Hard Light Productions Forums

Modding, Mission Design, and Coding => FS2 Open Coding - The Source Code Project (SCP) => Topic started by: Flipside on October 07, 2004, 08:02:36 pm

Title: Quick graphical Question....
Post by: Flipside on October 07, 2004, 08:02:36 pm
In the point of view of the current engine is it :-

a) Better to have several LODS usings the same Large bitmap, since this will save Texture memory or

b) Better to use the smaller textures for Lods since it decreases render-time.

And is this likely to change if the texture system gets updated?

Ta :D

Flipside :)
Title: Quick graphical Question....
Post by: Liberator on October 07, 2004, 08:24:51 pm
I think the single file would be better since modern video cards are so powerful.
Title: Quick graphical Question....
Post by: StratComm on October 07, 2004, 08:40:30 pm
Smaller textures on lower LODs, preferably one texture baked.  You don't need the crispness that a higher resolution map will provide at intermediate to long range, and it'll take less time to pass the smaller image to the renderer.  I don't even know if it'll take more texture memory, but at 256x256, it should be negligable.
Title: Quick graphical Question....
Post by: Deepblue on October 07, 2004, 08:47:17 pm
Memory is oh so precious for me, I would rather use one map.
Title: Quick graphical Question....
Post by: Roanoke on November 02, 2004, 05:40:46 pm
how do I go about texture baking ? Is it an automated sequence (ie a tool in some proggy) or some funky technique ?
Title: Quick graphical Question....
Post by: StratComm on November 02, 2004, 05:47:15 pm
It's a function of a few of the more powerful rendering programs; basically you apply the textures like you want them, then set up lighting, and finally render the maps out to one fitted texture.  Max calls this process rendering to texture, and I think it's called baking in lightwave.
Title: Quick graphical Question....
Post by: Roanoke on November 03, 2004, 02:09:21 pm
how about later versions of Truespace (ie; 6.5 ?)