Texture Guidelines: Difference between revisions

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'''Q: What is the darkmod_hires SVN directory for?'''
This should be a rough guideline for choosing the correct dimensions and format for your custom TDM texture.


A: To help us maintain original .tga textures, we have had to setup a darkmod_hires repository on SVN. It will contain map, object and character hi_res textures .tgas that can later be released as a self installing upgrade package.  The hi-res .tga versions are also used for any modifications that need to be made to the textures (since resaving .dds files decreases resolution).
== 2.08 update (2020) ==
The guidance is for standard tiling textures. A single large texture with a unique pattern shouldn't cause too much harm, especially if it is used sparingly. The other consideration is whether this "beautiful" texture matches the pixel density of other textures at natural scale.


'''Q: When do I upload to the darkmod_hires repository?'''
You may be admiring your great new texture but players will be looking at TDM textures next to it and thinking "why is everything except the wall so blurry"? To which the answer will not be "OK, we are going to increase all the texture resolutions and make the game unplayable except for high-end hardware from 2016+". Doom 3 \ TDM is more texture heavy than many other engines since it relies on normal maps for most detail so you have to budget textures differently than an engine where half of the detail is baked into the diffuse because of baked lighting. The limit is there to act as a sane guideline.


A: Anytime you create a new texture.  You should upload a .tga version to the hires repository, and a .dds version to the regular texture folders.
Forum discussion link: https://forums.thedarkmod.com/index.php?/topic/9082-newbie-darkradiant-questions/&do=findComment&comment=445922


'''Q: I have uploaded my hires textures, now what?'''
== Dimensions ==
* Diffusemap: '''max. 1024 pixels''' (when used for smaller areas: 512)
* Normalmap: '''max. 1024 pixels'''
* Specular: '''max. 512 pixels'''
* Editor image: '''max. 256 pixels'''


A: Switch back to the regular 'darkmod' mod directory and upload the .dds textures.
== Compression Standards ==
* Diffusemaps: DDS (DXT1/DXT3)
* Normalmap: TGA (uncompressed, no RLE)
* Specularmap: DDS
* Editor Image: JPG (medium quality (e.g. 85 in Photoshop), not over-compressed)


'''Q: How do I download the hires textures?'''
* If the texture is to be included in TDM : A high res copy of the diffusemap (can be RLE)


A: In the same way you download the rest of the mod. The only exception is that you have to change the file path while using the darkmod_hires directory.
== Naming Conventions ==
Assuming your texture is named '''rough_grey_dirty''', the names are
* Diffusemap: '''rough_grey_dirty.dds'''
* Normalmap: '''rough_grey_dirty_local.tga'''
* Specularmap: '''rough_grey_dirty_s.dds'''
* Editor Image: '''rough_grey_dirty_ed.jpg'''


'''Q: What is the reason for having these texture guidelines?'''
* Nontiling textures have the '''_nontiling_''' part in their name: '''rough_grey_dirty_nontiling_local.tga'''
* Textures tiling into one dimension only get the '''_tiling1d_''' part added: '''rough_grey_dirty_tiling1d_local.tga'''


A: There are several.
* Heightmaps: '''rough_grey_dirty_h.tga'''
* Alphamaps: '''rough_grey_dirty_a.tga'''
* Occlusion maps: '''rough_grey_dirty_occ.tga'''


== Exceptions ==
* Skyboxes: Doom can't handle DDS for Skyboxes, so uncompressed TGA should be used here. If the dimensions of your skybox textures exceed 1024 Pixels, JPEG compression on maximum quality should be applied. (Uncompressed TGA on six 2048 x 2048 textures would result in 72 MB altogether, which is definitely too much and the high resolution will compensate the anyway negligible JPEG artifacts.)


'''1. To make downloading the mod easier for our members who are on dialup.'''
== Material File Conventions ==
See here: [[Material File Naming Convention]]


'''2. To prevent the mod from ballooning into a huge monster. Uncompressed TGA's add up quickly.'''
Remember: Do keep a backup of the ultra hi-res versions of your work as well as your working files (photoshop, gimp files). These should be added to the '''texture_src''' repository, which keeps all the "working" or "source files".


'''3. To make the mod accessible to members and eventually players who will not have high end computers that are capable of handling the textures.'''
== See also ==
* [[DDS creation]]
* [[How to add Textures to The Dark Mod]]


Here is the basic setup for uploading and downloading from this repository.
{{tutorial-textures}}
 
http://208.49.149.118/TheDarkMod/screenshots/hires.jpg
 
 
== TEXTURE GUIDELINES: ==
 
 
Texture groups should attempt to stay within the following standards.
 
