NOTE: The article is no longer being maintained on TESNexus.
The current version can be found on the CS Wiki
Overview: The goal of this topic is to collect as much feedback as possible about existing tools, their advantages and disadvantages in the hopes of eventually making a Wiki tutorial page that will be as complete as possible.
Please look over this list below and let us know if there are more utilities/plugins/editors/tutorials related to DDS textures. It would also be nice if you gave you opinions on any advantages/disadvantages (likes/dislikes) with any tools you have experience with. I use several of these programs so I am too biased to list advantages and disadvantages for everything.
Originally Compiled by LHammonds and Throttlekitty
DDS Tools Listing
(in alphabetical order)
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Name: Adobe Photoshop
Version: CS3
Date: ?
Type: Graphics Editor
Cost: $650.00
Download #1: http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/photoshop/
Description
The essential software for perfecting your images, Adobe� Photoshop� CS3 now offers productivity and workflow enhancements, powerful new editing tools, and breakthrough compositing capabilities.
Advantages
- Advanced toolset including: Powerful layer compositing/blending features, Selection masks (+ Quick Mask mode), Customisable brush sets, Automatation for batch image editing, Many filters + support for third-party filters.
- Native support for many different file formats.
- Save for Web feature for screencaps.
- Popular, meaning many tutorials available online.
Disadvantages
- Cost Prohibitive for a casual modder.
- No native support for DDS, Nvidia Plugin is required.
- Not as easy to use for image-editing as alternatives.
(Thanks to Earth_Wyrm for the help)
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Name: Adobe Photoshop Plug-ins
Version: 8.23
Date: ?
Type: Plugin
Cost: FREE
Download #1: http://developer.nvidia.com/object/photosh...ds_plugins.html
Description
This installer contains two plug-ins and several helpful scripts for Adobe� Photoshop�:
* NVIDIA Normal Map Filter
* NVIDIA DDS PLug-in
* NVIDIA Mipster Script
* NVIDIA Cube Map Shuffler
Advantages
- Researching.
Disadvantages
- Researching.
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Name: Corel Paint Shop Pro
Version: XI
Date: ?
Type: Graphics Editor
Cost: $70.00 USD
Download #1: http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satellite/us/...48?trkid=psppxi
Description
Filled with one-of-a-kind photo tools sure to please even the most discerning photographer, Corel� Paint Shop Pro� Photo XI is the ideal choice for people who want extraordinary photos. With a built-in Learning Center to help first time users get started, it is the easiest way to get professional-looking photos - fast!
Advantages
- Researching.
Disadvantages
- Researching.
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Name: Crazy Bump
Version: 3.1 BETA
Date: ?
Type: Utility
Cost: FREE (until version 1.0)
Download: http://www.crazybump.com/beta/download.html
Description
A standalone application for creating normal maps from height maps or images, with a surprising amount of options
Advantages
- Crazy Bump is fantastic for recalculating normal maps. You can dramatically smooth out DXTC compression artifacts and tweak your normal maps with the Find Low Frequency Image Detail function. It of course does not prevent compression artifacts from being re-introduced later, but at least you can get a clean working copy of an existing normal map to work with if you do not have access to the original uncompressed images.
- Ability to blend multiple normal maps together properly. Good for merging changes together such as an existing fabric with another using a canvas effect.
Disadvantages
- Crazy Bump assumes DDS normal maps to be in DXT5_NM format, but Oblivion unfortunately does not use this format. This means you have to convert your DDS files into PSD format first, then reconvert back to DDS later, but it is worth the hassle.
(Thanks to dev_akm and Bomret for the help)
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Name: DDS Converter 2
Version: 2.1
Date Released: 3/18/2005
Type: Standalone Utlity
Cost: FREE
Download #1: http://eliteforce2.filefront.com/file/;29412
Download #2: http://www.tessource.net/files/file.php?id=8698
Download #3: http://www.elricm.com/nuke/html/modules.ph...ls&lid=3613
Description
This program converts between common image files and DXT-compressed textures. Since the nVidia tool is used to achieve this goal, this program mostly acts as a front-end to this tool.
Advantages
- Independent from Graphics Manipulation tools.
- Images can be converted in batch mode. (many images at one time)
- Remembers last directory processed and settings used.
Disadvantages
- Has bugs (will go more in detail later)
- Limited to the version of the NVidia DDS plugin that came with it. It will not work with the current NVidia plugin.
- Program is no longer under development and the author does not reply to emails.
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Name: DDS Thumbnail Viewer
Version: ?
Date: ?
Type: Windows Shell Utility
Cost: FREE
Download #1: http://developer.nvidia.com/object/dds_thumbnail_viewer.html
Description
Allows you to view .dds files in Thumbnail view in the Windows Explorer.
Advantages
- Researching.
Disadvantages
- Researching.
--------------------------------
Name: DDS Plugin for Paint.NET
Version: 1.10
Date: 4/14/2007
Type: Plugin
Cost: FREE
Download #1: http://www.dmashton.co.uk/?page_id=13
Download #2: http://www.tessource.net/files/file.php?id=11909
Description
Plugin for Paint.net that allows it to load and save DXT1, DXT3, DXT5 and a bunch of non-compressed texture formats.
Advantages
- Researching.
Disadvantages
- Researching.
--------------------------------
Name: DXTBmp
Version: 4.00.79
Date: 5/21/2004
Type: Standalone Utility
Cost: FREE
Download #1: http://www.mnwright.btinternet.co.uk/
Description
16/24/32 bit and DXT Extended Bitmap Manipulation.
