Supsta—A Texture Preprocessor

[der_scheme]

Supsta—Scheme's Unnamed Program for Starmade Texture Artists—aims at making the life of texture artists easier. It provides an abstraction layer between single textures and StarMade's texture format.
Please note that this currently is a program for advanced users.

So what does it do?
You start by creating a new project, which is as simple as invoking the following command:

supsta new project_name /path/to/StarMade

This will create a new project at the location project_name (which can, in fact, be a path). /path/to/StarMade obviously is the directory with the StarMade.jar. Supsta now will generate the basic project layout, including a directory textures, where it will generate dummy files for every block face in StarMade (using the block config from your StarMade installation), separated into one directory per block.

Spoiler: Example

$ find schemes_textures/ -type d | sort
schemes_textures/
schemes_textures/assets
schemes_textures/schemes_textures
schemes_textures/schemes_textures/128
schemes_textures/schemes_textures/256
schemes_textures/schemes_textures/64
schemes_textures/textures
schemes_textures/textures/0C Cloaker
schemes_textures/textures/10x RadarJammer
schemes_textures/textures/Activation Module
schemes_textures/textures/Alien Flowers
schemes_textures/textures/Alien Vine
schemes_textures/textures/AND-Signal
schemes_textures/textures/AntiMatter Cannon
schemes_textures/textures/AstroTechnician
schemes_textures/textures/AstroTechnobeam
schemes_textures/textures/Awesomite L1
schemes_textures/textures/Awesomite L2
schemes_textures/textures/Awesomite L3
schemes_textures/textures/Awesomite L4
schemes_textures/textures/Awesomite L5
schemes_textures/textures/Bastyn Crystal
schemes_textures/textures/Black Hull
schemes_textures/textures/Black Paint
schemes_textures/textures/Blue Hull
schemes_textures/textures/Blue Light
schemes_textures/textures/Blue Paint
schemes_textures/textures/BOBBY AI Module
schemes_textures/textures/Bronze Bar
schemes_textures/textures/Brown Hull
schemes_textures/textures/BROWN PAINT
schemes_textures/textures/Brown Patch
schemes_textures/textures/Build Block
schemes_textures/textures/Cactus
schemes_textures/textures/Cenomite L1
schemes_textures/textures/Cenomite L2
schemes_textures/textures/Cenomite L3
schemes_textures/textures/Cenomite L4
schemes_textures/textures/Cenomite L5
schemes_textures/textures/d1000 Missile Array
schemes_textures/textures/d1000 Missile CPU
schemes_textures/textures/Damage Beam Computer
schemes_textures/textures/Damage Beam Module
schemes_textures/textures/Damage Pulse Computer
schemes_textures/textures/Damage Pulse Module
schemes_textures/textures/Decorative Computer (Green)
schemes_textures/textures/Decorative Computer (Orange)
schemes_textures/textures/decorative panel 1
schemes_textures/textures/decorative panel 2
schemes_textures/textures/decorative panel 3
schemes_textures/textures/decorative panel 4
schemes_textures/textures/Decorative Screen (Blue)
schemes_textures/textures/Decorative Screen (Red)
schemes_textures/textures/DELAY-Signal
schemes_textures/textures/Dis-Integrater (Explosive)
schemes_textures/textures/Docking Enhancer
schemes_textures/textures/Docking Module
schemes_textures/textures/EMP Effect Computer
schemes_textures/textures/EMP Effect Module
schemes_textures/textures/Exogen L1
schemes_textures/textures/Exogen L2
schemes_textures/textures/Exogen L3
schemes_textures/textures/Exogen L4
schemes_textures/textures/Exogen L5
schemes_textures/textures/Explosive Effect Computer
schemes_textures/textures/Explosive Effect Module
schemes_textures/textures/Extranium L1
schemes_textures/textures/Extranium L2
schemes_textures/textures/Extranium L3
schemes_textures/textures/Extranium L4
schemes_textures/textures/Extranium L5
schemes_textures/textures/Faction Hub
schemes_textures/textures/Faction Module
schemes_textures/textures/Faction Permission Module
schemes_textures/textures/FactoryInput
schemes_textures/textures/FactoryInputEnhancer
schemes_textures/textures/Fertikeen Ore Ingot
schemes_textures/textures/Foliage
schemes_textures/textures/Glass (Plextanium)
schemes_textures/textures/Gold Bar
schemes_textures/textures/Grass Flowers
schemes_textures/textures/Grass Patch
schemes_textures/textures/Gravity Unit
schemes_textures/textures/Green Hazard Stripes
schemes_textures/textures/Green Hull
schemes_textures/textures/Green Light
schemes_textures/textures/Green Paint
