiki.special-k.info/en
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Special K is a game modifying framework for PC gaming that provides graphics enhancement,...
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### Central Installation: Plugin System Example

Source: https://wiki.special-k.info/en/SpecialK/ReShade

Configuration for loading ReShade via Special K's plugin system, allowing central management of ReShade assets.

```ini
[Import.ReShade64]
Architecture=x64
Filename=ReShade64.dll
Role=ThirdParty
When=Lazy
```

--------------------------------

### Dualshock 4 quick setup guide

Source: https://wiki.special-k.info/en/SpecialK/Tidbits

Steps to set up DS4Windows with Special K, including controller emulation and Steam Input configuration.

```text
steam://controllerconfig/443510/1655129954
```

--------------------------------

### Example 1: Using ReShade in a 64-bit game

Source: https://wiki.special-k.info/en/SpecialK/Tools

Example configuration for loading ReShade 64-bit using explicit Role and Architecture.

```ini
[Import.ReShade64]
Architecture=x64
Role=ThirdParty
When=PlugIn
Filename=C:\Program Files\Special K\PlugIns\ThirdParty\ReShade\ReShade64.dll
```

--------------------------------

### Macro Configuration Example

Source: https://wiki.special-k.info/en/SpecialK/Files

Example of how to define custom keybindings for console commands in the macros.ini file.

```ini
[Macro.RelevantNameOfYourChoice]
<modifier-key>+<regular-key>=Console-command-to-execute
```

```ini
[Macro.SpecialK_OSD_Toggles]
Ctrl+Shift+O=OSD.Show toggle
Ctrl+Shift+M=OSD.Memory.Show toggle
Ctrl+Shift+T=OSD.Clock.Show toggle
Ctrl+Shift+I=OSD.IOPS.Show toggle
Ctrl+Shift+F=OSD.FPS.Show toggle
Ctrl+Shift+G=OSD.GPU.Show toggle
Ctrl+Shift+R=OSD.Shaders.Show toggle
Ctrl+Alt+Shift+D=OSD.Disk.Show toggle
Ctrl+Alt+Shift+P=OSD.Pagefile.Show toggle
Ctrl+Alt+Shift+S=OSD.SLI.Show toggle
Ctrl+Shift+C=OSD.CPU.Show toggle
```

--------------------------------

### Install Special K

Source: https://wiki.special-k.info/en/SpecialK/Global

Command to run the Special K installer.

```bash
SpecialK.exe
```

--------------------------------

### Special K Install Manager (SKIM) Installer

Source: https://wiki.special-k.info/en/SpecialK/Tools

Link to download the SKIM installer.

```plaintext
SKIM v0.7.5.15
```

--------------------------------

### Whitelist Patterns Example

Source: https://wiki.special-k.info/en/SpecialK/Global

Example of how to combine multiple entries into a single line in whitelist.ini using the '|' delimiter.

```text
Origin|NieRAutomataPC|Games
```

--------------------------------

### Start Global Injection using DLL files

Source: https://wiki.special-k.info/en/SpecialK/Global

Commands to start global injection for 32-bit and 64-bit applications using Special K DLL files.

```text
32-bit: %SystemRoot%\SysWOW64\rundll32.exe SpecialK32.dll,RunDLL_InjectionManager Install
64-bit: %SystemRoot%\System32\rundll32.exe SpecialK64.dll,RunDLL_InjectionManager Install
```

--------------------------------

### Example 2: Using DXVK while SK is already dxgi.dll

Source: https://wiki.special-k.info/en/SpecialK/Tools

Simplified configuration for DXVK with Special K as dxgi.dll, demonstrating optional Role and Architecture.

```ini
[Import.DXVK_dxgi]
Role=dxgi
When=Proxy
Filename=C:\Program Files\Special K\PlugIns\ThirdParty\dxvk\x64\dxgi.dll

[Import.DXVK_d3d11]
When=Early
Filename=C:\Program Files\Special K\PlugIns\ThirdParty\dxvk\x64\d3d11.dll
```

--------------------------------

### Example Shader State Configuration

Source: https://wiki.special-k.info/en/Advanced/Render_Toolkit

This snippet shows an example of how shader states, specifically for HUD elements, might be stored in a configuration file. It lists vertex and pixel shaders identified as belonging to the HUD.

```ini
[DrawState.Vertex]
67ce30e8=HUD
c672a35c=HUD

[DrawState.Pixel]
14d0a5bd=HUD
```

--------------------------------

### dgVoodoo 2 Installation and Configuration

Source: https://wiki.special-k.info/en/SpecialK/dgVoodoo

Steps to install and configure dgVoodoo 2 for a DirectX 9 game to enable HDR Retrofit with Special K.

```text
1. Extract `dgVoodoo.conf` and `dgVoodooCpl.exe` in the folder where the game executable resides.
2. Extract either `MS\x86\D3D9.dll` (**32-bit games**) or `MS\x64\D3D9.dll` (**64-bit games**) to the same folder.
3. Start `dgVoodooCpl.exe` and configure the following:
   * Right click on the **General/Glide/DirectX** tabs and click on **Show all sections of the configuration** to have all tabs appear.
   * In the **General** tab, activate `Windowed`.
   * In the **DirectX** tab, change **VRAM** to `4096 MB` and enable `Fast video memory access`.
     * Some games might not be compatible with `4096 MB` nor `Fast video memory access`. If the game crashes on launch, try lowering/disabling these settings.
   * In the **DirectX** tab, the `dgVoodoo Watermark` can be disabled to remove the lower right watermark once everything has been confirmed working properly.
   * In the **GeneralExt** tab, change **Presentation model** to `Flip discard`.
4. Click **OK** to save the changes to dgVoodoo.
```

