While the standard TrueLight preset remains focused on achieving a natural, realistic image, CHROMA takes a more artistic approach, reinterpreting the look of Forza Horizon 6 according to my personal visual taste.

What makes CHROMA different?

🎨 Alternative color grading — a warmer and cinematic color palette
🌈 Richer saturation — stronger, more vibrant colors
⚡ Punchier contrast — for a more impactful image
🎞️ Subtle film grain — adding a slightly more cinematic texture
📷 Stronger Depth of Field — for a more pronounced photographic feel

What is Arcadia TrueLight?

Arcadia TrueLight is a visual overhaul project primarily based in Reshade.

The goal is to push games' graphics toward a more photorealistic look, enhancing lighting, color balance and overall atmosphere.

Rather than flattening the image, TrueLight focuses on maintaining vibrant colors, controlled contrast and a more impactful sense of light.

Performance & scalability

This setup is designed to deliver the best results at higher settings, where lighting and visual fidelity can fully come through.

For the full visual result shown in my work, features like ray tracing tracing and higher-end hardware will make a significant difference.

That said, the setup remains scalable, a similar visual style can still be achieved with lighter configurations.

Compatibility & Setup Notes

The setup itself is lightweight and should have minimal performance impact with no major conflicts.

Before You Start

Choose the section that applies to you:

🆕 First Time Installing Arcadia TrueLight

If you have never installed Arcadia TrueLight for Forza Horizon 6 before, follow:

➡ Section A — Full Installation

🔄 Updating from Arcadia TrueLight 1.2

If you already have Arcadia TrueLight 1.2 installed, you do NOT need to reinstall ReShade.

➡ Section B — Update Existing Installation

SECTION A - FULL INSTALLATION

(If you have never installed Arcadia TrueLight for Forza Horizon 6 before)

Reshade

• Download ARCADIA TRUELIGHT RESHADE_FH6 1.2 CHROMA, extract the .zip

• Open the "PRESETS" folder, choose HDR or SDR

• Copy the .ini preset you find inside the ARCADIA TRUELIGHT RESHADE_FH6 HDR/SDR folder and paste it in your root game folder. (for example: Steam\steamapps\common\ForzaHorizon6)

• Download ReShade with full addon support

• Launch the ReShade_Setup

• Select Forza Horizon 6

• Select DirectX 10/11/12

IMPORTANT: during the installation, select the preset “Arcadia TrueLight Reshade_FH6 1.2 Chroma” you copied in the previous step.

• Click "Next"

• Skip the following section for add-ons, don't check anything there.

• Go back to the main folder "ARCADIA TRUELIGHT_FH6 1.2 CHROMA"

• From there, copy "renodx-forzahorizon6.addon64" into your root game folder - i.e. C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\ForzaHorizon6)

• Copy the "reshade-shaders" folder and paste it into your root game folder - i.e. C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\ForzaHorizon6)

Reshade Setup

• Once Reshade and RenoDX are installed, launch the game, once loading is complete you can click the "HOME" key to open Reshade, you will see the RenoDX tab as well, open it and copy my RenoDX_Settings (check image included)

• If your HUD appears blurred or flickering in-game, it is caused by the Cinematic DOF shader.

  This effect is not designed to work with the HUD enabled.

  You can toggle it off at any time by pressing “O”.

  (It's possible to rebind any Reshade effect with your desired shortcut, simply right-click over a Resahde effect and input the key.)

