[SSE] Tintmask Struggle

[OneWeirdWolf]

Currently trying to edit a Tintmask, specifically maleheadwarpaint_01

I want to make it so that the "flame" design only covers one eye instead of both, so I located the file in my skyrim's Data folder and opened the dds file using paint. Then I just covered the side I didn't want using the black backround color, and promptly saved the file so that it replaced the original one. Finally I deployed my mods in Vortex and loaded in.

Problem is, the changes don't seem to be applying in-game. Selecting maleheadwarpaint_01 in both Racemenu's Makeup tab and the default warpaint slider, result in the game applying the old unedited one with both eyes covered instead of just one. 

So after double checking to make sure I was editing the right file, I found that a mod that I was using (Skyfurry Ng) actually had their own copy of the same file, I assume so it better applies to the head meshes of the beast races the mod adds. So I simply gave that file the same treatment as the first and tried again. No dice. Same error of the changes not applying in-game. 

 I'm very new to editing mods, so anything beyond simply replacing a sound effect I don't like or painting over a texture like I tried here is just that, beyond me. Any and all help would be much appreciated!