Add Lighting and Visuals Setup guide

Covers Nova City 2, Weather Switcher, The Nullifier, Nova LUT 4,
LUT Switcher 3 and Nova Optics, including screenshots.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
Claude-Session: https://claude.ai/code/session_01TEELCmrofiBiMwcRq5PerW

Lighting-and-Visuals-Setup.md

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+## About
+
+Setup for weather, lighting and color grading. All mods in this guide are by **CyanideX**, except *The Nullifier* (robber804), and are built to work together:
+
+- **Nova City 2** replaces the weather and lighting (ENV) of the game.
+- **Weather Switcher** controls the weather and is required by Nova City 2.
+- **The Nullifier** removes area-specific lighting overrides, so the custom weather also shows up everywhere (e.g. in the Badlands).
+- **Nova LUT 4** is the color grading (LUT). **LUT Switcher 3** lets you switch LUTs in game.
+- **Nova Optics** fine-tunes exposure. Use it if Nova City 2 is too dark for you.
+
+> Nova City 2 is designed for **Path Tracing**. It still works with RT or raster, but those modes are not its focus.
+
+---
+## Mods
+
+| Mod name         | Link                                                            | Purpose                                         | Note                                     |
+| ---------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------- |
+| Nova City 2      | [NexusMods](https://www.nexusmods.com/cyberpunk2077/mods/12490) | Weather & lighting overhaul (ENV)               |                                          |
+| Weather Switcher | [NexusMods](https://www.nexusmods.com/cyberpunk2077/mods/18027) | Change weather, control time, customize clouds  | **Required** by Nova City 2              |
+| The Nullifier    | [NexusMods](https://www.nexusmods.com/cyberpunk2077/mods/23091) | Removes sector lighting overrides               | **Required** by Nova City 2              |
+| Nova LUT 4.0     | [NexusMods](https://www.nexusmods.com/cyberpunk2077/mods/11622) | Color grading (LUT)                             |                                          |
+| LUT Switcher 3   | [NexusMods](https://www.nexusmods.com/cyberpunk2077/mods/16310) | Switch LUTs in real time                        | + Optional file: **"LUT Pack - Nova LUT"** |
+| Nova Optics      | [NexusMods](https://www.nexusmods.com/cyberpunk2077/mods/29190) | Exposure, bloom, vignette etc. + vehicle fix    | Optional, see [Nova Optics](#nova-optics) |
+
+**Requirements** (all listed under *Dependency Mods* in [SitirioTV's Cyberpunk 2077 Mod Collection](./SitirioTVs-Cyberpunk-2077-Mod-Collection.md)):
+[Cyber Engine Tweaks](./cyber-engine-tweaks.md), Codeware, redscript, RED4ext, ArchiveXL, TweakXL, Window Utils
+
+---
+## Installation
+
+1. Install the requirements first.
+2. Drag & drop the content of each ZIP into the Cyberpunk 2077 root folder.
+   - Steam: `...\steamapps\common\Cyberpunk 2077\`
+3. For **LUT Switcher 3**, also download the optional file **"LUT Pack - Nova LUT"** from its *Files* tab. Without a pack, LUT Switcher shows no LUTs.
+
+> **Updating from Nova City 1?** Delete the `NovaCityTools` folder in `bin\x64\plugins\cyber_engine_tweaks\mods\` and the `NovaOverrides.ini` config file.
+
+### Remove these mods
+
+| Remove                                                                   | Why                                                    |
+| ------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------ |
+| Other weather / lighting / ENV mods                                      | Nova City 2 replaces them                              |
+| Vignette-removal and exposure mods (e.g. *Crouch vignette effect remover*) | Not compatible with Nova City 2                      |
+| Ultra Fog                                                                | Overrides the same file. Use **Ultra Fog Lite** instead |
+| Night City Visuals Nulled, Night City Fog Nulled, Dogtown Visuals Nulled | Replaced by The Nullifier                              |
+| ENV Tuner Lite, Eye Adaptation Auto Exposure Fix                         | Not compatible with Nova Optics                        |
+| Preem Optics, Blind Begone                                               | Replaced by Nova Optics                                |
