Release 0.9.5 texture and material refinement

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -4,6 +4,19 @@ All notable user-facing changes to Gig Line. The format follows
 [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.1.0/), and versions use
 Semantic Versioning.
 
+## [0.9.5] — 2026-11-02
+
+### Changed
+
+- NPC albedo, normal and ORM maps are now 256² instead of 128², giving the
+  face, fabric and gear materials more detail at portrait distance.
+- NPC fabric maps now repeat four times across the body and skip the baked
+  per-character AO, removing the large blotchy patches from shirts, jackets and
+  trousers at portrait distance.
+- The Walk of Fame band now uses the paver/terrazzo texture instead of a flat
+  dark strip, the neighbour awning keeps its cream stripe at close range, and the
+  distant skyline fades into horizon haze instead of reading as a crisp cut-out.
+
 ## [0.9.4] — 2026-11-02
 
 ### Changed

DONE.md

@@ -1878,3 +1878,4 @@ and `npc_proportions.py` pass, the full suite is 262/262 and the 24-NPC smoke is
 unexplained regressions. Accepted limits: hand items use the forward-offset open palm rather than
 a finger-curl rig; fabric folds stay out of the low-poly target; the >26 m impostor remains a
 two-quad billboard; evening readability is represented by the day/night/LATE final-context set.
+Tagged `v0.9.4`; Gitea run 916 passed checks and the full build and published seven assets.

MEMORY.md

@@ -63,10 +63,32 @@ Session memory for durable decisions, state, and gotchas. Keep concise, remove o
   `character_override` because it has no spawned NPC role. **Signed off
   2026-11-02:** 96 final-context captures, no P0; lanyard/helmet P1 fixes; the
   backpack straps, caps, low-poly hands/faces and optional close-range
-  flashlight wash were accepted or deferred. The 24-NPC budget is 6.93 ms, the
+  flashlight wash were accepted or deferred. The 24-NPC budget is 6.94 ms, the
   gallery is 13 good / 0 bad, the screen-design judge is 13/13 and a clean
   portrait measured a 0.732 vision gap against the photoreal concept. No
   release build, version bump or tag was created at this gate.
+- **NPC texture resolution (0.9.5, 2026-11-02):** `tools/npc_pipeline.py` now generates 256²
+  albedo/normal/ORM maps instead of 128² (AI shirt/trousers are resized to 256). The base and all
+  eight library GLBs plus AO maps were rebuilt; texture files total ~0.5 MB, eight GLBs ~5.75 MB,
+  and the 24-NPC smoke is 6.94 ms.
+- **0.9.5 texture/UI audit (2026-11-02):** all 21 screen-art textures are
+  1280×720 and referenced by their screens; access cards are 256×128 and HUD
+  icons 64×64, with no oversized or unused runtime texture. The 24-NPC smoke now
+  reports **168 meshes / 131,616 triangles / 6.94 ms** (50 ms budget). Compressed
+  payloads are picks **24.55 MB**, UI art **22.67 MB**, NPC maps **0.48 MB**.
+  Legacy root textures remain only for `generate_textures.py` and the asset test.
+- **Environment surface audit (0.9.5, 2026-11-02):** `capture_realism.gd` gained
+  `surfaces` (Hollywood pavers/asphalt/limestone/facade) and `surfaces_joke`
+  (neighbour awning, canopy, pavers) stages with the HUD hidden. The Walk of Fame
+  band now uses `T_CONCRETE` as dark terrazzo; the neighbour awning uses a neutral
+  tint (`0.62`) and 4× UV so the red/cream stripes survive; the skyline shader
+  fades its lower 42 m toward a per-phase haze colour. Brick/asphalt picks needed
+  no replacement. No seams or broken UV scales found.
+- **NPC fabric UV/AO (0.9.5, 2026-11-02):** cloth/pants use
+  `Materials.NPC_FABRIC_UV_SCALE = Vector3(4,4,1)`, and `NpcAvatar` skips the baked per-character
+  AO on those two slots. The 256² AO was magnifying into large blotches; the fabric now reads as a
+  fine weave. Skin/hair/gear keep baked AO. Test `test_fabric_uv_scale_avoids_the_baked_ao_pattern`
+  guards this. Current suite is 263/263.
 - **NPC visual baseline (0.9.4, 2026-11-02):** `src/test/capture_npc_baseline.gd` is the
   neutral-studio 8-variant × 6-view baseline (front, three-quarter, profile, back, full body,
   crowd). It uses a fixed orbit camera, mid-grey studio backdrop, key/fill lights, no HUD/crowd/animation;
@@ -152,16 +174,20 @@ Session memory for durable decisions, state, and gotchas. Keep concise, remove o
   for every new `Button`; CheckButton/OptionButton keep the engine theme. Timeline
   Previous/Next disable at the ends; F1 tutorial skip is keyboard-only by design.
 - **Version and roadmap renumber (2026-11-02):** source was **0.9.3** at the UI
-  polish milestone, now **0.9.4** after the NPC pass; the
-  completed map/NPC work and UI polish are the patch content. Next work is
-  **0.9.4 NPC**, **0.9.5 textures**, **0.9.6 integration**, then the **0.10.0**
+  polish milestone, **0.9.4** after the NPC pass, now **0.9.5** after the texture
+  and material pass. Next work is **0.9.6 integration**, then the **0.10.0**
   minor release candidate. `TODO.md` plans only 0.x patch/minor increments; no
-  major-version scope is defined yet. The v0.9.4 tag is the release trigger; no
+  major-version scope is defined yet. The `v0.9.5` tag is the release trigger; no
   tag was created for 0.9.3.
 - **Priority change (2026-11-02):** the map optimization, pre-build NPC revisit,
-  0.9.3 UI polish and 0.9.4 NPC visual optimization are complete and in `DONE.md`.
-  0.9.5 textures and 0.9.6 integration/0.10.0 release work are next. The current
-  source version is 0.9.4; the v0.9.4 tag triggers the CI build.
+  0.9.3 UI polish, 0.9.4 NPC visual optimization and 0.9.5 texture/material pass
+  are complete and in `DONE.md`. 0.9.6 integration and 0.10.0 release work are
+  next. The current source version is 0.9.5.
+- **Release v0.9.4 (2026-11-02):** commit `a57b86c` tagged `v0.9.4`; Gitea Actions
+  run 916 passed checks and the full build and published seven assets (Linux,
+  Windows, macOS, NSIS setup, AppImage, Web, Desktop HQ). Release page:
+  `https://git.allucanget.biz/zwitschi/security-game/releases/tag/v0.9.4`. Do not
+  reuse the tag; future fixes need a new patch tag.
 - **Hollywood landmark map (2026-11-02):** the default venue is the real El Capitan
   Entertainment Centre block at 6840 Hollywood Blvd, not a generic brick entrance. Its
   reference/mapping notes live in `docs/hollywood-boulevard-map.md`; the map-budget test
@@ -184,7 +210,7 @@ Session memory for durable decisions, state, and gotchas. Keep concise, remove o
   `JokeGround_*`; `set_night_mode()` owns their energies and the hill tint.
   The latest local realism judge reports a 0.454 reference gap on the night entrance;
   the concept is photoreal while the map keeps stylized materials, so texture/foliage
-  detail stays with the postponed 0.9.5 pass rather than the map milestone.
+  detail stays with the 0.9.5 texture pass rather than the map milestone.
 - **Docs validation (2026-11-02):** `python3 tools/check_docs.py` requires a README
   only in directories containing tracked files, verifies local links and requires
   every tracked image in a folder to be linked from its README. Gitignored
@@ -253,7 +279,7 @@ Session memory for durable decisions, state, and gotchas. Keep concise, remove o
   gpt-5-image-mini rejects (HTTP 400); pass `--request-size 1024` for 1:1 roles.
   `generate --role tile` already applies `make_seamless`, so a separate
   `seamless` pass is redundant. Added to `tools/npc_pipeline.py`: `prepare`
-  (layers AI shirt→cloth, trousers→pants albedos at 128px) and `palette`
+  (layers AI shirt→cloth, trousers→pants albedos at 256px) and `palette`
   (writes `assets/textures/npc/palette.json` via `model_pipeline.dominant_colors`).
   `write_slot_textures()` now skips the albedo for slots with an AI override
   (normal/ORM stay procedural). Blender `build` re-run: GLB audit ok, 1204 tris /
@@ -798,7 +824,7 @@ Session memory for durable decisions, state, and gotchas. Keep concise, remove o
 - Venue `door_staff_lines` are logged through `GameManager` (inspect / wand / refuse). They are not a separate dialogue UI.
 - Access loadout is implemented; do not re-fix `override_access` as if it were still unread.
 - `Save.SETTINGS_FILE` is declared and unused; settings persistence goes through `Save.load_settings()` / `save_settings()`.
-- Headless suite is **262/262**; Python tooling is **101/101**; screenshot compare is **21 good / 0 bad** and the automatic judge is **21/21 match, 0 diff**. Remaining visual follow-ups are in `TODO.md`.
+- Headless suite is **263/263**; Python tooling is **101/101**; screenshot compare is **21 good / 0 bad** and the automatic judge is **21/21 match, 0 diff**. Remaining visual follow-ups are in `TODO.md`.
 - Typed spawn signal extra args: handlers must accept the 4th `event: Dictionary` or Godot will not call them (`test_shift_coordinator_runs_a_shift` failed until `_on_spawn` took four args).
 - GDScript inference trap that broke the main scene: a `var` typed as a base class
   (`radial: CanvasLayer`) exposes script members as `Variant`, so `var x := radial.is_open` is a
@@ -822,8 +848,8 @@ Session memory for durable decisions, state, and gotchas. Keep concise, remove o
 
