Implementing and Replacing textures

[674364f7b55e5Crimzan]

Hello Community!

I have created some textures I wanted to replace. For example, I create a 1024x1024 Hi-Res Texture for
fam\Shared\GRAV001.pcx
right now, I exported it simply as a .png file.

So, but the actual problem is that the texture is not scaled down to fit the surface.
The vanilla texture is 128x128, and mine is, how I said,1024x1024, which is 8 times bigger.
How can I tell the game to scale the texture down when it's used, so that it looks nice, sharp and crispy?

I find it quite hard to explain, but maybe you know what I mean

Thank you very much in advance!

-Crimzan

[674364f7b5875Kolya]

That's a terrain texture and it's already been redone by ACC in his 400 mod using an MTL file that points at an INC file which defines the terrain scale as far as I can see. You should take a look at how he did it. You'll find more in depth information in the docs for New Dark (material-format.txt). Also voodoo47 here can probably give you better advice than me.

[674364f7b5a29voodoo47]

you need to place a text file in the folder with the new texture, add

Code: [Select]

terrain_scale 128
save and rename to GRAV001.MTL - this will let the engine know how should it scale the new texture (it would be terrain_scale 128 64 for a 128x64 texture etc).

[674364f7b5c23Crimzan]

Thank you for your answers!

Woow, it's working and it looks awesome!

Image: http://abload.de/img/dump001pqsba.png
Image: http://abload.de/img/dump0023oszo.png
Image: http://abload.de/img/dump003oosc7.png

Soo...
All textures that are inside the fam.crf-File are actually terrain textures then?
What do I have to do if I wanted to create hi-res textures for Bitmap.crf?

Thank you for your help! I guess I am getting somewhere :p

[674364f7b5fc6ZylonBane]

What do I have to do if I wanted to create hi-res textures for Bitmap.crf?

Just replace them. Bitmap textures are treated like object textures, so they automatically scale.

[674364f7b615bvoodoo47]

also do note that while a bunch of 1024x1024 (or larger) png textures should be fine, if you are planning to replace more than a few you really should convert them into the (compressed) dds format - you can crash the engine down with hires uncompressed PNG textures real fast.

and, as mentioned, we already have a mod the ups the resolution of many FAM textures, so unless you are aiming for something different, maybe you should consider contributing to that instead.

there are many more areas where texture work is needed, so if you are willing to take shot at texturing objects, AIs, creating hires water surfaces etc, just let us know.

[674364f7b639eCrimzan]

Alright. Thank you for the info, I guess I will convert them to .dds then

Well yeah... I know System Shock Four Hundred, as well as SHTUP, and Rebirth and what not.
The textures are higher resolution, but in my opinion there are missing a lot of details.

So yeah - I am actually aiming for something different. I want to have a texture pack that does not look to System Shock 2-ish. I want to create textures that are fitting to the environment, the story, the atmosphere - simply to everything that happens on the Von Braun. :p

400 and SHTUP look way too clean for me. They might be upressed, but not really detailed and all that good stuff
I mean, thinking about what is happening, I think that old, dirty and damaged textures fit way more to the actual atmosphere than clean, happy and colorful textures So... you know. I am not saying that this mod is bad, no, there are indeed a lot of pretty good textures in there, but as there is no texture pack that is about what I expect System Shock 2 to look like, I am creating it myself

I guess as soon as I want to pause with this texture pack I'm going to take a look where texturing help is needed. I don't have that much free time, because I do a lot of design, texture, 3D modeling and stuff, so I am actually a little scared if I should add another "job" to my list, where I have to add updates and such frequently...

But could you tell me where exactly you would need help anyways...?

Cheers,
-Crimi

[674364f7b6799ZylonBane]

I want to have a texture pack that does not look to System Shock 2-ish.

Sigh.

[674364f7b68a8Crimzan]

Opinions, eh?
Sorry buddy. They differ sometimes.

[674364f7b6a0bZylonBane]

System Shock 2 looking like itself isn't an opinion, it's a fact. The "clean, happy and colorful textures" perfectly fit the game fiction, because the Von Braun is a brand-new, state-of-the-art, corporate scientific research ship. A Von Braun that looked old and dirty would make no damn sense. Ditto for the Rickenbacker-- it's an active-duty military vessel, and given the high profile of its mission, probably a pretty modern one. They keep those things clean and well-maintained.

But hey, if you want to make SS2 look like some generic grimdark grungefest, well... have fun with that.

[674364f7b6b55Carrot]

Technically, the ship probably shouldn't look clean.  The same 'corrosive gas' which is causing weapon degradation would probably also make the ships look aged and weathered.

[674364f7b6d12voodoo47]

anyway,

cutlery and worm piles would be good examples. big bots could also use higher res skins, some weapons as well (mainly those not updated by the Tacticool pack). the spinning marine/navy/osa logos as well. Rebirth hybrids could use alternate, closer to original concept skins. and more - check the Engineering for requests (I'll probably add some more and tag them so they would be easier to find).

[674364f7b6f26Crimzan]

You have got a point, and I understand what you mean.

They keep those things clean and well-maintained.

That is true, but not the whole time.
After there are people dying, and creatures and monsters coming, I guess that no survivor wants to clean windows and floors.
I mean... sure that hybrids, midwifes and corpses take out a vacuum cleaner and a cleaning rag to keep everything  "clean and well-maintained"?

I might be wrong, but I think they don't quite care about the shininess and functionality of the systems. And during this time, I am sure that floors, devices, systems, walls, et cetera soon look worn, dusty, and simply abandoned.

And I don't want to make it a "grungefest", I don't like this as well I just want to add more realism, because everything get's worn after a time in dayly use. Adding small fingerprints to screens, implementing shadows and highlights, and much more.
I don't think that they replace every floor-tile after there is a scratch on them.

So I find a clean Von Braun "would make no damn sense". Who knows how the many does affect it...?

Is it so far-fetched?

@voodoo47
I will look into it
Where can I find the spinning logos?

[674364f7b70c9voodoo47]

thanks;

OSALOG_.PCX - OSALOG_4.PCX
MARLOG_.PCX - MARLOG_4.PCX
NAVLOG_.PCX - NAVLOG_4.PCX

in obj.crf/txt16


you are of course, free to create any mods you like, and as long as they work properly (not causing issues like crashing the game or visual anomalies), they will be moved to the Mods subforum for everyone to download.

also, expect a lot of feedback, and sometimes grumpy - we all want only the best for our favorite game(s).

and do consider registering, you will need the full user rights to manage your posts and attachments properly.


// added the request tag, and will add some more request shortly.

[674364f7b76dbunn_atropos]

A Von Braun that looked old and dirty would make no damn sense.

Except someone was to do a "100 years later" FM. The von Braun has crashed into a meteorite and has been exposed to space for a long time.
Or a "alternate dimension" FM in which the ftl-drive is broken and the surviving crew is trying to get back to earth Galactica style. Etc.
It's useful to have high quality textures that show their descent from original textures but give the option for something new.

[674364f7b7845Crimzan]

Alright, I just registered and I will try and remodel them in 3D and animate them.
Is it possible to add more frames or do I just have to make this 5 frames?

[674364f7b797cvoodoo47]

they can have more, but not sure where the limit is, would have to check the docs - anyway, pretty sure 20 frames are supported, and that should be more than enough. here's the topic, feel free to post anything logo related there.