PC Game Options: Color Depth vs Texture Color Depth

[DigitalLove]

What's the difference between the two? If I change Color Depth to 32 bit, won't Texture Color Depth also be 32 bit and vice versa? Mostly everything in 3d games are covered with textures be it walls, sky, buildings, people (models), etc. So if I change Texture Color Depth to 32 bit, isn't turning regular Color Depth to 32 bit just being repetitive. I don't get it. Can anyone explain?

Exactly what does regular Color Depth apply to?

Thanks.

 

[JellyBaby]

Texture color depth should refer to textures created using a 32-bit paint program by the arteests. Video color depth refers to the maximum number of colors the video card will be able to produce.

 

[DigitalLove]

<< Texture color depth should refer to textures created using a 32-bit paint program by the arteests. Video color depth refers to the maximum number of colors the video card will be able to produce. >>



So by your statement, everything would still be 16 bit if I had something like this:

Color Depth = 16 bit.
Texture Color Depth = 32 bit

The 32 bit Texture stored in my video memory would be downgraded (dithered) to 16 bit?

 

[DigitalLove]

<< Texture color depth should refer to textures created using a 32-bit paint program by the arteests. >>



Wait a minute. So the Texture Color Depth setting in 3d games has nothing to do with the color depth of the Texture?

 

[JellyBaby]

<< The 32 bit Texture stored in my video memory would be downgraded (dithered) to 16 bit? >>

You can't show a texture that may have 32 million colors when the video mode is limited to 65,000 so those "extra" colors are lost.

<< So the Texture Color Depth setting in 3d games has nothing to do with the color depth of the Texture? >>

The texture color depth setting should allow you to choose either textures having a maximum of 65,000 colors or those with a max. of 32 million. Of course I highly doubt many textures actually use that many colors.

Your best bet is to stick with 16/16 or 32/32.

 

[S0me1X]

Most of the benefits of 32-bit color is in the effects (like lighting, explosions, etc)

 

[DigitalLove]

I understand now. Thanks fellas.