Establish 2D Pixel as Default Texture2D Import Preset

[russell-cj]

The project currently does not enforce a standard in the project.godot file for texture import settings. This means that, even though Godot detects the files as 2D textures, it still applies Linear Filtering by default.

Reference: As @wjt recently mentioned, this becomes a “whack-a-mole” situation, fixing images one by one every time someone uploads new assets.

Proposal

Set the "2D Pixel" preset as the official default for the Texture2D import type.

Note

This will reintroduce the [importer_defaults] block in the project.godot file (the same one I previously reverted to start this discussion).

Benefit: Ensures crisp pixel art for everyone, automatically.

Note

on Compression

This is independent from the discussion about WebP compression.
We can keep this default for filtering and still adjust compression settings as needed, but the visual baseline will be correct.

[russell-cj]

Hi @manuq! The "2D Pixel" preset is located in the Import Dock, not in the Project Settings.

To see it:

1. Select any image file in the FileSystem.
2. Go to the Import tab (next to the Scene tab).
3. Click the Preset button at the top.
4. Select 2D.

What I did previously was click "Set as Default for Texture2D" in that same menu.
That action is what writes the importer_defaults block into the project.godot file, ensuring all future assets import with Nearest filter (crisp pixel art) instead of Linear (blurry).

[wjt]

We could do that but I don't think it actually changes any of the import settings compared to “2D/3D (Auto-Detect)” because we don't use the textures in 3D scenes. Here is the documentation: https://docs.godotengine.org/en/stable/tutorials/assets_pipeline/importing_images.html#detect-3d

The default import options (no mipmaps and Lossless compression) are suited for 2D, but are not ideal for most 3D projects. Detect 3D makes Godot aware of when a texture is used in a 3D scene (such as a texture in a BaseMaterial3D). If this happens, several import options are changed so the texture flags are friendlier to 3D. Mipmaps are enabled and the compression mode is changed to VRAM Compressed unless Detect 3D > Compress To is changed. The texture is also reimported automatically.

[wjt]

That action is what writes the importer_defaults block into the project.godot file, ensuring all future assets import with Nearest filter (crisp pixel art) instead of Linear (blurry).

This isn't controlled at texture import time. This is controlled by the CanvasItem.texture_filter option, which defaults to "inherit". If no parent node overrides this, it defaults to what is configured in the project settings, which we have configured to Nearest:

@manuq configured this in commit f220374.

[wjt]

The project currently does not enforce a standard in the project.godot file for texture import settings. This means that, even though Godot detects the files as 2D textures, it still applies Linear Filtering by default.

So I believe this is incorrect: Godot does not apply linear filtering by default. What leads you to think otherwise?

[russell-cj]

Thanks @wjt. You are absolutely right—I verified it in the editor and the filtering is indeed Nearest by default.