Benchmark 1.1 Feedback - Female Hyur Midlander ~ Eyeshadow Option Issue

IDK if anyone has posted anything regarding it or not, nor do I think a dev will actually see this, but I thought I'd air a minor grievance I have with the graphical update. Overall, I love the graphical improvements made to my character... except for the eyeshadow. It's nearly non-existent.

Here is my character currently:
https://i.postimg.cc/7LyRKgTT/Lyd-inn-endwalker.png

Here is my character from the first benchmark:
https://i.postimg.cc/vmLNkcW2/Lyd-inn-bench-ver-1.png

And here is my character in the current version of the benchmark:
https://i.postimg.cc/Qt8y3hm8/Lyd-inn-bench-ver-1-1.png

In the current game, the eyeshadow extends a bit away from the eyes resulting in a more full look. But starting with the first benchmark, the eyeshadow no longer goes out as far and it is still like this in the second benchmark.

Here's an image I made comparing the current game version and new benchmark version. One with the eyeshadow outlined (to the best of my ability) and one not. Endwalker on the left, Dawntrail Benchmark 1.1 on the right.

Original:
https://i.postimg.cc/YqZZWcrR/eye-co...no-outline.png

Outlined:
https://i.postimg.cc/pLj7Q0yH/eye-comparison.png

While I'm not super upset with this change, I do really prefer the old look to the eyeshadow. And while I would love to see it reverted I can understand if the devs have more pressing concerns. Just thought I'd put this out there even if I'm just shouting into the void.

I just want to agree with you and say that this is also the case for f!highlanders in the latest benchmark, specifically on face 1/eyes 4

You can also see there is less eyeliner below the waterline on the lower lid. The lashes are floating. I know people are sometimes very make-up averse in any sense but I feel like a compromise with some warmer dark brown instead of the black would help define the eyes whilst not looking like black khol eyeliner [even tho I personally like eyeliner] There's not enough definition between eyeball, waterline and lashline as is!

I was gonna make a thread on this as well, glad I'm not alone. I also really prefer the old look of the upper eyeshadow/eyelashes. There is an eye option (number 4 I think) that has a thicker eyeshadow and it doesn't change the shape too much, but still it doesn't give back the old look. Posting the comparisons I made with the current in-game versions on the right.

https://i.imgur.com/XraQYGb.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/mocRLEn.jpg

Hopefully something can still be done about this, either by reverting the change or by adding it as an option to the facial features category. The old eyeshadow itself works as a semi-transparent and almost textureless model that drops down from the upper eyelid, covering the upper quarters of the irises from certain angles, and thus giving middies a really interesting gaze that I have come to love.

This is really sad. Forcing a more natural look on us… if you hate makeup and lashes square thats fine and just make it OPTIONABLE. Dont remove it or tone it down, theres tons of people that likes it!!!! I already felt the makeup and lashes in this game were very boring and now they are making it even more toned down?? I want MORE eyeliner and lashes, not less.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SugaryMiraa

Hopefully something can still be done about this, either by reverting the change or by adding it as an option to the facial features category. The old eyeshadow itself works as a semi-transparent and almost textureless model that drops down from the upper eyelid, covering the upper quarters of the irises from certain angles, and thus giving middies a really interesting gaze that I have come to love.

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Yes, that's a very good way to put it. Before these changes, my middie had what I'd call an exotic and sultry gaze that I found particularly beautiful.

This isn't an issue about makeup, it's more about how eyelashes are rendered entirely.

https://lds-img.finalfantasyxiv.com/...fc3852852c.png
Updated Benchmark | Vanilla 6.58

This is without any eyeliner/sans makeup. It's the eyelashes themselves that have changed with the update. It's to the point that the shape of the entire eye feels like it has changed.

This also bothers me to the point if this isn't fixed i'll have to fantasia to another face entirely. I personally prefer how this makes my eyes look thinner and more akin to a monolid.

While, yes, the lashes have been changed, there is eyeshadow there in the current game that has been toned down in the benchmark. Both have been changed with results that give a less-than-desirable look.

With Eyeshadow:
https://i.postimg.cc/jdbZ0sSG/Eyesha...son.pnghttp://

Without Eyeshadow:
https://i.postimg.cc/MZRdFcq7/No-Eye...Comparison.png

The benchmark's eyeshadow option more closely resembles the original no eyeshadow look than the current look with the eyeshadow option enabled.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by noumen0nn

Going over the details, here's some traces I did of the eyes, plus an overlay of the traces for more clarity of what's changed.

https://imgur.com/X70l80z.jpghttps://imgur.com/xj4oaCQ.jpghttps://imgur.com/R0djTZj.jpg

Her entire eye (type 5) has "shrunk" for no apparent reason, and the overall shape of the eye is much less upturned and much more almond-shaped. Her eyeliner has shrunk as well, and received a similar de-slanting, giving her eyes a duller, less-intense look than before.

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Your trace is a lot better than mine, but I noticed the exact same thing and it really bothers me.

+1
Everything looks good except the eyes, they look a little too... bare?

I'm so glad I'm not alone here! The new makeup changes the look and appeal of the face wayyy more significantly than some people give it credit for, and those changes aren't exactly positive ones in a lot of cases.

https://i.imgur.com/9FtMPlo.png

1. The fact that the color selection for these pictures are set to black and on the dark setting is just wild to me. The new puffy eyebags of the face model only make the reduced makeup even MORE noticeable, since there isn't as much to counter-balance the shadows they cast.

2. If someone wants their character to have a more natural look without makeup, then cool! They can just toggle it off! But not even being able to opt into the alternative of using a saturated + high-contrast makeup for a more dramatic effect is a huge bummer.

3. Despite the fact that we no longer have the semi-transparent "veil" covering the tops of our eyes anymore (which, like others in this thread mentioned, I also super loved for the unique expression it created), the eyes somehow manage to look even smaller.

TLDR; Smaller eye shape + drastically reduced makeup = beadier looking eyes and an overall less expressive... well... expression. Hyper-realism isn't always a boon when it ends up just making our fantasy character turn uncanny valley.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by NoxLuminos

I'm so glad I'm not alone here! The new makeup changes the look and appeal of the face wayyy more significantly than some people give it credit for, and those changes aren't exactly positive ones in a lot of cases.

https://i.imgur.com/9FtMPlo.png

1. The fact that the color selection for these pictures are set to black and on the dark setting is just wild to me. The new puffy eyebags of the face model only make the reduced makeup even MORE noticeable, since there isn't as much to counter-balance the shadows they cast.

2. If someone wants their character to have a more natural look without makeup, then cool! They can just toggle it off! But not even being able to opt into the alternative of using a saturated + high-contrast makeup for a more dramatic effect is a huge bummer.

3. Despite the fact that we no longer have the semi-transparent "veil" covering the tops of our eyes anymore (which, like others in this thread mentioned, I also super loved for the unique expression it created), the eyes somehow manage to look even smaller.

TLDR; Smaller eye shape + drastically reduced makeup = beadier looking eyes and an overall less expressive... well... expression. Hyper-realism isn't always a boon when it ends up just making our fantasy character turn uncanny valley.

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Agreed with everything you said. I was so happy when i saw the first benchmark that they gave us (atleast miqote) thicker lashes. Then i went to the forum and saw everybody complaining about it. It made me scared square enix would remove it, and boom they did. And even toned down the eyeshadow too. Why not just make it optionable so everyone wins ugh. It actually made me sad lol. I hope they do something to this before release.