VTF Compression Creating Artifacts

[Sanada]

I've made a texture for some box models I made but when I make the VTF texture, I gets these annoying artifacts which ruin the texture.

http://img284.echo.cx/img284/6386/cardboardboxes000qk.jpg

I've looked at some of the textures that Valve made and hardly, if any of them, have any of these artifacts I'm getting. Am I compiling the texture wrong? I save it as a 24-Bit TGA and then just use the vtex.exe to make it.

 

[GonzoBabbleshit]

what artifacts?

 

[Sanada]

Where the box texture meets the grey area mainly.

Here's the original TGA compared to it.

VTF

TGA

 

[GonzoBabbleshit]

I barely see anything to be honest!

How are you compiling it?

 

[Ti133700N]

You could remove the grey by extending the box orange brown color. I don't know why it's doing that though. Did you enabled RLE compression in your tga? If yes then you shouldn't.

 

[Sanada]

I barely see anything to be honest!

How are you compiling it?

Before, I did it with the 360g program but then used vtex.exe. Both seem to create similar results.

As far as I know the textures are not RLE compressed.

 

[The Dark Elf]

Is it actually noticable on the final model. In game. Cause if it isn't visible then there's no need to worry about it. I'd probably say your saving it in a slightly different tga format too.Try all of them and see which looks right then stick with it.

 

[Sanada]

Some parts are noticible like where the grey area seeps onto the model texture area. It was black before but more noticible so I changed it to grey. Also, I sometimes get blotches like on the example upabove. There's a green blotch on the piece next to the bit with the large label.

I tried saving with other programs like Corel Photo Paint but it didn't work. I tried all the settings I could like 24, 32-Bit and these other sort settings, though I don't think they did anything.

Guess there's no way to get rid of them. ;( Oh well.

 

[GonzoBabbleshit]

I can try and compile it for you if you want me to try?

 

[Sanada]

That'd be nice if you could.

You can use the TGA example I posted above. If the same thing happens, them I'm just going to accept it and leave it at that.

 

[GonzoBabbleshit]

Well, I got no artifacts.

I was going to attach it but it's 3kb over the file size limit! :frown:

 

[Some0ne]

this is just a guess but did you make it a 32bit TGA by any chance?

 

[GonzoBabbleshit]

no. 24-bit

 

[FictiousWill]

There's a vtf photoshop plugin somewheres, no idea if it would help or not. Lemme go find it.

edit: founds!

http://nemesis.thewavelength.net/index.php?c=154#p154

 

[GonzoBabbleshit]

That won't help at all. It just lets you view vtf's in photoshop, it's how I checked for artifacts after I'd compiled it though

 

[Some0ne]

this is just a guess but did you make it a 32bit TGA by any chance?

that was directed at Sanada. maybe he saved it as a 32bit TGA got those artifacts and Gonzo did it the right way, as a 24bit, and got no artifacts.

 

[Sanada]

I saved it as a 24-Bit TGA. I just tried 32-Bit in hope something might change. I know 32-Bit = 24-Bit + 8-Bit Alpha channel so it woundn't have done anything anyway. Dark Elf suggested I try other methods of saving.

BTW, GonzoBabbleshit, did you get the same artifacts or was it okay?

 

[GonzoBabbleshit]

Well, I got no artifacts.

I can't attach it cause it's 3kb over the file size limit!

 

[Some0ne]

save it as a compressed jpg

 

[GonzoBabbleshit]

how would that help me give him the vtf?

He already has the picture...

 

[Sanada]

You can email it to me if you want.

[email protected]

 

[GonzoBabbleshit]

That email address didn't want to work...

I'll put it on YouSendIt. It's here

 

[Sanada]

Thanks.

I downloaded that VTF plug-in for PS and gave it a try. It seems saving with that seems to compress the texture a lot better.