The Oblivion Screenshot Thread Options

[Decrepit]

Today's Gemini-enhanced Oblivion screenshot differs from what I normally post in that it documents Gemini's perverseness. The undoctored screenshot was captured in Burma during nighttime, with Neeshka and my decrepit avatar seen outside the city chapel. I've always liked its composition, so I decided to see what Gemini might make of it. My first enhancement attempt produced satisfactory, if blase, results, except that my avatar's skin-tone was that of a "person of color." I reminded Gemini that my avatar is a Nord and told it to make the correction. It did so...with a vengeance, as is seen below:

<links> Hamfat & Neehsky outside Bruma Chapel, a perverse Gemini-enhanced first-playthrough image <link>

I was so shocked by what had been done to my avatar's face that I failed to notice that Neeshka is no longer a Dunmer.

Some days later I attempted a fresh enhancement of the screenshot. This time Gemini was more factually correct, but so little "improved" from the original screenshot that it wasn't worth keeping.

[Acadian]

The braided blond bearded Nord and his fair-skinned human sidekick.

[mirocu]

I don't remember Hamfat being so beardy

This post has been edited by mirocu: Mar 27 2026, 05:52 PM

[Decrepit]

Today's Gemini-enhanced TES Oblivion Classic contribution is two images that are the same image, or rather, one image that I asked Gemini to enhance with two lighting variants. Here we see Vilja reading to my avatar inside Benirus Manor. The source image was drastically cropped long ago. There was undoubtedly a light source in the room. What and where it was is likely to remain unknown, unless/until I transfer my second playthrough to my primary PC.

My solution was to have light beaming through the door window. I initially chose sunlight, later remembering that my avatar normally asks for book readings near bedtime. Thus, the moonline variant. Gemini initially misbehaved with the moonlight variant, enlarging the door window to enormous size, taking up half the door. Thankfully, Gemini corrected this with only one additional processing.

<link> Bookreading in Benirus Manor, sunlit version. <link>
<link> Bookreading in Benruis Manor, moonlit version. <link>

As is my recent practice, these images are linked from Google Photos so that all can see them.

ADDENDUM: So far as I can tell, I never linked to what I consider my most elaborate Gemini-enhancement except as an Imgur link, which not all can see. I therefore take the liberty to link it as a Google Photos image:

<link> A column of Legion Halberdiers, marching the Siege of Kvatch, pass through Weye Village, a Gemini-enhanced second-playthrough early-Crisis screenshot <link>

This post has been edited by Decrepit: Mar 28 2026, 02:44 PM

[Decrepit]

Today's Gemini-enhanced TES: Oblivion Classic screenshot is a scenic view of the Imperial City as seen not far from the beginning of the Black Road. I believe this to be a second-playthrough image.

<link> Scenic view of the Imperial City as seen from the beginning of the Black Road <link>

This post has been edited by Decrepit: Mar 29 2026, 01:33 PM

[mirocu]

Oh! So that's where Weye Mansion is! I thought it was in a different location!


Nice pic nevertheless

[Decrepit]

Oh! So that's where Weye Mansion is! I thought it was in a different location!


Nice pic nevertheless

If you refer to the structures seen at extreme screen left, those belong to Verona House, another mod-added home my avatar acquired the rights to. It's much more elaborate than Weye Manor. Too highfalutin for my avatar's taste. He rarely sleeps there. I have a few enhanced screenshots in-the-can showing my avatar and his companion just outside Verona House. I'll likely post them someday.

[mirocu]

Oh, I see

[macole]

Today's Gemini-enhanced TES: Oblivion Classic screenshot is a scenic view of the Imperial City as seen not far from the beginning of the Black Road. I believe this to be a second-playthrough image.

<link> Scenic view of the Imperial City as seen from the beginning of the Black Road <link>

An impressive picture. I like the two travelers in the foreground. Did Gemini take liberties by adding them?

[Decrepit]

Today's Gemini-enhanced TES: Oblivion Classic screenshot is a scenic view of the Imperial City as seen not far from the beginning of the Black Road. I believe this to be a second-playthrough image.

<link> Scenic view of the Imperial City as seen from the beginning of the Black Road <link>

An impressive picture. I like the two travelers in the foreground. Did Gemini take liberties by adding them?