+| Other LUT mods                                                           | Only one LUT can be active. Use LUT Switcher packs instead |
+
+---
+## Setup in Game
+
+All three tools are configured in the **CET overlay** (see [Cyber Engine Tweaks](./cyber-engine-tweaks.md)). Each one has its own window.
+
+### LUT Switcher
+
+1. Open the **LUT Switcher** window.
+2. Select **Nova LUT** in the sidebar, then **Nova LUT 4**.
+3. Optional: Star it to add it to your *Favorites*.
+
+The active LUT is saved automatically and persists across saves and reloads.
+
+> Some quests and scripted scenes temporarily override the LUT. It comes back once the scene ends.
+
+### Weather Switcher
+
+No setup needed, the defaults work fine. Useful features:
+
+- **Weather tab:** Lists all weather states, including the custom *Nova City* states. Click one to apply it.
+- **Reset/Resume Weather:** Returns to the normal weather cycle.
+- **Auto Apply:** Applies the selected weather every time you load a save (e.g. 24/7 sun). Leave it **off** for the natural weather cycle.
+- **Toggles tab:** Persistent toggles for visual features like blur, shadows and reflections.
+
+> Together with the **Time Slider**, it's ideal for testing your settings at different times of day and in different weather.
+
+### Nova Optics
+
+Nova City 2 has a realistic exposure system, so nights and unlit interiors are **dark on purpose**. If it's too dark for you, use Nova Optics:
+
+1. Open the **Nova Optics** window.
+2. Click the red **Disabled** bar so it turns to **Enabled**.
+3. Uncheck **Auto**. (Auto only fixes exposure while driving in first person and ignores your manual settings.)
+4. Expand **Exposure**:
+   - Check **Override**.
+   - Check the **globe** icon (Global), so it applies everywhere. Leave the **vehicle** icons unchecked.
+   - Set **Shadow Boost** (upper slider) to **2.50**.
+   - Leave the lower slider at **0.00**.
+
+Changes are applied live and saved when you release the slider.
+
+<img src="./assets/Nova-Optics-Settings.jpg" alt="Nova-Optics-Settings" width="400">
+
+**Shadow Boost 0.00:**
+
+<img src="./assets/Nova-Optics-Shadow-Boost-0.jpg" alt="Nova-Optics-Shadow-Boost-0" width="800">
+
+**Shadow Boost 2.50:**
+
+<img src="./assets/Nova-Optics-Shadow-Boost-2.5.jpg" alt="Nova-Optics-Shadow-Boost-2.5" width="800">
+
+> Higher values brighten dark scenes further, but the image can start to look washed out. Check the result at night **and** at noon.
+
+---
+## Troubleshooting
+
+| Problem                                   | Solution                                                                                                     |
+| ----------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
+| Still too dark                            | Raise **Shadow Boost** in Nova Optics. Reset the in-game gamma to default. A flashlight mod helps in unlit areas |
+| Nova Optics doesn't change anything       | Check that it says **Enabled**, **Auto** is unchecked and **Override** + **Global** are checked              |
+| Badlands / some areas ignore the weather  | **The Nullifier** is missing                                                                                 |
+| Weather never changes                     | Turn off **Auto Apply** in Weather Switcher, or click **Reset/Resume Weather**                               |
+| LUT Switcher shows no LUTs                | Install the optional **"LUT Pack - Nova LUT"**                                                               |
+| LUT Switcher / Nova Optics window missing | CET or one of the requirements is missing or outdated                                                        |
+
+---
+## References
+
+- [SitirioTV's Cyberpunk 2077 Mod Collection](./SitirioTVs-Cyberpunk-2077-Mod-Collection.md)
+- [Cyber Engine Tweaks](./cyber-engine-tweaks.md)

README.md

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 - [Ultimate Netrunner Build](./Ultimate-Netrunner-Build.md)
 - [Unlock Secret Ending Dialogue Options](./Unlock-Secret-Ending-Dialogue-Options.md)
 - [SitirioTV's Cyberpunk 2077 Mod Collection](./SitirioTVs-Cyberpunk-2077-Mod-Collection.md)
+- [Lighting and Visuals Setup](./Lighting-and-Visuals-Setup.md)
 
 ## Online Guides