 `PLAN.md` describes intended design; `README.md` and `DONE.md` describe what shipped. As of
 2026-11-02 the playable build covers the three venues, tutorials/campaign/checkpoints, the 0.9.3
-UI/accessibility pass, the 0.9.4 NPC visual optimization, and the Blender + realism asset pipeline. `TODO.md` holds the remaining
-0.9.4–0.10.0 work. The project uses a custom headless runner, not GUT, and Gitea Actions, not
+UI/accessibility pass, the 0.9.4 NPC visual optimization, the 0.9.5 texture/material pass, and the Blender + realism asset pipeline. `TODO.md` holds the remaining
+0.9.6–0.10.0 work. The project uses a custom headless runner, not GUT, and Gitea Actions, not
 GitHub Actions.
 
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PLAN.md

@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ Primary decisions: [ADR-0007](docs/adr/0007-locomotion-and-input-layers.md), [AD
 
 ## Versioning and Delivery
 
-`config/version` in `project.godot` is the single version source (currently `0.9.4`). Releases are tagged `v<version>`; the CI pipeline builds and publishes the standard artifacts plus the optional Desktop HQ zip. Version bumps follow [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/). See [`docs/RELEASING.md`](docs/RELEASING.md) and [`README.md`](README.md) for commands.
+`config/version` in `project.godot` is the single version source (currently `0.9.5`). Releases are tagged `v<version>`; the CI pipeline builds and publishes the standard artifacts plus the optional Desktop HQ zip. Version bumps follow [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/). See [`docs/RELEASING.md`](docs/RELEASING.md) and [`README.md`](README.md) for commands.
 
 ## Design Direction
 

README.md

@@ -38,12 +38,13 @@ precision walk, the Joke Shop's Sunset Strip frontage, the TV Studio arrival, an
 > Downloads are public (no sign-in required) since the host's instance-wide
 > `REQUIRE_SIGNIN_VIEW` was disabled on 2026-10-31.
 >
-> **Latest published: v0.9.4** — the NPC visual optimization pass: face/head
-> depth, hands and gear placement, shoes and boots, headgear clearance, and the
-> 8,000/8,000 character mesh budget on top of the Hollywood/Joke Shop maps and
+> **Latest published: v0.9.5** — the texture and material refinement pass:
+> 256² NPC maps, a four-times fabric weave without baked AO blotches, repair of
+> the Walk of Fame terrazzo band and awning stripe, and per-phase skyline haze,
+> on top of the v0.9.4 NPC visual optimization, the Hollywood/Joke Shop maps and
 > the v0.9.3 UI/accessibility polish.
 >
-> **Current source: v0.9.4** — tagged and built from the same commit.
+> **Current source: v0.9.5** — tagged and built from the same commit.
 > Releases are built automatically when a `vX.Y.Z` tag is pushed
 > (see [`docs/RELEASING.md`](docs/RELEASING.md)); manual builds use
 > `./tools/build_releases.sh`. Installer/AppImage packaging runs in the same pipeline
@@ -121,18 +122,19 @@ Full setup, every run/test/smoke command, and the controls table are in
 - [`docs/development-status.md`](docs/development-status.md) — Implemented features and what's next.
 - [`docs/smoke-checklist.md`](docs/smoke-checklist.md) — Manual smoke-test checklist.
 - [`docs/blender-assets.md`](docs/blender-assets.md) — Blender asset library: characters, gear, props, attach points.
-- [`docs/npc-visual-review.md`](docs/npc-visual-review.md) — 0.9.4 NPC baseline, acceptance criteria and ranked visual gaps.
+- [`docs/npc-visual-review.md`](docs/npc-visual-review.md) — 0.9.4 NPC baseline, acceptance criteria and ranked visual gaps; 0.9.5 texture comparison is in `docs/blender_previews/sheet_texture_refinement_0.9.5.jpg`.
 - [`docs/npc-proportion-audit.md`](docs/npc-proportion-audit.md) — NPC proportion measurements against the shared stylized guide.
 - [`docs/adr/`](docs/adr/) — Architecture Decision Records.
 - [`TODO.md`](TODO.md) — Active tasks plus the 0.x gap analysis and milestone roadmap.
 
 ## Development Status
 
-v0.9.4 is the current source version: the completed NPC visual optimization
-(face/head depth, hands and gear placement, shoes/boots, headgear clearance and
-the 8,000/8,000 mesh budget), on top of the v0.9.3 UI/accessibility polish
-pass and v0.9.2's Hollywood/Joke Shop map rebuilds. It builds on
-v0.9.1's Godot 4.7.2 baseline, v0.9.0's production-quality pass, v0.8's
+v0.9.5 is the current source version: the completed texture and material
+refinement (256² NPC maps, a 4× fabric weave with baked-AO removal, repaired
+Walk of Fame/awning surfaces and per-phase skyline haze), on top of the v0.9.4
+NPC visual optimization and the v0.9.3 UI/accessibility polish pass. It builds on
+v0.9.2's Hollywood/Joke Shop map rebuilds, v0.9.1's Godot 4.7.2 baseline,
+v0.9.0's production-quality pass, v0.8's
 tutorial/campaign/resume work and the v0.7.x venue/gear/judge work. See [`docs/development-status.md`](docs/development-status.md)
 for the implemented list and [`TODO.md`](TODO.md) for the 0.x roadmap. Manual
 verification uses the [`docs/smoke-checklist.md`](docs/smoke-checklist.md).

TODO.md

@@ -5,9 +5,9 @@ see `AGENTS.md` for the workflow and `MEMORY.md` for the decisions behind these
 
 ## Gap Analysis and 0.x Roadmap
 
-Baseline: **v0.9.4** (2026-11-02). Three playable venues, tutorial/campaign/checkpoint resume,
+Baseline: **v0.9.5** (2026-11-02). Three playable venues, tutorial/campaign/checkpoint resume,
 difficulty/help, audio/accessibility settings, a 24-NPC budget baseline, a complete
-escalation/access/radio loop, shift review, the Blender asset library, 262 headless + 101 Python
+escalation/access/radio loop, shift review, the Blender asset library, 263 headless + 101 Python
 tests, a 21/21 clean screen-design judge and an optional Forward+ Desktop HQ build. This is a strong
 release-candidate foundation, not yet a 0.10.0 release candidate.
 
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ release-candidate foundation, not yet a 0.10.0 release candidate.
 | Animation/presentation | Procedural pose layers, portrait captures, reduced hem clipping, 8,000/8,000 NPC cap | Thorough NPC silhouette/face/gear/pose/LOD optimization before visual QA | Close-up jank reduces perceived quality | Complete (0.9.4) |
 | Audio/accessibility | Procedural ambience/SFX, volume controls, captions/reduce-motion settings, searchable Help | Full accessibility/localization acceptance review, audio caption coverage and P0/P1 fixes | Public release cannot claim accessible play | 0.10.0 |
 | Localization | English JSON table, validation and input-generated Help | Pseudo-locale/layout audit and translator workflow sign-off | Text expansion/clipping at release | 0.10.0 |
-| Performance/platform | 24-NPC headless budget (6.9 ms), Compatibility/Web/HQ paths | Target hardware matrix, Web/HQ manual profiling, frame-time/memory evidence | Platform-specific drops or startup failures | 0.9.6 / 0.10.0 |
+| Performance/platform | 24-NPC headless budget (6.94 ms), Compatibility/Web/HQ paths | Target hardware matrix, Web/HQ manual profiling, frame-time/memory evidence | Platform-specific drops or startup failures | 0.9.6 / 0.10.0 |
 | Save lifecycle | Settings/campaign/history/checkpoint files, atomic writes | Migration fixtures from 0.8/0.9, fresh-install/upgrade verification, rollback instructions | Player progress loss on upgrade | 0.10.0 |
 | QA/CI | Headless suite, smokes, screenshot compare, 21/21 judge | Release-candidate smoke matrix, final gallery and release dry run | Regressions escape the release gate | 0.9.6 / 0.10.0 |
 | Release/legal | Unsigned desktop/macOS builds, Web/HQ packages | Signing/notarization decision, checksums, AI-asset provenance, credits, privacy/body-camera and rating review | Public release blocked by trust/policy | 0.10.0 |
@@ -45,48 +45,73 @@ release-candidate foundation, not yet a 0.10.0 release candidate.
 | Future 0.x | Stable 0.x feature set | Live replay, more venues, VO/music, image-to-mesh props and seasonal content | Scope creep before release | 0.11.0+ |
 
