WoW:BLP file - Revision history

Move page script: Move page script moved page BLP file to WoW:BLP file without leaving a redirect

2023-08-15T04:47:53Z

Move page script moved page BLP file to BLP file without leaving a redirect

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Revision as of 04:47, 15 August 2023

Bear at 06:46, 17 May 2020

2020-05-17T06:46:03Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:46, 17 May 2020
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	{{uiaddon}}A [[BLP file]] is a texture file format known to be used for games, including many Blizzard games such as ''World of Warcraft''.		{{uiaddon\|toc=0}}
			A [[BLP file]] is a texture file format known to be used for games, including many Blizzard games such as ''World of Warcraft''.

	The BLP file structure consists of a header including the palette, and up to 16 pre-rendered 'mipmaps'. Texture sizes must be powers of two, though the two dimensions do not have to be equal; 512x256 is valid, but 512x200 is not. The first mipmap ('mipmap' level 0) is the full size image; each subsequent mipmap halves both dimensions. The final 'mipmap' should normally be 1x1.		The BLP file structure consists of a header including the palette, and up to 16 pre-rendered 'mipmaps'. Texture sizes must be powers of two, though the two dimensions do not have to be equal; 512x256 is valid, but 512x200 is not. The first mipmap ('mipmap' level 0) is the full size image; each subsequent mipmap halves both dimensions. The final 'mipmap' should normally be 1x1.
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	uint32_t palette[265]; // A set of 256 ARGB values used as a color palette		uint32_t palette[265]; // A set of 256 ARGB values used as a color palette
	} blp2header;		} blp2header;

	==== Notes ====		==== Notes ====
	* The actual number of 'mip' levels determined by image size		* The actual number of 'mip' levels determined by image size
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	== Compression ==		== Compression ==

	BLP, DXT1, DXT3, DXT5 or Uncompressed 8-bit per channel ARGB.		BLP, DXT1, DXT3, DXT5 or Uncompressed 8-bit per channel ARGB.

	=== BLP compression ===		=== BLP compression ===

	This is the BLP specific image format, where the 'compression' is via the use of a palette, and the use of alpha flags where 'alpha' data is omitted if flags indicate that there is no alpha data at the end of the regular image data for a given 'mip' level.		This is the BLP specific image format, where the 'compression' is via the use of a palette, and the use of alpha flags where 'alpha' data is omitted if flags indicate that there is no alpha data at the end of the regular image data for a given 'mip' level.

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	=== Uncompressed ===		=== Uncompressed ===

	If 'compression' is 3, each mipmap contains plain 32-bit BGRA data.		If 'compression' is 3, each mipmap contains plain 32-bit BGRA data.

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	=== DXTC compression ===		=== DXTC compression ===

	DXT is an industry standard texture compression format, designed originally for efficiency in real time graphics rendering and decompression in hardware. Most current 3D hardware supports loading some form of DXTC data directly. See [[Wikipedia:S3TC\|Wikipedia's entry on DXT compression]] for more detail.		DXT is an industry standard texture compression format, designed originally for efficiency in real time graphics rendering and decompression in hardware. Most current 3D hardware supports loading some form of DXTC data directly. See [[Wikipedia:S3TC\|Wikipedia's entry on DXT compression]] for more detail.

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	==== DXT1 ====		==== DXT1 ====

	If 'alpha_type' is 0, then DXT1 compression is used.		If 'alpha_type' is 0, then DXT1 compression is used.

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	==== DXT3 ====		==== DXT3 ====

	If 'alpha_type' is 1, then DXT3 compression is used.		If 'alpha_type' is 1, then DXT3 compression is used.

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	==== DXT5 ====		==== DXT5 ====

	If 'alpha_type' is 8, then DXT5 compression is used. This format was first used for Burning Crusade images.		If 'alpha_type' is 8, then DXT5 compression is used. This format was first used for Burning Crusade images.

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	== Sample Files ==		== Sample Files ==

	Below is a list of BLP files, each with some unique characteristic.		Below is a list of BLP files, each with some unique characteristic.

2003:D4:A3E5:7E00:41CE:17D0:74D0:6A4E: Correct alpha_type for DXT5

2019-01-22T18:50:47Z

Correct alpha_type for DXT5

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:50, 22 January 2019
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	{{uiaddon}}		{{uiaddon}}A [[BLP file]] is a texture file format known to be used for games, including many Blizzard games such as ''World of Warcraft''.

