Updated January 23rd 2012
I created this texture pack for the dragons after basically being relatively disappointed with quite a number of the ones that were already available. I bumped up the texture resolution from the standard 1024x2048 which was being "stretched" over the 3d model making for a relatively unpleasant looking result IF you tried to apply any form of better more detailed texture at that resolution (the stretching appearance would show up even more doing so)

So creating a 4096x8192 texture resolution seemed to produce the BEST overall appearance. But of course some people really don't want to trash their vram if they are limited, as a request i created a 2048x4096 version. I determined as stated above, that there was no real benefit to creating an original resolution size, plus VERY little difference in vram usage between 1024x2048 ~> 2048x4096.

Quadrupling and x16 the resolution of the texture makes for a very exceptional level of detail. Some people like it, some people will hate it. I've been implementing fixes and solution and such to further enhance the dragons. Most recently an alpha fix that makes the blood dragons look considerably better. But i would still like to improve the normal maps to give the dragons even more depth.

Now it's quite difficult to create a texture from scratch without basically having a very hard time matching the vanilla color/design. So i used the existing texture as a reference and only enhanced them and tweaked them. I'm a fan of keeping true to the originals when possible.

I was recommended to post a thread in this forum by a few people so others could enjoy it if they didn't know it even existed.

Here you go, enjoy.

http://www.skyrimnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=4408

Recently added a youtube video showing a up close and personal fly around of the dragons:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3j91oAG2ko

Youtube video of a dragon fight with blood dragon texture from my pack. More to come. NOTE: Recorded @ 30fps 3240x1920 resolution with ZERO post/injector mods used, just raw skyrim with a few skyrim ini tweaks. Select the desired resolution for the video and enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmDdD-od3f4


UPDATE: Recently did up parthurnax in a different style/idea...

numerous revisions later turned out this...

Vanilla Parthurnax
http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/5049/uhdeparthurnaxvanilla.jpg

UHDE Parthurnax v2.0p rev9
http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/335/uhdeparthurnaxv20.jpg

Parthurnax version is able for download at the same location...

Those look incredible..

Does this include unique dragons such as Alduin? I dont see any mention of them in your description or comments section
And YES! Finally got rid of those blurry low-quality dragon skeletons!

I've been working on the 2 other dragons that appear in the game that don't use the standard textures.

Alduin actually is a 2048x2048 texture where as i think the name is paraduix or something like that..... uses basically the same texture layout as the other dragons with numerous changes... so it'll be much easier to enhance him rather than alduin which essentially requires a HUGE amount of work as nothing is remotely similare.

So expect an update sometimes soon.... when i don't know.. it's not exactly a speedy solution to heavily enhance the textures. Most of the work is very finely isolating the specific portions of the texture, i'm not one to just slap a generalized texture enhancement across the entire texture and call it a day, i like to be very specific and it just makes life easier in the end as further updates can be more easily applied without to much additional work. INCLUDING perhaps color changes in the future.

For those that would like a quick video of at least the blood dragon texture in action... heres a youtube link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmDdD-od3f4

They do truly look awesome. Now I've got 0 experience with how mods are added to the skyrimnexus but is there a reason your latest files aren't 'download with manager' capable? At this point I've got so many mods in play that the only way to keep them sorted is to use that darn thing to help me keep track of what came from what and just straight throwing these textures into the data folder would muck with that.

ED: The patches are but not the main files themselves. If that could be fixed I'd really appreciate it and would love to give this mod a try and very likely an endorsemant of course

ED ED: Seems you've edited the download options so that the main files are manager capable, thank you!

Looks awesome. Replying so I have a quick way to find this when I get out of work

thanks manunkind

bumpinthenight..... i really don't have an answer for you.. i haven't changed anything.... on the skyrimnexus files.. there is an option to disable the manager capability.. but i've never done that.... why it wasn't working one minute and then working the next.... well i think that might be on skyrims systems.. because recently in the last oh 3 days or so.. i've been getting irregular issues with the website....

Well, While I don't have a need for a huge texture like the top ones you've made (they simply don't look any better than the 2048x4096 ones to me) this looks fantastic over all. I love the middle range texture you made, and it has improved this one small aspect of the game a whole lot more aesthetically appealing.

Just as an idle curiosity, for my own 'HUH?' response-- how the hell much does a monitor running that ratio cost? O.o Mine was a buck fifty for a 1920x1080... (Given that I used to play games 800x600 last time I comp gamed, that was a massive improvement )

I have the details in my specs in terms of what i'm running

it is 3 of the 27" Asus VE278Q 1080p monitors (1920x1080).... i've then purchased a triple monitor tilt/swivel stand... overall the price of my monitor system is approximately $1800 CAD. (that's monitor fees/taxes/envio fee/shipping and all that nonsense combined).

