---
title: "Asset Pipeline Index"
description: "Master index linking all asset pipelines (audio, visual, video) with structure and conventions"
type: design
status: active
---

# Asset Pipeline Index

Centralized tracking for all production assets across pipelines. Each pipeline has its own index, palette (style bible), and per-category asset tables.

## Pipelines

| Pipeline | Index | Palette | Status |
|----------|-------|---------|--------|
| [Audio](audio/README.md) | [audio/README.md](audio/README.md) | [audio/palette.md](audio/palette.md) | Active — Sprint 7 |
| [Visual](visual/README.md) | [visual/README.md](visual/README.md) | [visual/palette.md](visual/palette.md) | Active — catalog + style bible instantiated (T-1050/T-1052) |
| [Video](video/README.md) | [video/README.md](video/README.md) | [video/palette.md](video/palette.md) | Stub |

## Structure

```
docs/assets/
  README.md              # This file — master index
  _templates/
    audio.md             # Row template + detailed entry template for audio
    sprite.md            # LEGACY object-sprite row template (D-244 retired sprites; model/texture/artwork rows are inline in each visual/*.md file, T-1050)
    video.md             # Row template + detailed entry template for video
    asset-brief.md       # One-page per-class brief template (scope/visual reference/naming/gen path/acceptance) — T-1049
  briefs/                # Per-asset-class briefs gating T-961's child stories (T-1049) + deferred.md formal deferral note
  audio/
    README.md            # Audio pipeline index — categories, status summary
    palette.md           # Sonic palette, aesthetic guide, generation approach
    ambient.md           # All ambient loops (station, planet, biome, weather)
    sfx.md               # All SFX (footsteps, doors, impacts, events)
    ui.md                # All UI sounds (cursor, chimes, insert-tech)
  visual/                # 3D models + textures + flat artwork (D-244 — no per-object sprites)
    README.md            # Visual pipeline index
    palette.md           # Art direction, "the angle", color relationships
    models.md            # 3D objects/props (.glb via Trellis /glb-gen)
    textures.md          # PBR surface maps (BaseColor/Normal/Roughness) for 3D models
    artwork.md           # Flat 2D art — paintings, flags, billboards, signage (via /sprite-gen)
    icons.md             # UI icons, status indicators (UI layer)
    effects.md           # Shaders, particles, overlays
    conventions.md       # Model naming, mask sidecars, D-235-keyed texture naming, footprint metadata (T-1050)
  video/
    README.md            # Video pipeline index
    palette.md           # Motion/editing style guide
    trailers.md          # Marketing / Steam page trailers
    cutscenes.md         # In-game narrative moments
```

## Conventions

- **One .md per category** — asset table with one row per asset, detailed entries below for complex items
- **palette.md** per pipeline — the style bible. Aesthetic baseline, theme, generation approach.
- **Status values:** `planned` | `in-progress` | `placeholder` | `final`
- **Templates:** `_templates/{type}.md` — row format + detailed entry format
- **Asset files** live in `client/assets/{type}/` — these docs track design and production metadata
- **Category splitting:** When a category file grows too long, split by domain (e.g., `furniture-station.md`, `furniture-colony.md`)

## Cross-References

- Decision files: `decisions/` (D-038 audio scope, D-033 entity colors, D-019 camera angle)
- Art direction workshop: `docs/workshops/art-direction-mood-board/`
- Sprint briefings: `docs/sprints/sprint-N/{team}.md`
- Per-class asset briefs: [briefs/](briefs/) — station walls, rural walls, doors, floors,
  furniture/props, each gating a T-961 child story (T-1049); [briefs/deferred.md](briefs/deferred.md)
  records the formal deferral for lamp posts / TVs / billboards / barns (T-1051) + cars (Q-067).