DDS Files

[AEntreriX]

I have another topic going on right now (about making birthsigns), this is related but still different.

 

So i'm using the freeware program Paint.Net to make a .DDS file for my Birthsign. But there are all these different types of DDS files and a couple different options. Of all the settings i've tried DXT1(Opaque/1-bit Alpha), when I tried to use that CS crashed.

 

The other options are

 

DXT1(Opaque/1-bit Alpha)(I've tried this, CS Crashed) [DEFAULT]

DX3(Explicit Alpha)

DX5(Interpolated Alpha)

 

and then these 5 other differint types that are not really named anything but are just random strings of numbers and letters all of which start with R, X, or A.

 

There are 3 options for Compressor types

Range Fit(Fast/LQ)

Cluster fit(Slow/HQ) [DEFAULT]

Iterative Fit(Slowest/HQ)

 

I'm guessing LQ is is Low Quality and HQ is High Quality. The fast, slow, and slowest are probably rendering speeds.

 

There are two options for Error Metric

Uniform

Perceptual [DEFAULT]

 

Then there are two Additional Options (both can be checked at same time, by default they are both unchecked)

Weight Color by Alpha

Generate Mip Maps

 

Does anybody know what to do? Has anyone used Paint.Net to make a .DDS for their mod? Please help.

[alex2avs]

I suggest you to use DXT3 and

Weight Color by Alpha

Generate Mip Maps

 

disabled.

 

don't ask me why :D

 

take a look here too : http://cs.elderscrolls.com/constwiki/index...livion_Mods_FAQ

 

somewhere it is an article about the dds file.

can't find the exact link for the moment.

sorry.

[AEntreriX]

Ok I just tried Defualt Options with DXT3 and both additonal options ENABLED. Instead of crashing it said Could not convert "data\textures\menus\Birthsigns\TheAlchemistBirthsign.dds" to RGBA32.

 

It's not showing the picture in CS but it is showing the location of the file as the Image File attached to the Birthsign, so I'm going to try it out in Oblivion.

[alex2avs]

ah..here they are : http://cs.elderscrolls.com/constwiki/index.php/DDS_Files

 

 

hope this helps.

[jonesjoshuar]

dds files also have to be power of 2 dimensions or it will not convert. ie 256x256 or 512x512 or 256 x 512

 

As stated before ( i use paint.net and gimp) you want dxt3 and you want to check generate mip maps.

 

After that, i suggest usig gimp and its dds and normal map plugins to make normal maps.

[BossDweebe]

dds files also have to be power of 2 dimensions or it will not convert. ie 256x256 or 512x512 or 256 x 512

 

As stated before ( i use paint.net and gimp) you want dxt3 and you want to check generate mip maps.

 

After that, i suggest usig gimp and its dds and normal map plugins to make normal maps.

 

I second that. The Gimp is more suitable to Oblivion modding.

You will need normal maps for most textures to work in game.

When you load a texture in the Gimp to create a normal map you do not want to load the mip maps.

I save all my textures and normals with mip maps, but don't know if it is necessary with the normals.

I find the DXT5n (a special normal map compression) also works well.

 

Also, if you do load a texture for general work with the mip maps you will have to "flatten" the image

before you can save with DXT3 as the mip maps are additional layers. So you are basically deleting and

then creating the mips again when you save.