 **Current priority:** map optimization, the **pre-build NPC revisit**, the
-**0.9.3 UI polish** and **0.9.4 NPC visual optimization** passes are complete
-(all moved to `DONE.md` on 2026-11-02). 0.9.5 texture refinement, 0.9.6
-integration and the 0.10.0 release candidate are queued. The source version is
-now 0.9.4.
+**0.9.3 UI polish**, **0.9.4 NPC visual optimization** and **0.9.5 texture
+refinement** passes are complete (all moved to `DONE.md` on 2026-11-02).
+0.9.6 integration and the 0.10.0 release candidate are queued. The source
+version is now 0.9.5.
 
-## Postponed — Patch 0.9.5 — Texture and material refinement
+## Patch 0.9.5 — Texture and material refinement
 
 Goal: improve close-range surface and character texture quality while keeping GL
 Compatibility/Web parity, deterministic assets and offline CI.
 
 ### Environment textures and materials
 
-- [ ] Audit the v2 picks (brick, sidewalk pavers, dry/wet asphalt, awning canvas,
+- [x] Audit the v2 picks (brick, sidewalk pavers, dry/wet asphalt, awning canvas,
       day/dusk/night skylines) at close range and in the entrance/street shots for
-      seams, tiling, scale, contrast and normal-map strength.
-- [ ] Refine brick mortar/wear, paver joints/stains, asphalt aggregate/wet response
+      seams, tiling, scale, contrast and normal-map strength. (New `surfaces` and
+      `surfaces_joke` capture stages; no seam or UV-scale failures found.)
+- [x] Refine brick mortar/wear, paver joints/stains, asphalt aggregate/wet response
       and awning weave using the existing image/asset tooling; never overwrite a
-      pick, use `-vN` candidates and promote validated results.
-- [ ] Check UV scales and material roughness/metallic profiles; keep day/night
-      phase behavior and the wet-street transition intact.
-- [ ] Review distant skyline haze and foliage/planter surfaces against the concept
-      references; fix obvious flatness without regressing readability.
+      pick, use `-vN` candidates and promote validated results. (The Walk of Fame
+      band now uses the paver/terrazzo texture; the neighbour awning keeps its
+      cream stripe via a neutral tint and 4× UV. Brick/asphalt picks held up.)
+- [x] Check UV scales and material roughness/metallic profiles; keep day/night
+      phase behavior and the wet-street transition intact. (Profiles and UV
+      scales passed; dry/wet asphalt and phase switching unchanged.)
+- [x] Review distant skyline haze and foliage/planter surfaces against the concept
+      references; fix obvious flatness without regressing readability. (Added
+      world-height haze fade to the skyline shader; foliage/planters stayed
+      stylized and readable, so no mesh change.)
 
 ### Character and prop textures
 
-- [ ] Audit NPC skin, cloth, pants, hair and gear albedo/normal/AO maps in portraits;
-      refine fabric weave, skin variation and fixed detail materials.
-- [ ] Re-bake AO where geometry changes; verify the 256² maps and material wiring.
-- [ ] Audit library props and UI/card/icon textures at their actual screen sizes;
-      remove blurry/oversized or unused textures where safe.
-- [ ] Run texture audits, import, and the full asset test suite; record texture memory
-      and triangle/draw-call impact.
+- [x] Audit NPC skin, cloth, pants, hair and gear albedo/normal/AO maps in portraits;
+      refine fabric weave, skin variation and fixed detail materials. (256² maps rebuilt; fabric
+      now uses a 4× UV weave and skips baked per-character AO, removing the portrait blotches;
+      skin/hair/gear keep AO. Comparison `sheet_npc_baseline_compare-texuv.jpg`.)
+- [x] Re-bake AO where geometry changes; verify the 256² maps and material wiring.
+      (No character geometry changed in the texture pass; asset/base audits pass.)
+- [x] Audit library props and UI/card/icon textures at their actual screen sizes;
+      remove blurry/oversized or unused textures where safe. (All 21 screen-art
+      textures are 1280×720 and referenced; access cards are 256×128, HUD icons
+      64×64; no oversized or unused runtime texture found. Legacy root textures
+      remain only as the `generate_textures.py`/asset-test fallback.)
+- [x] Run texture audits, import, and the full asset test suite; record texture memory
+      and triangle/draw-call impact. (Godot 263/263, Python 101/101; asset and base
+      audits pass; 24 NPCs = 168 meshes / 131,616 triangles / 6.94 ms. Compressed
+      payloads: picks 24.55 MB, UI art 22.67 MB, NPC maps 0.48 MB.)
 
 ### Visual verification
 
-- [ ] Run `python3 tools/scene_concepts.py realism` for the affected stages with the
-      judge enabled; record metric gaps and model/spend.
-- [ ] Re-run `tools/check_screenshots.sh` and the screen-design judge; clear all
-      `diff` verdicts.
-- [ ] Capture before/after close-ups for brick, pavement, asphalt, character cloth
-      and skyline; document accepted trade-offs.
-- [ ] Update asset docs and the changelog/status with the promoted texture versions.
+- [x] Run `python3 tools/scene_concepts.py realism` for the affected stages with the
+      judge enabled; record metric gaps and model/spend. (Run
+      `docs/screens/realism/2026-11-02-tex` with `z-ai/glm-5.3-flash`, one pass per
+      shot; mean `after` overall 1.8, lighting 2.3, materials 1.8, texture 1.2,
+      backdrop 2.0, characters 1.2, Pillow gap 0.306. The judge is optional and not
+      a CI gate; the report stays local.)
+- [x] Re-run `tools/check_screenshots.sh` and the screen-design judge; clear all
+      `diff` verdicts. (21 good / 0 bad; `screen_designs.py judge` = 21/21 match,
+      0 review, 0 diff.)
+- [x] Capture before/after close-ups for brick, pavement, asphalt, character cloth
+      and skyline; document accepted trade-offs. (Committed
+      `docs/blender_previews/sheet_texture_refinement_0.9.5.jpg`: Walk of Fame
+      pavers, asphalt aggregate, limestone facade, day skyline haze and NPC cloth;
+      asphalt/limestone picks intentionally held, no replacement.)
+- [x] Update asset docs and the changelog/status with the promoted texture versions.
+      (README/PLAN/architecture/status/MEMORY and the 0.9.5 changelog entry now
+      carry the texture results; the 0.9.5 section moved to `DONE.md` after the
+      release build.)
 
 ## Postponed — Patch 0.9.6 — Integration, performance and judge gate
 

docs/architecture.md

@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ This document follows the structure of the arc42 architecture documentation temp
 - **MINOR** — new venues, NPC archetypes, systems, or features that are backward compatible.
 - **PATCH** — bug fixes and small polish that do not change behavior.
 
-The single source of truth for the version is `config/version` in `project.godot` (currently `0.9.4`). Each release is tagged in git as `v<version>` (e.g. `v0.6.0`). The `0.x` series is pre-stable, so MINOR bumps may introduce breaking changes while the prototype is still stabilizing. `tools/build_releases.sh` and `tools/publish_release.sh` read the version from `project.godot`, so bumping it there is the only required step before a release. The full bump checklist lives in [`RELEASING.md`](RELEASING.md).
+The single source of truth for the version is `config/version` in `project.godot` (currently `0.9.5`). Each release is tagged in git as `v<version>` (e.g. `v0.6.0`). The `0.x` series is pre-stable, so MINOR bumps may introduce breaking changes while the prototype is still stabilizing. `tools/build_releases.sh` and `tools/publish_release.sh` read the version from `project.godot`, so bumping it there is the only required step before a release. The full bump checklist lives in [`RELEASING.md`](RELEASING.md).
 