	A [[BLP file]] is a texture file format known to be used for games, including many Blizzard games such as ''World of Warcraft''.

	The BLP file structure consists of a header including the palette, and up to 16 pre-rendered 'mipmaps'. Texture sizes must be powers of two, though the two dimensions do not have to be equal; 512x256 is valid, but 512x200 is not. The first mipmap ('mipmap' level 0) is the full size image; each subsequent mipmap halves both dimensions. The final 'mipmap' should normally be 1x1.		The BLP file structure consists of a header including the palette, and up to 16 pre-rendered 'mipmaps'. Texture sizes must be powers of two, though the two dimensions do not have to be equal; 512x256 is valid, but 512x200 is not. The first mipmap ('mipmap' level 0) is the full size image; each subsequent mipmap halves both dimensions. The final 'mipmap' should normally be 1x1.
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	uint32_t palette[265]; // A set of 256 ARGB values used as a color palette		uint32_t palette[265]; // A set of 256 ARGB values used as a color palette
	} blp2header;		} blp2header;

	==== Notes ====		==== Notes ====
	* The actual number of 'mip' levels determined by image size		* The actual number of 'mip' levels determined by image size
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	* '''WoW''' has shipped with a small number of BLPs with dimensions that are not powers of two; 768x128 is used for many cube map textures, for example. In this case, the final stored mipmap may not be 1x1. (this last part may not be accurate)		* '''WoW''' has shipped with a small number of BLPs with dimensions that are not powers of two; 768x128 is used for many cube map textures, for example. In this case, the final stored mipmap may not be 1x1. (this last part may not be accurate)
	* Compression type 3 'Uncompressed' appeared in Cataclysm, and data layout is canonical A8R8G8B8, which is essentially uncompressed 24-bit color with 8-bit alpha.		* Compression type 3 'Uncompressed' appeared in Cataclysm, and data layout is canonical A8R8G8B8, which is essentially uncompressed 24-bit color with 8-bit alpha.
	* The header always includes a 256-entry color table. Each entry a 32-bit BGRA 8888 value. This table is only used for BLP format image data, but is present in all BLPs regardless.		* The header always includes a 256-entry color table. Each entry a 32-bit BGRA 8888 value. This table is only used for BLP format image data, but is present in all BLPs regardless.

	== Compression ==		== Compression ==
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	=== BLP compression ===		=== BLP compression ===

	This is the BLP specific image format, where the 'compression' is via the use of a palette, and the use of alpha flags where 'alpha' data is omitted if flags indicate that there is no alpha data at the end of the regular image data for a given 'mip' level.		This is the BLP specific image format, where the 'compression' is via the use of a palette, and the use of alpha flags where 'alpha' data is omitted if flags indicate that there is no alpha data at the end of the regular image data for a given 'mip' level.

	If 'compression' is 1, each mipmap is stored as an array of 8-bit values, one per pixel, left to right, top to bottom. Each value is an index to the palette.		If 'compression' is 1, each mipmap is stored as an array of 8-bit values, one per pixel, left to right, top to bottom. Each value is an index to the palette.
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	==== DXT5 ====		==== DXT5 ====

	If 'alpha_type' is 7, then DXT5 compression is used. This format was first used for Burning Crusade images.		If 'alpha_type' is 8, then DXT5 compression is used. This format was first used for Burning Crusade images.

	Each block is 128 bits and begins with two 8-bit values to create an 8 element lookup table for alpha values. The first two elements in the lookup table are copies of those values. If the first value is less than or equal to the second, the final two entries of the lookup table are reserved for transparent and opaque. The remaining entries are created by interpolating between the first two entries in the lookup table. The next 48 bits make up 16 3-bit values acting as lookups specifying the alpha values for each of the pixels in the block. The remaining 64 bits are identical to DXT1, except that no special color is reserved in the palette.		Each block is 128 bits and begins with two 8-bit values to create an 8 element lookup table for alpha values. The first two elements in the lookup table are copies of those values. If the first value is less than or equal to the second, the final two entries of the lookup table are reserved for transparent and opaque. The remaining entries are created by interpolating between the first two entries in the lookup table. The next 48 bits make up 16 3-bit values acting as lookups specifying the alpha values for each of the pixels in the block. The remaining 64 bits are identical to DXT1, except that no special color is reserved in the palette.

