popular normalmap compression

CrazyButcher · Feb 2009

hi, looking at the paper by id/nvidia on compression
http://developer.nvidia.com/object/real-time-normal-map-dxt-compression.html

I wondered which kind of compressions are used in the real world.

3DC/DXN/LATC/RGTC would be same

Brice Vandemoortele · Feb 2009

I assume you consider regenerating the blue channel

spare channels are always usefull (spec power, mask etc). We use dxt5 with xy in ga.

anoon · Feb 2009

I voted DXT5, but we actually use the DXT5nm option in the nVidia DDS exporter.

MoP · Feb 2009

LATC... so, 3Dc I guess.
I think we still use DXT5 on some systems but are phasing that out where possible.

Whargoul · Feb 2009

DXn on 360.

CrazyButcher · Feb 2009

thanks guys, and yes I assumed the 2 component trickery for tangentspace and DXT5, as the id paper also showed the results are best. DXn/LATC would be same/similar as 3Dc.

Rob Galanakis · Feb 2009

Compression is so last gen.

oXYnary · Feb 2009

I was trying to convince of 3dc, but failed. You know how programmers are if they think "its good enough". That, and we have the specs alpha in the normal maps (long story and bleh engine), which Im not sure 3dc would even allow as it is.

Results vary. Look fugly to me, but ehh.

CrazyButcher · Feb 2009

3DC and alike are a two component format only. Which means X & Y of the normalmap is stored, and Z can be reconstructed in tangentspace, as it will always "face up a little".

LEViATHAN · Feb 2009

Depends on the kind of texture, but DX5 in general.

popular normalmap compression

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