Texture modding: Difference between revisions

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A collection of information about textures; and how to edit and replace them/client side modding.
A collection of information about textures; and how to edit and replace them/client side modding.


=== General information ===
== General information ==
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<!-- This will definitely need updating or correcting -->
<q>Regarding HD textures, 3 reasons off the top of my head:
<q>Regarding HD textures, 3 reasons off the top of my head:
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The Saturation mask, as I call it (I'm sure there's a pro term) controls how much skin color applies to the diffuse map. Black is 100% color, white is none.
The Saturation mask, as I call it (I'm sure there's a pro term) controls how much skin color applies to the diffuse map. Black is 100% color, white is none.


[[File:Textures2.jpg|512px]]


=== Editing textures process ===
''Diffuse map with white, 50% black and black alpha layer''
This is assuming you're using Adobe Photoshop.
 
[[File:Textures3.jpg|512px]]
 
''Normal map with white, 50% black and black alpha layer''
 
 
== Editing textures ==
 
=== Process ===
''This is assuming you're using Adobe Photoshop.''
#Download and install Photoshop DDS plugin
#Download and install Photoshop DDS plugin
#Start Pigg Viewer Pro and browse to your [CoH main folder]\piggs folder
#Start Pigg Viewer Pro and browse to your [CoH main folder]\piggs folder
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Use this to export and import DDS files. Might have to be run in WinXP compability mode.
Use this to export and import DDS files. Might have to be run in WinXP compability mode.
https://mega.nz/#!JHRRFKzL!9LgzUNVWln2SRvjjkyl3uz9lfr4EQJiym0723v3HX7I
https://mega.nz/#!JHRRFKzL!9LgzUNVWln2SRvjjkyl3uz9lfr4EQJiym0723v3HX7I


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Easier tool for browsing. Use this to find the textures you want, use 1.61 to export/import.
Easier tool for browsing. Use this to find the textures you want, use 1.61 to export/import.
https://mega.nz/#!dXJ1AYKb!fXb-omyssE2KJLhp4z618TeRtRpOdANsbY9D5tSMEnY
https://mega.nz/#!dXJ1AYKb!fXb-omyssE2KJLhp4z618TeRtRpOdANsbY9D5tSMEnY



Revision as of 07:47, 12 May 2019

A collection of information about textures; and how to edit and replace them/client side modding.

General information

Regarding HD textures, 3 reasons off the top of my head: Texture size is specified/locked. You'd need to manually change that for every item. Not sure we have the tools currently.

I was told early on that bigger textures lead to a slowdown of the game. From what I understand: double a texture's size and it's like having 4 of that texture now. That's a big jump in file size. Consider the amount of costume parts we have in the game, the diversity of costumes you encounter and the game having to load all of those files. Not sure if it's the memory or whatnot (Platense can explain), but with the game code being what it is, it wouldn't work.

And 3rd, purely practical: The way to get the existing assets is by exporting the existing texture files, which are compressed DDS. The quality is often horrible. I tried upscaling and going through bouts of blurs and smart sharpens, but you just don't get a decent quality. So it's a lot of repainting by hand and that's a pain. Happy to be proven wrong on this


Understanding CoH textures

File:Textures.jpg

The Saturation mask, as I call it (I'm sure there's a pro term) controls how much skin color applies to the diffuse map. Black is 100% color, white is none.

File:Textures2.jpg

Diffuse map with white, 50% black and black alpha layer

File:Textures3.jpg

Normal map with white, 50% black and black alpha layer


Editing textures

Process

This is assuming you're using Adobe Photoshop.

  1. Download and install Photoshop DDS plugin
  2. Start Pigg Viewer Pro and browse to your [CoH main folder]\piggs folder
  3. Find the texture you want to work with
  4. Right-click desired texture, choose Extract, choose DDS format
  5. Open DDS file in Photoshop
  6. Edit texture as desired
  7. Save as DDS. If your texture has an alpha layer, make it DXT5 interpolated alpha. Files without alpha layer, like patterns or masks are DXT1.
  8. Open Pigg Viewer 1.61. Find the texture you want to replace, right-click, Create .texture from DDS. Select folder [CoH main folder]\data. Create if necessary.
  9. Start up game, find changed item

CoH does not always like it when you change textures while the game is running, especially normal maps. You might have to restart for each change.


Resources

Pigg Viewer v1.61

Use this to export and import DDS files. Might have to be run in WinXP compability mode.

https://mega.nz/#!JHRRFKzL!9LgzUNVWln2SRvjjkyl3uz9lfr4EQJiym0723v3HX7I


Pigg Viewer Pro

Easier tool for browsing. Use this to find the textures you want, use 1.61 to export/import.

https://mega.nz/#!dXJ1AYKb!fXb-omyssE2KJLhp4z618TeRtRpOdANsbY9D5tSMEnY


Photoshop Nvidia DDS plugin

https://developer.nvidia.com/nvidia-texture-tools-adobe-photoshop


Female Chest UV map

File:CoH Female Chest layout.png

by arthurh3535