15 replies to this topic

[TechAngel85]

For reference purposes: This topic was started before v2.10.0 releases.
 

 

Part two is here: https://forum.step-p...l-this-clutter/
 
This topic is the for comparison of the clutter texture set. In much the same way we tested and compared the landscape textures after losing SRO, this will be a massive compare for the clutter of Skyrim. Our traditional way of comparing mod by mod in their respective mod topics just simply doesn't work for something as massive as these overhaul comparisons. Especially when there are a ton of random mods out there providing these textures.

 

For this comparison, we will systematically go through the clutter texture folder starting with the folders and the textures within them, and ending with the single textures found inside the clutter folder itself. Below are listed mods which will be the main set for this comparison; however, we will be searching the Nexus for any other hidden gems for each individual set. Therefore, you will see seemly random mods added to various sets here and there. These are the mods we found during our searching.

 

For overhaul such as these, the Staff's votes will be specifically weighted for each set; however, all users are welcome to join in to discuss anything related to this topic.

Here are the main mods which will be tested.

• Langley's Texture Workshop (by Langley)
• Skyrim HD (by Nebula)
• Rustic Clutter Collection (by Gamwich)
• HD Clutter reTextures (by Pfuscher)
• Beautiful Skyrim

 

Cutter Statistics (DLC not included)

• There are 549 cutter textures for the vanilla game.
• 353 textures are vanilla and not covered by any mod in STEP. Lets see if we can reduce that number!

 

@Staff
Feel free to jump in and help capture some compares; however, the following should be adhered to:

• Vanilla lighting - shots should be taken without ENBs and weather mods. ELE and RS should be enabled in vanilla shots to keep the lighting environment consistent across all compares.
• "Natural Environment" - shots should be taken in areas where clutter is commonly found in the game. No studio software and no gathering a bunch of clutter to toss it on the ground to capture a lot at once. Environment often matters so find the objects in the game. This part can be time consuming in order to find a good shot.
• Staff not familiar on how to take proper compares can use this resource to learn. That entire Guide is a good read for anyone testing.

Overview of how to properly take a compare set

1. Run your vanilla profile and get into the game. For texture compares, it's completely acceptable to COC right into the game. From the main menu, open the console and type in "tgm", "tmm 1", "tcai", "tai", and finally "coc riverwood". This will put you into the game quickly with all map markers shown so you can zip around to different locations quickly. This also turns on God Mod for running around and turns off regular and combat AI so you will not be bothered when hunting for your shots.
2. A vanilla profile should have cleaned masters, USLEEP, UHRP, STEP Optimized Textures, Relighting Skyrim , ELE, and iHUD enabled. I personally also have SMIM enabled so you don't receive any mesh changes while comparing textures (be aware SMIM does provide some textures so you might have to hide them once in a while). RS and ELE is active to maintain a consistent lighting environment for all shots. iHUD is used to auto-hide the HUD for quick and clean shots.
3. Save the game and reload the save to "set" the scene for shots (don't touch the mouse!) If the activate HUD elements are in the way, open the console and type "tm" to hide everything.
4. Take the vanilla shot.
5. Exit to desktop (console command: qqq)
6. Switch to the STEP Extended profile in MO and reload the save from step 2
7. Wait for the message to disappear and take the STEP shot. (At this point you can make a new save to avoid having to wait for the messages for each remaining compare.)
8. Exit to desktop
9. Activate one of the mods for compares (it should overwrite everything and nothing should overwrite it. Hide the other textures within that aren't being compared.)
10. Load the save again from step 3 (or step 7) and take the compare shot
11. Exit to desktop and deactivate the mod
12. Rinse and repeat step 9 through 11 until complete

If you need a good image host: https://postimg.org/ ( imgur is not preferred)

 
@All
Users can post suggestions for the mod list above. Please include a link to the mod on Nexus when doing so, and thank you for your suggestion! Finally, any users seeing this are welcome to join in on the conservation/debate!

