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LetMeReShade Complete Guide

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Owen Singh edited this page Jun 12, 2025 · 10 revisions

  🎮 LetMeReShade 🎨

  Centered Image

  LetMeReShade is a tool that allows users to apply custom shaders and visual effects to their favorite games, enhancing graphics and providing a unique visual experience tailored to individual preferences. This is the Ultimate Steam Deck graphics enhancement suite with advanced shader customization and Vulkan support via VkBasalt! 🚀

🛠️ Installation

🏪 Decky Store Installation (Recommended)

  1. Make sure you have Decky Loader installed on your Steam Deck.
  2. Open the Quick Access menu (the ... button).
  3. Select the Decky icon (the 🔌 plug icon).
  4. Go to the Store tab.
  5. Search for LetMeReShade and click Install.
  6. Enjoy! 🎉

📂 Manual Installation

  1. Download the latest release from the GitHub Releases page.
  2. Ensure you have Decky Loader installed and enable Developer mode in the Decky settings.
  3. Browse to the downloaded .zip file in your file manager and select it to install.
  4. Wait for the process to complete.

🌟 Plugin Overview

LetMeReShade provides an easy way to install and manage two different graphics enhancement tools:

  • ReShade: For DirectX and OpenGL games (most Windows games running via Proton).
  • VkBasalt: For Vulkan-based games.

These tools allow you to apply a wide range of post-processing effects to your games, including:

  • ✨ Sharpening for improved clarity
  • 🎨 Color correction and enhancement
  • 🖼️ Advanced anti-aliasing methods
  • 💧 Depth-based effects (e.g., Ambient Occlusion)
  • 🔮 Screen-space reflections, and much more!

🎬 Video Overview

Check out this video guide for a visual walkthrough!

LetMeReShade Video Guide

⚙️ Installing ReShade & VkBasalt

After installing the plugin, open the Quick Access menu (... button) and select the LetMeReShade plugin from the list.

ReShade Installation Options

The plugin offers several ReShade installation options:

  • ReShade Latest: The most recent version. (✅ Recommended for most users)
  • ReShade Last Version: An older stable version, useful if the latest has compatibility issues.
  • Addon Support: A toggle for enabling addon support.

To install ReShade:

  1. Select your preferred version from the dropdown menu.
  2. Toggle "Enable Addon Support" if needed.
  3. Click Install ReShade.

⚠️ A Note on Addon Support

While addons offer powerful new functionality, they may trigger anti-cheat systems in online games. It's strongly recommended to keep this disabled for multiplayer titles.

VkBasalt Installation

For Vulkan games, you'll need VkBasalt instead of ReShade:

  1. In the VkBasalt Management section, click Install VkBasalt.
  2. Wait for the installation to complete.

Both ReShade and VkBasalt can be installed simultaneously, as they target different graphics APIs.

🕹️ Applying Shaders to Games

For Steam Games

  1. In the Steam Games section, select your game from the dropdown list.
  2. Choose an API/DLL override, or select Automatic to let the plugin detect the best option.
  3. Click Install ReShade for DirectX/OpenGL games or Enable VkBasalt for Vulkan games.
  4. The plugin will automatically set the correct launch options for your game.

🛑 Important: Linux Native Games

If the plugin detects your game is a Linux native version, it will warn you. ReShade only works with Windows games running through Proton. You'll need to force Proton compatibility mode in the game's properties and reinstall the game to get the Windows version. (See the Troubleshooting section for details).

For Heroic Games

For games from the Epic Games Store, GOG, or Amazon Games installed through the Heroic Games Launcher:

  1. In the Heroic Games ReShade section, select your game from the dropdown.
  2. Choose a DLL override or use Automatic.
  3. Click Install ReShade.
  4. The plugin will install ReShade and update the Heroic configuration automatically.

API/DLL Selection Guide

When selecting an API/DLL override, consider the following:

  • Automatic: ✅ Recommended for most users. The plugin will attempt to detect the appropriate API.
  • DXGI: For modern DirectX 10, 11, and 12 games.
  • D3D9: For older DirectX 9 games.
  • D3D11: A specific override for DirectX 11.
  • OpenGL32: For OpenGL-based games.
  • Other options: For specific edge cases where the common options don't work.

If you're unsure which API your game uses, you can often find this information in the PCGamingWiki Graphics API Database.

🖥️ Using ReShade In-Game

Once installed, here's how to use ReShade in your games:

  1. Launch your game.
  2. Press the HOME key on your keyboard (or map a controller button to HOME).
  3. The ReShade overlay will appear, showing available effects.
  4. Use the menu to enable/disable effects and adjust their settings.
  5. Create and save presets for different games or scenarios.
  6. Toggle effects on and off with the specified hotkeys.

For VkBasalt, effects are also toggled with the HOME key, but there is no interactive menu; you'll need to configure effects beforehand in a configuration file.

✨ Custom Shaders

📁 Directory Structure

ReShade shaders are stored in specific locations:

  • ReShade Shaders: ~/.local/share/reshade/ReShade_shaders/
    • Standard repositories: reshade-shaders, sweetfx-shaders, etc.
    • Merged shaders (when enabled): Merged/Shaders and Merged/Textures
  • External Shaders: ~/.local/share/reshade/External_shaders/
  • VkBasalt Shaders: ~/.config/reshade/Shaders/ and ~/.config/reshade/Textures/

Installing Custom Shaders

To add your own custom shaders:

  1. For ReShade:

    • Place .fx shader files in ~/.local/share/reshade/External_shaders/.
    • They will be automatically linked to the Merged shaders directory.