Bear: /* DXTC compression */

2013-07-16T02:45:14Z

DXTC compression

Show changes

WoWWiki>Eylekar at 23:26, 2 December 2012

2012-12-02T23:26:31Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:26, 2 December 2012
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	'''BLP files''' are Blizzard's texture format, used for many games. ''World of Warcraft'' uses the BLP2 format in particular. The BLP file structure consists of a header, up to 16 mipmaps of the texture, and a palette. Texture sizes must be powers of two, though the two dimensions do not have to be equal; 512x256 is valid, but 512x200 is not. The first mipmap (mipmap #0) is the full size image; each subsequent mipmap halves both dimensions. The final mipmap should be 1x1.		'''BLP files''' are Blizzard's texture format, used for many games. ''World of Warcraft'' uses the BLP2 format in particular. The BLP file structure consists of a header, up to 16 mipmaps of the texture, and a palette. Texture sizes must be powers of two, though the two dimensions do not have to be equal; 512x256 is valid, but 512x200 is not. The first mipmap (mipmap #0) is the full size image; each subsequent mipmap halves both dimensions. The final mipmap should be 1x1.

	It should be noted that ''World of Warcraft'' does ship a small number of BLP files with dimensions that are not powers of two, 768x128 is used for many cube map textures, for example. In this case the final mipmap may not be 1x1.		It should be noted that ''World of Warcraft'' does ship a small number of BLP files with dimensions that are not powers of two; 768x128 is used for many cube map textures, for example. In this case, the final mipmap may not be 1x1.

	=== The .BLP header ===		=== The .BLP header ===

WoWWiki>Aphax: Added a note that there are also non-POT BLP files. This contradicts the first paragraph so maybe further edits are neccesary to make it more sensible

2012-12-02T22:03:39Z

Added a note that there are also non-POT BLP files. This contradicts the first paragraph so maybe further edits are neccesary to make it more sensible

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:03, 2 December 2012
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	'''BLP files''' are Blizzard's texture format, used for many games. ''World of Warcraft'' uses the BLP2 format in particular. The BLP file structure consists of a header, up to 16 mipmaps of the texture, and a palette. Texture sizes must be powers of two, though the two dimensions do not have to be equal; 512x256 is valid, but 512x200 is not. The first mipmap (mipmap #0) is the full size image; each subsequent mipmap halves both dimensions. The final mipmap should be 1x1.		'''BLP files''' are Blizzard's texture format, used for many games. ''World of Warcraft'' uses the BLP2 format in particular. The BLP file structure consists of a header, up to 16 mipmaps of the texture, and a palette. Texture sizes must be powers of two, though the two dimensions do not have to be equal; 512x256 is valid, but 512x200 is not. The first mipmap (mipmap #0) is the full size image; each subsequent mipmap halves both dimensions. The final mipmap should be 1x1.

			It should be noted that ''World of Warcraft'' does ship a small number of BLP files with dimensions that are not powers of two, 768x128 is used for many cube map textures, for example. In this case the final mipmap may not be 1x1.

	=== The .BLP header ===		=== The .BLP header ===

Bear at 18:56, 14 August 2012

2012-08-14T18:56:43Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:56, 14 August 2012
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	{{~~uitech~~}}		{{uiaddon}}
	~~← [[WoW AddOn]]~~

	'''BLP files''' are Blizzard's texture format, used for many games. ''World of Warcraft'' uses the BLP2 format in particular. The BLP file structure consists of a header, up to 16 mipmaps of the texture, and a palette. Texture sizes must be powers of two, though the two dimensions do not have to be equal; 512x256 is valid, but 512x200 is not. The first mipmap (mipmap #0) is the full size image; each subsequent mipmap halves both dimensions. The final mipmap should be 1x1.		'''BLP files''' are Blizzard's texture format, used for many games. ''World of Warcraft'' uses the BLP2 format in particular. The BLP file structure consists of a header, up to 16 mipmaps of the texture, and a palette. Texture sizes must be powers of two, though the two dimensions do not have to be equal; 512x256 is valid, but 512x200 is not. The first mipmap (mipmap #0) is the full size image; each subsequent mipmap halves both dimensions. The final mipmap should be 1x1.

