I was wondering if anyone knows if using a second set from an already existing texture causes the texture to be loaded twice. I am thinking since it is already loaded it should not cause any more load allowing me to add models using sheets already in stock.
Not a problem and don't use more memory... by example for all my Vorlon ship made for the B5 mod, i use the blue sun texture for the glowing part...
For several model enough similar, i use a single texture for 2 or more models... for example, again with the vorlon, 3 capital ship share the same texture map... one ship have 8 arms, one other 4 and the last have 4 but with a other nose... the only difference on the map is the two vaeiant of nose... arms being identical, difference is in the mesh file... In place of use 47.97 mb ram for texture ( 3 capital ship x 3 texture at 2048 x 5.33 mb by texture ), it use 15.99 mb...
The texture in the main memory is only a cache for directx and it will load only one instance of each texture... during render, the needed textures are send from the cache to the ram of the graphic card... so, if you make a model who recycle 20 already existing texture, there can be problem at the graphic card level if these have not enough memory... i will not worry too much since the slowdown in sins are not due to the graphic card and actual card have plenty of memory and power... simply don't push the trick to the extreme...
