What is Parallax?

What is Parallax in Skyrim Modding?

Parallax in Skyrim modding is a visual effect that adds depth and dimension to textures on 3D objects. It creates the illusion that surfaces have physical bumps, grooves, or other irregularities, even though the object itself is flat. This significantly enhances realism by simulating depth without adding extra geometry.

For example:

Stone walls may appear to have gaps between stones.
Cobblestones may seem to protrude or sink.
Wooden planks can look uneven or weathered.

How Does Parallax Work?

Parallax works by using additional texture maps, such as height maps or displacement maps, to manipulate how light interacts with the surface. This causes areas to appear closer or further away depending on their height values, creating the illusion of depth.

In Skyrim, parallax effects depend on specific shader instructions that interpret the height data and modify how textures are rendered. This is different from traditional bump mapping, which only fakes depth through lighting and shadows.

Is Parallax Exclusive to ENB?

Vanilla Skyrim:

Parallax was partially supported in Skyrim Legendary Edition (LE) but removed from Skyrim Special Edition (SE).
To restore it, modders rely on third-party solutions like ENB or other shaders.

ENB-Based Parallax:

In Skyrim Special Edition/Anniversary Edition, most parallax support is implemented through ENB (Enhanced Natural Beauty) presets that enable advanced rendering techniques.
ENB not only enables parallax but also enhances it with extra features like complex parallax and displacement mapping.

Engine-Level Support Without ENB:

Some community tools and mods, like Community Shaders for OpenMW (not Skyrim but similar in spirit), can enable parallax without requiring ENB.
In Skyrim’s modding ecosystem, however, ENB is the dominant way to achieve parallax effects, especially the advanced variants.

What File Formats Are Required for Parallax?

To use parallax textures, you typically need the following file types:

Diffuse Texture (.dds):

The base texture applied to the model (e.g., stonewall.dds).

Height Map (.dds):

A grayscale image that encodes depth information.
Lighter areas = higher elevations, darker areas = lower regions.
Example: stonewall_p.dds (the _p suffix often indicates a parallax map).

Normal Map (.dds):

Used in conjunction with parallax for realistic lighting and detail.

Specular or Roughness Map (optional):

Defines how shiny or rough the surface looks, adding further realism.

What Do You Need to Set Up Parallax?

ENB Preset:

Choose an ENB that supports parallax (e.g., Rudy ENB, PI-CHO ENB, or Silent Horizons).
Look for notes about “complex parallax” or “displacement mapping.”

Parallax Textures:

Use parallax-enabled textures (e.g., Parallax Textures for Skyrim SE or Lux Orbis textures for interiors).
Many mods on NexusMods include parallax textures for specific environments, like terrain, buildings, or armor.

ENB Helper and Compatibility Files:

Some ENB setups require additional plugins, like ENB Helper SE or compatibility patches for specific mods.

Meshes with Parallax Flags:

For parallax to work, the associated meshes must have parallax flags enabled. Mods like SMIM or custom parallax-enabled mesh replacers often include this.

Skyrim Anniversary Edition Support:

Parallax is best supported in 1.6+ versions of Skyrim (AE). Ensure your tools (like ENB binaries) are compatible with your Skyrim version.

Additional Tips for Using Parallax

Performance Considerations:
Parallax textures and ENB can be resource-intensive, particularly on older GPUs.
Start with one category (e.g., terrain or architecture) and evaluate performance before adding more.
Troubleshooting:
Ensure all required dependencies (e.g., ENB Helper) are installed and correctly configured.
Check for conflicts using SSEEdit if parallax doesn’t display as expected.
Testing Mods:
Popular parallax mods for testing include:
- Skyland AIO (now has parallax support).
- High Poly Project (architecture and clutter).
- Rally’s Parallax Mods.

Bump Maps vs. Parallax Mapping: Key Differences

Feature	Bump Mapping	Parallax Mapping
Purpose	Simulates surface detail using lighting	Creates the illusion of actual depth
View Angle	Appears flat when viewed from the side	Adjusts depth illusion based on viewpoint
Requires Height Map?	No (uses normal maps)	Yes (uses height/displacement maps)
Performance	Lightweight	More GPU-intensive
Effect	Fakes texture bumps with shading	Simulates physical depth and displacement

Summary:

Bump Mapping is faster and alters lighting to fake detail but doesn’t simulate depth changes.
Parallax Mapping dynamically adjusts texture projection, creating a more realistic depth effect, especially from oblique angles.