Torque and Texture Map Sizes

#1 I've heard anything above 512 is sized back down internally, but I do not know this firsthand.
My characters all use 2-4 textures, so don't let that stop you. Do keep in mind that each square is 4x the memory of the previous, so don't go hog wild. I prefer to use one 512x512 for the pants/arms, and one for the face. Keeping up to date with TSE, you may wish to use another for the normal map.

#2 Thanks.

That's what I had setup so far... using one 512 for the body and one for the face/head.

Also, I'm using a third 512 for the hair... using the alpha channel to create realistic looking alpha-blended hair...

If anyone knows anything I should know (cautions) about using alpha channels with Torque please let me know.

#3 I don't think there are any problems with using alpha. However, 512 for hair only seems quite a bit of waste. If the face is not included, you can easily use 256x or even 128x256 for just a straight lock of hair. UVmapping that around various strands would be quite easy.

#4 Well if you have alot of meshes around with alpha channels on them, you'll most likely run into sorting problems with water, the sky, transparent DTS's and dynamic lighting.

#5 So far it appears to be sorting things fine... but I'd have to test it in different situations.

I will probably use the strand approach you mentioned, Erik, thanks...

The problem with using anything less than 512 is that, when you see the model in-game, the hair looks pixelated/texelated... but that's if you're using the whole map to do all the hair and not using strands.... I still have to experiment with this.

#6 Hi, it's me again... :)


Can anyone tell me how you make double-sided polygons work within a .dts?

For example you have the normal back face culled mesh for the body, but within that same mesh, you want the hair to be double-sided (and alpha blended).

Is it a material property or something?

Thanks!

#7 What modeler? In 3ds there is a material option to make it doublesided. In milkshape you actually are cloning the poly, and reversing the vertexs. I can't remember offhand the exact details in milkshape, but if thats the one you need, Ill look it over again and post them.

#8 Hi Erik,

Well I'm using Maya at the moment, but what I mean is, is there a way to make a polygon appear double sided in the Torque engine, without cloning the poly and flipping normals/vertices?

I would imagine it's a special parameter in a material name... for example, you would have the hair stand material group named "hairStrand&dblside"... or something like that, so the engine recognizes that parameter and renders those polygons as double sided.... for example, like a wire fence in a game... or some blades of grass.

I just want to keep polycount down, otherwise I would do it the easy way.

#9 Well, I've never used Maya. In Max, its as simple as clicking the button '2-sided material' on the material map. The material I assume is an alpha, so you'de get both sides looking nice. Maya's bound to be pretty similar.