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Difference between revisions of "Special K"

From PCGamingWiki, the wiki about fixing PC games
m (→‎Mouse locking: Added link to glossary page)
(→‎Video settings: Added 'Refresh rate (Hz)' and 'Scan type' subsections)
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# Change '''Window style''' to <code>Borderless Fullscreen</code>.
 
# Change '''Window style''' to <code>Borderless Fullscreen</code>.
 
# Restart the game to confirm everything works. See [[#Mouse locking|Mouse locking]] if the cursor is not locked to the game window.
 
# Restart the game to confirm everything works. See [[#Mouse locking|Mouse locking]] if the cursor is not locked to the game window.
 +
}}
 +
 +
===[[Glossary:Refresh Rate (Hz)|Refresh rate (Hz)]]===
 +
{{Fixbox|description=Force a custom refresh rate:|fix=
 +
# Install Special K for the game, either globally or locally.
 +
# Launch and close the game once to allow the Special K config file to be created.
 +
# Navigate to the game-specific config file of Special K, based on how Special K interfaces with the game:
 +
* '''Global:''' {{p|userprofile}}\Documents\My Mods\SpecialK\Profiles\<code>Title/Executable</code>\SpecialK.ini
 +
* '''Global converted to local:''' {{p|userprofile}}\Documents\My Mods\SpecialK\Profiles\<code>Title/Executable</code>\SpecialK.ini
 +
* '''Manual local:''' {{p|game}}, or the subfolder containing the executable. Config file mirrors the Special K DLL filename, e.g. {{file|dxgi.ini}} for {{file|dxgi.dll}}.
 +
# Open the config file of Special K.
 +
# Find and change the parameter <code>RefreshRate</code> to the desired refresh rate (e.g. "RefreshRate=120").
 +
# Save and close the file.
 +
}}
 +
 +
===Scan type===
 +
{{ii}} Controls if the game outputs in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_scan progressive] or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interlaced_video interlaced] scanning. This is normally more relevant for a television than a computer monitor, as typically computer monitors only support progressive display modes.
 +
{{ii}} This override should only be used if the game does not properly output to the correct scan mode.
 +
{{Fixbox|description=Force a custom scanning method:|fix=
 +
# Install Special K for the game, either globally or locally.
 +
# Launch and close the game once to allow the Special K config file to be created.
 +
# Navigate to the game-specific config file of Special K, based on how Special K interfaces with the game:
 +
* '''Global:''' {{p|userprofile}}\Documents\My Mods\SpecialK\Profiles\<code>Title/Executable</code>\SpecialK.ini
 +
* '''Global converted to local:''' {{p|userprofile}}\Documents\My Mods\SpecialK\Profiles\<code>Title/Executable</code>\SpecialK.ini
 +
* '''Manual local:''' {{p|game}}, or the subfolder containing the executable. Config file mirrors the Special K DLL filename, e.g. {{file|dxgi.ini}} for {{file|dxgi.dll}}.
 +
# Open the config file of Special K.
 +
# Find and change the parameter <code>ScanlineOrder</code> to one of the below values:
 +
#* <code>Progressive</code> for progressive scan.
 +
#* <code>UpperFieldFirst</code> for interlaced even scan.
 +
#* <code>LowerFieldFirst</code> for interlaced odd scan.
 +
#* <code>DontCare</code> to retain the game default.
 +
# Save and close the file.
 
}}
 
}}
  

Revision as of 17:43, 6 April 2018

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Key points

Extensive game modifying framework allowing for various in-depth tweaking of a game. The focus is primarily on the graphics pipeline but it also includes various features such as input device blocking/configuring, etc.
As with other third-party stuff, Special K can have an adverse effect if used in multiplayer titles where anti-cheat protection exist!
Includes a number of game-specific changes and optimizations, although minor ones are not exposed.
Supports multiple graphics APIs as well as injection methods, making it compatible with a lot of games.
Does not support DirectX 10.

General information

Official Steam Group
Unofficial Guide
Releases
Source code

Installation

Global (system-wide)

Allows Special K to inject automatically in all Steam games/applications it detects, as well as non-Steam games the user manually allows.
Stop the global injection before playing a multiplayer game where Special K might have an adverse effect.
Install the global injector of Special K:
  1. Download the latest version available, refer to the Steam Group discussions board for details.
  2. Extract the archive at a location of your choice.
  3. Run the Special K Install Manager using either SKIM.exe (32-bit) or SKIM64.exe (64-bit) located within the extracted files.
  4. Select Special K (Global Injector) in the product list.
  5. Click Install.
  6. After the global injector have been installed injection should automatically have started. To stop the injection, click on Stop Injecting in SKIM.
  7. Use Ctrl+⇧ Shift+← Backspace to access the control panel while in-game.
  8. Use the Special K Install Manager (aka SKIM) icon in the notification area of Windows to start/stop the global injector. A shortcut on the start menu should've also been created during the installation. Global injection is only enabled while SKIM is running and injection have been started.

Notes

Antivirus/Internet Security Suites can cause the installer to fail.

