Realistic Lighting for Tarkov 2.0.1

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An unprecedented new ReShade and Amands Graphics preset for Tarkov has arrived. True, dark nights, vibrant, balanced colors, and no more washed-out haze or rusty orange overlay. This will immerse you into the gritty, unforgiving world, of Tarkov.

A fusion of Reshade 6.3.1 and a custom AmandsGraphics profile, not for pretty pictures, but for the soul. The color... it is not some cartoonish boom of fake vibrance. No. It is the blood and sweat of reality. The deep greens of forest, they are not sickly sweet, they are alive. The cold blue of night, it is not simply dark, it is oppressive.


You will see it. The way light spills from a window, how it dances on dust. The shadow, it is not just blackness, it has depth, it has secrets. This is not for the weak. This is for the true stalker. For those who want to feel the thunder of their own heartbeat.



Visual Changes for Immersion

  • True Blacks at Night: The game's nights are now truly dark. The vanilla game's "nighttime" often retains a hazy, grayish filter that allows players to see with surprising clarity. This new visual experience removes that haze, plunging the world into a deep, pitch-black darkness where a flashlight or night vision is not just a tool, but a necessity for survival.
  • Removed Yellow/Rusty Tint: The pervasive yellow and rusty color tint that colors many of Tarkov's maps has been eliminated. The world is now rendered with a more natural, muted color palette, bringing out the authentic tones of the environment and creating a more believable, post-apocalyptic setting.
  • No More Color Banding: The noticeable color banding, particularly in dark or foggy areas, has been corrected. The gradients of light and shadow are now smooth and seamless, contributing to a more refined and visually pleasing image without the distracting "rings" of color.
  • Enhanced Lighting: The lighting system has been rebalanced to create more realistic and dynamic shadows and highlights. Light sources, both natural and artificial, now interact with the environment in a more believable way, adding depth and atmosphere to every scene.

Performance Impact

  • Next to No FPS Loss: This graphics overhaul is designed with performance in mind. By focusing on color correction and a more efficient lighting model rather than adding heavy, resource-intensive effects like ray tracing or complex post-processing, the changes have a minimal impact on frame rate. This allows players to enjoy the enhanced visual experience without sacrificing smooth gameplay.

This new visual direction for Escape from Tarkov prioritizes a more grounded and challenging experience, forcing players to rely on their senses and equipment in a world that is now truly unforgiving.



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Installation Instructions

(do not try to use this online)


Requires Reshade 6.3.1 and Amands Graphics.


1. Drop the file called Tarkov 2025 into your SPT folder (the folder with the games exe in it.)


2. Install Amands Graphics.


3. Install Reshade 6.3.1 When installing reshade, please select Tarkov 2025 for your preset. After selecting this and clicking next, your computer will download all required shaders and the parameters will be set.


4. In the download there is a folder called BepinEx. it has the config file for Amands Graphics. Please install this LAST. If you dont, your game wont look like my screenshots.


5. Play game.


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When installing Reshade select your eft.exe in your SPT folder and press next, then select Directx 10/11/12 on the next screen, press next. On the Select preset to install screen, the file called Tarkov 2025 should auto-populate in the bottom text field if you followed step 1. If it doesn't, browse to your SPT folder and select it.


Click next on the select effects screen once the preset 'Tarkov 2025' is loaded.


Then click finish once its done doing its thing.


Videos

Customs



Streets

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Screenshots

(first shot is plain EFT, second shot is with the mod on. All shots were taken with Tarkov Weather System mod. Not all screenshots are taken at the same time of day. Screenshots taken on LG 39GS95QE HDR 3440x1440p OLED monitor. )

As with any screenshots, these do not do the quality very much justice.


2025-08-28-07-20-98-4-2-9-89-4-0-0-0-8-0-0-0-6-17-38-0.png

No mod Customs afternoon, rain

Everything is the same color.


Escape-From-Tarkov-2025-08-28-07-20-17.png

With Mod Customs rain

ReShade color shading makes the scenes feel more alive.


Escape-From-Tarkov-2025-08-23-19-43-42.png

No mod Customs.

A lot of blinding sun but the grass is dark. Everything is bland.


