Nigedo
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I have tried out the following applications for converting image files to DDS format and this is what I have found;
PaintShop Pro v7 (Jasc Software) with dds plugin (NVIDIA):
- converts individual files fine to any dds format, including DXT3 which is essential for preservation of alpha transparency.
- converts *small* batches of files, but process tends to break down when converting larger batches. Also, requires constant user input (reselection of save preferences) during batch conversion.
ConvIm (MW Graphics):
- converts individual files or batches automatically.
- limited to DXT1 format with no support for alpha transparency.
DDSTool (author unknown):
- batch conversion only.
- converts to DXT1 format with no apha transparency support.
NVDXT stand alone batch compressor (NVIDIA):
- command line batch converter.
- converts to any DDS format, including DXT3 with alpha transparency support.
- skips files with extremely long filenames.
I would love to know whether anyone else has found different results or knows of any other applications that may do a better job than those I've listed.
-------------------- Dean of The Theoretical Whirling School Of Vivec
The Whirling School | Academy for Dwemer Studies | TES Lore FAQ
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Drakron
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Adept
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Try DXTBmp.
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Nigedo
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Quote:
Try DXTBmp.
Thanks. Perhaps you could say something about what it does?
-------------------- Dean of The Theoretical Whirling School Of Vivec
The Whirling School | Academy for Dwemer Studies | TES Lore FAQ
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DXTBmp is another MW Graphics program.
It supports multiple DDS formats, including DXT3, but doesn't have a batch conversion function AFAIK.
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maxpublic
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Disciple
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I use ddstool, a freeware app that so far has worked perfectly for me. I used it to convert the .tga files for the textures in Green/Leafy/Forested Morrowind.
Max
-------------------- The four boxes of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, and ammo. Use in that order.
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Nigedo
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Thanks OldeCow. Useful to know that it supports DXT3.
Max:-
Quote:
I use ddstool, a freeware app that so far has worked perfectly for me. I used it to convert the .tga files for the textures in Green/Leafy/Forested Morrowind.
Is that the same DDSTool that I mentioned above?
The archive contains the files; "dds.exe", "S3TC.EXE" and "VIC32.DLL", along with a number of source files that are irrelevant to the user.
Although it does perform batch conversions, a major failing of that freeware tool is that it doesn't support DXT3 format so it won't include alpha transparency in any new DDS textures it creates.
Perhaps you're using a different ddstool since yours converted the alpha properties of those tree textures without any problems?
Do you know who created it, or where you downloaded it from? Does your version perform batch conversions too?
-------------------- Dean of The Theoretical Whirling School Of Vivec
The Whirling School | Academy for Dwemer Studies | TES Lore FAQ
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You're welcome Nigedo.
I'm not familiar with DDSTool, and fearing my utility collection might be incomplete I did a quick Google which turned up this page;
http://www.flipcode.com/cgi-bin/msg.cgi?showThread=COTD-DDSConverter&forum=cotd&id=-1
It attributes the program to a John Ratcliff, the download certainly includes the 3 files you listed so it's presumably the thing you're talking about?
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Nigedo
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Quote:
It attributes the program to a John Ratcliff, the download certainly includes the 3 files you listed so it's presumably the thing you're talking about?
Hah! That's funny. I've been to that site before, ages ago, and downloaded the app from there. Then I remember not being able to work it and finally binning it.
Later on, Sir Luthor sent me a copy of ddstool and warned me that it would only work with batches of files (i.e. more than one file). I didn't put two and two together. Now I know it's the same one i tried before.
Thanks for that, I'll know who to credit and where to refer folk for the download now.
There are some other small apps floating around the Web with the name "ddstool" but they make use of 'In' and 'Out' folders and I think they may be command line too.
As I say though, the main problem with that little utility is that it doesn't seem to support DXT3. Unless there's a settings thing I'm missing somewhere.
-------------------- Dean of The Theoretical Whirling School Of Vivec
The Whirling School | Academy for Dwemer Studies | TES Lore FAQ
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maxpublic
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Disciple
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Quote:
Is that the same DDSTool that I mentioned above?
Why, indeed it is!
Quote:
Perhaps you're using a different ddstool since yours converted the alpha properties of those tree textures without any problems?
I didn't convert the tree textures, but the land textures. The trees were released as a modders resource. For some reason leaving the land textures as .tga files wouldn't overwrite the existing textures in-game; only converting them to dds would do the trick. This was how I turned the Molag Mar, Ashlands, and Red Mountain green without having to repaint the entire landscape.
Max
-------------------- The four boxes of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, and ammo. Use in that order.
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SirLuthor
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Actually Nigedo, I'm fairly certain that in a discussion about this DDS Tool a while back, someone mentioned that if the file you are converting is .bmp, it gets DDS type 1, but if it is .tga, it gets turned into DDS type 5.. At any rate, I know that it keeps my alphas just fine.
-------------------- Please use the search function and search for multiplayer. This has been hashed to death so often it's crypt has a revolving door.
--Slategrey
Lest we forget: Lynn.WTF? = 27 - 10 on de_dust2 against the pr0s.
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Om
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devIL apparently supports .dds too
-------------------- Glad to be of service - Door
~Omnia~, my EVIL home.
Omnia Chat
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Nigedo
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Quote:
Actually Nigedo, I'm fairly certain that in a discussion about this DDS Tool a while back, someone mentioned that if the file you are converting is .bmp, it gets DDS type 1, but if it is .tga, it gets turned into DDS type 5.. At any rate, I know that it keeps my alphas just fine.
Well, I just went and tested it again, to be certain, and that is not the case when I use it. The ddstool does not preserve alpha transparency when I use it to convert .tga files. Perhaps I am missing something here. It certainly seems straightforward enough to use and there is no way to adjust conversion settings as far as I can see.
Edit: Huh! The wierd thing is I just checked the file "dds.log" and it does appear to be logging that it detects an alpha layer in each image file. It doesn't say anything about specific dds format though.
-------------------- Dean of The Theoretical Whirling School Of Vivec
The Whirling School | Academy for Dwemer Studies | TES Lore FAQ
Edited by Nigedo (07/05/04 03:24 PM)
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I use that DDS utility as well. The fact that it must convert multiple files in order to run is kind of annoying though. One mistake I must warn you about, when you that program...it that it tends to screw up certain textures.
I ran the program on my morrowind textures directory and it made things much smaller in size...but it also screwed up a lot. Transparency, for instance...now I have big ugly blocks around particle effects, lighting and other things. Nasty. ^^;
Flik
-------------------- Horror Mod Complete...but for what?
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