SMIM 4K - Cleaned and Upscaled Textures for Static Mesh Improvement Mod (2024)

About this mod

Complete Texture Replacer for the great SMIM, with the same FOMOD options as the original. Textures have been cleaned and upscaled to 4K with modern compression. Plus performance options for Potato PCs.

It is my great honor to bring you SMIM textures for 2022, and with great thanks and reverence to Brumbek for creating one of the best mods for Skyrim ever, and for granting me permission to release this mod for everyone.

The original SMIM textures were a mix of BC1 and BC3 compression. The resolutions were a mix of 1K, 2K and 4K (if using the High-Res options in the custom install, otherwise they're lower--including in the AIO installations) plus some 256 and 512. I have cleaned all files of compression artifacts caused by these older compression formats, and then upscaled them all by 4x, to a maximum resolution of 4K. Then I converted them to BC7 compression and generated full mipmaps. I cleaned and upscaled them usingCupscale/ESRGAN and then finalized withOctagon.

This is version 0.90 because I may want to use an alternate models for a few of these files. I haven't done comparison models for every single texture as of yet. If anything looks too sharp or blocky for your taste please let me know.

I have added a balanced version that still has 4K resolution for tiled architecture textures and furniture, but downscales all small clutter and static objects to 2K.

Performance Options for Potato PCs
Mipmaps and BC7 compression reduce VRAM usage, especially when the files are cleaned of compression artifacts.
The 2K-1K version is similar to the 4K-2K version above. For more mashed potatoes, I've uploaded a downscaled version where the diffuse texture files are larger than normal and environment map files, which are less visible in game. This reduces VRAM usage considerably while maintaining higher visual quality, using theOctagon config files posted on this mod, which I recommend using if you have a Potato PC.

If you want full 2k or full 1k, etc, then useCathedral Assets OptimizerXbox Version Available HereInstallation
Requires the original Static Mesh Improvement Mod
I have maintained Brumbek's original FOMOD installer, but removed all the mesh and plugin installations.
This means that you can use this mod with any of the original installation options, just select the exact same option when using this FOMOD installer as you select when installing SMIM. Note that many of the options from the original FOMOD will be missing, as those options had only meshes and plugins but no textures.

The FOMOD is setup with the same name as SMIM, so by default it will try to install over the original SMIM. This is the recommended installation, just merge/overwrite the SMIM textures with yours.

I am including a BSA for the full installation version only that is uploaded in the optional files. I will not make other BSAs, you can make them yourself.

Compatibility
If you want to use any other SMIM alteration mod with this, then it's your choice which textures you want to overwrite. Most of the SMIM fixes and improvement mods do have a small number of texture files, and thus should be placed after this mod.
I have included an optional patch if you are using Novelyst'sStatic Mesh Improvement Mod Improvement Mod, which upscales textures used by that mod from 1k and 2k to full 4k. I am happy to do the same for other SMIM-alteration mods if granted permission by those mod authors.

My Cleaned & Upscaled Texture Mods:

Beauty
CBBE 8K-4K
CoverKhajiits 4KCoverEyes 1K
Animals and Creatures
Bellyaches 4K Animal and Creature Pack
Bellyaches 16K-8K Dragon Replacer Pack
Bellyaches New Dragon Species 16K-8K4K Enderal DonkeyClutter
SMIM 4K
Ruins Clutter Improved 4KSaerileth's White Phial Replacer 4K-2K
Book Covers Skyrim 4K
Book Covers Skyrim - Lost Letters 4K
Better Books and LettersDetailed Rugs 4KForgotten Retex Project 4K-2K
Weapons, Armor and Gear
Zim's Immersive Artifacts 4K
Cloaks and Capes 4KBandanas and Blindfolds of Skyrim 4K RetextureChitin and Dwemer Goggles and Scouter 4K-2K
Tribunal Robes and Masks 4KDeserterX Faction CrossbowsBandolier 4K - Bags and PouchesQueering Skyrim Necklaces Upscaled
Fashions Of The Banditry 4KForsworn Fashions 4KCloaks of the Nords 4K-2KMagic, Weather & FX
Mysticism: A Magic Overhaul
Deadly Spell Impacts 4K
Wonders of Weather 4K
Rainbows 4K
Shooting Stars 2KDLCs & Misc
Beyond Skyrim Bruma: Mountain Textures
Pilgrim: A Religion Overhaul
Holidays 4K-2KMonuments of Men 4K

If you are interested in collaborating on Overhaul projects, or levelling up your experience of modding Skyrim, please join my discord server, Skypocalypse.

Skypocalypse is above all a place for COLLABORATION, a community hub for mutual aid to level up our skills and Skyrim itself.

This server is the host to Skypocalypse Academy, where modders and porters of all skill and experience levels assist each other as we dive ever deeper into transforming the bones of this magical game. Featuring an extensive library of tools and resources, The Academy is meant to be as educational as it is welcoming.

We know from experience that modding is an extremely addictive past-time and can be a slippery slope from creating a simple load order to porting mods to going full boat and attempting to rebuild Skyrim from the ground up. That's why we believe in a community that integrates Xbox and PC gamers along with porting noobs and experienced mod authors. We all have more to learn, and modding Skyrim to its extreme is a community effort to say the least.

Skypocalypse is meant to be a gaming community that supports collaborative efforts. The gaming and social channels here are intended to foster the social connections that help act as glue for our collaborative work.[/size]