While Gemini does indeed sometimes, for ill or good, take liberties beyond what it's told to do, in this case it by and large follows my commands. Here's what I told it to do:

"Transform this Elder Scrolls Oblivion scenic screenshot into a photorealistic image. To it, add one medieval peasant sitting on his posterior with his back against the large rock seen near the camera at screen left; he should be seen in the process of eating a sausage. Also add one medieval peasant seen standing, leaning against that same rock, positioned so that he is seen looking across the water toward the city."

It took one liberty in that it moved said large rock a bit closer to the camera. This irked me at first, but I must admit it makes for a more impressive picture.

All that said, Gemini indeed does sometimes add extra people to an image; those tend to be seen in the distance. The Gemini enhancement of the image mirocu likes, for instance, shows a few travelers atop Talos Bridge. I don't notice those in the original screenshot, though admittedly its dim lighting makes the bridge walkway a little hard to see.

[Decrepit]

Here we witness a rare semi-casual meal with staff in Weye Manor's dining room. As to the empty chair, I have it on good authority that Vilja overheard its occupant mumble something about "posing for AI slop" before leaving the room.

<link> A semi-formal meal in Weye Manor, a second playthrough Gemini-enhanced TES Oblivion screenshot <link>

The plate seen in front of the empty chair actually shows Gemini's unshakable belief that every chair at a table in which any plates are seen must have a plate in front of it. Commanding Gemini to remove the unneeded plate is a lesson in frustration and usually ends in failure.

BTW: This enhancement is accurate as to the people seated at the table. The eating animations and what is seen on the table were modified by my written-out directives.

[Acadian]

Maybe Neeshka had to go to the little eff's room?

[macole]

Another great picture revision. Your instructions are improving.

But why no Neeska, where could she be? Neeshka took one look and muttered "AI slop". Translation "Abysmal Indoril cuisine".

[Decrepit]

Today's entry, a Gemini-enhanced image, showing the second-playthrough "gang" crossing a Colovian Highlands bridge en route to Cheyinhal, differs significantly from the original screenshot. I therefore include both for comparison.

In the original, as seen below, the gang is scrunched up together at screen left, with Vilja and her horse partially out of frame:

<link> The gang crosses a Colovian Highlands bridge, a second-playthrough screenshot. <link>

This would never do. I wanted the gang seen spread out in a column, with Wolfgang in the lead, followed by my avatar, the mule, and, lastly, Vilja bringing up the rear. I wanted the whole of Vilja and her mount seen within the frame if I could pull it off. And I of course wanted the image to look as photorealistic as Gemini could make it.

After a few false starts, numerous corrective passes, and me swearing at Gemini until I was blue in the face, a satisfactory enhancement was obtained.

<link> The gang crosses a Colovian Highlands bridge, a second-playthrough Gemini-enhanced image. <link>

It's not perfect. Gemini put too much of the landscape beyond the bridge in soft focus and steadfastly refused to show everything in sharp focus. Also, much of the mountainside's rich coloring is lost; I know from experience not to ask Gemini to correct this sort of thing. Warts and all, I'm content...with regrets.

Another great picture revision. Your instructions are improving.

But why no Neeska, where could she be? Neeshka took one look and muttered "AI slop". Translation "Abysmal Indoril cuisine".

The easy answer is that, this being a second-playthrough image, Neeshka does not exist. That said, there was a brief period during that playthrough when both Neeshka and Vilja were active. I have a few screenshots proving it. Sadly, it was impractical. When setting down to dine at an inn, for instance, it was next to impossible for Neeshka and Vil to seat themselves at the same table. I no longer remember whether I deactivated Neeshka's mod or set her up as a permanent resident in one of my avatar's many owned homes.

This post has been edited by Decrepit: Yesterday, 04:23 PM

[macole]

<link> The gang crosses a Colovian Highlands bridge, a second-playthrough Gemini-enhanced image. <link>

The way you rearranged the members of the party crossing the bridge gives it more life in my opinion. Looks good. Especially having Wolfgang out in front. That's the way wolves are.

When setting down to dine at an inn, for instance, it was next to impossible for Neeshka and Vil to seat themselves at the same table. I no longer remember whether I deactivated Neeshka's mod or set her up as a permanent resident in one of my avatar's many owned homes.

back around 2010 I had Viconia and Vilja in a party. Judging by the comments Vilja would make to Viconia I gathered that they didn't get along. I can imagine it was the same with Vilja and Neeshka.

It's the same with the ladies in my world. They each have their own home and businesses: vineyards, laboratories, etc.