Escape-From-Tarkov-2025-08-23-19-43-55.png

With mod Customs

Less blinding sun, greatly improved color shading (grass and gloves), removed intrusive fog. Big credit to Amands Graphics for these features


Shoreline-Midnight-No-Mod.png

Vanilla EFT Shoreline Midnight

Gray haze over everything. The area illuminated and the dark spots aren't much different.


Shoreline-Midnight-Mod.png

With mod Shoreline Midnight

Haze removed, dark spots are dark. Another scene where Amands Graphics really shine.



Credits

  • Amands Graphics: Amands2Mello
  • ReShade shaders: CeeJay and prod80
Thumbs Up 7 Happy 1 Thinking 3 Heart 2

  • Version 2.0.1

    Changes in Version 2.0.1:

    • Improved Visuals & Contrast: Black levels across all maps have been lowered, which boosts contrast, especially in interior spaces. This makes dark areas look deeper and less washed out.
    • Richer Colors: Saturation and vibrance have been increased to give the game a less bleak look. Color shading is more life-like.
    • Enhanced Visibility: Fog levels on most maps have been adjusted for better visibility, making it easier to see and navigate. More importantly, the fog is natural now and far less intrusive.




    1. Install the incredible Amands graphics.

    2. Then copy the contents of this mod to your SPT folder, overwrite when asked.

    3. Install ReShade 6.3.1. When installing Reshade, select Tarkov 2025 as the preset you want to install effects for.

    Heart 1

  • Version 2.0

    Updated to ReShade 6.3.1 and newest Amands Graphics.


    • Completely new effect list over version 1.0.1
    • Tweaked blacks for more realistic nights.
    • Adjusted blues and reds to make lighting more natural.
    • Removed green and yellow rusty tone overwash.




    1. Install Amands graphics

    2. Then copy the contents of this mod to your SPT folder, overwrite when asked.

    3. Install ReShade 6.3.1

    Heart 1 Thumbs Up 1

  • Version 1.0.1

    Whats new:


    Adjusted Lighthouse lighting, contrast, and shadow hue.

    Slightly lightened Factory lighting.

    Added Lighthouse and Factory screenshot comparisons.


    please see install instructions. if youre updating, just drag archive contents into your SPT folder, yes to overwrite when asked.


    1. once youve downloaded the mod put the folder called reshade-textures into your SPT folder

    2. put the file called Realistic Lighting for EFT reshade preset into your SPT folder. DO NOT install the BepinEx folder yet.

    3. install amands graphics

    4. install reshade 5.8

    5. lastly install bepinex folder from this mods download file. overwrite when prompted.

  • RRRRAWRRRR! Nice mod, used on customs no FPS loss, beautiful views! bugcatchillin bugcatrainbow

    Thumbs Up 1

  • vudu scope looks blury with this preset

    • 2025-08-29-19-18-2-9-1-5-9-4-0-0-0-2-0-0-1-0-0.png


      2025-08-29-19-18-2-8-1-6-9-4-0-0-0-0-0-0-1-0-0.png

      looks good for me...?

      this mod doesnt touch scopes. its only lighting and color.


      ReShade does modify the API used to render all graphics. So if you are using a mod that also modifies the API then youre gonna get conflicts.


      Some mods that change the resolution dynamically or the way scopes look dynamically, might conflict.


      I am far from an expert on this subject though.

  • looks nice i used it on customs with storm weather but what about FPS? i had 20 fps on old factory as my pc old. So your mod low fps much or not? if not ill reinstall it bugcatfat bugcatchillin

    ? 1

    • i can tell you this much



      on 3440x1440p my fps on Customs averages 115 with the mod, 120 without.

      Heart 1

    • hmmm bugcatchillin

  • May I ask if this MOD is compatible with FIKA?

    • not sure. I havent ever played with Fika, although I want to try soon.


      If Amands and ReShade were compatible in the past, i see no reason why this would change anything.

  • The style is really nice! I noticed that your grass is very lush, while in my game, it's pitifully sparse. Is there any file that controls the grass density?

