Modular texture placement

Chase

I have my block out already made, but didn't construct it to be favorable to modular textures. This is my first scene and the concept didn't show what the room of the building looked like so I am having to conceptualize it myself. It wasn't until after I blocked out the scene that I realized I would want to use modular textures. Was I suppose to lay my block out with the knowledge of what modular textures I'd be using? I created the texture atlases but when I place them in the block out space of the floor the overall dimension of the floor is off. This is going to have a reverberating affect on the rest of the block out if I have to adjust the placement due to the slightly expanding floor.

Block out vs modular textures


The tiles are 128x128 and the grates are 64x32. You can tell I didn't know what I wanted to use when I created my block out so now the placement of my textures doesn't match the block out.

Eric Chadwick

Need to see the concept.

Chase

The textures in this are very minimal so I know I can get away with just using a tiling surface and uv it on my block out. I wanted to go a little further and introduce some more sci fi elements to the floor/ceiling though.

I noticed the larger building has modular ceiling meshes. When it comes to modular meshes I know planning is key. I need to figure out the size of each repeating ceiling mesh in my block out of that. I feel like modular textures might be a similar approach, but I'm not sure.

How should I go about texturing the caution tape area?

Eric Chadwick

Did you see Marcan's post about his work on Mass Effect 3?
http://www.polycount.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1881634#post1881634

Chase

I just took a look. Still doesnt really clear things up for me in terms of blocking out the level with the use of modular textures. Im in need of a breakdown that shows that aspect. Like Philip's example here. http://www.philipk.net/portfolio/textures/pk02_scene.jpg. He just didnt deomstrate his placing of these texture flats in his scene which is what need. Reusing the textures on other models so they arent just a one purpose texture is good info to have at least!

Eric Chadwick

You create a texture sheet with various details on it. Then you model and uv a library of meshes that use that texture. Then you duplicate those pieces around to build your level. Make sense?

Chase

Yeah that all does. I was just going about it the Doom method. Make the texture sheet, place the textures around for the walls, ceilings, floors. I just need to know if I have to block out the walls, ceilings, floors with the same dimension of said texture. So if the floor panel is 256x256 I should have blocked it out as such.

Eric Chadwick

Nope, no need to get perfectly even pixel density. Although you do want to avoid major blurriness next to sharpness. You could use 1 sheet for all floors, another for walls columns and such.

Chase

What does this mean for my example in the first post? I just stretch out the textures to fit?

Eric Chadwick

Rebuild the floor parts from your texture sheet, and smush, scale, and/or snap them together to make a new floor. The blockout is only a guide.

Chase

Gotcha. Thanks Eric! Thought the block out was more of a permanent matching procedure. I guess it can be if planned accordingly

Eric Chadwick

In my experience, usually the blockout is completely replaced by the pretty meshes. The one thing you have to be careful of is keeping basically the same collision shapes, so the designer's intentions are preserved. Depends who designs the level of course. In your case, sounds like it's just an art piece, so it's really only about the looks. Good luck with it, curious to see how it turns out!

Chase

Alright good to know! Ive got a good amount done. Looks like ill be needing to make some revisions but shouldnt result in too much added time. I started a thread on the project whenever you have a chance to check it out!