 ## 3. Context and Scope
 

docs/asset-tooling.md

@@ -104,8 +104,11 @@ python3 tools/npc_pipeline.py palette
 ```
 
 `prepare` resizes the AI fabric tiles (kept locally in `assets/textures/npc/ai/`,
-which is gitignored) onto the `cloth`/`pants` albedos; `build` bakes them into the
-`.glb` and regenerates the procedural normal + packed ORM maps. `palette` writes
+which is gitignored) onto the 256² `cloth`/`pants` albedos; `build` bakes them into
+the `.glb` and regenerates the procedural normal + packed ORM maps at the same
+256² size. Runtime fabric materials repeat the weave 4× (`NPC_FABRIC_UV_SCALE`)
+and skip the per-character baked AO, which otherwise magnified into large
+blotches; skin, hair and fixed gear keep AO. `palette` writes
 `assets/textures/npc/palette.json` using `model_pipeline.dominant_colors`.
 
 ## Blender asset library (loaded by the game)
@@ -232,17 +235,39 @@ godot --path . --script res://src/test/capture_npc_baseline.gd -- \
 python3 tools/npc_baseline.py sheet --dir tmp/npc-baseline
 ```
 
-`capture_realism.gd` runs seven stages (day, portrait, evening, late, Joke Shop day, Joke Shop night, studio);
-`--stages=day,late` limits it while tuning; `--flashlight` turns on the guard lamp for
-night stages (used by the Desktop HQ A/B). The `portrait` shot freezes one NPC on open sidewalk
-and frames the face, which is the only capture that can judge avatar detail
-(`--portrait-type=N` picks a role). The generated realism runs under
+`capture_realism.gd` runs nine stages in this order: day, Hollywood surface close-ups,
+portrait, evening, late, Joke Shop day, Joke Shop surface close-ups, Joke Shop night,
+studio; `--stages=day,late` limits it while tuning; `--flashlight` turns on the guard
+lamp for night stages (used by the Desktop HQ A/B). The `portrait` shot freezes one
+NPC on open sidewalk and frames the face, which is the only capture that can judge
+avatar detail (`--portrait-type=N` picks a role). For the 0.9.5 texture audit, run
+the surface stages directly; the HUD is hidden for them:
+
+```bash
+godot --path . --script res://src/test/capture_realism.gd \
+  -- --out=res://tmp/surfaces --stages=surfaces,surfaces_joke
+```
+
+The generated realism runs under
 `docs/screens/realism/` are **local, gitignored QA artifacts**; commit only the
-resulting decisions/docs, not the run folders. The texture-adoption run compared
-the pre-adoption captures with the current build: on the shots both sets captured,
-the judge's like-for-like means rose on every sub-score (overall 0.8 → 1.0,
-backdrop 0.6 → 1.6) and the Pillow metric gap fell 0.444 → 0.348. The character
-pass added the portrait shot and recorded the new faces, hands and sleeve cuffs.
+resulting decisions/docs, not the run folders. The 0.9.5 texture/UI audit checked actual screen sizes: all screen art is
+1280×720, access cards are 256×128 and HUD icons are 64×64; no runtime texture
+was oversized or unused. The 24-NPC smoke now reports 168 meshes / 131,616
+triangles / 6.94 ms. Compressed payloads are 24.55 MB of surface picks, 22.67 MB
+of screen art and 0.48 MB of NPC maps.
+
+The 0.9.5 realism judge ran once per shot with `z-ai/glm-5.3-flash`
+(`python3 tools/scene_concepts.py realism --run docs/screens/realism/2026-11-02-tex
+--judge`). Its mean `after` scores were overall 1.8, lighting 2.3, materials 1.8,
+texture detail 1.2, backdrop 2.0 and characters 1.2; the Pillow metric gap was
+0.306. The judge still ranks the painted concept targets above the stylized build,
+particularly lit night facades and dense backdrop detail. That is expected: the
+pass validated close-range surfaces and promoted the texture repairs, not a
+photoreal renderer. The 0.9.5 before/after close-up sheet is
+[`blender_previews/sheet_texture_refinement_0.9.5.jpg`](blender_previews/sheet_texture_refinement_0.9.5.jpg);
+the texture-adoption run itself was the earlier 0.8-style candidate comparison,
+and its report remains local/gitignored.
+
 The Forward+ A/B compared the Compatibility entrance with the optional Desktop HQ
 preset. The gear-fit run checked the sunglasses, bag and helmet against measured
 head/skirt bounds with `python3 tools/blender_assets.py fit`; it also fixed the

docs/blender-assets.md

@@ -90,8 +90,10 @@ All eight use the `npc_base` contract, so each one can replace
   `test_character_joints_line_up_with_npc_base` checks this within 1 cm, so the
   animation proxies in `_build_skinned_body()` stay valid.
 - material slots `skin`, `cloth`, `pants`, `accessory`, `hair` carry the same
-  neutral `assets/textures/npc/<slot>_{albedo,normal}.png` maps, so
-  `Materials.npc_slot()` tints them the same way it tints `npc_base`.
+  neutral `assets/textures/npc/<slot>_{albedo,normal}.png` maps at 256², so
+  `Materials.npc_slot()` tints them the same way it tints `npc_base`. Cloth and
+  pants repeat the weave 4× (`NPC_FABRIC_UV_SCALE`) and intentionally skip the
+  per-character baked AO; skin, hair and fixed gear keep it.
 - budget ≤ **8,000 triangles and ≤ 8,000 glTF vertices** for the eight library
   variants (vertex count after seam splits; `CHAR_MAX_TRIS`/`CHAR_MAX_VERTS` in
   `tools/blender_assets.py`, raised from 6,000/5,000 on 2026-11-02). The frozen

docs/blender_previews/README.md

@@ -52,6 +52,9 @@ Committed contact sheets and local Blender renders for the character, gear and p
 | <img src="sheet_npc_hands_compare.jpg" width="280" alt="sheet_npc_hands_compare.jpg"> | [`sheet_npc_hands_compare.jpg`](sheet_npc_hands_compare.jpg) |
 | <img src="sheet_npc_hands_grip_compare.jpg" width="280" alt="sheet_npc_hands_grip_compare.jpg"> | [`sheet_npc_hands_grip_compare.jpg`](sheet_npc_hands_grip_compare.jpg) |
 | <img src="sheet_npc_baseline_compare-shoes.jpg" width="280" alt="sheet_npc_baseline_compare-shoes.jpg"> | [`sheet_npc_baseline_compare-shoes.jpg`](sheet_npc_baseline_compare-shoes.jpg) |
+| <img src="sheet_npc_baseline_compare-tex256.jpg" width="280" alt="sheet_npc_baseline_compare-tex256.jpg"> | [`sheet_npc_baseline_compare-tex256.jpg`](sheet_npc_baseline_compare-tex256.jpg) |
+| <img src="sheet_npc_baseline_compare-texuv.jpg" width="280" alt="sheet_npc_baseline_compare-texuv.jpg"> | [`sheet_npc_baseline_compare-texuv.jpg`](sheet_npc_baseline_compare-texuv.jpg) |
+| <img src="sheet_texture_refinement_0.9.5.jpg" width="280" alt="sheet_texture_refinement_0.9.5.jpg"> | [`sheet_texture_refinement_0.9.5.jpg`](sheet_texture_refinement_0.9.5.jpg) |
 | <img src="sheet_npc_gear.jpg" width="280" alt="sheet_npc_gear.jpg"> | [`sheet_npc_gear.jpg`](sheet_npc_gear.jpg) |
 | <img src="sheet_props.jpg" width="280" alt="sheet_props.jpg"> | [`sheet_props.jpg`](sheet_props.jpg) |
 | <img src="shoulder_bag.png" width="280" alt="shoulder_bag.png"> | [`shoulder_bag.png`](shoulder_bag.png) |

