Overlay authoring checklist

Use this checklist for the overlay paint stack only. Decals use a separate frame switch — decal checklist.

1) Canvas + export format

• Author overlays in the reference frame: 256×384 PNG (pointy-top, transparent background).
• Export as PNG with transparency (no JPG for overlays).
• Keep the final asset under 20MB.

2) Composition and guides

• Use the Creator Studio overlay preview guide as the source of truth for the hex footprint.
• Keep critical detail inside the guide area; allow transparent headroom for vertical motifs.
• Do not pre-crop to a hard hex mask; upload full-frame art with transparent margins.
• Keep the visual centerline near canvas center X for predictable anchor behavior.

3) Import-to-map pipeline (what the tools do)

1. Your file — 256×384 PNG.
2. Creator Studio import — normalized to the same 256×384 reference frame (contain/crop by aspect).
3. Live editor render — rasterized into a 512×512 bleedFull atlas at draw time.
4. Server storage — scaled to long edge 1024 (~683×1024 for 2:3 overlays).

Creator uploads (`studioDraft:` / `packPreview:`) use the pixel-perfect reference mapping path.

4) Anchor expectation

• Bottom-most opaque pixels are treated as the anchor reference on tile placement.
• If art appears to float, add transparent top margin; if too low, reduce bottom-heavy framing.
• Validate on multiple terrains before uploading to a pack item.

5) Quick QA before submission

• Test on grass, desert, and water-adjacent tiles at 2 zoom levels.
• Confirm no matte fringe (white/black edge halo) against dark and light terrain.
• Confirm orientation matches source art (no upside-down or mirrored presentation).
• Confirm overlay still reads clearly when layered over a custom terrain base texture.

Templates: overlay safe zone, tile square. Authoring spec