schemes_textures/textures/Grey Hull
schemes_textures/textures/Hanging Light Yellow
schemes_textures/textures/Hardened Hull (Black)
schemes_textures/textures/Hardened Hull (Blue)
schemes_textures/textures/Hardened Hull (Brown)
schemes_textures/textures/Hardened Hull Green
schemes_textures/textures/Hardened Hull (Grey)
schemes_textures/textures/Hardened Hull Orange
schemes_textures/textures/Hardened Hull (Purple)
schemes_textures/textures/Hardened Hull Red
schemes_textures/textures/Hardened Hull (White)
schemes_textures/textures/Hardened Hull (Yellow)
schemes_textures/textures/Hattel Crystal
schemes_textures/textures/Hital Ore Ingot
schemes_textures/textures/Hyperflux Coil Thruster
schemes_textures/textures/Ice
schemes_textures/textures/ICE CORAL
schemes_textures/textures/ICE CRAG
schemes_textures/textures/Ice Crystal
schemes_textures/textures/Ice Crystal (Wedge)
schemes_textures/textures/ICE GRASS
schemes_textures/textures/ICE PLANET SURFACE
schemes_textures/textures/ICE SPIKE
schemes_textures/textures/Insanium L1
schemes_textures/textures/Insanium L2
schemes_textures/textures/Insanium L3
schemes_textures/textures/Insanium L4
schemes_textures/textures/Insanium L5
schemes_textures/textures/Ion Effect Computer
schemes_textures/textures/Ion Effect Module
schemes_textures/textures/Jisper Ore Ingot
schemes_textures/textures/Lava
schemes_textures/textures/Long Weed
schemes_textures/textures/Mars Tentacles
schemes_textures/textures/Mattise Crystal
schemes_textures/textures/Medical Cabinet
schemes_textures/textures/Medical Supplies
schemes_textures/textures/Metal Grill
schemes_textures/textures/Metal Mesh
schemes_textures/textures/Metate L1
schemes_textures/textures/Metate L2
schemes_textures/textures/Metate L3
schemes_textures/textures/Metate L4
schemes_textures/textures/Metate L5
schemes_textures/textures/Mini Cactus
schemes_textures/textures/Nacht Ore Ingot
schemes_textures/textures/Negacide L1
schemes_textures/textures/Negacide L2
schemes_textures/textures/Negacide L3
schemes_textures/textures/Negacide L4
schemes_textures/textures/Negacide L5
schemes_textures/textures/Negagate L1
schemes_textures/textures/Negagate L2
schemes_textures/textures/Negagate L3
schemes_textures/textures/Negagate L4
schemes_textures/textures/Negagate L5
schemes_textures/textures/Nocx Crystal
schemes_textures/textures/NOT-Signal
schemes_textures/textures/Octogen L1
schemes_textures/textures/Octogen L2
schemes_textures/textures/Octogen L3
schemes_textures/textures/Octogen L4
schemes_textures/textures/Octogen L5
schemes_textures/textures/Orange Hull
schemes_textures/textures/Orangutanium L1
schemes_textures/textures/Orangutanium L2
schemes_textures/textures/Orangutanium L3
schemes_textures/textures/Orangutanium L4
schemes_textures/textures/Orangutanium L5
schemes_textures/textures/OR-Signal
schemes_textures/textures/overlays.png_10
schemes_textures/textures/overlays.png_12
schemes_textures/textures/overlays.png_14
schemes_textures/textures/overlays.png_4
schemes_textures/textures/overlays.png_6
schemes_textures/textures/overlays.png_68
schemes_textures/textures/overlays.png_8
schemes_textures/textures/Parsen Crystal
schemes_textures/textures/Parstun Ore Ingot
schemes_textures/textures/PARTICLE PRESS
schemes_textures/textures/Personal Computer (Blue)
schemes_textures/textures/Piercing Effect Computer
schemes_textures/textures/Piercing Effect Module
schemes_textures/textures/PlexBeacon
schemes_textures/textures/PlexDoor
schemes_textures/textures/PlexLander
schemes_textures/textures/PlexLifter
schemes_textures/textures/PlexLight
schemes_textures/textures/PlexStorage
schemes_textures/textures/Plextanium L1
schemes_textures/textures/Plextanium L2
schemes_textures/textures/Plextanium L3
schemes_textures/textures/Plextanium L4
schemes_textures/textures/Plextanium L5
schemes_textures/textures/PlexUndeathinator
schemes_textures/textures/PowerCell
schemes_textures/textures/PowerCellFactory
schemes_textures/textures/PowerCoil
schemes_textures/textures/Powerdrain Beam
schemes_textures/textures/Powerdrain Beam-Computer
schemes_textures/textures/Powersupply Beam
schemes_textures/textures/Powersupply Beam-Computer
schemes_textures/textures/Protein 10000A
schemes_textures/textures/Protein 1000B
schemes_textures/textures/Protein 20000A
schemes_textures/textures/Protein 2000B
schemes_textures/textures/Protein 30000A
schemes_textures/textures/Protein 3000B
schemes_textures/textures/Protein 40000A