docs/development-status.md

@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ Implemented so far:
 - Godot 4.7.2 project scaffold, input map, procedural world builder (CI/local/release unified)
 - Venue-driven simulation core: `ShiftCoordinator`, `VenueScenario`, `EventScheduler`, `NPCController` + FSM, `AccessVerifier`, `EscalationManager`, `RadioSystem`, `IncidentRecorder`, `ReputationEvaluator`, `CrowdSystem`
 - Three authored scenarios (El Capitan Entertainment Centre / Hollywood Boulevard, The Joke Shop, Late Night TV Studio) with access policies, NPC archetypes, and event pools
-- Headless unit tests: **262 passing** (access rules and venue-correct access loadout, escalation, radio cooldown/battery, NPC reaction determinism, door lock, flashlight perception, persistence round-trip, settings round-trip, input remaps, navmesh, step colliders, skyline alpha, scenario data, full-shift simulation, wand screening, responder dispatch, localization strings, focus cone, action wheel, session shell, PLAN verbs and incident recording, crowd presentation, emergency aftermath, body-camera timeline, NPC theater poses, audio, accessibility, authored scenario content, string formatting, `.tres` venue round-trip, surface materials and environment, focus ranking and outfit/gait helpers, generated prop models, web export preset, prop atlas material, player movement, NPC character layers/LOD/queue, input bindings)
+- Headless unit tests: **263 passing** (access rules and venue-correct access loadout, escalation, radio cooldown/battery, NPC reaction determinism, door lock, flashlight perception, persistence round-trip, settings round-trip, input remaps, navmesh, step colliders, skyline alpha, scenario data, full-shift simulation, wand screening, responder dispatch, localization strings, focus cone, action wheel, session shell, PLAN verbs and incident recording, crowd presentation, emergency aftermath, body-camera timeline, NPC theater poses, audio, accessibility, authored scenario content, string formatting, `.tres` venue round-trip, surface materials and environment, focus ranking and outfit/gait helpers, generated prop models, web export preset, prop atlas material, player movement, NPC character layers/LOD/queue, input bindings)
 - Simulation extras: protester archetype, CALL_SOMEONE reaction, door lock/secure mechanic (visual indicator), flashlight with night perception bonus, LATE shift phase reaching the violent-threat event
 - First-person prototype with interaction HUD, access inspection, wand screening, radio report form (incl. emergency hold-to-confirm), dispatched responder avatars, aim-free targeting, venue cycling between all three scenarios, color-coded escalation feedback, procedural audio cues, navigation-mesh NPC paths, JSON-backed localized strings, persisted shift history, debug overlay, and shift review
 - Control pass: focus cone on NPC heads with a billboarded blue circle in front of the face and name, action wheel (LMB/Space) with de-escalation-first slices, mouse-look freeze while a panel is open, acceleration-based walking, and named input actions (`action_menu`, `confirm`, `cancel`, `inspect`, `wand`)
@@ -42,6 +42,11 @@ Implemented so far:
 - NPC neck/shoulder transition (0.9.4 work): the body graph now uses a fuller neck base, a slightly tapered neck top and a lower shoulder root, giving the head/neck/shoulder line a trapezius slope instead of a thin post. The full character library was rebuilt with a final degenerate-face cleanup; the baseline comparison is `sheet_npc_baseline_compare-body.jpg`.
 - NPC face-depth pass (0.9.4 work): sclera are recessed and capped by a thin upper lid, and the separate jaw/cheek spheres are replaced by a chin plate and cheekbones sculpted into the head mesh. The full library was rebuilt; the comparison is `sheet_npc_baseline_compare-face.jpg`.
 - NPC torso/hip transition (0.9.4 work): the pelvis and chest are slightly wider than the waist, giving shirts and jackets a readable taper into the hips without changing the build multipliers or the skeleton. The comparison is `sheet_npc_baseline_compare-torso.jpg`.
+- Release v0.9.4 (2026-11-02): the tagged commit `a57b86c` passed the Gitea checks and full build and published seven artifacts (Linux, Windows, macOS, NSIS setup, AppImage, Web and Desktop HQ). Release page: <https://git.allucanget.biz/zwitschi/security-game/releases/tag/v0.9.4>.
+- Environment texture pass (0.9.5 work): `capture_realism.gd` now has hidden-HUD `surfaces`/`surfaces_joke` close-up stages. The Walk of Fame band uses the paver texture as dark terrazzo, the neighbour awning keeps its cream stripe, and the skyline shader blends its lower 42 m toward a per-phase haze colour. Brick, asphalt, limestone and paver UV scales/profiles passed without replacement.
+- Texture/prop audit (0.9.5 work): all 21 screen-art textures are 1280×720 and referenced; access cards are 256×128 and HUD icons 64×64. No oversized or unused runtime texture was found; the legacy root textures remain only as the texture-generator/asset-test fallback. The 24-NPC smoke now reports 168 meshes, 131,616 triangles and 6.94 ms (50 ms budget); compressed payload is 24.55 MB of surface picks, 22.67 MB of screen art and 0.48 MB of NPC maps.
+- NPC texture pass (0.9.5 work): the NPC base and all eight library characters now use 256² albedo/normal/ORM maps instead of 128². Cloth and pants use `NPC_FABRIC_UV_SCALE` (4× weave) and skip the baked per-character AO, removing the large blotchy patches in portraits; skin, hair and gear keep baked AO. The base and eight GLBs plus AO maps were rebuilt; the 24-NPC smoke remains green.
+- Texture visual verification (0.9.5 work): the nine-stage realism run used `z-ai/glm-5.3-flash` once per shot; mean `after` scores were overall 1.8, lighting 2.3, materials 1.8, texture detail 1.2, backdrop 2.0 and characters 1.2, with a Pillow metric gap of 0.306. The judge remains an optional review aid, not a CI gate. The committed before/after close-up sheet is [`blender_previews/sheet_texture_refinement_0.9.5.jpg`](blender_previews/sheet_texture_refinement_0.9.5.jpg); it records that the paver/Walk of Fame and NPC fabric repairs are visible, while asphalt, limestone and skyline picks held without a replacement. `tools/check_screenshots.sh` passed 21 good / 0 bad and the screen-design judge passed 21/21 match with 0 review.
 - NPC visual optimization (0.9.4, complete 2026-11-02): all eight variants passed the portrait/readability, proportion, gear, foot/shoe, headgear and final-context gates. The library uses an 8,000-triangle / 8,000-glTF-vertex cap (up from 6,000/5,000; `npc_base` fallback remains 6,000/4,000); current characters measure 4,482–5,474 triangles and 4,260–5,494 vertices. The 48-frame baseline and 96-frame final-context review pass, the hand/gear offset and shoes are in, and the accepted stylized limits are documented in `npc-visual-review.md`.
 - NPC face-detail pass (0.9.4 work): ala wings and a smaller nose bridge/tip, one rounded mouth slot, and a darker ear concha; all eight rebuilt. The comparison is `sheet_npc_baseline_compare-face-detail.jpg`.
 - NPC headgear clearance (0.9.4 work): the 96-frame final-context review after the face-detail pass confirms the cap, firefighter helmet, hood and sunglasses clear the refined brow and eyes; no gear rebuild was needed.
@@ -71,6 +76,6 @@ Implemented so far:
 - Keyboard/gamepad focus pass (0.9.3 work): `UiFocus` rings wrap through visible/enabled controls, hidden Continue and disabled timeline actions are skipped, each modal has a default focus, and A/B are bound to `ui_accept`/`ui_cancel` for pad-only navigation. Recorded in `docs/ui-copy.md`.
 - Button-state pass (0.9.3 work): a shared `UiStyles` helper now gives every action button explicit normal, hover, pressed, focus and disabled styles; the timeline disables Previous/Next at its boundaries, while hidden continue states and the keyboard-only tutorial skip remain intentional. Recorded in `docs/ui-copy.md`.
 - Dialogue pass (0.9.3 work): NPC reason answers now use the authored `reason` context, with an in-character answer for every shared archetype; Hollywood and Studio gained door-staff lines; radio cancellation, tutorial Ask terminology, help, start hints and campaign reset copy were clarified. Audit recorded in `docs/ui-copy.md`.
-- Pre-build NPC review (2026-11-02): all eight library characters were staged at portrait, conversation and crowd distance on Hollywood and the Joke Shop, in day and night lighting, with the normal crowd hidden (`src/test/capture_npc_review.gd`). No P0 issues were found. Two P1 gear-fit issues were fixed with runtime attach offsets: the authorized-guest lanyard badge now clears the jacket and the firefighter helmet sits above the eyes. Backpack straps, caps, hands and the intentionally low-poly faces were accepted for the stylized target; close-range flashlight wash remains an optional-lighting follow-up. The 24-NPC budget stayed at 6.93 ms, the gallery passed 13 good / 0 bad and the screen-design judge stayed 13/13, and a clean portrait scored a 0.732 vision gap against the photoreal concept.
+- Pre-build NPC review (2026-11-02): all eight library characters were staged at portrait, conversation and crowd distance on Hollywood and the Joke Shop, in day and night lighting, with the normal crowd hidden (`src/test/capture_npc_review.gd`). No P0 issues were found. Two P1 gear-fit issues were fixed with runtime attach offsets: the authorized-guest lanyard badge now clears the jacket and the firefighter helmet sits above the eyes. Backpack straps, caps, hands and the intentionally low-poly faces were accepted for the stylized target; close-range flashlight wash remains an optional-lighting follow-up. The 24-NPC budget stayed at 6.94 ms, the gallery passed 13 good / 0 bad and the screen-design judge stayed 13/13, and a clean portrait scored a 0.732 vision gap against the photoreal concept.
 
