Optimize Frame Rate on Lower-End Hardware

Lower Shadow Quality

In the shader settings, find the Shadow Quality or Shadow Resolution option. Reduce this to a lower setting (such as Low or Medium). SoftShade is designed to run smoothly, but shadows are often the most performance-intensive feature. Lowering shadow detail will significantly boost FPS while maintaining the soft aesthetic.

Disable or Reduce Ambient Occlusion

Look for Ambient Occlusion (AO) in the settings menu. This feature adds subtle depth to block corners and crevices. Disabling it or switching to a lower quality mode frees up processing power without drastically changing the visual style.

Adjust Render Distance Carefully

While not a shader setting, reducing your in-game Render Distance in video settings works hand-in-hand with shader optimization. Lower render distance means fewer chunks for the shader to process.

Monitor Performance

Use an FPS counter (F3 debug screen or a mod overlay) to track improvements. Make one change at a time so you can identify which settings have the biggest impact on your specific hardware. SoftShade should maintain playable frame rates even with modest adjustments.