Texture formats overview

[BASys]

Texture Formats (Overview)

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Hi Folks

Could one of you knowledgeable texture bods
knock up a basic overview reference text
explaining the basic differences between the texture formats.
e.g.
DXT1, DXT2, etc.

This could be created either as a doc,
and we'll convert it to wiki content,
or enter it as content to this wiki page yourself.

HTH
ATB
Paul

 

[arno]

Good idea Paul, I'll try to contribute something as well.

 

[n4gix]

It's probably worth noting that neither DXT2 or DXT4 are supported by FS...

 

[arno]

Yes, so it is probably best to remove those. And to mention that DXT5 is only supported from FSX.

 

[BASys]

Cheers Gents

I've added an FS version column.

Thought it preferable to leave all versions present,
and explicitly state where not applicable,
in case people were using non-FS dedicated tools.

HTH
ATB
Paul

 

[BASys]

Hi Folks

I've added formatting & a couple of notes.

Please check & confirm or correct the info.

Many thanks
ATB
Paul

 

[arno]

Hi Paul,

Do you have any sources for the recommendation of DXT3 for FSX? That is new to me and I would not advice that in general. I always advice DXT1 unless the alpha channel is needed for different levels of transparency. In that case DXT5 might even be a better choice in FSX, as that gives a nicer alpha channel in general.

Also the performance trouble for mixing DXT1 and DXT3 I would like to see a source for. Most performance trouble are caused by missing mipmaps or using non DXT formats I would say.

Also for the transparency problems with SP2, is that not only with old FS2004 style objects? It is not the fault of the texture type.

 

[BASys]

Hi Folks

Arno -
Cheers for your feedback.
Apologies for any errors,
I'm not a "knowledgeable texture bod".

I've now added an AmBox to indicate "This page is a work-in-progress".
I've also re-coloured the blocks, to improve clarity.

Do you have any sources for the recommendation of DXT3 for FSX?

That note was specifically aimed at any packages intended to be compatible with both FS9 & FSX.
Again for improved clarity, I've re-ordered those sentence blocks.

Also the performance trouble for mixing DXT1 and DXT3 I would like to see a source for.

I may well have misunderstood,
ISTR it was raised in the Beta NGs,
I'll review those posts.

Most performance trouble are caused by missing mipmaps or using non DXT formats I would say.

I'd understood mipmaps were an issue,
just hadn't gotten round to wording that aspect appropriately.

Please feel free to update the wiki accordingly.

Also for the transparency problems with SP2, is that not only with old FS2004 style objects? It is not the fault of the texture type.

Again, please update the wiki accordingly.

Many thanks
ATB
Paul

 

[MarkkuS]

Hi!
What about the DDS format. What's that?

 

[lmoelleb]

You are welcome to "steal" the GIF animation I use on
http://www.fsonline.dk/da/index.php?title=Fremstilling_af_Textures
to illustrate how colors are affected by the 4x4 pixel block encoding in DXT. There is also an animation illustrating how color transistions on "uneven" pixels are affected in the next mipmap layer.

 

[BASys]

Hi Folks

Cheers Lars.
Much appreciated.

Link to http://www.fsonline.dk seems to have server probs ATM.

Will have a look again later.

Many thanks
ATB
Paul