'''''Format: DDS Compression.'''''
 
With this formula,the largest DDS textures (1024x1024) weigh in at roughly 1 to 1.5 megs, mip maps included.
 
'''Do keep a backup of the ultra hi-res versions of your work. Try not to forget that you must upload a .tga and .dds version to their respective repositories.'''
 
'''Tiled textures- Walls, Floors, Ceiling, Doors...ect -'''
 
 
Diffuse: [ Min/Max: 1024 x 1024]
 
Normal: [ Min: 512 x 512 / Max: 1024 x 1024]
 
Specular: [ Min: 256 x 256 / Max: 512 x 512]
 
 
'''Large objects- Beds, barrels, chairs, bookshelves-'''
 
 
Diffuse: [ Min/Max: 1024 x 1024]
 
Normal: [ Min: 512 x 512 / Max: 1024 x 1024]
 
Specular: [ Min: 256 x 256 / Max: 512 x 512]
 
 
'''Small objects- Keys, books, goblets, utensils-'''
 
 
Diffuse: [ Min/Max: 256 x 256]
 
Normal: [ Min: 256 x 256 / Max: 512 x 512]
 
Specular: [ Min: 128 x 128 / Max: 256 x 256]
 
 
'''AI: All characters-'''
 
 
Diffuse: [ Min/Max: 1024 x 1024]
 
Normal: [ Min: 512 x 512 / Max: 1024 x 1024]
 
Other: [ Min: 256 x 256 / Max: 512 x 512]
 
 
By following this formula, you will reduce your final file size while retaining high quality presentation.
 
 
Coming soon: [[DDS creation]].
 
[[Category:Textures]]

Latest revision as of 20:20, 16 June 2024

This should be a rough guideline for choosing the correct dimensions and format for your custom TDM texture.

2.08 update (2020)

The guidance is for standard tiling textures. A single large texture with a unique pattern shouldn't cause too much harm, especially if it is used sparingly. The other consideration is whether this "beautiful" texture matches the pixel density of other textures at natural scale.

You may be admiring your great new texture but players will be looking at TDM textures next to it and thinking "why is everything except the wall so blurry"? To which the answer will not be "OK, we are going to increase all the texture resolutions and make the game unplayable except for high-end hardware from 2016+". Doom 3 \ TDM is more texture heavy than many other engines since it relies on normal maps for most detail so you have to budget textures differently than an engine where half of the detail is baked into the diffuse because of baked lighting. The limit is there to act as a sane guideline.

Forum discussion link: https://forums.thedarkmod.com/index.php?/topic/9082-newbie-darkradiant-questions/&do=findComment&comment=445922

Dimensions

  • Diffusemap: max. 1024 pixels (when used for smaller areas: 512)
  • Normalmap: max. 1024 pixels
  • Specular: max. 512 pixels
  • Editor image: max. 256 pixels

Compression Standards

  • Diffusemaps: DDS (DXT1/DXT3)
  • Normalmap: TGA (uncompressed, no RLE)
  • Specularmap: DDS
  • Editor Image: JPG (medium quality (e.g. 85 in Photoshop), not over-compressed)
  • If the texture is to be included in TDM : A high res copy of the diffusemap (can be RLE)

Naming Conventions

Assuming your texture is named rough_grey_dirty, the names are

  • Diffusemap: rough_grey_dirty.dds
  • Normalmap: rough_grey_dirty_local.tga
  • Specularmap: rough_grey_dirty_s.dds
  • Editor Image: rough_grey_dirty_ed.jpg
  • Nontiling textures have the _nontiling_ part in their name: rough_grey_dirty_nontiling_local.tga
  • Textures tiling into one dimension only get the _tiling1d_ part added: rough_grey_dirty_tiling1d_local.tga
  • Heightmaps: rough_grey_dirty_h.tga
  • Alphamaps: rough_grey_dirty_a.tga
  • Occlusion maps: rough_grey_dirty_occ.tga

Exceptions

  • Skyboxes: Doom can't handle DDS for Skyboxes, so uncompressed TGA should be used here. If the dimensions of your skybox textures exceed 1024 Pixels, JPEG compression on maximum quality should be applied. (Uncompressed TGA on six 2048 x 2048 textures would result in 72 MB altogether, which is definitely too much and the high resolution will compensate the anyway negligible JPEG artifacts.)

Material File Conventions

See here: Material File Naming Convention

Remember: Do keep a backup of the ultra hi-res versions of your work as well as your working files (photoshop, gimp files). These should be added to the texture_src repository, which keeps all the "working" or "source files".

See also

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