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Question about file sizes and downloading

R

RobH

Charter Member
This may be a silly question, but I am trying to figure out what route to take. I am working on some repaints for Virtavias He-111, here is the thread in case you missed it. http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/showthread.php?58939-Virtavia-He-111

I have done all the main texture sheets, 6 total, in 4096 by 4096. I also did the 6 bump map textures in 4096, but then reduced them to 2048 to reduce the size. Each main texture sheet as a DDS, weighs in at 64MB. All together with the main textures and bump maps, will install at 400 MB. Of course the bump maps will only have to be installed once, but that will still leave a person installing a 320 MB texture folder for every repaint. Once zipped, the downloaded file will be just a little over 80Mb. I know most peoples ISP's are faster now a days, but 80mb, just seems a lot for a repaint.

Other than my poor painting skills:icon_lol:, would the file size be a deterrent for you to download or load up your aircraft folder? The reason I am asking is I am wondering if it would be better to just reduce the main textures down to 2048 x 2048, which would reduce the size a bunch. There will be however a pretty good loss in sharpness and detail. I don't really want to go to all the trouble of creating two different sized downloads and then have to upload them both.
I would appreciate some thoughts on this. Thanks!:icon29:
 
Frankly, I think 6x4096x4096 is a bit overkill.
If it's mipped you won't see the hires texture anyway, if it's not mipped the flickering will kill the experience at any but the closest zoom level.
I would reduce them to 2048.
 
Thanks folks!

Mathias, or anyone, do you know if there is any benefit to leaving the bump maps at 4096, and just reducing the main textures?
 
i think there is, but then the stuff i do tends to have the exterior on 1 sheet only. If theres 6 it might be better to lower em all, or just have ones with the fuse+wings on as 4096
 
RobH said:
Thanks folks!

Mathias, or anyone, do you know if there is any benefit to leaving the bump maps at 4096, and just reducing the main textures?
Click to expand...

Hi Rob,

rule of thumb at render time (in our 3d source file aplications such as 3dsmax) is, use normal (bump) maps as large as possible, using small maps for normals is useless.
The same would probably be valid for real time applications (FSX), though you have to put framerates into consideration.
If you get a decent performance with 4096 bump maps and think the overall file size is acceptable, I'd say go for it.
 
Thanks guys for the help. Still not quite sure what I will do yet. Probably the best thing will be to reduce the sizes to make it easier on other peoples systems.
 
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