This speeds up Gaussian Blur and Linear Gaussian Blur drastically reduces time spent reading textures and instead uses existing registers - maximizing time spent reading the actual image texture.
See Also: #21 Blur Quality
Similar to Linear Box Blur, this version of Gaussian Blur reduces the total number of sample by up to n. This results in a total sample count (per pass) of O(n+1) for even radii and O(n+2) for odd radii. The quality sacrificed to do this is higher this time, though careful adjustment of the halfTexelDelta value can bring it much closer to normal Gaussian Blur. The current offset however had no noticable effects on visual quality.
See Also: #21 Blur Quality
Linear Box Blur abuses the fact that with Linear Sampling we can sample up to four adjacent texels at the same time and get a correct result for Box Blur back. Using this the total number of sample for Box Blur is reduced by n, making the total either n+1 (Even Radius) or n (Odd Radius).
Additionally all blur effect files have been merged into a single blur.effect file to reduce the time required to change a single parameter name. New blur effects should be added as a new technique instead of as a new effect file.
See Also: #21 Blur Quality
Michael Fabian 'Xaymar' Dirks