schemes_textures/textures/Pull Effect Computer
schemes_textures/textures/Pull Effect Module
schemes_textures/textures/Pulsator
schemes_textures/textures/Pulse Computer
schemes_textures/textures/Punch-Through Effect Computer
schemes_textures/textures/Punch-Through Effect Module
schemes_textures/textures/Purple Hull
schemes_textures/textures/Purple Paint
schemes_textures/textures/Purple Top Stuff
schemes_textures/textures/Purple Vine Stuff
schemes_textures/textures/Purptacles
schemes_textures/textures/Purspire
schemes_textures/textures/Push Effect Computer
schemes_textures/textures/Push Effect Module
schemes_textures/textures/Push Pulse Computer
schemes_textures/textures/Push Pulse Module
schemes_textures/textures/Quantacide L1
schemes_textures/textures/Quantacide L2
schemes_textures/textures/Quantacide L3
schemes_textures/textures/Quantacide L4
schemes_textures/textures/Quantacide L5
schemes_textures/textures/Quantagen L1
schemes_textures/textures/Quantagen L2
schemes_textures/textures/Quantagen L3
schemes_textures/textures/Quantagen L4
schemes_textures/textures/Quantagen L5
schemes_textures/textures/Quantanium L1
schemes_textures/textures/Quantanium L2
schemes_textures/textures/Quantanium L3
schemes_textures/textures/Quantanium L4
schemes_textures/textures/Quantanium L5
schemes_textures/textures/Rammet Crystal
schemes_textures/textures/Red Hull
schemes_textures/textures/Red light
schemes_textures/textures/Red Paint
schemes_textures/textures/Red Planet Terrain
schemes_textures/textures/Red Shroom
schemes_textures/textures/Rock
schemes_textures/textures/Rock Red Planet Terrain
schemes_textures/textures/Salvage Cannon
schemes_textures/textures/Salvage Computer
schemes_textures/textures/Sand
schemes_textures/textures/SCHEMADYNE 1000
schemes_textures/textures/Schemadyne Advanced
schemes_textures/textures/SCHEMADYNE ADVANCED
schemes_textures/textures/SD B:1 Expander
schemes_textures/textures/SD B:1 Memory
schemes_textures/textures/SD B:1 Processor
schemes_textures/textures/SD-BB Missile Array
schemes_textures/textures/SD-BB Missile Computer
schemes_textures/textures/SD Cockpit
schemes_textures/textures/SD G:1 Expander
schemes_textures/textures/SD G:1 Memory
schemes_textures/textures/SD G:1 Processor
schemes_textures/textures/SD HCT xm3.4 Power
schemes_textures/textures/SD KB Missile Array
schemes_textures/textures/SD KB Missile CPU
schemes_textures/textures/SD pc1.3 Power Tank
schemes_textures/textures/SD R:1 Expander
schemes_textures/textures/SD R:1 Memory
schemes_textures/textures/SD R:1 Processor
schemes_textures/textures/SD Shield Disperser
schemes_textures/textures/SD W:1 Expander
schemes_textures/textures/SD W:1 Memory
schemes_textures/textures/SD W:1 Processor
schemes_textures/textures/SD Y:1 Expander
schemes_textures/textures/SD Y:1 Memory
schemes_textures/textures/SD Y:1 Processor
schemes_textures/textures/Sertise Ore Ingot
schemes_textures/textures/Ship Core
schemes_textures/textures/Silver Bar
schemes_textures/textures/Sintyr Crystal
schemes_textures/textures/Soil
schemes_textures/textures/Stone Fragment
schemes_textures/textures/Stop Effect Computer
schemes_textures/textures/Stop Effect Module
schemes_textures/textures/Succumite L1
schemes_textures/textures/Succumite L2
schemes_textures/textures/Succumite L3
schemes_textures/textures/Succumite L4
schemes_textures/textures/Succumite L5
schemes_textures/textures/Tall Flowers
schemes_textures/textures/Tall Grass Flowers
schemes_textures/textures/Tall Shroom
schemes_textures/textures/Threns Ore Ingot
schemes_textures/textures/Trigger (Area)
schemes_textures/textures/Trigger (Area) Controller
schemes_textures/textures/Trigger (Step On)
schemes_textures/textures/Turret Docking Enhancer Unit
schemes_textures/textures/Turret Docking Unit
schemes_textures/textures/Vappecide L1
schemes_textures/textures/Vappecide L2
schemes_textures/textures/Vappecide L3
schemes_textures/textures/Vappecide L4
schemes_textures/textures/Vappecide L5
schemes_textures/textures/Varat Crystal
schemes_textures/textures/Water
schemes_textures/textures/Weapons Computer
schemes_textures/textures/White Hull
schemes_textures/textures/White Paint
schemes_textures/textures/Wood
schemes_textures/textures/Yellow Hazard Stripes
schemes_textures/textures/Yellow Hull
schemes_textures/textures/Yellow Light
schemes_textures/textures/Yellow Paint
schemes_textures/textures/Yhole
schemes_textures/textures/Yhole Nucleus
schemes_textures/textures/Zercaner Ore Ingot