  • Amands Graphics does most of the work with the lighting so the comparison screenshots are misleading

    • Which part of the description mislead you to believe that this part was used for this part and this other part was used for this other part. No parts were mentioned to be doing any part other than the fusion of two parts to create the whole part. There's some parts to the first part that could do the job of the second part but the first part didnt come with all those parts. Maybe later I'll release a part where its just one part that does two parts and I'll name it Kojimbo0_0.


      Translation:


      Idk what you mean because I wrote, fusion of ReShade and Amands, I wrote that its an Amands and ReShade preset, I wrote the Amands is required. You can read what Amands does on that mods' page if you'd like, I'm not gonna read it for you. Even on one of the screenshots I wrote ReShade color shading makes the scenes feel more alive. Pretty obvious what ReShade does at that point. Also in the download you can see the shaders and any average computer user will notice there's no Ray Tracing or Global Illumination in the shaders folder, maybe I'll make an RTGI preset and name it after you.

    • I think what he's getting at is that since this is meant to be an addon for AmandsGraphics, it would make more sense for the before/after photos to show the difference between the visuals when using only AmandsGraphics, and the visuals when using your addon in addition to AmandsGraphics.


      Since your "before" screenshots are of vanilla graphics, it doesn't offer a good frame of reference for how your addon actually changes the visuals from a default install of AmandsGraphics.

    • Quote

      this is meant to be an addon for AmandsGraphics

      No it isn't. This mod doesn't add any features, modes, effects, etc. to AmandsGraphics. it simply tweaks the lighting values. Imagine we get the meat from Amands and I warmed it up or cooled it down.


      Quote


      make more sense for the before/after photos to show the difference between the visuals when using only AmandsGraphics, and the visuals when using your addon in addition to AmandsGraphics.

      It makes zero sense to upload 4 screenshots of the same scene. Everyone will naturally refer to the first one and the last one. Before and after will suffice.


      Quote


      it doesn't offer a good frame of reference

      Before and after is literally the most highly effective way to document and change or transformation. Comparison 101 sir.


      Now that all that is outta the way. I'm wondering if you two are confused. This isn't default Amands with ReShade on top of it. I tweaked Amands lighting values to my own liking. For example I changed a 5.00 to a 1.21


      This is why its redundant to add so many screenshots. Two of the screenshots would be for what the game doesnt look like at all ever.

    • Quote

      No it isn't. This mod doesn't add any features, modes, effects, etc. to AmandsGraphics

      My bad, I guess I used the wrong term

      Quote

      It makes zero sense to upload 4 screenshots of the same scene. Everyone will naturally refer to the first one and the last one. Before and after will suffice.

      Sorry I should've been more clear about what I meant.


      It wouldn't be 4 screenshots of the same scene, it would still be 2.


      1: With AmandsGraphics (default configuration)

      2: With AmandsGraphics (your configuration) + your reshade preset


      This comparison would show users what changes are actually offered by your configuration and reshade, i.e., what a user gets out of opting for your preset instead of simply running AmandsGraphics at default values.


      The before and afters from MEOWSHADER by wara are a great example, I embedded the link to their images.


      Keep in mind AmandsGraphics has 770k downloads, one of the most downloaded mods on the hub. And if it's a requirement that users have it installed in order to use your preset, would it not make more sense to compare your preset with default AmandsGraphics? Otherwise, how does a user even know that you've made meaningful changes to the visuals with your preset?

      Quote

      Imagine we get the meat from Amands and I warmed it up or cooled it down.

      If that's the nature of your mod, then surely the comparison screenshots should be focused on how the meat was warmed up or cooled down.

      Quote

      Before and after is literally the most highly effective way to document and change or transformation. Comparison 101 sir.

      I never suggested otherwise. What I said was that the vanilla EFT graphics weren't a good frame of reference for a "before and after" of your preset.


      To put it in Tarkov terms, using the vanilla EFT graphics as the frame of reference for your changes to AmandsGraphics' config is kind of like upgrading an AKM and then comparing it to a Saiga-9.

