byowag

That's the approach I've seen many others say is the way to avoid it.

I've done this quite a bit with gimp. However, gimp doesn't really like .dds files much. The workaround I've used is to open up the .dds texture file with paint and export the .dds as a .png or .jgp to a seperate folder. I then work on the .jpg or .png in gimp. For recolor I most often add another solid color layer and use grain merge or HSL color options for that layer. Then simply tinker around with filling the color layer with whatever color you choose until you get the results you're looking for. Depending on your level of experience with gimp, you'll find it opens up all kinds of possibilities if you start adding new layers to play around with different textures or filtering with sharpening, etc. The possibilities are pretty much limitless. After that, save the .png or .jpg, open up the .dds in paint and import the new layer over the original. Flatten the image, save it, and then redeploy with vortex to get the file updated. Hope this helps.

I'm experiencing a problem now with something that hasn't given me any issues until recently. I do quite a bit of retexturing by opening an existing .dds file, overlaying my own custom .jpg or .png graphic, flattening, saving and then doing a "redeploy" in vortex to update the file. Most recently I've been focused on putting my own artwork in the paintings throughout various areas. HOWEVER, I experience immediate CTD when I do this to SOME files. I always save a backup of the original file and as soon as I paste this back in and deploy again with the original file, everything works great again. Can someone with far more experience than I explain to this "maniacal gimp hacker" why this happens? Is there "embedded" information in some .dds files that causes it or some other digital hocus pocus going on with the file? Is there a workaround? Any information and feedback is greatly appreciated. THANK YOU.

I'm visualizing a mod that lets you create a set of fixed camera positions in TFC mode. The ideal scenario would be that you position yourself (x,y,z, fov, angles,) in tfc mode and then have a hotkey that allows you name that view as a "viewport camera". Move to another desired view for the same "scene", and save another one. Maybe up to as many as a dozen different viewpoints. Ideally, it would create folders in your skyrim directory for each named viewport. When you take a screenshot, it would take shots for all of the name viewports simultaneously (or in quick succession) and save them to the corresponding directory allowing you to capture many views of the same pose or scene very quickly and with consistent position. Then allow you to clear them and start a new set when you move to another location.