Editing textures

[LiquidParadox]

So, I have recently began trying my hand at modding Oblivion, and believe me, it has been a fun experience. I am learning a lot about the tes4 cs, and everything is great. except...

 

Originally, my interest in creating my own mods came from a problem I have with a particular texture. Well, actually, I think the mesh is also to blame, but one thing at a time, yeah? What I am talking about is the texture for the imperial male (well, pretty much the same for every human male) from Robert2's fabulous Male body re-placer (v5). Now don't get me wrong, it is a wonderful mod that has made my playing experience a bazillion times better... but, I am a very creative person, and robert's mod just doesn't offer what I am looking for in my male characters.

 

So, I was wondering... how exactly does one go about creating/editing a texture file? I will continue to look for a descent tutorial on the subject, but as I said, I am an impatient man XD. Any help would be vastly appreciated.

[Tomlong54210]

So, I have recently began trying my hand at modding Oblivion, and believe me, it has been a fun experience. I am learning a lot about the tes4 cs, and everything is great. except...

 

Originally, my interest in creating my own mods came from a problem I have with a particular texture. Well, actually, I think the mesh is also to blame, but one thing at a time, yeah? What I am talking about is the texture for the imperial male (well, pretty much the same for every human male) from Robert2's fabulous Male body re-placer (v5). Now don't get me wrong, it is a wonderful mod that has made my playing experience a bazillion times better... but, I am a very creative person, and robert's mod just doesn't offer what I am looking for in my male characters.

 

So, I was wondering... how exactly does one go about creating/editing a texture file? I will continue to look for a descent tutorial on the subject, but as I said, I am an impatient man XD. Any help would be vastly appreciated.

You should use GIMP, Paint.NET or Photoshop to edit the existing texture file; or, at least, that seems like a good way to start.

 

Programs & Utilities - http://sites.google.com/site/oblivionpoinfo/lists/utilities <-- GIMP does not support DDS files, natively, but i have linked the plugins you will need at the bottom of this page. I think that Paint.NET requires you install a DDS plugin as well, but I am not too sure about that. Paint.NET is the easiest to use, whereas GIMP is closer to Photoshop in terms of feature offerings. They are both free though. :D

[LiquidParadox]

 

You should use GIMP, Paint.NET or Photoshop to edit the existing texture file; or, at least, that seems like a good way to start.

 

Programs & Utilities - http://sites.google.com/site/oblivionpoinfo/lists/utilities <-- GIMP does not support DDS files, natively, but i have linked the plugins you will need at the bottom of this page. I think that Paint.NET requires you install a DDS plugin as well, but I am not too sure about that. Paint.NET is the easiest to use, whereas GIMP is closer to Photoshop in terms of feature offerings. They are both free though. :D

 

Thanks for the advice, Tomlong. Indecently, I am using Photoshop (I use the term "using" very loosely, as i have never actually used it. yeah, as newb as it gets.). Currently, the problem I am running into is this: I can't figure out how to open the .dds file using photoshop. While trying to open the file using photoshop, I navigate into obliviondirectory/data/meshes/imperial/male and I find: that there are no files matching that description. (there words, not mine). When I try to open the dds file manually, photoshop doesn't appear on the list of programs that I can use to open it.

 

keep in mind, that my techskill is at about 25 (little oblivion humor, haw haw) so be patient if I sound dumb ;)

[LiquidParadox]

Sorry to double-post, but it turns out that

 

DDS Converter 2 (this will allow you to convert DDS files into PSD Photoshop files and then back to DDS format when done)

 

I am going to give this a try for now

[Tomlong54210]

My guess is that Photoshop requires a DDS plugin as well.

 

NVIDIA DDS plugin for Photoshop - http://developer.nvidia.com/object/photoshop_dds_plugins.html

NVIDIA DDS thumbnail viewer - http://developer.nvidia.com/object/dds_thumbnail_viewer.html <-- I no longer have an NVIDIA GPU, but this was convenient to have when I did.

 

Adobe Photoshop DDS Plugin - http://farcry.filefront.com/file/Adobe_Photoshop_DDS_Plugin;37136

 

I hope one of these works. If you have ATI, you may need to search around a bit more, sorry.

 

 

Edit: I am pretty sure that the Robert v5 download comes with a .psd file. I forgot about that. You should use that instead, but you will need the converter anyway.

[LiquidParadox]

My guess is that Photoshop requires a DDS plugin as well.

 

NVIDIA DDS plugin for Photoshop - http://developer.nvidia.com/object/photoshop_dds_plugins.html

NVIDIA DDS thumbnail viewer - http://developer.nvidia.com/object/dds_thumbnail_viewer.html <-- I no longer have an NVIDIA GPU, but this was convenient to have when I did.

 

Adobe Photoshop DDS Plugin - http://farcry.filefront.com/file/Adobe_Photoshop_DDS_Plugin;37136

 

I hope one of these works. If you have ATI, you may need to search around a bit more, sorry.

 

 

Edit: I am pretty sure that the Robert v5 download comes with a .psd file. I forgot about that. You should use that instead, but you will need the converter anyway.

 

Thank you again for all your help. I will check roberts v5 for a psd... that would save a bit of work.

 

Also: hey look, an edit button. Dearp.

[Tomlong54210]

Do a windows search on the extracted archive for ".psd". I usually delete that file (no texturer here) so I cannot tell you where it is at the moment, haha...

 

 

Have fun! and good night.

- Tomlong54210

[razorpony]

Also I couldn't help but notice this:

 

I navigate into obliviondirectory/data/meshes/imperial/male and I find: that there are no files matching that description.

 

You'll want to look in the data\TEXTURES\imperial\_male and not the meshes folder. If that was just a typo then please disregard.

 

-Razorpony