Hello again everyone,

I have been trying to find information about which image file type is best for specific applications in RLC. The best piece of information that I have found in my searching so far is the following:


Texture resolution
In order to optimize the system's memory usage, we use texture maps that have "power of 2" dimensions for both width and height. Some "power of 2" values are 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, and so on.
For Red Light Center's objects, we use a maximum texture resolution of 256 (width, in pixels) x 256 (height, in pixels).
We encourage you to test reducing gradually the object's texture resolution to check how much of the quality is lost. If the object uses just a simple tileable texture map, it could be reduced to 64 x 64 or lower. On the other hand, if it has something written on it, it might be necessary to raise the resolution to 128 x 128, or even 256 x 256.
The lower the texture map's resolution, the better (performance-wise).
File formats
The current game engine supports only JPEG and PNG image formats.
If the texture map doesn't contain any kind of transparency or translucency, such as wooden, plaster or plastic textures, then the recommended format is JPEG (uncompressed/maximum quality).
If the texture map does contain transparency or translucency, then use the PNG format.


I am still somewhat confused. For example, can someone help me understand what is meant by "texture map doesn't contain any kind of transparency or translucency, such as wooden, plaster or plastic textures, then the recommended format is JPEG"?

Also, I seem to remember reading somewhere that images that will require scaling are better used as .JPEG files and images that require a high degree of realism are best saved as .PNG files. Is that information essentially correct?

I'm sorry if I am asking the same questions that have been asked 1000's of times before, but the search function for the forum (or perhaps my mind) leaves something to be desired.

Best regards,
Fancy

if you're making anything with cutouts..... ie, fencing or gates etc..then png is a must.
For solid objects like a wall (unless you're going to cut out a window), then use jpg.

Go with as small a resolution as you can get away with. Your images maybe lag free, but unfortunately Utherverse has clothing designers who insist on using huge ass files for jewelry etc.

They are actually using images of 2048x2048 and up for a simple necklace. Insisting that its necessary to have the quality.

Bullshit is my answer to that.

If you have 50 avatars in your region and each has 5 textures on that are 2048 or more...no matter what you do to your images, that place will lag so bad you wont be able to move.

Sometimes you can do all you can but others have to take some responsibility too.

pretty much myself made it habit to always use png images always been using this program called riot makes images little crisper cleaner too

I have received similar advice from others too Playa. That is why I am going as far out of my way as necessary to ensure what I build in my Photo Bucket account will be a useful tool and not just collection of crap (pardon my French!).

For anything related to RLC, be it prop editor textures or be it clothing, JPG is good enough in 99.9 percent of any cases.
The only exception is when you need to apply any kind of transparency.

"The theoretical higher detail resolution" on PNG does not matter once a texture finalized and applied to a prop or avatar.
Or people do stand with their nose always 2cm away from a wall/avatar and search for differences with a magnifying glass?

The difference in file size can be huge and the visual effect is barely noticeable .. if at all when converted to JPG with a Quality setting <90.

It's kinda the same "nerd discussion" like when people belive that their ears hear a difference between an 192 kbps and a 320 kbps encoded mp3

If you still need to work with a file, then of course always go with a loose less uncompressed file.
But it's waste of resources on the finalized file (ready to hear or view).

Stream- or storage provider will of course always tell you fairy tales as they want to sell you their shit and charge some bucks extra for "quality" that average human senses are not able to differentiate by default.