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
Honi soit qui mal y pense
(Evil be to him that thinks evil)