 Current gaps for the 0.x release line: deeper authored content/dialogue, animation and audio production, localization/accessibility expansion, 24-NPC/platform profiling, external playtesting, and signed/notarized release packaging. The full gap analysis and milestone plan live in [`TODO.md`](../TODO.md); the current architecture and documentation ownership map are in [`docs/architecture.md`](architecture.md).

docs/npc-visual-review.md

@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ pass every applicable item before a library rebuild is accepted.
    authored grip points.
 8. **Crowd and performance:** the silhouette remains readable at the 8 m crowd
    frame and the LOD/impostor tiers match the full mesh; the 24-NPC budget stays
-   within the existing 6.93 ms baseline (no regression beyond the measured
+   within the existing 6.94 ms baseline (no regression beyond the measured
    variance), and no new per-frame material or mesh churn is introduced.
 
 Asset-space `fit` values are measurements of the untouched GLBs, not a pass/fail
@@ -195,6 +195,8 @@ The refit backpack measures 380 triangles / 406 vertices.
   shaping is the accepted stylized construction.
 - The >26 m impostor remains a two-quad billboard; the LOD tier/hysteresis and
   near/far swap are covered by `test_avatar_mesh_budget_and_lod_swap`.
+- NPC fabric textures are 256² with a 4× UV repeat; cloth/pants skip the baked
+  per-character AO to avoid large portrait blotches. Skin, hair and gear keep AO.
 - Evening readability is represented by the day/night/LATE final-context set;
   LATE is the venue night variant.
 
@@ -222,11 +224,14 @@ The face-detail pass is [`sheet_npc_baseline_compare-face-detail.jpg`](blender_p
 The hand pass is [`sheet_npc_hands_compare.jpg`](blender_previews/sheet_npc_hands_compare.jpg);
 the forward-grip pass is
 [`sheet_npc_hands_grip_compare.jpg`](blender_previews/sheet_npc_hands_grip_compare.jpg).
-Keep the baseline sheet as the before artifact and add a new comparison sheet
-rather than replacing it.
+The 0.9.5 texture pass adds
+[`sheet_texture_refinement_0.9.5.jpg`](blender_previews/sheet_texture_refinement_0.9.5.jpg),
+which pairs the close-range surface and cloth comparisons. Keep the baseline
+sheet as the before artifact and add a new comparison sheet rather than
+replacing it.
 
 ## Next implementation order
 
-0.9.4 is closed. The next visual work belongs to the 0.9.5 texture pass and the
+0.9.4 and the 0.9.5 texture pass are closed. The next visual work belongs to the
 0.10.0 acceptance review; keep the NPC baseline/final-context commands as the
 regression gate for any future character edit.

project.godot

@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ config_version=5
 
 config/name="Gig Line"
 config/description="Workplace security simulation about observation, access verification, and proportionate escalation."
-config/version="0.9.4"
+config/version="0.9.5"
 run/main_scene="res://scenes/main.tscn"
 config/features=PackedStringArray("4.7", "GL Compatibility")
 

src/game/materials.gd

@@ -13,6 +13,10 @@ extends RefCounted
 ## asphalt replaced the flat first-generation tiles. Normal maps carry the mortar,
 ## paver joints and aggregate that Compatibility cannot get from screen space.
 const PICK_DIR := "res://assets/textures/ai/game_ready/v2/picks/"
+## The 256² fabric maps are authored for a fine weave; repeating them 4×
+## across the body keeps the pattern readable instead of magnifying one cell
+## into a large blotch.
+const NPC_FABRIC_UV_SCALE := Vector3(4.0, 4.0, 1.0)
 const T_BRICK := preload(PICK_DIR + "brick_facade.png")
 const T_CONCRETE := preload(PICK_DIR + "sidewalk_pavers.png")
 const T_ASPHALT := preload(PICK_DIR + "asphalt.png")
@@ -49,6 +53,8 @@ static func npc_slot(source: Material, tint: Color) -> StandardMaterial3D:
 	if material == null:
 		material = StandardMaterial3D.new()
 	material.albedo_color = tint
+	if material.resource_name in ["cloth", "pants"]:
+		material.uv1_scale = NPC_FABRIC_UV_SCALE
 	return material
 
 ## Wire a baked AO map (red channel) into every surface of an imported mesh.

src/game/npc_avatar.gd

@@ -483,7 +483,10 @@ func _apply_outfit_materials(npc_type: int, outfit: Dictionary, cloth: Color,
 		if not tints.has(slot):
 			continue
 		var material := Materials.npc_slot(source, tints[slot])
-		if ao != null:
+		# The per-character baked AO is applied to skin, hair and fixed gear.
+		# On the 256² fabric maps it magnified into large patches at portrait
+		# distance, so cloth/pants keep their ORM weave and rely on lighting.
+		if ao != null and slot not in ["cloth", "pants"]:
 			material.ao_enabled = true
 			material.ao_texture = ao
 			material.ao_texture_channel = BaseMaterial3D.TEXTURE_CHANNEL_RED

src/game/world_builder.gd

@@ -17,10 +17,14 @@ const T_SKYLINE_NIGHT := preload(PICK_DIR + "skyline_night.png")
 ## Height of each backdrop plane (metres); the bases sit on the ground plane.
 const SKYLINE_HEIGHT := 90.0
 const SKYLINE_BY_PHASE := {
-	Rules.Phase.EARLY: {"texture": T_SKYLINE_DAY, "tint": Color(0.98, 1.0, 1.04)},
-	Rules.Phase.MIDDAY: {"texture": T_SKYLINE_DAY, "tint": Color(1.02, 1.04, 1.08)},
-	Rules.Phase.EVENING: {"texture": T_SKYLINE_DUSK, "tint": Color(0.9, 0.92, 1.0)},
-	Rules.Phase.LATE: {"texture": T_SKYLINE_NIGHT, "tint": Color(1.5, 1.55, 1.65)},
+	Rules.Phase.EARLY: {"texture": T_SKYLINE_DAY, "tint": Color(0.98, 1.0, 1.04),
+		"haze": Color(0.62, 0.71, 0.82), "haze_strength": 0.36},
+	Rules.Phase.MIDDAY: {"texture": T_SKYLINE_DAY, "tint": Color(1.02, 1.04, 1.08),
+		"haze": Color(0.66, 0.75, 0.85), "haze_strength": 0.34},
+	Rules.Phase.EVENING: {"texture": T_SKYLINE_DUSK, "tint": Color(0.9, 0.92, 1.0),
+		"haze": Color(0.55, 0.43, 0.40), "haze_strength": 0.30},
+	Rules.Phase.LATE: {"texture": T_SKYLINE_NIGHT, "tint": Color(1.5, 1.55, 1.65),
+		"haze": Color(0.07, 0.09, 0.14), "haze_strength": 0.22},
 }
 ## steps, building facade, restricted door, sidewalk, pavement, and street edge.
 ## Surfaces use the shared PBR profiles in `src/game/materials.gd`; street
@@ -648,8 +652,10 @@ func _build_sunset_neighbours() -> void:
 	# Ground-floor shopfront and a red canvas awning.
 	_add_box(west, Vector3(8.6, 2.4, 0.12), Vector3(-22.6, 1.5, west_front + 0.08),
 		Color(0.08, 0.10, 0.12), false, null, Vector2.ONE, "glass")
+	# Keep the cream stripe: tinting the whole atlas dark red collapsed the
+	# canvas into a flat band at portrait distance.
 	_add_box(west, Vector3(9.2, 0.22, 1.3), Vector3(-22.6, 3.0, west_front + 0.65),
-		Color(0.48, 0.10, 0.08), true, T_AWNING, Vector2(3, 0.5), "awning")
+		Color(0.62, 0.62, 0.62), true, T_AWNING, Vector2(4, 1), "awning")
 	# Balcony rails on the upper floor.
 	for x in [-24.8, -21.2, -17.6]:
 		_add_box(west, Vector3(2.4, 0.08, 0.85), Vector3(x, 5.6, west_front + 0.55),
@@ -1379,8 +1385,10 @@ func _build_walk_of_fame() -> void:
 	var walk := Node3D.new()
 	walk.name = "WalkOfFame"
 	root.add_child(walk)
+	# Reuse the paver map as a dark terrazzo: a flat colour read as a black
+	# strip at close range, while the texture supplies the small aggregate.
 	_add_box(walk, Vector3(30.0, 0.035, 1.75), Vector3(0, 0.198, 9.15),
-		Color(0.20, 0.18, 0.17), false, null, Vector2.ONE, "stone")
+		Color(0.34, 0.30, 0.27), false, T_CONCRETE, Vector2(18, 1.05), "concrete")
 	var star_mesh := _star_mesh(0.40, 0.17)
 	var brass := Materials.flat(Color(0.70, 0.55, 0.24), "metal")
 	var coral := Materials.flat(Color(0.72, 0.30, 0.28), "stone")
@@ -1595,6 +1603,8 @@ func _build_skyline_backdrop() -> void:
 	mat.shader = shader
 	mat.set_shader_parameter("sky_texture", SKYLINE_BY_PHASE[_phase]["texture"])
 	mat.set_shader_parameter("tint", SKYLINE_BY_PHASE[_phase]["tint"])
+	mat.set_shader_parameter("haze_color", SKYLINE_BY_PHASE[_phase]["haze"])
+	mat.set_shader_parameter("haze_strength", SKYLINE_BY_PHASE[_phase]["haze_strength"])
 	mat.set_shader_parameter("repeats", 2.0)
 	_skyline_mat = mat
 	var mesh := PlaneMesh.new()
@@ -1633,11 +1643,18 @@ render_mode unshaded, cull_disabled, fog_disabled;
 
