DBD resources

ReShade for Dead by Daylight

Adjust the colour, contrast and sharpness of Dead by Daylight on PC with ReShade. Find installation steps, xTakker presets and solutions to common problems here.

Before you start

This guide is for PC. Download the standard installer from the official ReShade website and check compatibility with your game version. Updates to the game, ReShade or the anti-cheat system may change how it works.

What you get

Make your game look better

Here are some of the effects you can enable (and fine-tune to taste) with ReShade.

Colour and contrast

Fake HDR and colour correction: deeper blacks, richer tones and a much punchier image.

Lighting and bloom

Softer, more realistic lights, with a natural glow that gives every map depth.

Depth of field

Effects that require depth information are unavailable in multiplayer with the standard version of ReShade.

Better visibility

Tune clarity and shadows to read loops, items and the killer better in dark areas.

Image sharpening

Adjust sharpness without exaggerating edges. Every effect can affect performance: compare FPS with filters enabled and disabled.

Your own style

Anime-style cel shading, film grain, vignette, smoothed edges… the look is up to you.

Installation

How to install ReShade

The easiest way to install and set it up, step by step, in this complete video guide.

  1. Close Dead by Daylight. Locate its installation from your game library and back up your presets if you already use ReShade.
  2. Run the official installer and select the game executable. If it does not appear in the list, use the browse option to find it in the installation folder.
  3. Select the graphics API used by your game configuration. It must match the API you launch the game with; do not choose another just because an old tutorial uses it.
  4. If the installer lets you select a preset, choose the .ini file you want to use so its effects can be installed. Review the selected packages before finishing.
  5. Launch the game and check for the ReShade banner. Open its panel with the key shown in that banner and complete the initial tutorial.
  6. Load the preset and compare the result with effects disabled. Adjust brightness, saturation and sharpness for your display, and check performance during a match.

Full installation guide by Raimak (in Spanish). Thanks for the tutorial! 🙌

xTakker's presets

xTakker’s ReShade presets

Start with a general preset or scroll down for your map's one. Click any of them to preview its contents, or copy it and add it as a preset in ReShade inside the game.

How to load xTakker presets

Download the ZIP on this page and extract the files before using them. A .ini preset stores effects and their values; it does not replace the installer or necessarily include the shaders it needs.

In the ReShade panel, open the preset selector and locate the extracted .ini file. Start with a general filter, then try one for your map. If effects are missing, check their names in the preset and install the corresponding packages through the official installer.

General · works on almost every map

xTakker's base preset: a balanced starting point that looks good on almost any map. If you're not sure which to pick, start here.

Grey filter · makes red pop (killers)

Mutes every other colour so red stands out. Built for killers: scratch marks, blood and auras read much sooner.

Want them all? Download the full pack as a ZIP with one preset per map.
Download all (.zip)

Each map can have several versions — Standard, v1, Stream, KL or K0DA. Try them and keep whichever you like best.

Common ReShade problems in DBD

The ReShade panel does not appear

First check whether the banner appears when the game starts. If it does not, review the executable and API selected in the installer. If it does, use the key shown in the banner: it may differ from the video.

The preset does not change the image or shows errors

Check that you selected the correct .ini file and that effects are enabled. Shader errors usually require checking installed packages and effect and texture paths. Use the reload option after correcting them.

FPS drops or the image looks too bright

Disable effects one at a time and compare performance. Reduce the filter intensity before changing in-game brightness. A preset made for another display or map may not produce the same result on your system.

The game stops launching after installation

Uninstall ReShade using its installer and check whether the game launches again. Consult the official documentation before reinstalling; do not disable or try to bypass the anti-cheat system.

See also the official ReShade troubleshooting FAQ.

How to uninstall ReShade

Close the game, open the ReShade installer and select the same executable and API used for installation. Choose the uninstall option when it detects the existing installation. First back up any presets you want to keep, then check that the game launches without the ReShade banner.