Assets Management with .PSB Files and 2D PSD Importer Plugin

For managing assets in Beloved Bound, I’ve opted to use .psb files with linked layered setups, imported into Unity using the 2D PSD Importer plugin. This approach lets me maintain editable layers for pixel art and ensures precise positioning, while external linking keeps the file size down.

Advantages:

• Small Project, Few Assets: Beloved Bound is a relatively small game with pixel art, so the .psb method fits well.
• Layer Positioning & Editing: Using layered .psb files makes it easy to maintain the exact positions of layers, ideal for games with strict item placement.
• Ease of Editing: Selecting the .psb file in Unity opens it in an editor immediately, allowing for quick adjustments without reimporting or rearranging layers.

Disadvantages:

• Intended for 2D Character Rigging: PSDImporter is primarily for 2D character rigs, so some settings may feel out of place, though they’ve had no impact so far.
• File Size Concerns: .psb files with linked layers are less optimized in terms of size, though significantly smaller than fully layered .psb files.
• Limited Accessibility for Editing: Only the local PC has access to main assets for direct editing. Storing assets in a cloud service (e.g., Dropbox) is an option for accessing them across devices.
• Limited Testing on Large Projects: This method hasn’t been tested in larger-scale projects and may reveal further issues at scale.
• Git Considerations: Add .psb to the .gitattributes file so Git can recognize and track changes properly.

This setup provides precision and flexibility in asset management, suited to a smaller, asset-light game like Beloved Bound. The approach allows me to maintain high control over asset editing and positioning while minimizing project size—though larger projects might require testing for performance and efficiency.