WoWWiki>Fandyllic at 20:05, 2 August 2012

2012-08-02T20:05:21Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:05, 2 August 2012
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	{{uitech}}		{{uitech}}
	<[[WoW AddOn]]		← [[WoW AddOn]]

	'''BLP files''' are Blizzard's texture format, used for many games. ''World of Warcraft'' uses the BLP2 format in particular. The BLP file structure consists of a header, up to 16 mipmaps of the texture, and a palette. Texture sizes must be powers of two, though the two dimensions do not have to be equal; 512x256 is valid, but 512x200 is not. The first mipmap (mipmap #0) is the full size image; each subsequent mipmap halves both dimensions. The final mipmap should be 1x1.		'''BLP files''' are Blizzard's texture format, used for many games. ''World of Warcraft'' uses the BLP2 format in particular. The BLP file structure consists of a header, up to 16 mipmaps of the texture, and a palette. Texture sizes must be powers of two, though the two dimensions do not have to be equal; 512x256 is valid, but 512x200 is not. The first mipmap (mipmap #0) is the full size image; each subsequent mipmap halves both dimensions. The final mipmap should be 1x1.

Bear at 19:57, 2 August 2012

2012-08-02T19:57:10Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:57, 2 August 2012
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	{{uitech}}		{{uitech}}
			<[[WoW AddOn]]

	'''BLP files''' are Blizzard's texture format, used for many games. ''World of Warcraft'' uses the BLP2 format in particular. The BLP file structure consists of a header, up to 16 mipmaps of the texture, and a palette. Texture sizes must be powers of two, though the two dimensions do not have to be equal; 512x256 is valid, but 512x200 is not. The first mipmap (mipmap #0) is the full size image; each subsequent mipmap halves both dimensions. The final mipmap should be 1x1.		'''BLP files''' are Blizzard's texture format, used for many games. ''World of Warcraft'' uses the BLP2 format in particular. The BLP file structure consists of a header, up to 16 mipmaps of the texture, and a palette. Texture sizes must be powers of two, though the two dimensions do not have to be equal; 512x256 is valid, but 512x200 is not. The first mipmap (mipmap #0) is the full size image; each subsequent mipmap halves both dimensions. The final mipmap should be 1x1.

WoWWiki>Smariot: /* Sample Files */ wrong directory

2010-10-10T14:38:04Z

Sample Files: wrong directory

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:38, 10 October 2010
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	=== RAW compression ===		=== RAW compression ===

			==== RAW1 ====

	If <tt>compression</tt> is set to 1, each mipmap is stored as an array of 8-bit values, one per pixel, left to right, top to bottom. Each value is an index to the palette.		If <tt>compression</tt> is set to 1, each mipmap is stored as an array of 8-bit values, one per pixel, left to right, top to bottom. Each value is an index to the palette.

	If <tt>~~alpha-depth~~</tt> is greater than 0, an alpha channel will immediately follow the image data, and comes in 1, 4, and 8 bit varieties. The 1 and 4 bit versions have multiple values packed into a single byte, with the least significant bit belonging to the first packed value.		If <tt>alpha_bits</tt> is greater than 0, an alpha channel will immediately follow the image data, and comes in 1, 4, and 8 bit varieties. The 1 and 4 bit versions have multiple values packed into a single byte, with the least significant bit belonging to the first packed value.

	With the <tt>compression</tt> set to 3, each mipmap contains ~~raw color data. There is only one known image using this format, and had~~ 32 bit BGRA ~~pixels with~~ <tt>~~alpha-depth~~</tt> set to 8. ~~One might infer that with <tt>alpha-depth</tt> set to 0 the image would use 24 bit BGR pixels, but no such example exists~~.		==== RAW3 ====

			With the <tt>compression</tt> set to 3, each mipmap contains what appears to be 32 bit BGRA data. <tt>alpha_bits</tt> seems to represent a set of bit flags rather than depth, as all images of this type seem to have 4 bytes per pixel regardless of depth, and it has been seen to exceed 8. Their meaning is unknown.

	=== DXTn compression ===		=== DXTn compression ===
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	==== DXT1 ====		==== DXT1 ====

	If <tt>~~alpha_bits~~</tt> is ~~set to~~ 0, DXT1 compression is used.		If <tt>alpha_type</tt> is 0, then DXT1 compression is used.