SECTION B - UPDATE EXISTING INSTALLATION

(If you already have Arcadia TrueLight 1.0 installed)

• Download ARCADIA TRUELIGHT RESHADE_FH6 1.2 CHROMA, extract the .zip

• Open the "PRESETS", choose HDR or SDR

• Copy the .ini preset from the ARCADIA TRUELIGHT RESHADE_FH6 HDR/SDR folder and paste it in your root game folder. (for example: Steam\steamapps\common\ForzaHorizon6)

• Locate your Reshade setup.exe (if you don't remember where it is or you deleted it, download it again HERE)

• Launch Reshade_setup

• Select Forza Horizon 6

• Select DirectX 10/11/12

• Choose "Update ReShade and effects"

• In the box below, browse and choose the new .ini preset Arcadia TrueLight Reshade_FH6 1.2, and click "Next"

• Skip Add-ons

• Go back to the main folder "ARCADIA TRUELIGHT_FH6 1.2 CHROMA", inside you'll find a "reshade-shaders" folder

• Copy that folder and paste it into your root game folder - i.e. C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\ForzaHorizon6)

• Update RenoDX

  (Copy "renodx-forzahorizon6.addon64" into your root game folder - i.e. C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\ForzaHorizon6, overwrite the existing one)

• Once in game, open Reshade, at the top of the interface, select Arcadia TrueLight Reshade_FH6 1.2 CHROMA preset from the preset dropdown list.

• To set it as default:

  • Go to the Settings tab

  • Find the “Startup preset” dropdown

  • Select the Arcadia TrueLight preset

  This will make ReShade load it automatically every time you launch the game.

• Adjust RenoDX following my RenoDX_Settings (check image included)

General tips to get the best quality/Performance balance

If you have an rtx 40 or 50 series gpu and plan to use DLSS super resolution in game, use the nvidia app to override to model M.

it is a newer, more advanced model that eliminates most ghosting and smearing from dlss 4. while it runs 10-15% slower, you can drop your settings from quality to balanced to get back some performance. also turn down the sharpening to 0.0-0.2 to avoid oversharpening.

My Graphics settings

• V-Sync ON

• DLSS On

• Super Resolution OFF (If you need more fps, use DLSS Quality or Balanced, turn DLAA Off)

• NVIDIA DLAA or QUALITY On (Sharpening 0 / 0.2)

• Frame Generation OFF (FG introduces bad ghosting so I'm not using it for now)

• NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency OFF

In case you're using G-SYNC, I suggest to keep it off for this game, based on my tests it introduces stuttering.

OTHER MODS RECCOMENDATIONS

Third-Party Mods Notice

The following mods are optional third-party recommendations that I personally use as part of my setup.

Because these mods are created by different authors, compatibility may vary depending on your hardware and existing mod configuration.

Some users may experience crashes, stuttering or performance issues when combining multiple heavy mods.

Neither Reshade nor the Arcadia modules themselves should cause startup crashes or major instability under normal conditions.

For the best experience, install carefully and avoid conflicting mods.

Remember to check the description AND requirements page of mods you download to better understand what they do and how to use them.

-UTILITY-

Disable Full HUD: Used for turning on/off the HUD

• it requires this mod as well

• Once both are installed use ALT + numpad 2 to turn ON/OFF the hud

-GRAPHICS-

Horizon Overhaul

Headlights - Tail Lights Overhaul

-VISUALS-

FH6_JC_DriftActionCamera_v1.4: You can get this from JC's Discord Server

-CARS-

Forza Horizon 6 Revolusound Team Pack

Nissan Skyline GT-R (R34) Z-Tune (From Forza Mods Discord)

• rename it to “NIS_SkylineGTRVSpecII_00” and paste it in Forza Horizon 6/mediapc/cars

Fast and Furious - Suki's S2000 (Neon underglow)

• (Download the .zip and rename it to “HON_S2000_03”, the paste it in ForzaHorizon6\mediapc\Cars)

Bumper Delete STO v0.8: (From Forza Mods Discord)

POR_911TurboS_93: (From Forza Mods Discord)

BBS_RS_GT: (From Forza Mods Discord)

• (file goes in ForzaHorizon6\mediapc\Cars\_library\scene\wheels)

Porsche 911 GT2 Auto Garage TBK x Rotana RWB

Toyota Supra MK4 Ridox Bodykit

• Rename File: TOY_SupraRZ_98

BMW_M4_14: (From Forza Mods Discord)

Fast and Furious - Brian's Eclipse

NIS_SilviaKs_98: (From Forza Mods Discord)