  2. For VkBasalt:

    • Place .fx files in ~/.config/reshade/Shaders/.
    • Place texture files in ~/.config/reshade/Textures/.
    • Edit ~/.config/vkBasalt/vkBasalt.conf to add your shader names to the effects list.

💾 Creating Presets

ReShade allows you to save and load presets:

  1. Configure your desired effects in-game using the ReShade overlay.
  2. Click Save in the Home tab of the ReShade interface.
  3. Name your preset (it will be saved as an .ini file in the game's directory).
  4. Load presets from the Home tab anytime to switch between configurations.

🩹 Manual Patching

For games that don't work with automatic patching, you can use manual patching:

  1. In the LetMeReShade plugin interface, go to the Manual Patching section.
  2. Select the game you want to patch.
  3. Choose the appropriate DLL to override.
  4. Click Apply Patch and confirm.

Example: Stardew Valley

  1. First, ensure you're using the Windows version of the game:
    • Uninstall Stardew Valley.
    • Go to Stardew Valley's properties/compatibility and check Force Compatibility.
    • Select Proton Experimental.
    • Reinstall the game (it will now be the Windows version).
  2. Open LetMeReShade, and use the Manual Patching section.
  3. Select Stardew Valley, select OpenGL for the DLL, and click Apply Patch.
  4. Download a preset like Fadedew and place it in the Stardew Valley game folder.

📄 Configuration Files

Key configuration files for advanced customization:

  • ReShade.ini: Located at ~/.local/share/reshade/ReShade.ini

    • Controls global ReShade settings.
    • Defines effect and texture search paths.
    • Sets key bindings and performance options.

  • vkBasalt.conf: Located at ~/.config/vkBasalt/vkBasalt.conf

    • Controls which effects are enabled for VkBasalt.
    • Configures effect parameters.
    • Sets keybindings and paths.

Example vkBasalt.conf:

effects = cas:clarity
reshadeTexturePath = "/home/deck/.config/reshade/Textures"
reshadeIncludePath = "/home/deck/.config/reshade/Shaders"
clarity = /home/deck/.config/reshade/Shaders/Clarity.fx
depthCapture = off
toggleKey = Home
enableOnLaunch = False
casSharpness = 0.4

🚑 Troubleshooting

🤔 Common Issues

  • Overlay Not Appearing

    • Verify the correct DLL override is selected.
    • Ensure the HOME key is properly mapped.
    • Check if the ReShade files are in the right directory. Due to multiple .exe files in game folders, ReShade might install to the wrong location. You can manually copy the ReShade files (dxgi.dll, d3d11.dll, etc., and the reshade-shaders folder) to the directory containing the game's main .exe.
    • For Vulkan games, remember VkBasalt doesn't have a menu like ReShade.

  • Game Crashes on Launch

    • Try a different DLL override.
    • Disable other third-party overlays (e.g., from Discord).
    • Make sure you're using the Windows version of the game through Proton.
    • Some games (e.g., Crysis 2 Maximum Edition) may error on launch; try removing the launch options (some games don't require it).

  • Performance Issues

    • Disable resource-intensive shaders (e.g., ray tracing, complex ambient occlusion).
    • Reduce shader quality settings within the ReShade menu.
    • For weaker hardware, stick to lighter effects like CAS (sharpening) or basic color correction.

🐧 Linux vs. 🪟 Windows Games

ReShade only works with Windows games running through Proton, not native Linux games. If the plugin warns you that a Linux game is detected, you must:

  1. Right-click the game in your Steam Library.
  2. Go to Properties → Compatibility.
  3. Check the box for "Force the use of a specific Steam Play compatibility tool".
  4. Select Proton Experimental or the latest stable Proton version from the dropdown.
  5. Close the properties window. Steam will now download the Windows version of the game. You may need to reinstall.

🔧 Game-Specific Solutions

  • Stardew Valley

    • Must use the Windows version via Proton.
    • Use the OpenGL DLL override instead of a DirectX one.

  • Unity Engine Games

    • Usually work best with DXGI or D3D11.
    • If you experience crashes, try D3D9 as a fallback.

  • Unreal Engine Games

    • Typically use D3D11 for UE4 games.
    • Newer UE5 games may require DXGI for DirectX 12 support.

❓ FAQ

Q: Does this work with all games? A: Most Windows games running through Proton should work with either ReShade or VkBasalt, but compatibility can vary. Native Linux games are not supported by ReShade.

Q: Will this get me banned in online games? A: ⚠️ Use at your own risk. Using ReShade without addon support is generally considered safe for most games, but some strict anti-cheat systems (like those in Destiny 2, Valorant, or Call of Duty) may still detect it and issue a ban. VkBasalt is generally less likely to trigger anti-cheat.

Q: How do I uninstall everything? A: Use the Uninstall ReShade and Uninstall VkBasalt buttons in the plugin interface. This will remove all associated components.

Q: Why does my game show the "Linux game detected" warning? A: Some games on Steam offer both Linux and Windows versions. ReShade only works with the Windows version running through Proton. Follow the instructions above to force Steam to download the correct version.

Q: Can I use ReShade and VkBasalt together? A: No. You should use ReShade for DirectX/OpenGL games and VkBasalt for Vulkan games. Using both on the same game will cause conflicts.

Q: Where can I find more shaders? A: You can find thousands of additional shaders and presets from:

Q: How do I back up my configurations? A: To back up your configurations, save the contents of these directories:

  • ~/.local/share/reshade/ for ReShade
  • ~/.config/vkBasalt/ and ~/.config/reshade/ for VkBasalt

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