You now can start editing those files. In case you're using the GIMP or Photoshop, there is no need to export a file to PNG, you can simply save them in their native format (XCF and PSD, respectively). If you're satisfied with one or more textures, just invoke supsta compile, which will read those files, scale them appropriately (from your working size to the texture pack resolutions you want to support) and put them in their respective locations in StarMade's texture files.
The following invocation will not only compile the project, but also horizontally flip normals (which you will need in case you're generating normal maps with a program like Blender), install the texture pack (no need to copy it manually), and watch the project for further changes. Each change triggers a new compile.

supsta compile -Hwi project_name

There was a StarMade update that introduced new blocks? Just run supsta upgrade, it will upgrade your project to the new version.

Why should I use this?
Because it provides an abstraction layer to the StarMade texture format, which will render you invulnerable to possible changes in the texture format (like it happened with Minecraft), but more importantly, because it will relieve you of many manual steps that you had to take without it:

• Resizing: For example, you can use 1024x1024 as a resolution while you work on the texture, but target multiple resolutions (like 64, 256)—Supsta will scale your textures accordingly.
• XCF and PSD support: Just work with the file format you're comfortable with, no exports to PNG are necessary. PNG is still recognized, of course.
• Supsta can automatically install the textures to the correct directory, so you don't have to copy them manually for testing.
• No need to initiate any interaction. Supsta can watch a directory, and compile the texture pack as soon as a change happens.
• Normal maps can be horizontally flipped, relieving you of the need to do that yourself, in case your external program (like Blender) will render them in the opposite direction.
• Automatically create a ZIP file, allowing instant publishing (not yet implemented—invoking this will raise an error).

Awesome! How do I get it?

1. Prerequisites: You need to have Ruby and the GIMP installed. Both must be in your PATH environment variable. Linux users can just install the packages ruby and gimp and are good to go—no need to configure anything there.
2. Download the latest version.
3. Installation: Extract the tarball to a location of your choice. Open up a terminal (cmd on Windows), cd to that location and run:
   

   bundle install

   This will download the Gems (in layman's terms: Ruby addons) that are required to run this program.
4. Since it's not yet ready to be released as a gem, you will either have to adjust your RUBYLIB, or use bundle to execute the program as well.

   bundle exec bin/supsta

   Meaning: In the above examples, replace supsta with this.

General project information:

• Programming language: Ruby
• Platforms: Multi (only tested on Linux, but no platform specific code was used)
• License: GPLv3 (the code is painful, though)
• Status: Alpha
  
• Project page: Project page on Google Code (there's not much there, yet)
• Type: CLI only

 

[der_scheme]

Post reserved for Q&A.

 

[der_scheme]

I've resumed working on this again. Since I'm rewriting most of it from scratch, the next version of the application will not be compatible with old projects (which doesn't matter, since nobody has been using it anyway¹).
¹ On that matter: A bug that prevented it from running when following the above installation instructions has been fixed. :P

The simple directory layout will stay pretty much the same. However, the internal project layout will become much more complex. For example, filters and combinations of textures with others will be supported. Example: When making changes to the occlusion map of the basic hull texture, I had to copy it manually to every texture file. The new program will take care of that and automatically update all the textures as the occlusion map changes.
An appropriate CLI would be very hard to learn, thus with all of the ongoing changes it will also be equipped with a GUI, deprecating the CLI.

Spoiler: Have some mock-ups

The project manager (main window).


New project dialog.


Project wizard.


The project window, with the target/texture/filter tree on the left and the log on the right.