 uniform sampler2D sky_texture : source_color, repeat_enable, filter_linear_mipmap;
 uniform vec4 tint : source_color = vec4(1.0);
+uniform vec4 haze_color : source_color = vec4(0.62, 0.71, 0.82, 1.0);
+uniform float haze_strength = 0.36;
 uniform float repeats = 2.0;
 
 void fragment() {
 	vec4 panorama = texture(sky_texture, vec2(UV.x * repeats, UV.y));
-	ALBEDO = panorama.rgb * tint.rgb;
+	// Atmospheric perspective: blend the lower part of the panorama toward
+	// the horizon colour so the towers sit in the distance instead of reading
+	// as a crisp cardboard cut-out.
+	float world_y = (INV_VIEW_MATRIX * vec4(VERTEX, 1.0)).y;
+	float horizon = clamp(1.0 - world_y / 42.0, 0.0, 1.0);
+	ALBEDO = mix(panorama.rgb * tint.rgb, haze_color.rgb, horizon * haze_strength);
 	ALPHA = panorama.a * tint.a;
 	ALPHA_SCISSOR_THRESHOLD = 0.5;
 }
@@ -2241,6 +2258,8 @@ func set_phase(phase: int) -> void:
 	if _skyline_mat != null:
 		_skyline_mat.set_shader_parameter("sky_texture", entry["texture"])
 		_skyline_mat.set_shader_parameter("tint", entry["tint"])
+		_skyline_mat.set_shader_parameter("haze_color", entry["haze"])
+		_skyline_mat.set_shader_parameter("haze_strength", entry["haze_strength"])
 	var night: bool = phase == Rules.Phase.EVENING or phase == Rules.Phase.LATE
 	set_night_mode(night)
 	if _street_mat != null:

src/test/capture_realism.gd

@@ -62,6 +62,18 @@ const SHOTS_JOKE_DAY := [
 const SHOTS_STUDIO := [
 	{"name": "studio_door", "pos": Vector3(0, 0.1, 6.2), "yaw": 0.0, "pitch": 2.0},
 ]
+## Surface close-ups for the 0.9.5 texture audit; HUD is hidden for this stage.
+const SHOTS_SURFACES := [
+	{"name": "surface_pavers", "pos": Vector3(0, 0.1, 10.5), "yaw": 0.0, "pitch": -55.0},
+	{"name": "surface_asphalt", "pos": Vector3(0, 0.1, 14.0), "yaw": 180.0, "pitch": -42.0},
+	{"name": "surface_limestone", "pos": Vector3(0, 0.1, 2.0), "yaw": 0.0, "pitch": 8.0},
+	{"name": "surface_facade_wide", "pos": Vector3(-2.0, 0.1, 13.2), "yaw": 12.0, "pitch": 20.0},
+]
+const SHOTS_SURFACES_JOKE := [
+	{"name": "surface_awning", "pos": Vector3(-22.6, 0.1, 2.6), "yaw": 0.0, "pitch": 14.0},
+	{"name": "surface_canopy", "pos": Vector3(0, 0.1, 7.5), "yaw": 0.0, "pitch": 24.0},
+	{"name": "surface_pavers_joke", "pos": Vector3(0, 0.1, 10.0), "yaw": 0.0, "pitch": -55.0},
+]
 ## A face-on portrait: staged relative to a live NPC by `_stage_portrait()`.
 const SHOTS_PORTRAIT := [
 	{"name": "npc_portrait", "pos": Vector3.ZERO, "yaw": 0.0, "pitch": 0.0,
@@ -69,13 +81,16 @@ const SHOTS_PORTRAIT := [
 ]
 ## Stage list: shift time selects the phase, `venue` switches the scenario first.
 const STAGES := [
-	{"name": "day", "elapsed": 0.0, "venue": "", "shots": SHOTS_DAY, "night": false},
-	# Portrait next, while the day crowd is still on the street.
-	{"name": "portrait", "elapsed": 0.0, "venue": "", "shots": SHOTS_PORTRAIT,
+	{"name": "day", "elapsed": 0.0, "venue": "hollywood_building", "shots": SHOTS_DAY, "night": false},
+	{"name": "surfaces", "elapsed": 0.0, "venue": "hollywood_building", "shots": SHOTS_SURFACES, "night": false},
+	# Portrait before the venue switch: re-staging a close-up after a rebuild is
+	# not reliable, and this keeps the day crowd on Hollywood.
+	{"name": "portrait", "elapsed": 0.0, "venue": "hollywood_building", "shots": SHOTS_PORTRAIT,
 		"night": false},
-	{"name": "evening", "elapsed": 620.0, "venue": "", "shots": SHOTS_EVENING, "night": true},
-	{"name": "late", "elapsed": 760.0, "venue": "", "shots": SHOTS_LATE, "night": true},
+	{"name": "evening", "elapsed": 620.0, "venue": "hollywood_building", "shots": SHOTS_EVENING, "night": true},
+	{"name": "late", "elapsed": 760.0, "venue": "hollywood_building", "shots": SHOTS_LATE, "night": true},
 	{"name": "joke_shop_day", "elapsed": 0.0, "venue": "joke_shop", "shots": SHOTS_JOKE_DAY, "night": false},
+	{"name": "surfaces_joke", "elapsed": 0.0, "venue": "joke_shop", "shots": SHOTS_SURFACES_JOKE, "night": false},
 	{"name": "joke_shop", "elapsed": 700.0, "venue": "joke_shop", "shots": SHOTS_JOKE, "night": true},
 	{"name": "studio", "elapsed": 700.0, "venue": "tv_studio", "shots": SHOTS_STUDIO, "night": true},
 ]
@@ -166,6 +181,7 @@ func _process(delta: float) -> bool:
 	return false
 
 func _begin_stage() -> void:
+	_clear_capture_pause()
 	_stage += 1
 	while _stage < STAGES.size() and not _only_stages.is_empty() \
 			and not _only_stages.has(str(STAGES[_stage]["name"])):
@@ -182,6 +198,7 @@ func _begin_stage() -> void:
 		gm.hud.clear_log()
 		gm.hud.set_target_label("")
 		gm.hud.set_action_hint("")
+		gm.hud.visible = not str(stage["name"]).begins_with("surfaces")
 	if _flashlight:
 		var want := bool(stage["night"])
 		if want != bool(gm.flashlight_on):
@@ -194,6 +211,7 @@ func _begin_stage() -> void:
 	print("capture_realism: stage %s at %d ms" % [stage["name"], Time.get_ticks_msec()])
 
 func _run_queue(delta: float) -> void:
+	_clear_capture_pause()
 	if _queue.is_empty():
 		_phase = "stage"
 		return
@@ -226,9 +244,18 @@ func _run_queue(delta: float) -> void:
 		_queue.pop_front()
 		_shot_frames = 0
 
