I would like to use a single image for the backdrop in my game. Since the resolution I use is 1024*768, loading an image would require a 1024*1024 texture.
Is is safe to assume that most recent graphic cards can handle this ? Of course I could split the image in chunks, but I'd prefer to keep things simple.
More or less safe.
But never forget, 1024x1024 is 4MB VRAM and it is not safe to assume that old cards have 64MB and more ... its more like 16 / 32MB of which you waste 4MB already ...
Thanks. I plan to stay under the 16MB limit anyway.
Is the only limit VRAM? How do I know the "real" VRam-Size of a texture?
Width * Height * ByteDepth
For example for a 512x512 in 32Bit Graphicmode: 512 * 512 * 4 = 1MB
In what format you safe this does not make a difference, in VRAM it will always be this size! (even a 100kb JPG will need 1MB, yes)
VRAM size should be width* height * 4 for 32-bit graphics, so 1024 * 1024 * 4 = 4194304 bytes = 4 MB.