Matrix Games Forums

How-to DDS? I installed Photoshop DDS editor. But it gives too many save choices and the ones I saved to so far are reducing fidelity.

What are you all using for DDS editing?

(I like the photo shop plugin. I just don't know what to save to.)

Are there other hints for skinning anyone would like to impart to me?

Hi Spellir,

There are some tools you can get for free and they are quite good. For Skinning I use Paint Net. It is a good program and free. Its great advantage is that it will open dds files. When you save, save it as a dds file and then you avoid any issues with the alpha channels. They have online tutorials that should aquaint you with paint basics. Google Paint Net and Download for free.

DDS Convertor 2 will convert dds files into other files. I don't use it very much any more because even with the proper settings it does not appear to preserve alpha channels very well. But it is a very good viewer and that is what I use it for. Google DDS convertor 2 and download for free.

One trick I use is to convert the dds file to a bmp. Then I can use any art program I wish including Adobe Photoshop to mod the file. Then I cut out the alpha areas and save it that way as a bmp. Load it back into Paint net exactly on top of a duplicate dds file. Then the proper alpha channels will show through. When you save as a dds it will ask if you wish to flatten the image. You indicate yes and voila it is done.

When I started I found preserving the alpha channels was my main challenge. I too had never worked with dds files before.

Remember as well to archive all your work. You don't want to do it all over again if you make a mistake. Test the mod in game as it will often look different than it does in the art program.

If you have any questions ask away.

regards John

I do all my skins in png files then convert them with DDS Converter 2.

I bought Photo shop but I found I am more comfortable using my old Paint Shop Pro '98.
It can make masks so I edit the mask to make cutout transparencies and load new alpha files from that.

I like to put blueprint outlines of the model on my skins to help guide painting and other art. To do that the trick I use now is to make temporary masks of model sections. I cut out an area of the png skin to the size I think a blueprint area will fit in. Make a new mask of that section. Then take a blueprint of a section of the model and fit it in that. Save it as say tempmask. Then load in the skin section and load the mask (tempmask) from disk. (Do not save to alphachannel.)
In PSP you would Negative the color image of the skin section and save. Next load the skin section and change color to Negative image again. Your white mask lines of the blueprint are now black on your skin section. Paste this skin section on your main skin png.

I use The Gimp with a dds plugin. The Gimp, the last version is 2.6, is opensource and free so it deserves a trial.