	Each block is 64 bits and begins with two 16 bit values, and are used to derived a 4 color palette.		Each block is 64 bits and begins with two 16 bit values, and are used to derived a 4 color palette.
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	The values are interpreted as 565 RGB colors, with the least significant bits corresponding to blue, to create the first two colors in the palette.		The values are interpreted as 565 RGB colors, with the least significant bits corresponding to blue, to create the first two colors in the palette.

	If the first value is less than or equal to the second, the final entry of the palette is reserved ~~for~~ black.		If the first value is less than or equal to the second, the final entry of the palette is reserved. If <tt>alpha_bits</tt> is 0, the reserved color is black. If <tt>alpha_bits</tt> is 1, the reserved color is transparent.

	The remaining colors are created by interpolating between the first two colors in the palette.		The remaining colors are created by interpolating between the first two colors in the palette.

	The remaining 32 bits are 16 2-bit values acting as a lookups to specify the colors in the block.		The remaining 32 bits are 16 2-bit values acting as a lookups to specify the colors in the block.

	~~==== DXT1a ====~~

	~~If <tt>alpha_bits</tt> is set to 1, DXT1a compression is used.~~

	~~Each block is 64 bits and is identical to DXT1, except that transparent is reserved in the palette instead of black.~~

	==== DXT3 ====		==== DXT3 ====

	If ~~<tt>alpha_bits</tt> is set to 4 or 8, and~~ <tt>alpha_type</tt> is 0, 1~~, or 8~~, then DXT3 compression is used.		If <tt>alpha_type</tt> is 1, then DXT3 compression is used.

	Each block is 128 bits and begins identically to DXT1, except that no special color is reserved in the palette.		Each block is 128 bits and begins identically to DXT1, except that no special color is reserved in the palette.
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	The remaining 64 bits are identical to DXT1, except that no special color is reserved in the palette.		The remaining 64 bits are identical to DXT1, except that no special color is reserved in the palette.

	~~==== DXT2 and DXT4 ====~~

	DXT2 and DXT4 are identical to DXT3 and DXT5, respectively, save that pixel data winds up being premultiplied by alpha -- that is, each RGBA pixel is not represented by (r, g, b, a) but instead by (ar, ag, ab, a) where all values are normalised to lie between 0 and 1. World of Warcraft does not use these formats.

	=== Sample Files ===		=== Sample Files ===
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	\| GLUES\LoadingBar\Loading-BarGlow.blp \|\| RAW1 \|\| No alpha		\| GLUES\LoadingBar\Loading-BarGlow.blp \|\| RAW1 \|\| No alpha
	\|-		\|-
	\| ~~Interface\~~CURSOR\Attack.blp \|\| RAW1 \|\| 1-bit alpha		\| CURSOR\Attack.blp \|\| RAW1 \|\| 1-bit alpha
	\|-		\|-
	\| ~~Interface\~~CURSOR\Buy.blp \|\| RAW1 \|\| 8-bit alpha		\| CURSOR\Buy.blp \|\| RAW1 \|\| 8-bit alpha
	\|-		\|-
	\| Icons\Trade_Alchemy.blp \|\| DXT1 \|\| No alpha		\| Icons\Trade_Alchemy.blp \|\| DXT1 \|\| No alpha
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	\| Textures\SunGlare.blp \|\| RAW3 \|\| alpha_bits=136		\| Textures\SunGlare.blp \|\| RAW3 \|\| alpha_bits=136
	\|-		\|-
	\| TILESET\Terrain Cube Maps\oilslickenvA.blp \|\| RAW3 \|\| alpha_bits=1~~, width=768~~		\| TILESET\Terrain Cube Maps\TCB_CrystalSong_A.blp \|\| DXT1 \|\| width=768
			\|-
			\| TILESET\Terrain Cube Maps\oilslickenvA.blp \|\| RAW3 \|\| alpha_bits=1
	\|}		\|}

	=== Conversion tools ===		=== Conversion tools ===
	There exist BLP tools to convert both from and to the BLP format. They can be found in [[UI FAQ/AddOn Author Resources#Resources\|UI Authors resource list]].		There exist BLP tools to convert both from and to the BLP format. They can be found in [[UI FAQ/AddOn Author Resources#Resources\|UI Authors resource list]].