 

Barset

• Vanilla is 1K
• This is a large interior model so a 2K texture will be acceptable.
• STEP is vanilla so a vanilla compare has been skipped.

STEP (vanilla) / Barset HQ (2K) / HD Clutter (4K) / Skyrim HD (1K)


 
Staff Votes:

• Tech: Vanilla

 

Blackpool

• unknown where this is used or if any retextures exist for it.

Blacksmith

• Vanilla is a mix of 1K/2K textures
• These are exterior textures so their resolutions should remain at their vanilla counterparts when possible.
• STEP is Skyrim Redesigned (anvil) the rest is vanilla.

Vanilla / STEP / Beautiful Skyrim / Blacksmithing Design HD (2K) / Langley's (anvil and tongs) / Realistic HD Blacksmith / Skyrim HD (2K)


 
Staff Votes:

• Tech: Realistic HD Blacksmith of the forge and anvil stand. STEP everything else. Don't worry about the coals, Embers HD has a patch for this mod.

 

Workbench
STEP (vanilla) / Blacksmithing Design HD (2K) / Blacksmith workbench by Quazaque / HD Clutter (4K) / S-D-H-D-O-K-T-A-L Clutter Textures / Skyrim HD (2K)


Staff Votes:

• Tech: Blacksmith workbench by Quazaque or HD Clutter (4K). Both have a ruggedness and look as if they're well used, and they fit into the game nicely.

[TechAngel85]

Bloody Rag

• Vanilla is 256x256
• STEP is Skyrim Redesigned at 512x512.
• This texture can be found around the war camps for easy in-game viewing.

Vanilla / STEP / Beautiful Skyrim (512x512) / S-D-H-D-O-K-T-A-L Clutter Textures (512x512)

 

Staff Vote:

• Tech:

 
Bones

• Vanilla is either 512x or 1K
• These are small clutter models so up to a 1K texture will be acceptable.
• STEP is vanilla besides the bloody bones and random bones textures which is provided by Skeleton by Kajuan. As such, a vanilla compare is not included here since it's the same as STEP.

STEP (1K) / Beautiful Skyrim / Bones and Skeletons Retexture / HD Troll Skull / Troll Skull 4kHD

 

Staff Votes:

• Tech: Vanilla, specular maps are all why too bright and reflective on the rest.

 

Books

• These are all covered by Books of Skyrim.

 

Burnt Corpses

• Vanilla is 2K
• STEP is vanilla. As such, a vanilla compare is not included here since it's the same as STEP.

STEP / Beautiful Skyrim (1K)


Staff Votes:

• Tech: Vanilla

 

Candles

• These are covered by Candlehorns by Kajuan in STEP and have already been compared.

 

Carts

• Vanilla is 1K
• STEP is vanilla. As such, a vanilla compare is not included here since it's the same as STEP.

STEP / Beautiful Skyrim (2K) / Langley's (2K) / Project Skyrim HD Farmhouse Series / Skyrim HD (1K)

 

Staff Votes:

• Tech:

 

Cave Lamps

• Vanilla is 512x
• STEP is provided by SMIM (2K).

Vanilla / STEP / Langley's (2K)

 

 

Staff Votes:

• Tech: STEP

 

 

Charcoal

• Vanilla is 256x (charcoal01) and 1K (coal01).
• STEP is provided by Skyrim Redesigned (charcoal01 - 1K) and vanilla (coal01).

Vanilla / STEP / HD Charcoal for Smelter

 

Staff Votes:

• Tech: STEP

[TechAngel85]

Chaurus Eggs

• Vanilla is Chitin/Eggsack (2K) and Eggs (1K)
• STEP is Skyrim Redesigned for eggs at 1K and vanilla for the other two files.
• There are not any other known replacers for these textures.

 

Chopping Block

• Vanilla is 1K for all textures besides choppingblock02 which is 512x.
• STEP is Tobe's for axe(1K), TreesHD for blocks01/bloody (2K), and vanilla for block02.

