Title. Blender already supports packing images as embedded data in a .blend files, with some changes to rva and the .w file format it would work like a charm.
Other than it's practical use and more professional approach, I'm actually suggesting this, because – unless if I'm misunderstanding something in the license – some sites like textures.com might allow bundling textures with your own models, but they don't allow distributing them by themselves or releasing them as open-source. I'm not sure if the way tracks distribute textures falls within proper use.
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Can I use the materials on a 3D model or scene or video game level which I will sell on a digital marketplace?
Regular textures may be bundled with 3D models, scenes or video game levels under the following conditions:
- you have customized the materials for the 3D model, scene or game level,
- all materials are actually used on the 3D model, in the scene or game level
- you are selling the model and materials in one package.
In other words: do not use bundling as a loophole to sell a texture or material pack.
Please add the following text in the documentation accompanying the model:
"One or more textures bundled with this project have been created with images from Textures.com. These images may not be redistributed by default. Please visit
www.textures.com for more information."
Can I release the materials under an Open Source (Creative Commons, GPL, etc) license?
No.
Copied directly from their terms-of-use:
You are permitted to:
- sell or distribute 3D models bundled with modified versions of the Content
but only if you add the following text to the documentation accompanying the model:
"One or more textures on this 3D model have been created with photographs from Textures.com. These photographs may not be redistributed by default; please visit
www.textures.com for more information."
You are not permitted to:
sell or distribute any Content (modified or not) by themselves or in a texture pack, material, shader, scale modelling papers (pre-printed or digital), scrapbooking pack;
release the Content or derivative products with Content under Open Source Licences;
I realize many might not care about such things at all – especially due to modding's nature – or might consider this to be nitpicking, I personally have a case where I
should care about such, furthermore there are other reasons too for implementing this feature, and I consider it to be very important, but don't want to appear ungrateful either after all the recent, really cool updates to the texture system.