Decal authoring checklist

Decals are a separate paint stack from overlays in the map editor and Creator Studio. Choose the frame before you import — it controls ingest, storage size, and how art sits on the hex.

Overlays vs decals

Overlay — second paint stack; always 256×384 reference → ~683×1024 storage; billboard on the tile.
Decal — third paint stack; tall or square frame; does not replace overlay workflow.
Do not upload decal art as overlay (or vice versa) unless you intend that stack in-game.

Frame switch (Creator Studio)

When import type is Decal, use the Tall / Square control:

Frame	Use for	Reference	Ideal export	On-map render
Tall	Trees, signs, characters, tall props	256×384	1024×1536 PNG (2∶3)	Billboard above the hex
Square	Ground decals, paths, flat markings, cap-aligned art	256×256	1024×1024 PNG	Hex cap (surface-aligned UV)

Import pipeline

Your file — any PNG/JPEG/WEBP/GIF within size limits.
Studio preview — letterbox/crop to the reference frame for the selected frame (same rules as server).
Upload to pack — server normalizes again; response may include warnings[] (quality only, never a hard reject for resolution).
Metadata — decalFrame + decalFrameVersion: 1 stored on the pack item.

Wrong aspect vs the frame you picked → letterbox or cover + warning. If stored pixels imply a different frame than you selected, the server coerces the frame and adds a warning (upload still succeeds).

Quality recommendations (warnings only)

Long edge < 256px — very soft on the board; re-export at higher resolution when possible.
Long edge < 512px — noticeably soft.
Long edge < 1024px — below recommended; ideal is 1024 long edge (see table above).

Small sources (e.g. 78×90) still upload — expect blur after upscale. This is intentional so hobbyist assets are not blocked.

Composition tips

Tall — keep the “foot” of the object near the bottom of the frame; use transparent headroom above. Template matches overlay safe zone.
Square — center important detail in the hex; avoid heavy semi-transparent halos on edges (alpha can look muddy on the cap).
Export sRGB PNG with transparency; avoid JPG for decals.
Paint-test on grass, stone, and water-adjacent tiles before uploading to the pack.

Pack editor / API

Pack item kind: decal (not overlay).
Form field decalFrame: tall (default) or square.
Cap: 50 decals per pack (same collection cap in Studio).

Templates (download PNG for Photoshop / Procreate, or open SVG): tall decal PNG (256×384), tall SVG, square decal PNG (256×256), square SVG. Authoring spec · Creator Studio spec