Vanilla / STEP / Beautiful Skyrim / Project Skyrim HD Farmhouse / HR firewood-choppingblock


 
STEP Votes:

• Tech:

 

Commom

• There are too many textures within the common folder to compare here. A new topic will be made specifically for these compares.

 

Containers

• Vanilla is as follows: chest*(1K), miscbag01/safewithlock/satchel(512x), miscbag02(256x).
• STEP is vanilla besides miscbag* which is provided by HD Sacks in the Compilation at 1K each.

Chest01
Vanilla / STEP / Beautiful Skyrim (1K) / Detailed Chests (1K)
SMIM is redirecting this texture so we loose the mesh improvements if choosing another texture. Personally, the other textures are not as good as SMIM so no compares have been provided. Additionally, we covered this compare a while back and shouldn't need to cover it again.

Miscbag01/02
Vanilla / STEP / Beautiful Skyrim (1K) /

 
STEP Votes:

• Tech:

 

Safe
STEP (vanilla) / Beautiful Skyrim (1K) / Rustic (1K) / Texture for Safe with Lock (2K)

 
STEP Votes:

• Tech: Rustic

 

Satchel
STEP (vanilla) / Beautiful Skyrim (1K) / Rustic (1K) / Knapsack and Satchel Retex

 
STEP Votes:

• Tech: Rustic

 

Cowhide

• Vanilla is 512x.
• STEP is vanilla.
• There are not any other known replacers for this textures.

 

Daedric

• Vanilla is 512x.
• STEP is vanilla. As such, a vanilla compare is not included here since it's the same as STEP.

STEP / Azuras Star Retexture (512x) / Azuras Star Black and normal 2048 HQ Texture (512x...despite the name)

 
STEP Votes:

• Tech: STEP

 

Dawnbreaker Pedestal

• Vanilla is: crystal (1K), crystalholders/dawnbreakerpedestal (2K).
• STEP is vanilla.
• There are not any other known replacers for these textures.

 

Dead Animals

• Vanilla is: deadhare01/rabbitmeatcooked (256x), *meat01 (512x), cookedskeever01 (2K), the rest of the textures are 1K.
• Where STEP is vanilla, a vanilla compare is not included since it's the same as STEP.
• Chicken Meat (STEP is HQ Food & Ingredients)
• Cooked Skeever (STEP is vanilla)
• Dead Hare (STEP is HQ Food & Ingredients)
• Dead Pheasant (STEP is HQ Food & Ingredients)
• Hanging Animals (STEP is vanilla)
• Mounted Head Base (STEP is vanilla)
• Pheasant Meat (STEP is vanilla)
• Rabbit Meat (STEP is vanilla)
• Rabbit Meat Cooked (STEP is SMIM)
• Salmon (STEP is PondFish & Salmon Replacer)
• Salmon Meat (STEP is HQ Food & Ingredients)
• Wood Mount (STEP is vanilla)
• After an expended search of Nexus no other replacers were found for these texture than what are already in STEP. No compares have been provided for this reason.

[TechAngel85]

Dinning Set

• Vanilla is 1K.
• STEP is SMIM (2K) for the tankard and Tobe's Highres Textures (1K) for everything else.
• Since the compare for the tankard was already completed a while back and Rustic is a good departure from vanilla style, the tankards will remain SMIM in any compares.
• Also, note that though these compares are 1K, the way the texture is set up each item will be closer to 256x since the item texture is only pulled from a portion of the main texture.

Vanilla / STEP / Beautiful Skyrim (1K) / Langley's (1K) / Rustic (1K)


STEP Votes:

• Tech:
• Greg: STEP or Beautiful Skyrim, although Beautiful Skyrim is arguably closer to vanilla than STEP.

 

Dragon

• Vanilla is 512x.
• STEP is: vanilla for dragonbonesgo and USLEEP for the remaining two textures.
• There are not any other known replacers for these textures.

 

Dwemer

• Vanilla is 256x for dwebloodextractor01/dwepuzzlecube and 512x for dwepottery01/ichorbarrel01.
• STEP is vanilla for all textures.

