Texture map loading question (optimisation really)

from Sins Forums
I would like to know if two objects that share the same texture map will result in the engine loading a seperate copy of it. I.e. will it duplicate the texture map or will they both use the same one?

Anyone know the specifics of this? I mean it sounds logical that it should but I wanted to check so I don't have to redo work to optimise. :P
modding
5,864 views 5 replies
Reply #1 from Sins Forums Top

Yup... lots of replies. lol.

Reply #2 from Sins Forums Top

Using gigantic textures, eh? ;)

I don't know much about graphics engine programming, but I'd say that any engine surely would not waste available system memory by loading same sets of data for each instance in the game. I mean, its probably not even basic optimization, but common sense.

So I think you are pretty safe in assuming that individual textures are loaded only once and then called up on demand within the game engine. And even if you would need a dev to reply in order to get a definitive answer, just think about it - each ship in the game uses texture sets from ~3Mb to ~15Mb in size... multiply that with the number of ships you get in one battle and imagine the system requirements on that one... ;)

Ashes of the Singularity II
Reply #3 from Sins Forums Top

Yeah obviously for copies of the same object that makes sense, the only slight wonder I had was if two diffrent objects use the same texture, does it count them as diffrent textures? I doubt it, but I don't want to have to remap lots of objects later on... :D

i.e. I have radar dishes and other 'fluff' for the particle system/entryvehicle etc which uses the same texture as its host ship (UVmapped at the same time also).

Reply #4 from Sins Forums Top

If it calls for the same texture file it stands to reason that one of the following occurs:

 

-if the texture data was preloaded, then the memory-resident copy of the texture is used no matter if its a copy of an object or an entirely different object - they all point to the same texture

-if the texture data was not preloaded, then the same as the above only there may be a slight slowdown when the data is loaded into memory (more so if the page file is used)

Reply #5 from Sins Forums Top

I really hate redoing work that I could have planned better is all. Im sure it will be fine.