Texture Size/Memory Questions

couple questions:

1) what is the definitive max upload resolution? didn't see it in the wiki. i've heard/read 1024 x 1024 but then saw at least one post indicating that 2048 x 2048 was perhaps now supported. is this an undocumented improvement? documentation link appreciated. (note: just curious as i couldn't really justify using this rez)

2) i've seen some answers on this forum that give me the impression the only issue for textures is texture resolution and not texture file size. would like some clarification from those familiar with jpeg2000 via this example:

i have a 1024 x 1024 test texture in jpeg format. its uploaded filesize is 153kb.
i have another texture at 512 x 512 in tga format. it's uploaded filesize is 769kb.

the jpeg image is much clearer and would be preferred. so the question is: which file winds up being smaller in the stored jpeg2000 format? i'm using Debug-Texture and can see them, but unsure which numbers are filesize (one column that looks like file size suggests that the 153kb jpeg file went UP to 299kb)

btw, is anyone using the free Mac convertor i've come across on the net for checking their filesizes. be interesting to hear what people have learned.

thanks.

yeup i seen 2048x2048 textures now, but i stick to 512 and lower,

I usually upload with tga , it will be converted anyway, the jpg you have uploaded was probably sharpened when it got coverted to jpg.

This is what i do before i upload anyway, make things in tga, sharpen 1 or twice , then upload, jpg seem to loose to much sometimes, but im not surprised you gotten jpg clearer (and bigger), dont know what compression % they use in sl,

I dunno at all - but I was told 512 x 512 takes twice as long to rez as 256 x 256. I never knew this so all my screen shots in my vendos are the default 512 x 256 'save screen shot to texture'.

I never really paid attention to the size of the textures I uploaded to use for things, until yesterday when I was given this info.

Now I am going to always save screenies to disc and work with them to make them 256 x 256 for fast loading.

As for textures I bring in from outside - I will also be paying attention to their size.

anyhoo - just some words from a nontechy tech by job title

2048x2048 is indeed supported, though not recommended unless you're using one giant texture in lieu of 16 single texture (but as already mentioned it will take forever to load)s. Generally speaking, for surfaces that will be less than 2-3 meters in size, 256 is fine. For surfaces larger than that where you need detail, 512x512 is plenty. Textures larger than that tend to just waste bandwidth without any benefit.

"2048x2048 is indeed supported"

is there a LL FAQ that can be referenced? and does it include answers to my 2nd question? thanks.

I haven't seen max supported texture size listed anywhere, but I believe I've uploaded 2048x2048 before. An easy way to find out is just to try it. For your second question, since all textures are converted to jpeg2000 when you upload them, I would think texture bit size after conversion is more important than pixel dimensions, but since we have no way to see what bit size they end up pixel dimensions make a good rule of thumb.