    • Customs 2pm Default Amands no ReShade

      Customs-Plain-Amands-2-PM.png


      Customs-2pm-Tarkov-2025.png

      Customs 2Pm My changes to Amands+ReShade

      Heart 1

  • Mod looks great except for that when trying to use the ELCAN SpecterDR 1x/4x scope, when I look thru it at 1x, looks great, then click to 4X zoom and the entire reticle goes black. 100% no visibility.

    • just tried that scope in game, the black one and the brown one, no issues on my end.


      Not sure what could be causing that. Since it only occurs when using the scope while magnified and only while using one specific scope, that is unusual. I've been playing Tarkov since 2018 and I;ve never seen or heard of this.

    • yeah I dont understand it either. I havent tried other scopes, but in that one raid I used the Elcan Specter and it did that, so I uninstalled the mod as I can't continue to play with that effect happening.

      After uninstalling, that scope worked perfectly again. So for now I just cannot use this mod.

    • i dont use this preset so im just guessing but it could be this: Eye Relief Tweak
      i use it personally and dont have any issues but ive heard of people having that issue

    • if i were using a mod that modified how scopes looked when zooming in, and it caused problems when zooming in, I think I'd know which shoe the rock was in.


      as the wise Jaxorsmthng said, others in the mods' comments have mentioned the same symptom as you.


      A silver lining...


      if you are still on 3.10.5 (still the best vs 3.11) then this mod does a similar thing as Eye Relief Tweak but doesnt conflict with ReShade.

    • @adudewithbadaim Eye Relief Tweak already doesn't conflict with ReShade, i dont know where you got that from

      i also don't know where you got "3.10.5 is better than 3.11" thing, since its a really reductive statement but honestly i cant be bothered to even ask

  • when i try to isntall reshade to the spt, EFT.exe it says that this application has blocked or banned the usage of reshade

    • because you're not using ReShade 6.3.1


      any newer version will throw that error.


      what you can do is if you're set on using the newest ReShade, install ReShade 6.5 to a game that uses the same graphics API as Tarkov then copy paste those files over to your SPTarkov folder.

      Thumbs Up 1

    • thanks =*

  • Love the mod, however i am wondering how i can go about toning down the black's. As in i want the darker areas just slightly lighter, not the pitch black they are. Thanks

    • glad to hear that you love the mod



      to adjust the blacks, you can either do it for every map or per map.


      here is how to do it for every map.


      press home key to open ReShade UI


      Remember that this adjust the blacks for all weathers, all times day or night, and all maps.


      If you want to adjust the brightness per map, you can do that using AmandsGraphics


      here's how to do it per map:


  • There is no reshade-textures in the download folder

    • I found out recently its against ReShade rules to share the shaders with the presets. They prefer we download them via the installer.


      1. Drop the file called Tarkov 2025 into your SPT folder (the folder with the games exe in it.)


      2. Install Amands Graphics.


      3. Install Reshade 6.3.1 and choose Tarkov 2025 as the preset, after clicking that and then clicking next, you should install the required shaders.

  • it's working for 3.8.0? anybody tested ?

  • My eyes cry from beauty, my gpu cries from pain, my wallet cries for my need for crisp 4k visuals.

    Crying 1

  • Hey I might just be dumb but when Launching my game goes completly black and I am unable to see anything. I have no Idea what I could do to fix this. sorry to bother you

  • не могу найти требуемый Вами Изменение шейда 5.8((( как быть?

    • Theres install instructions on overview page.


      Do step 1-5 no exceptions.

    • я был-бы счастлив, если бы мог, но там буквально НЕ РАБОТАЕТ вот эта ссылка ( https://www.mediafire.com/file…hade_Setup_5.8.0.exe/file) как-же я выполню все шаги без исключений?

    • what do you mean the link doesn't work?


      Does it not take you to download page on media fire


      Or


      Is the download broken?


      I'm away from my home/computer so I can't test on my end, for now.

    • сама страница не открывается, где мы обычно ставим галочку перед тем как переходить на страницу загрузки.

    • I can send you a pm with the link

  • Simply Beautiful, 100% recommend. :thumbup:

    Thumbs Up 1

  • In the instructions you indicate a folder called "reshade-textures"; in the download there is a folder named "reshade-shaders' and a folder within that , named "Textures"; which is "reshade-textures".

