Author Topic: another graphics feature -- need input (Read 6145 times)

phreak · **on:** January 10, 2003, 04:43:21 pm

i recently stumbled across a feature used in newer games: texture compression, and its implementation using OGL (dunno how to do it in DX, but i know its possible)

using compressed textures, modders can use 32-bit textures that have been compressed leading to:

lower memory usage
faster rendering
faster texture upload
faster disk i/o

i'm planning on using the DirectX Texture Compression (DXTC) file format (.dds). A DXTC compressor can be found as PS and 3DSMAX plugins, and a DirectX SDK utility called DxTex.

DXTC images also support mipmapping within the file.

DXTC is supported using TNT cards and up for nvidia. and Radeon 7500 and up for ATI

Compressed Textures would also be a help to modders in terms of download size

http://developer.nvidia.com/view.asp?IO=texture_compression_OpenGL

Sesquipedalian · **Reply #1 on:** January 10, 2003, 06:25:09 pm

Quote

Originally posted by PhReAk
DXTC is supported using TNT cards and up for nvidia.

Ergo, Yes!

LtNarol · **Reply #2 on:** January 10, 2003, 06:33:03 pm

Not quite sure if I follow correctly, but what does the compression do to quality compared to uncompressed 8 bit maps?

phreak · **Reply #3 on:** January 10, 2003, 09:19:48 pm

you dont need palletting and its near lossless so theres not much to worry about

Krom · **Reply #4 on:** January 10, 2003, 09:58:16 pm

If I'm not mistaken 3dfx cards (like the voodoo3) also support S3TC/DXTC.

Setekh · **Reply #5 on:** January 10, 2003, 10:55:53 pm

Quote

Originally posted by PhReAk
modders can use 32-bit textures

Yes please.

It sounds excellent, the way you describe it - any known weaknesses?

Deepblue · **Reply #6 on:** January 10, 2003, 11:09:27 pm

Does that mean weapons too?
*Drools.....* *Thinks about the massive memory his current weapon effects take* *Decides not to think about it*

KARMA · **Reply #7 on:** January 11, 2003, 06:24:21 am

i agree, btw what will happen to older gpus that don't support compression?

phreak · **Reply #8 on:** January 11, 2003, 12:27:00 pm

Quote

Originally posted by KARMA
i agree, btw what will happen to older gpus that don't support compression?

modders can do this:

campaign_maps_dxtc.vp
campaign_maps_std.vp

if the user has a TNT+ or Radeon it should run in OGL.
DX should support this natively

STATS
-------
256x256 bitmap (24 bit) -- 192kb
256x256 pcx(256 color) -- 80kb
256x256 DXT1 (25 bit - 8r 8g 8b 1a) -- 32kb
256x256 DXT3 (28 bit - 8r 8g 8b 4a) -- 64kb
256x256 DXT5 (32 bit - 8r 8g 8b 8a) -- 64kb

DXT2 and DXT4 aren't supported by OGL hardware

Fetty · **Reply #9 on:** January 11, 2003, 02:43:01 pm

i just did some digging
according to that site nether tnt nor tnt2 cards support dxtc
gf256 starts with that

*sniff my g400max doesnt support it ether

edit vodoo 3 also doesnt

vyper · **Reply #10 on:** January 11, 2003, 06:58:22 pm

Quote

Originally posted by Fetty
i just did some digging
according to that site nether tnt nor tnt2 cards support dxtc
gf256 starts with that

*sniff my g400max doesnt support it ether
edit vodoo 3 also doesnt

Hold the boat... I have a G400 and Elite Force had Texture cmopression, and it worked fine.

LtNarol · **Reply #11 on:** January 11, 2003, 07:05:01 pm

I vote no...or atleast make it optional. Some people are still using tnt2s

. That and I really don't want to figure out a system of organization around those 2 vp names, since I'll be releasing 7 chapters using 7 separate mods

Sesquipedalian · **Reply #12 on:** January 11, 2003, 08:13:12 pm

Quote

Originally posted by LtNarol
I vote no...or atleast make it optional. Some people are still using tnt2s . That and I really don't want to figure out a system of organization around those 2 vp names, since I'll be releasing 7 chapters using 7 separate mods

It works on a TNT and up. A TNT2 is part of the "up". Hence the 2.

phreak · **Reply #13 on:** January 11, 2003, 09:07:51 pm

oops.. i cant read

dyslexia strikes again

GF 256 +
Radeon 7500+

only for OGL

DX should support this natively, since its DirectX Texture Compression

forgot to make this clear:

if FS2 loads a texture named "texture01" and finds "texture01.dds" and "texture01.pcx", it will load the compressed one first

Anaz · **Reply #14 on:** January 11, 2003, 09:37:08 pm

?again strikes dyslexia

IceFire · **Reply #15 on:** January 11, 2003, 10:26:23 pm

Would this be a step on the way to getting some nice bump mapping too?

Setekh · **Reply #16 on:** January 13, 2003, 06:14:42 am

Quote

Originally posted by IceFire
Would this be a step on the way to getting some nice bump mapping too?

http://developer.nvidia.com/search.asp?keywords=bump+mapping

I wish I understood this stuff.

RandomTiger · **Reply #17 on:** January 13, 2003, 06:58:51 am

Im not convinced this would give much of a speed increase given the way the engine works but if you think you can get it done it wont hurt to try.

EDIT: Actually what you should do is measure how much time the current system takes, and see how much % it takes up and if this is worth doing.

Which is what my timing system is for http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/topic,12701.0.html

Inquisitor · **Reply #18 on:** January 13, 2003, 02:45:21 pm

Mkae a copy of your code directory and try it out

aldo_14 · **Reply #19 on:** January 13, 2003, 04:19:33 pm

Quote

Originally posted by Setekh

http://developer.nvidia.com/search.asp?keywords=bump+mapping

I wish I understood this stuff.

This may be better - it's onew of the things I'm doing next semester. I'm looking forward to it - looks like the eventual aim is to code a (java based, natch) 3d (wrl I think) viewer ala 3d exploration. Should be fun.

https://www.cis.strath.ac.uk/teaching/ug/classes/52.359/lect14.pdf

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Author Topic: another graphics feature -- need input (Read 6145 times)

another graphics feature -- need input

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another graphics feature -- need input

another graphics feature -- need input

another graphics feature -- need input

Re: another graphics feature -- need input

another graphics feature -- need input

another graphics feature -- need input

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another graphics feature -- need input

another graphics feature -- need input

another graphics feature -- need input

another graphics feature -- need input

another graphics feature -- need input

another graphics feature -- need input

another graphics feature -- need input

another graphics feature -- need input

another graphics feature -- need input

another graphics feature -- need input

another graphics feature -- need input