Local (game-specific)

Installs Special K for a specific game, making it possible to use with said game without having global injection enabled.
Use at own risk in multiplayer games where Special K might have an adverse effect.
Convert global injection to local wrapper DLLs:
  1. Enable global injection.
  2. Launch the game.
  3. Use Ctrl+⇧ Shift+← Backspace to access the control panel while in-game.
  4. Click on File > Install wrapper DLL for this game.
  5. Exit the game, disable global injection and then start the game again. Local injection should now occur instead.
Manually install local wrapper DLLs:
  1. Download the latest version available, refer to the Steam Group discussions board for details.
  2. Extract the archive at a temporary location of your choice.
  3. Navigate to <path-to-game> and the appropriate subfolder containing the game executable. Use Task Manager > Open File Location as help.
  4. Look up if the game uses a 32-bit or 64-bit executable, as well as what API is used. Refer to game-specific articles for details.
  5. Move the appropriate Special K DLL file to the folder where the executable were located: SpecialK32.dll for 32-bit, and SpecialK64.dll for 64-bit.
  6. Rename the DLL file to match the API used by the game:
    • DirectX 8: d3d8.dll - Requires the dgVoodoo plugin installed for Special K.
    • DirectX 9: d3d9.dll
    • DirectX 11.x: dxgi.dll or d3d11.dll
    • OpenGL: opengl32.dll
    • DirectInput 8: dinput8.dll - Alternative injection method for titles that supports DirectInput 8.
  7. Launch the game.
  8. Use Ctrl+⇧ Shift+← Backspace to access the control panel while in-game.

Video settings

Compatibility for features varies for games; most usually works, but at times a game might not function properly with some. Hold down Ctrl+⇧ Shift while launching a game if you need to reset the config file of Special K.

Windowed

Force window mode for games that do not natively support it:
  1. Launch the game with Special K enabled and confirmed working for the game.
  2. Press Ctrl+⇧ Shift+← Backspace to open the control panel of Special K.
  3. Open the Display menu on the top.
  4. Change change Fullscreen Mode to Windowed Mode. The Force Override option might be required as well for some titles.
  5. Restart the game to confirm everything works. See Mouse locking if the cursor is not locked to the game window.

Borderless fullscreen windowed

Force borderless fullscreen windowed for games that do not natively support it:
  1. Launch the game with Special K enabled and confirmed working for the game.
  2. Configure the in-game options to window mode and the resolution of the monitor.
    • See Windowed for how to force window mode for games that do not expose it.
  3. Press Ctrl+⇧ Shift+← Backspace to open the control panel of Special K.
  4. Open the Display menu on the top.
  5. Change Window style to Borderless Fullscreen.
  6. Restart the game to confirm everything works. See Mouse locking if the cursor is not locked to the game window.

Refresh rate (Hz)

Force a custom refresh rate:
  1. Install Special K for the game, either globally or locally.
  2. Launch and close the game once to allow the Special K config file to be created.
  3. Navigate to the game-specific config file of Special K, based on how Special K interfaces with the game:
  • Global: %USERPROFILE%\Documents\My Mods\SpecialK\Profiles\Title/Executable\SpecialK.ini
  • Global converted to local: %USERPROFILE%\Documents\My Mods\SpecialK\Profiles\Title/Executable\SpecialK.ini
  • Manual local: <path-to-game>, or the subfolder containing the executable. Config file mirrors the Special K DLL filename, e.g. dxgi.ini for dxgi.dll.
  1. Open the config file of Special K.
  2. Find and change the parameter RefreshRate to the desired refresh rate (e.g. "RefreshRate=120").
  3. Save and close the file.

Scan type

Controls if the game outputs in progressive or interlaced scanning. This is normally more relevant for a television than a computer monitor, as typically computer monitors only support progressive display modes.
This override should only be used if the game does not properly output to the correct scan mode.
Force a custom scanning method:
  1. Install Special K for the game, either globally or locally.
  2. Launch and close the game once to allow the Special K config file to be created.
  3. Navigate to the game-specific config file of Special K, based on how Special K interfaces with the game:
  • Global: %USERPROFILE%\Documents\My Mods\SpecialK\Profiles\Title/Executable\SpecialK.ini
  • Global converted to local: %USERPROFILE%\Documents\My Mods\SpecialK\Profiles\Title/Executable\SpecialK.ini
  • Manual local: <path-to-game>, or the subfolder containing the executable. Config file mirrors the Special K DLL filename, e.g. dxgi.ini for dxgi.dll.
  1. Open the config file of Special K.
  2. Find and change the parameter ScanlineOrder to one of the below values:
    • Progressive for progressive scan.
    • UpperFieldFirst for interlaced even scan.
    • LowerFieldFirst for interlaced odd scan.
    • DontCare to retain the game default.
  3. Save and close the file.

Input settings

Mouse locking

Lock the mouse to the game window for games that do not natively support it:
  1. Launch the game with Special K enabled and confirmed working for the game.
  2. Press Ctrl+⇧ Shift+← Backspace to open the control panel of Special K.
  3. Expand Window Management > Input/Output Behavior and set Cursor Boundaries to Keep Inside Window.
  4. Restart the game to confirm everything is working as intended.


References