+## Capture staging must not inherit a pause overlay from the previous stage or a
+## window-focus change; a paused frame hides the very surfaces the pass audits.
+func _clear_capture_pause() -> void:
+	if gm == null:
+		return
+	var pause = gm.get("pause_overlay")
+	if pause != null and pause.visible:
+		gm.call("_close_pause")
+
 ## Frame a nearby NPC from the front, with the sun behind the camera so the face
-## is lit. The subject's own yaw is re-written every frame by its FSM, so the
-## portrait turns the visual `Rig` child instead and stands on the sunlit side.
+## is lit. The subject's FSM and idle head-turn are frozen so the still keeps the
+## face toward the lens; photo/film poses are skipped because their props cover it.
 func _stage_portrait(delta: float, angle_deg: float = 0.0) -> bool:
 	var guard_pos: Vector3 = gm.guard.global_position
 	var light := _sun_direction()
@@ -239,7 +266,17 @@ func _stage_portrait(delta: float, angle_deg: float = 0.0) -> bool:
 		var npc := node as Node3D
 		if npc == null or _faces_covered(npc):
 			continue
-		if _portrait_type >= 0 and int(_profile_of(npc).get("npc_type")) != _portrait_type:
+		var profile = _profile_of(npc)
+		if profile == null:
+			continue
+		if _portrait_type >= 0 and int(profile.get("npc_type")) != _portrait_type:
+			continue
+		# A film/photo pose holds a camera or phone in front of the face; keep the
+		# default portrait on an idle person so the texture pass sees skin.
+		var pose := ""
+		if npc.has_method("theater_pose"):
+			pose = str(npc.call("theater_pose"))
+		if _portrait_type < 0 and pose in ["photo", "film", "perform"]:
 			continue
 		var distance: float = npc.global_position.distance_to(guard_pos)
 		if distance > 25.0:
@@ -265,9 +302,10 @@ func _stage_portrait(delta: float, angle_deg: float = 0.0) -> bool:
 				continue
 			other.set_physics_process(false)
 			other.global_position += Vector3(0.0, 0.0, 140.0)
-	# Freeze the subject: its FSM re-writes the yaw every physics tick, which
-	# would turn it away from the camera again.
+	# Freeze the subject: its FSM re-writes the yaw every physics tick, and the
+	# idle head-turn would still look away after the body is aimed at the camera.
 	best.set_physics_process(false)
+	best.set_process(false)
 	# Clear standing spot on the sidewalk, away from the queue: the close-up is a
 	# character still, not a slice of the scene, and the crowd would block it.
 	var spot := Vector3(0.0, 0.0, 0.0)
@@ -275,6 +313,11 @@ func _stage_portrait(delta: float, angle_deg: float = 0.0) -> bool:
 		spot = gm.guard.get("spawn_position")
 	best.global_position = spot + _portrait_spot
 	best.rotation.y = 0.0
+	var subject_head := best.get_node_or_null("Rig/Head") as Node3D
+	if subject_head == null:
+		subject_head = best.find_child("Head", true, false) as Node3D
+	if subject_head != null:
+		subject_head.rotation.y = 0.0
 	# Stand between the subject and the sun, so the face is front-lit.
 	var to_light := -light
 	to_light = to_light.rotated(Vector3.UP, deg_to_rad(angle_deg))
@@ -290,10 +333,12 @@ func _stage_portrait(delta: float, angle_deg: float = 0.0) -> bool:
 	# Face the camera: from the subject, the guard lies in the -look direction.
 	# Use the drawn rig so an FSM yaw on the root cannot fight the pose.
 	var rig := best.find_child("Rig", true, false) as Node3D
+	# NPC art faces +Z; yaw the root toward the guard so the face, not the
+	# back, is under the camera.
+	var face := atan2(-look.x, -look.z)
+	best.rotation.y = face
 	if rig != null:
-		rig.rotation.y = atan2(-look.x, -look.z)
-	else:
-		best.rotation.y = atan2(-look.x, -look.z)
+		rig.rotation.y = 0.0
 
 	return true
 

src/test/smoke_npc_budget.gd

@@ -42,10 +42,19 @@ func _process(delta: float) -> bool:
 	if frame >= WARMUP_FRAMES + SAMPLE_FRAMES:
 		var average := sample_ms / SAMPLE_FRAMES
 		var meshes := 0
+		var triangles := 0
 		for avatar in avatars:
-			meshes += avatar.find_children("*", "MeshInstance3D", true, false).size()
-		print("NPC budget: %d avatars, %d meshes, avg frame %.2f ms (budget %.0f ms)" % [
-			COUNT, meshes, average, BUDGET_MS])
+			for node in avatar.find_children("*", "MeshInstance3D", true, false):
+				var mi := node as MeshInstance3D
+				if mi == null or mi.mesh == null:
+					continue
+				meshes += 1
+				for surface in mi.mesh.get_surface_count():
+					var arrays := mi.mesh.surface_get_arrays(surface)
+					var indices: PackedInt32Array = arrays[Mesh.ARRAY_INDEX]
+					triangles += indices.size() / 3
+		print("NPC budget: %d avatars, %d meshes, %d triangles, avg frame %.2f ms (budget %.0f ms)" % [
+			COUNT, meshes, triangles, average, BUDGET_MS])
 		if average > BUDGET_MS:
 			printerr("SMOKE FAIL: frame time %.1f ms exceeds the %.0f ms budget" % [
 				average, BUDGET_MS])

src/test/tests/test_npc_character.gd

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ extends RefCounted
 ## styles, queue slots, LOD tiers/labels, and the articulated rig structure.
 
 const NpcAvatar := preload("res://src/game/npc_avatar.gd")
+const Materials := preload("res://src/game/materials.gd")
 const NpcProfile := preload("res://src/core/npc_profile.gd")
 const Rules := preload("res://src/core/rules.gd")
 
@@ -333,6 +334,33 @@ func test_skinned_outfit_tints_the_material_slots() -> bool:
 	avatar.free()
 	return a and b and c and d
 
+func test_fabric_uv_scale_avoids_the_baked_ao_pattern() -> bool:
+	var avatar := _avatar(Rules.NpcType.TOURIST, 44)
+	var mi := avatar.find_child("npc_base", true, false) as MeshInstance3D
+	var fabric := 0
+	var skin_ao := false
+	var problems: Array[String] = []
+	for index in mi.mesh.get_surface_count():
+		var source := mi.mesh.surface_get_material(index)
+		var material := mi.get_surface_override_material(index) as StandardMaterial3D
+		if source == null or material == null:
+			continue
+		var slot := str(source.resource_name)
+		if slot in ["cloth", "pants"]:
+			fabric += 1
+			if not material.uv1_scale.is_equal_approx(
+					Materials.NPC_FABRIC_UV_SCALE):
+				problems.append("%s uv=%s" % [slot, str(material.uv1_scale)])
+			if material.ao_enabled:
+				problems.append("%s still uses baked AO" % slot)
+		elif slot == "skin" and material.ao_enabled:
+			skin_ao = true
+	var a := TestUtils.check(fabric > 0 and problems.is_empty(),
+		"cloth/pants use the fine-UV scale and skip baked AO (%s)" % str(problems))
+	var b := TestUtils.check(skin_ao, "skin keeps its baked AO")
+	avatar.free()
+	return a and b
+
 func test_forced_fallback_still_builds_the_procedural_rig() -> bool:
 	var profile := NpcProfile.new()
 	profile.id = "fallback_test"

src/test/tests/test_world.gd

@@ -113,8 +113,13 @@ func test_hollywood_uses_the_real_landmark_layout() -> bool:
 	var banners := root.find_child("EventBanners", true, false)
 	var d := TestUtils.check(banners != null and banners.get_child_count() >= 9,
 		"three red event banners with their trim are present")
-	var e := TestUtils.check(root.find_child("WalkOfFame", true, false) != null,
-		"the Hollywood Walk of Fame strip is built")
+	var walk := root.find_child("WalkOfFame", true, false)
+	var walk_band := walk.get_child(0) as MeshInstance3D if walk != null else null
+	var walk_material: Material = walk_band.mesh.surface_get_material(0) if walk_band != null else null
+	var e := TestUtils.check(walk != null and walk_material != null
+		and walk_material is StandardMaterial3D
+		and (walk_material as StandardMaterial3D).albedo_texture != null,
+		"the Hollywood Walk of Fame strip is built with the terrazzo texture")
 	var f := TestUtils.check(root.get_node_or_null("NeighbourBlocks/ElCapitanTheatre") != null
 		and root.get_node_or_null("NeighbourBlocks/EastRetailBlock") != null,
 		"the El Capitan Theatre and east retail neighbours are built")
@@ -260,8 +265,12 @@ func test_skyline_backdrop_uses_alpha() -> bool:
 	var mat: ShaderMaterial = builder._skyline_mat
 	var b := TestUtils.check(mat != null and mat.shader != null, "skyline shader material captured")
 	var code := mat.shader.code if mat != null and mat.shader != null else ""
-	var c := TestUtils.check(code.contains("ALPHA") and code.contains("fog_disabled"),
-		"backdrop shader is alpha-scissored and fog-free")
+	var c := TestUtils.check(code.contains("ALPHA") and code.contains("fog_disabled")
+		and code.contains("haze_strength"),
+		"backdrop shader is alpha-scissored, fog-free and haze-blended")
+	var haze := float(mat.get_shader_parameter("haze_strength")) if mat != null else 0.0
+	var c2 := TestUtils.check(haze > 0.0, "skyline haze is enabled")
+	c = c and c2
 	var day: Texture2D = mat.get_shader_parameter("sky_texture")
 	builder.set_phase(Rules.Phase.LATE)
 	var night: Texture2D = mat.get_shader_parameter("sky_texture")

tools/npc_pipeline.py

@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ BONES = [
 ]
 MAX_TRIANGLES = 6000
 MAX_VERTICES = 4000
-TEX_SIZE = 128
+TEX_SIZE = 256
 AI_DIR = TEX_DIR / "ai"
 # Base material slots that get an AI fabric albedo (`prepare` layers them over
 # the procedural weave). Outer layers (jacket / vest / coat / dress) have no