The previous setup was 3 of the samsung 23" 2048x1152 monitors in essentially the same setup. which obviously produced an even better resolution... not by much.. but it is VERY close to 2160p quad HD.

The aspect ratio is approximately 16:9.5 if i did my math right.... and rolls out to an equivilent 50" display approximately.

I have considered moving to 5 of the 27" in a 5 monitor eyefinity setup. But i just ..... don't have any place to put them, need a bigger desk and trying to find a 5 monitor stand is well... almost impossible even if it's just a rigid one.

Alternatively i was running for a short time triple 1080p projectors for giggles before i set them up for some customers for HTCP systems. For halariousness, i shot them outside my store onto the slightly off white and dirty building wall across the street, and managed to kinda tweat them, the size of the screen would be equivilent to about 300 feet with some serious edge issues on either side. But detail was pretty stellar, Cops didn't approve. lol.



Paladin181, thanks.... Yes some people don't really see a big difference, i just know depending on your monitor size and resolution, it does however have it's advantages.

I took the time quite awhile ago to try out test paterns on the dragons to see what size/resolution textures BEST suited them. After testing everything from the original 1024x2048 up to the 8192x16384 in proper increments, I found 2048x4096 to be basically as low as anyone should go, and 4096x8192 as high as anyone would need to go, anything larger was just wasting vram.

Obviously those running say eyefinity displays would most likely notice the largest difference from the ultra high definition textures vs the smaller ones.. but if your just doing 1080p only on lets say a 27" monitor... yeah chances are your not going to see much of a difference.

That's the reason i provided both options.

I'm just glad some people are enjoying them, unfortunately there is still thousands out there that don't even know this pack exists. And i would love to have more feedback on what could be improved and if i can even improve it. Most of what still is bugging me i cannot fix with texture changes, it's all in the design and texture mapping of the model.. and unfortunately i don't have a program to handle some of it properly (trials ran out *sigh*)

...and I for one am glad you did

how performance-intensive this is?

Considering i've ran it on some of the weakest machines barely able to run skyrim... with ZERO impact on FPS...... i'd say not intensive at all.

It's not like you have all 5 different dragons flying around at once... and even then it's still relatively insignificant.

I've ran it on the x1900xtx 512mb and Nvidia 8800 cards no issues or FPS change.

For anyone under 1gb.... go with the smaller texture or if you have a small monitor/low resolution.... for anyone with 1gb+, or have a large tv/monitor running 1080p or higher resolution.. try the large texture.

These look amazing. I took the smaller one first just to err on the side of caution but I'll try the large one to since I hadn't considered that dragons aren't all over the place and there's rarely more than one at a time.

sure... not much to lose.... download both.. try them out... and see if you notice any difference. If not.. go with the smaller one so you can pack more textures in without worrying about lack of vram.

i swear i used tfc before without using 1 for animals to remain animated but just paused in there current position. Can't seem to get it to work now...

oh well

another video of a fight with an elder dragon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mPwKBZgNpM

thank you will you do this for some of the most awesome variations of "deadly dragons" as well?

Textures look nicely done, downloading now. Thanks for the work on this!

Good dragon fight btw, excellent use of tactics and shouts.

dark ansem, link to the deadly dragons your referring to? I know many people like the fantasy or colorful dragons concept but are still lacking detail/definition due to only being color changed.


urtho, i tend to try different ways of dieing to dragons... lol... thanks

oh i was hoping there was an 8192 x 8192 version as well.

no.. bad... i did make a 8192x16384 version and tested it.. but at that point your essentially making a 100MB texture file and resulting in a 1gb download size for the package... with ZERO benefit.. and support falling off for a good number of video adapters still being used.

You don't want to make a 8192x8192 because there is no benefit to that either, the texture mapping onto the models is specifically designed for a specific 1:2 ratio, so doing a 1:1 ratio won't have ANY effect on the end result. It just makes the dss file larger than it needs to be.

i have to justify buying my 3GB graphics card somehow. even if it doesnt make it look any better.

here it is http://www.skyrimnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=3829 isn't that dracolich spectacular?

your mean this baddy?

http://static.skyrimnexus.com/downloads/images/3829-2-1325160896.jpg

basically bones with a little bit of skin attached yet..

short of downloading the DSS file for that dragon and seeing what exact he/she did.... i really don't want to start seriously stepping on peoples toes by yanking peoples mods. Maybe suggest to him/her to take a look.. i'm be willing to provide assistance when i have time to maybe try to duplicate it.