Bitmap Handling Options Panel for the COLLADA DAE File Exporter

This dialog box controls how referenced bitmap texture files will be handled during the COLLADA export process. These two options are basically:

1. Output a filename reference to a file on the local disk. Do not modify the bitmap filename reference and do not perform any bitmap conversion. This is useful if your bitmaps are already in a format recognized by the destination 3D program.

2. Same as #2 except that bitmap file format conversion is done under user control. A file reference will be added to the COLLADA file, and a new bitmap image of the desired file format, and with the desired bit depth and resolution will be created.

Texture Bitmap Handling Method (Combo Box)

This combo box determines the preferred method to output texture bitmap disk references:

1) No Bitmap Conversion or Bitmap Filename Changes

If this combo box option is seleced then:

• A reference to the texture image will be placed in the COLLADA file as a texture reference.
• The filename and file path to the texture image on disk will not be changed.
• The filename extension on the bitmap reference will not be changed.
• The path to the bitmap will not be changed.
• No automatic bitmap conversion will be performed.

2) Convert all Bitmap File References To Use New File Extension

This is similar to option # 1 above, except that:

• The file reference placed in the COLLADA file will be changed such that its file extension is changed to that specified on the dialog box.

For example, if the option is set to ?TIFF? then all bitmap filename references will be changed so that their file extensions end in ?.tif?.

This is a useful option when all of the referenced texture maps have already been converted to this desired file format on disk.

3) Auto-Convert Bitmap Files to Another Format

If this combo box option is chosen then all 2D bitmap images that are used by the current scene will be automatically tagged and converted into a new user-specified 2D bitmap file format on the local disk. The bitmap image will be written to the COLLADA file as a file reference and not as an embedded texture image.

For example, if the scene makes references to IFF bitmap files then this option can be selected so that the IFF images are automatically converted to the TIFF format.

If the bitmap texture(s) cannot be found in the location specified by the pathname prepended to the texture filename then the COLLADA exporter will search for the texture(s) in all directories specified in the file search paths (these can be modified by pressing the "Modify Source Bitmap Image Search Paths" button).

Bitmap File Format (Combo Box)

This combo box lists the desired destination bitmap file format that all texture bitmap images should be converted into.

Bitmap Bits/Pixel: 2, 4, 8, 24 (Combo Box)

This combo lists determine the number of bits/pixel to write out to the new 2d bitmap file. The default is 24 bits. A color quantization algorithm will be used for the 2, 4 and 8 bits/pixel output formats. Not all bitmap file formats can accept 2-8 bits/pixel (e.g. in particular JPEG).

Dimensions: X = #, Y = #

These two drop-down list boxes determine the X and Y resolution for the converted bitmap file(s).

Confirm Potential Bitmap File Overwrites

If this checkbox is enabled (checkmarked) then the bitmap converter will confirm any potential overwrites of existing bitmap files on disk that have the same filename and extension as the one being written. If this option is disabled then no confirmation will be made.

Save Converted Bitmaps To...

These radio buttons determine where the new bitmap file will be written to. Note that enabling the ?Replace all Bitmap File Paths With This Path:? option or the ?Strip File Paths From All Bitmap References? option from another panel will change the path prefix for the converted bitmap even though it was saved to disk in the location specified by one of these 3 radio button options.

Directory Where Geometry Is Being Exported

The new bitmaps will be written to the directory where the exported files are being written to.

Specific + Browse

The new bitmaps will be written to the directory specified by the input text edit box. This directory can be changed by pressing the ?Browse? button.

Modify Source Bitmap Image Search Paths

In specific circumstances it may be necessary to inform the COLLADA exporter where your source bitmap images are located so that automatic bitmap file conversion process or the image embedding process can locate and load the images.

If the COLLADA exporter reports warnings that specific images could not be located during automatic bitmap conversion or embedding, then press this button so that the Search-Paths dialog box appears. Using this dialog box you can inform the COLLADA exporter where the source bitmaps are located.