  • Hello, I wanted to ask - I installed your mod, everything works fine - but how can I disable screenshots in ReShadePreset when I click on Home in the settings, otherwise screenshots are taken in the folder \Documents\Escape from Tarkov\Screenshots and + screenshots from ReShadePreset.

    • you'll have to open the reshade GUI and change the hotkey that opens the GUI.

  • VERY VERY GOOD OO YEAAH! WOOOWW!! 🤷‍♂️👹👹🤣✅🙌🤞😎😎

    Happy 1

  • IM INSTALL CUSSES!!

    Thumbs Up 1

  • In most of the screenshots,

    pictures of the connected addresses are pictures of the interchange.

    Both interchange picture are vanilla pictures too.

    //Thank you for trying making this mod.

    • weird idk why its doing that.


      the image previews arent the same screenshot.

  • Can't find the 'game exe folder' in my SPT folder, did I download something wrong while downloading SPT or does it have a different name? :?:

    • your spt folder and the game exe folder are the same folder friend.


      look for the game's .exe file (inside your SPT folder) and select that when installing reshade

  • Any plans to make a version with iMMERSE Pro (RTGI/Regrade/Clarity) ? 👀 I can give you the files

  • im following exactly how your instructions are but uh,..wont base eft detect reshade because your instructions say to select eft.exe in spt folder.

    • if you installed SPT correctly and this mod as the instructions say, there is no worry. Battleye is not present in SPT.

    • ye i took a chance lol, its amazing

      Thumbs Up 1

  • Was hoping to try this out but I am getting the Google drive message "Sorry, the file you have requested does not exist." when trying to download.

    • updated link...should be good to download now


      my fault i was deleting stuff to make room on G Drive and mustve deleted this too.

      Thumbs Up 1

    • Yes it is working now. Thanks for fixing it so quick.

      Thumbs Up 1

  • I AM NEW HERE .HOW TO USE THE "RESHADE SETUP 5.8.0.EXE"?WHEN "SELECT PRESET TO INSTALL:" THERE IS NOTHING DOWN THERE.DO I NEED TO CHOOSE THE "Realistic Lighting for EFT-Tarkov-ReShadePreset.ini"OR SKIP OR SOMETHING ELSE.THANK YOU ^^

    • IT TELL ME TO GET 5.9 . SHOULD I GET THAT? ^^

    • on the overview page look for 'Installation Instructions'


      dont use 5.9 use 5.8

      Thumbs Up 1

    • o'k thanks

  • Is it possible to include all third-party programs in the mod distribution? It would be convenient for users...

    • i'll see how its done and if i can, ill update the mod asap with the request added.

      Thumbs Up 1

  • i downloaded the reshade from yesterday, how do I update it?

    • drag and drop archive into SPT folder overwrite when asked.

  • Just wanna say,I really liked the way this looks but it caused my game to freeze on lighthouse roughly 20 seconds in raid. Uninstalled and issue went away.

    • I second this, I can't even load in, it loads fine without reshade

      edit: (I cant even load into specifically LIGHTHOUSE raids)

    • My game freezes while I'm still in the hideout.

    • weird. that didnt happen on my end. are you using any other mods? i tested on a plain spt profile

    • fixed the issue. use reshade 5.8


      https://www.mediafire.com/file…hade_Setup_5.8.0.exe/file


      double click the downloaded file and install as the instructions say on the main page, this time click modify during the install.

    • Will test tomorrow and let you know, and yes i am running mods, though i just know that once i uninstalled Reshade 5.9 i could run lighthouse again. Will let you know the results.

  • This mod adds a rusty orange overlay, not removes the one the game already has?

    Thumbs Up 1

    • do you have a link to a screenshot?


      does your game look like my screenshots? if it doesnt then something was installed incorrectly.


      same instructions to @Grish98


      make sure you install the folder that is called BepinEx (with the download) last. install is AFTER you install Amands Graphics.

      Thinking 1

    • I fixed the problem by opening ReShade's menu and disabling one of the items, I don't currently remember which one... But it got rid of the hue, and made it look EXACTLY like the screenshots!

      Thumbs Up 1