--------------------------------

### Steam Input Disabler (Valve Plug) Installation/Uninstallation

Source: https://wiki.special-k.info/en/SpecialK/Tools

Instructions on how to install and uninstall the Steam Input Disabler (Valve Plug).

```plaintext
To uninstall simply run the uninstaller from the **Installed Apps** section in Windows, or by removing the `XInput1_4.dll` from your Steam client’s install directory.
```

--------------------------------

### Create SpecialK.deny file

Source: https://wiki.special-k.info/en/SpecialK/Global

Steps to create a `SpecialK.deny.<executable_name>` file to disable global injection for a specific executable.

```text
1. Open **File Explorer** in Windows and browse to the folder of the executable file you want to disable the global injection for.
2. Create an empty file called `SpecialK.deny.<executable_name>` in that folder (e.g. `SpecialK.deny.launcher`).
```

--------------------------------

### Configuring XInput Placeholders via Config File

Source: https://wiki.special-k.info/en/Advanced/Input

The PlaceholderMask parameter in the config file allows specifying which XInput slots to spoof connectivity on using a bitmask.

```config
PlaceholderMask = 5
```

--------------------------------

### Command Line Arguments for SKIF

Source: https://wiki.special-k.info/en/SpecialK/Tools

This table outlines the command line arguments that can be used with the Special K Injection Frontend (SKIF).

```text
Argument  | What it does  
---|---  
`<empty>` | Launches SKIF.  
`Start` | Launches SKIF and starts an instance of the injection service.  
`Temp` | Used with `Start` to indicate the injection service should auto-stop after a successful injection.  
`Stop` | Stops running instances of the injection service. Can also be used to attempt to force-eject leftover injections of Special K.  
`Quit` | Closes running instances of SKIF.  
`Minimize` | Launches SKIF minimized _or_ minimizes any running instances of SKIF, to the taskbar or notification area depending on configuration.  
`"<path>.exe"` | Uses SKIF as a launcher to start the injection service, launch another application, and then stop the service.  
Any arguments specified after the path is proxied to the launched application. Called through `SKIF %COMMAND%` from within the Steam client.  
`AddGame="<path>"` | **Experimental!** Adds the specified application to the library of SKIF as a custom game.  
`RestartDisplDrv` | **Requires elevation!** Restarts the display driver (useful as this can sometimes fix MPOs).  
```

--------------------------------

### Uninstall Special K Global Injector using SKIM

Source: https://wiki.special-k.info/en/SpecialK/Global

Steps to uninstall the Special K Global Injector using the Special K Install Manager (SKIM).

```text
1. Download and run the following installer;
   * SKIM v0.7.5.15
2. Select **Special K (Global Injector)** in the product list.
3. Click **Uninstall** and follow the process to uninstall SKIM.
4. After the uninstall have finished, follow the **Special K Injection Frontend (SKIF)** instructions to get a modern version of Special K.
```

--------------------------------

### Nvidia Reflex Configuration

Source: https://wiki.special-k.info/en/Advanced/Video

Steps to enable and configure Nvidia Reflex within Special K's control panel.

```text
1. Launch the game with Special K enabled.
2. Press `Ctrl` + `⇧ Shift` + `← Backspace` to open the control panel of Special K.
3. In the **Framerate Limiter** section, click on the **▶ Advanced** text in the bottom right corner below the frame pacing graph.
4. In the **NVIDIA Driver Black Magic** section that opens, set **NVIDIA Reflex Mode** to the desired mode: 
     * `Off` disables Nvidia Reflex.
     * `Low Latency` engages Nvidia’s FPS limiter which caps the framerate a few frames below the refresh rate (this is important for VRR users, see Blur Buster’s G-Sync 101).
     * `Low Latency + Boost` also engages the maximum performance power mode, which prevents the graphic card from clocking down the frequency of the GPU core while the game is running.
     * `Nothing But Boost` _only_ engages the maximum performance power mode.
5. Set the **NVIDIA Reflex Trigger Point** to the trigger point which results in the lowest **total frame time** as reported in the statistics below. 
     * Most games are served best with the `Start-of-Frame` setting.
     * Use `Input Hook` to allow Nvidia Reflex to trigger based on the input. This is most effective when using a gamepad.
6. For even better result, enable Special K’s `Framerate Limit` and configure a value below any FPS cap enforced by Nvidia Reflex (`Ctrl` + `🖱️ Click` to type in an exact value).
7. Press `Ctrl` + `⇧ Shift` + `← Backspace` to close the control panel of Special K.
```

--------------------------------

### RenderInBackground Configuration

Source: https://wiki.special-k.info/en/SpecialK/Tidbits

Optional configuration for custom_SpecialK.ini to help with frozen games.

```ini
[Window.System]
RenderInBackground=true
```
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