STEP / Langley's (512x/1K) / Rustic (pottery only 1K)


 
STEP Votes:

• Tech: STEP, I'm okay with the Rustic pottery if everyone goes that way.
• Greg: Rustic

 

Elderscroll

• Compare for this has already been completed and is provided by Rustic Elderscroll.

 

Falmer Rosetta Stone

• There are not any other known replacers for these textures.

 

Falmer Totems

• Vanilla is 2K.
• STEP is vanilla.

STEP / Falmer Clutter Texture Mod (4K)

 
STEP Votes:

• Tech: This is just an upscaled version of the vanilla texture from what I can tell. It's a tiny bit clearer/sharper, but barely even noticeable. Not worth including, imo.
• Greg: STEP/Vanilla. The difference is too subtle

 

Firewood

• Vanilla is 1K.
• STEP is TreesHD (2K).

Vanilla / STEP / Beautiful Skyrim (1K) / HR firewood... (1K) / HQ Firewood fir (splinted version) / Skyrim HD (1K) /

 

STEP Votes:

• Tech: STEP or #4 (HR firewood-choppingblock-tree rings-stump v1_21). I like HR Firewood because it more closely matches the other bare wood texture coloration...which it should. While still providing a quality texture.
• Greg: STEP or HR Firewood, although I like the color scheme of HR Firewood a bit better.

[Fantomax]

Some of the mod textures is different in size (Pfuscher is doing 4k for example). And some covers more than others. What does STEP have to say regarding this?

[Nebulous112]

I can't speak on behalf of the whole STEP team, but my understanding is that STEP will be doing a comparison of these textures against the current STEP clutter textures.

Texture sizes will be taken into account, I'm sure.

The fact that some of these mods cover more clutter than others is irrelevant; STEP can pick more than one mod for the clutter textures. In fact, we already use more than one mod for clutter textures, IIRC. That is the beauty of MO's left pane priority and the ability to hide files. :-)

Also, keep in mind that this process is going to take time and will certainly not happen overnight. There is a large amount of clutter textures to go through, and multiple mods to compare.

[Greg]

I'm assuming we're considering Skyrim HD - Misc Lite since this one contains mostly clutter. With this in mind, I went through the file tree and generated a list of objects that are covered by each mod in a spreadsheet. Langley's is by far the largest of the four in the number of items covered
 
https://1drv.ms/x/s!...waDvwoWgHGHB5Z0
 

[TechAngel85]

I'm assuming we're considering Skyrim HD - Misc Lite since this one contains mostly clutter. With this in mind, I went through the file tree and generated a list of objects that are covered by each mod in a spreadsheet. Langley's is by far the largest of the four in the number of items covered

 

https://1drv.ms/x/s!...waDvwoWgHGHB5Z0

Yes, that's the one I have installed (2K).

 

Thanks! Seems someone has a thing for spreadsheets. :: I just extracted the entire clutter directory from the textures archive to get a list of all clutter objects in the game. I'll basically search for a mod that replaces a specific object as I move through the list (just so we don't miss any single replacer mods out there). If I find a mod that's not listed in the OP for an object and think the retexture is good enough to be added to the compare, I'll add it to the compares for that one object.

[Greg]

Not really spreadsheets per se, but I do look for easy ways to try to stay organized and to track what needs to be done and a spreadsheet seemed to be the simplest solution. I tend to get easily confused and lost without a clean way to track what needs to be done, especially with something of this size.

 

The mods go a bit beyond the clutter folder, though. Skyrim HD Misc covers the barkeeper and blacksmith clothes, heavy fog and whitewater effects, water, rain ripples, galaxy, stars, sun glare, some of the LOD textures, and cube maps for bronze, chitin, chitin ebony, copper, and shiny glass. Langley's also covers a lot of ground in the furniture folder.

[TechAngel85]

Yes, we'll just be covering the clutter for now. The rest can be compared separately.

[Greg]

Removed temporarily...

