LoD Research Thread

[Septerra_Core]

Editing foliage files is harder than editing meshes, because they're saved in .srt (a speedtree format) which is compiled and can't be edited even by its parent software (I've tried)

Really bad news, but I have one question. Can we find the low poly srt files and replace them with the high poly files? In that way there will never be rendering on low poly meshes.

And what do you mean they can't be edited by its parent software? Can't speedtree edit them? Why?

 

[CarolKarine]

Really bad news, but I have one question. Can we find the low poly srt files and replace them with the high poly files? In that way there will never be rendering on low poly meshes.

And what do you mean they can't be edited by its parent software? Can't speedtree edit them? Why?

There are no low poly .srt files. There is one file, which is dynamically scaled by the speedtree middleware.

Speedtree edits .spm files and then compiles them into a game-ready .srt file. You cannot go backwards. It's like baking a texture- once done you can't pull it apart into the components it was once comprised of.

---------- Updated at 02:07 PM ----------

good to see some progress, good work guys

We're at a point where we have to figure out how to add LoD levels for the new high poly proxy meshes, because I've realized that if we made all proxy meshes permanently high poly, we'd end up loading novigrad, oxenfurt, and crow's perch in, all at once. We don't need high poly past 200m, let alone 600. The problem is a lot of meshes switch at 50/75m, and that's way too close.

 

[marvelmaster]

@septerracore
I never saw foliage lod problems...do you have video to proof the problem exists?

@carol
Do we need that...which buildubg appears from nothing? Can u give example?

 

[CarolKarine]

@septerracore
I never saw foliage lod problems...do you have video to proof the problem exists?

@carol
Do we need that...which buildubg appears from nothing? Can u give example?

I'm not referring to buildings, I'm talking about meshes in general. Characters, torches, rubble, clutter, etc. It all pops in around 20-50m

 

[essenthy]

actually sometimes ( but very rarely ) building vanish and appear out of nowhere, last time ive seen that was in the swamp zone, the orphan village, at a certain distance on of the 3 building literally disappear then re appear when you get closer , might be just a bug

 

[web-head91]

actually sometimes ( but very rarely ) building vanish and appear out of nowhere, last time ive seen that was in the swamp zone, the orphan village, at a certain distance on of the 3 building literally disappear then re appear when you get closer , might be just a bug

i don't think it's a bug, i remember seeing a video showing a building disappear if you're away from it by relatively short distance. in short, pop-in struck buildings too.

 

[CarolKarine]

actually sometimes ( but very rarely ) building vanish and appear out of nowhere, last time ive seen that was in the swamp zone, the orphan village, at a certain distance on of the 3 building literally disappear then re appear when you get closer , might be just a bug

That's due to proxy mesh render ranges not overlapping with high quality mesh render ranges properly.

 

[marvelmaster]

The future lod mod here will resolve the "inbetweenpopping" decorations of buildings we can include...
But items that hide into nothing will be a problem(example video on first page here, the two buildings left and right of the big tower just disappear...we have not tried yet resolving this)

---------- Updated at 07:40 PM ----------

Hey Carol i got a realy roflnating idea how to solve the meshes that dont have proxy...gonna test next week

 

[CarolKarine]

The future lod mod here will resolve the "inbetweenpopping" decorations of buildings we can include...
But items that hide into nothing will be a problem(example video on first page here, the two buildings left and right of the big tower just disappear...we have not tried yet resolving this)

---------- Updated at 07:40 PM ----------

Hey Carol i got a realy roflnating idea how to solve the meshes that dont have proxy...gonna test next week

PM me! I can test this weekend.

 

[Septerra_Core]

I never saw foliage lod problems...do you have video to proof the problem exists?

Problems? Imho foliage is terrible both in their 2d meshes and in their textures. You can't even compare the current foliage with the one in the 2013 screenshots.
I just hoped that preventing it from loading low poly meshes it would stop looking so terrible.

 

[uriel_]

Problems? Imho foliage is terrible both in their 2d meshes and in their textures. You can't even compare the current foliage with the one in the 2013 screenshots.
I just hoped that preventing it from loading low poly meshes it would stop looking so terrible.

Yes. Can't agree more. The quality of the foliage that ended up in the game is nowhere near to what was shown in the vertical slice.

 

[marvelmaster]

Can u give me screen or smth?

Btw carol..check last msg

 

[CarolKarine]

Problems? Imho foliage is terrible both in their 2d meshes and in their textures. You can't even compare the current foliage with the one in the 2013 screenshots.
I just hoped that preventing it from loading low poly meshes it would stop looking so terrible.

Yes. Can't agree more. The quality of the foliage that ended up in the game is nowhere near to what was shown in the vertical slice.

If you look at the 2013 trailer, you can pick out what is actually the same foliage. I'll be the only thing that changed were the textures.

guess what, you can mod those. ( I can't I'm not a texture artist)

EDIT: I went back and looked at the 2013 footage. Particle systems are the biggest problem, and the LOD range is massive. There are some nicer lighting systems like volumetric fog too.

But the foliage is the same. the game now has foliage that looks that good if you're playing on 4K, and I promise you that I can't really tell the difference between my 1440p foliage and the stuff in the 2013 demo.

 

[gr4nis]

I'm not an expert in this area, but I agree that foliage quality of distance trees is pretty terrible. Looks blurry as hell. Just a mass of sharp green pixels. I don't know whether it's necessary technical solution of improving the performance or if it was better in earlier stages of development but it really bothers me.

 

[CarolKarine]

I'm not an expert in this area, but I agree that foliage quality of distance trees is pretty terrible. Looks blurry as hell. Just a mass of sharp green pixels. I don't know whether it's necessary technical solution of improving the performance or if it was better in earlier stages of development but it really bothers me.

If someone could go in and retexture them that would solve the problem. We may not be able to edit meshes, but we can play with the textures.

 

[Septerra_Core]

If you look at the 2013 trailer, you can pick out what is actually the same foliage. I'll be the only thing that changed were the textures.

Not actually. Especially the grass is more "fat" now.

Can u give me screen or smth?

Sure mate.
http://i.imgur.com/9wg2dq0.jpg?1

 

[uriel_]

If you look at the 2013 trailer, you can pick out what is actually the same foliage. I'll be the only thing that changed were the textures.

guess what, you can mod those. ( I can't I'm not a texture artist)

EDIT: I went back and looked at the 2013 footage. Particle systems are the biggest problem, and the LOD range is massive. There are some nicer lighting systems like volumetric fog too.

But the foliage is the same. the game now has foliage that looks that good if you're playing on 4K, and I promise you that I can't really tell the difference between my 1440p foliage and the stuff in the 2013 demo.

To be honest I can't really say whether it's just textures or if meshes are also affected. But regardless, I agree with you that changing just the textures will make a big impact. This video has a good comparison, look around the 2' mark:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bX_WePhiYHE

 

[marvelmaster]

Not actually. Especially the grass is more "fat" now.


Sure mate.
http://i.imgur.com/9wg2dq0.jpg?1

This pic is 2013 footage?
And your problem is low poly trees on the pic?

 

[Septerra_Core]

And your problem is low poly trees on the pic?

The grass right in front of your face actually? You're telling me you didn't notice it?

 

[marvelmaster]

To be honest I can't really say whether it's just textures or if meshes are also affected. But regardless, I agree with you that changing just the textures will make a big impact. This video has a good comparison, look around the 2' mark:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bX_WePhiYHE

Its both..but more textureimpact than mesh..another problem is shadowrenderdistance

---------- Updated at 09:05 PM ----------

Look at the wall textures @2:48 comparison... realy hoping well get 2013 back