Texel Density

Texel Density (TD) refers to the number of texture pixels (texels) per unit of surface area on a 3D model in a video game. It is important for maintaining visual quality and reducing texture stretching or blurring when a model is viewed up close or from different angles. Higher TD means more detail and sharpness on the textures, but can also result in larger file sizes and performance issues.

Usually it’s measured in pixels per centimeter (2.56px/cm) or pixels per meter (256px/m).

You can read more information about What is Texel Density here.

Zen UV is providing all the tools you need to work with Texel Density.

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Texel Density Value

Shows Texel Density value.

TD Calc Precision.

Specifies how many percents of the Island’s polygon will be used to determine Texel Density.

Properties

Select by TD

Select Islands by choosen Texel Density.

Properties

Preferences
⮟ Influence	Calculation Mode.
• Island	Per each Island.
• Face	Per each Face.
Clear Selection	Clear initial Selection.
⮟ Selection Mode	Selection Mode.
• Treshold	Use TD basic value and Treshold.
• Range	Use the range specified by the Minimum and Maximum TD values.
• Skip	Do not select Islands by TD values.
Presets:
Select Underrated	Select Islands with TD value less than the smallest TD value in the presets.
Select Overrated	Select Islands with TD value less than the highest TD value in the presets.

Get TD

Get Texel Density from selected Islands.

Set TD

Set Texel Density to selected Islands.

Modes
Overall Mode	Set Texel Density for all selected Islands together.
Island Mode	Set Texel Density individually for every selected Island.

Use Pivot

Use Pivot point when Setting Texel Density. From Center or from other 8 directions.

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Texture Size

Texture Size for TD calculations.

TD Range

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Get TD Range

Calculates current minimum, average and maximum TD values on the model. By clicking on the number fields you can choose Islands with given TD value.

Modes
Select objects	Calculates current minimum and maximum TD values on the selected objects.
Scene	Calculates current minimum and maximum TD values in the scene.

Calculate TD

Calculates optimal Texture Size/TD based on given TD/Texture Size.

Modes

Texel Density	Texture Size

Display TD

Display Texel Density in Viewport by chosen mode and display method.

Calculation Mode
Island	Per aach Island.
Face	Per each Face.

Display Method
Balanced	The value specified in TD Checker will always be in the middle color from the user’s preferences. Smaller values - first color. Bigger values - third color.
Spectrum	Method for displaying values in specified density range.
Presets	Display TD Presets.

Tip

Read POLYMATTER.XYZ manual about how to choose right TD. JPG, PDF.

Advanced Display Settings

Display TD Settings for all display methods.

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Settings depends on Display modes.

Methods

Balanced	Spectrum	Presets

Color Scheme

Color Scheme used to Display TD.

Color Schemes
Three Color	Three colors based on user preferences.
Full Spectrum	Full spectrum of seven primary colors.
Reversed Spectrum	Reversed full spectrum of seven primary colors.
Linear	Two-color gradient. Colors match first and second color of user preferences.
Mono	Monochromatic Scheme.

Colors

Three colors used to Display TD values for Three Colors and Linear Color Schemes.

Colors
First Color “Less”	Viewport display color to represent Texel Density less than TD Value.
Second Color “Equal”	Viewport display color to represent Texel Density equal to TD Value.
Third Color “Over”	Viewport display color to represent Texel Density over than TD Value.

TD Color Alpha

TD Color overlay alpha.

Range Type

Set Range type manually or automatically.

Presets Only

Display only TD values that exist in Preset list. All other values will be displayed in black.

Note

Available only for Presets display method.

Presets

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Presets Management

You can Save TD Presets for your projects to and Share TD Presets with team.

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Options
Load	Load Preset.
Add	Add new Preset.
Remove	Remove Preset.
Open Presets Folder	Open Presets Folder.

Notice

If name in preset selector is marked with asterix then it shows name of category and active preset is not selected

Get TD

Get TD from selected Islands to active Preset.

Set TD

Set TD from active Preset to selected Islands.

Clear

Clear Presets list.

Presets Tools

Create Presets

Create Presets from selected Islands.

Colorize Presets

Create colors for existing Presets.

Select by TD

Select Islands By Texel Density.

Options

Options
Under Rated	Select islands which have TD less than minimal in the list.
Over Rated	Select islands which have TD bigger than maximal in the list.
By Value	Select by active preset value.

Global TD Preset

Global project TD Preset value used in Zen Unwrap and other operators. You can chage the value using Settings button.

Island Size

This toolset is useful to control Island size in Pixels and Units. When you change texture size it helps to resize Islands keeping the same amount Pixels or Units per Island.

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Tip

Watch the video explaining how Island Size works.

Size

Represent Size of the Island in Pixel or Units.

Select by Size

Select Island by Size.

Get

Get Island Size in Pixels or Units.

Set

Set Island Size in Pixels or Units.

Modes
Overall Mode	Set size for all selected Islands together.
Island Mode	Set size individually for every selected Island.

Island Mode

Set Island Size in Pixels or Units.

Overall Mode

Set Island Size in Pixels or Units.

Texture Size

Select Texture Size for Island Size calculations.

UV World Size

This toolset is useful if you don’t know TD that you need to apply to the Island, but you have texture (no matter what is the size in pixels) and know what is the real size the texture (for example: tiled concrete wall 0.7m).

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