[TechAngel85]

You need to be editing the OP and the following posts to add these there so all the shots will be all together and not lost among the pages. Also STEP needs to be in every compare because the surrounding textures will change and that makes a difference on whether or not they'll fit in.

[TechAngel85]

Your compares are not correct for the STEP shots. I don't know if you've always done this and I've not noticed it until now, or you just started doing it here. Whichever the case, you need to be switching to your STEP profile when taking that compare and all that follow it. So the STEP, Langley's, and Skyrim HD shot should be from a STEP:Extended profile.

 

This is how I do it:

1. Find a good place for the compares in a vanilla profile (mine has cleaned masters, USLEEP, UHRP, STEP Optimized Textures, and iHUD enabled. iHUD is used to auto-hide the HUD for a quick, clean shot)
2. Save and the reload the save
3. Take the vanilla shot
4. Exit to desktop (console command: qqq)
5. Switch to the STEP Extended profile and load the save from above in step 2
6. Take the STEP shot
7. Exit to desktop
8. Active mod for compare (it overwrites everything)
9. Load save and take shot
10. Rinse and repeat 7 through 9 until done

EDIT:

I've added this information to the OP.

[TechAngel85]

Before I start, I have to send out a very huge apology to Greg. Greg, you put a lot of work into taking compares and I am truly appreciative of that! I love that you took the intuitive to jump in and get the ball rolling. Unfortunately, I had to axe the compares. This was my fault for not being completely clear on how these types of compares are managed and I apologize for that.

 

I spent quite a bit of time collecting new compares so everyone would know how to proceed going forward and made some changes to the OP.

 

First, I've made changes to the vanilla profile for taking compares after seeing many of Greg's shots. The lighting should remain consistent as to not skew the results, therefore, I updated the instructions for the vanilla profile to include the lighting mods; RS and ELE. It's not mentioned but after taking so many compares, the change in character height really started grinding my gears so I would also recommend having Enhanced Camera active in your vanilla shots. This does nothing to affect the shots themselves besides ensuring the camera is always at the same height. I really dislike that mod...

 

Second, the compares should be done in a defined order to keep this massive compare organized. I wasn't clear on this which is my fault. The compares for this topic (part 1) are complete and I've opened a new topic for the comparison continuation. Please review how I've taken the compares and the information I've provided for each set. Starting with the folders the work should be done in order. In fact, what I have done is extracted all the textures (minus the normals) into a folder on my computer so that I would have a record of every clutter texture used by the game. Starting from the top, I worked my way down the folder list and provided compares. In doing this, I not only provided comparisons for the most obvious mods that replace the textures, but I went even further by doing a good search on Nexus for any lost gems that might be out there for any specific textures. You will see this in the compares when seemingly random mods are tossed in. I did make an executive decision for some mods I found that were very obviously a departure from vanilla or just a bad replacer....meaning they obviously weren't for STEP. I would expect team members would be able to do the same when searching mods on Nexus.

 

I think once you observe the workflow I put together via the compares in this set, you will all have a better understanding of how to proceed with part two (currently hidden until I can reserves some posts for the compares). I also prepped the first set of compares in the OP of the part two topic which will start with the "Food" folder from Clutter. If you don't have all the folders and textures provided by vanilla and want to contribute, I have provided the textures I've extracted for you to use so that we're all using the same exact structure: https://mega.nz/#!V5...dmQngfqdpJ6JFIo (126MB)

 

Again, I sincerely apologize to Greg for the misunderstanding! I hope that the direction is more clear now and if it's not, please ask questions!

[Greg]

You don't know owe me an apology because you are exactly right. The height and lighting differences between vanilla and STEP were starting to drive me batty as well. The screenshots I took were also extremely disorganized and I was having a very tough time trying to figure out how to organize the screenshots within the limits of each post. The first four or five posts were basically just crammed to the gills so it was not conducive to comparisons at all. It was basically just a cluttered mess.

 

What you have here is very well organized and very easy to work with. Very nice!