Advantages
- Researching.
Disadvantages
- Researching.
--------------------------------
Name: Filter Forge
Version: ?
Date: ?
Type: Photoshop Plugin
Cost: 30 day trial / $299 Full Version
Download: http://www.filterforge.com/
Description
Filter Forge creates high-quality procedural textures from a given set of instructions with 3d application in mind. It can also generate different effect maps to go along with a texture.
Advantages
- Quick and easy generation of many texture types, from organic to technical, as well as seamless generation.
- Access to Large user library for preset textures.
Disadvantages
- Researching.
--------------------------------
Name: Genetica
Version: 2.5
Date: ?
Type: Graphics Editor
Cost: $400.00
Download #1: http://www.spiralgraphics.biz/gen2tour/index.htm
Description
Genetica 2.5 is Spiral Graphics latest seamless texture editor.
Advantages
- Researching.
Disadvantages
- Researching.
--------------------------------
Name: GIMP
Version: 2.2.15
Date: 5/26/2007
Type: Graphics Editor
Cost: FREE
Download #1: http://www.gimp.org/
Description
GIMP is the GNU Image Manipulation Program. It is a freely distributed piece of software for such tasks as photo retouching, image composition and image authoring. It works on many operating systems, in many languages.
Advantages
- Researching.
Disadvantages
- Researching.
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Name: GIMPShop
Version: 2.2.8
Date: ?
Type: Graphics Editor
Cost: FREE
Download #1: http://www.gimpshop.com/
Download #2: http://www.tessource.net/files/file.php?id=11895
Description
GIMPshop is a modification of the free/open source GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP), intended to replicate the feel of Adobe Photoshop. Its primary purpose is to make users of Photoshop feel comfortable using GIMP.
Advantages
- Researching.
- Interface helps those used to Photoshop transition into GIMP for all the features it has.
Disadvantages
- Researching.
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Name: GIMP DDS Plugin
Version: 1.2.1
Date: 1/31/2007
Type: Plugin
Cost: FREE
Download #1: http://nifelheim.dyndns.org/~cocidius/dds/
Download #2: http://www.tessource.net/files/file.php?id=11895
Description
A plugin for GIMP that allows you to load and save images in DirectDraw Surface (DDS) format.
Advantages
- Researching.
Disadvantages
- Researching.
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Name: GIMP Normal Map Plugin
Version: 1.2.1
Date: 9/18/2006
Type: Plugin
Cost: FREE
Download #1: http://nifelheim.dyndns.org/%7ecocidius/normalmap/
Download #2: http://www.tessource.net/files/file.php?id=11895
Description
This is a plugin for GIMP version 2.0 and above. It allows you to convert images into RGB normal maps for use in per-pixel lighting applications. The goal is to completely clone the NVIDIA photoshop plugin, with a few new useful features.
Advantages
- Researching.
Disadvantages
- Researching.
--------------------------------
Name: IrfanView
Version: 4.0
Date: ?
Type: Utility
Cost: FREE
Download: http://www.irfanview.com/
Description
A small, speedy and powerful image viewer. Capable of reading a large amount of image formats, it also has a plugin for reading .dds images.
Advantages
- Fast and easy access to texture libraries for quick previewing, IrvanView also has thumbnail and slideshow modes. It can also perform a number of alterations to an image, and can load certain photoshop filters.
Disadvantages
- Users not wishing to use this as their default image viewer may need to alter their file extensions again if they incorrectly set them when installing IrfanView.
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Name: Keep Details
Version: 1.1
Date: 6/28/2007
Type: Profile Settings
Cost: FREE
Download #1: http://tessource.net/files/file.php?id=11817
Description
This pack is a series of four profile settings for the nVidia .DDS import/export utility for photoshop. They make attempts to keep mipmaps for .dds compressed images sharper, and maintain more detail.
Advantages
- Researching.
Disadvantages
- Researching.
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Name: Mudbox
Version: 1.0.6
Date: ?
Type: 3D/ Graphics Editor
Cost: $30.00
Download: http://www.mudbox3d.com/
Description
Mudbox is the first advanced, high resolution brush-based 3D sculpting software that is built from the ground up to address the needs of the professional digital sculptor.
- Use 3D Layers to sculpt nondestructively, store different detail passes, explore different design directions, build libraries of facial morph targets, collaborate with other artists, and do much more.
- Use the Mudbox Tangent Space mirroring to mirror your brush strokes on asymmetrical and posed models.
- Add detail where you need it, when you need it, with Local Subdivision.
- Extract displacement and normal maps between arbitrary meshes -- use meshes with different topologies, UVs, vertex IDs! Output high quality 8, 16, and 32 bit maps.
- Save production time and work more efficiently with the Mudbox organized user interface and get it done focus.
Advantages
- Researching.
Disadvantages
- Researching.
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Name: NIFSkope
Version: 0.9.8
Date: 5/13/2007
Type: Utility
Cost: FREE
Download #1: http://niftools.sourceforge.net/wiki/NifSkope
Description
A graphical program that allows you to open NIF files, view their contents, edit them, and write them back out again. You can use it to quickly make changes to specific properties of a NIF file such as changing the texture, adding translucency, and more. A 3D view of the contents of the NIF file allows you to preview your changes instantly. You can even create texture templates, and import & export OBJ files.
Advantages
- An essential tool when working with Oblivion models and textures.
- Useful for viewing textures on the models and view refreshes automatically when DDS file is updated.
- Can create texture templates based on the UVMap of the model.
- Useful for editing texture paths on the models.
- Now has a built-in UVMap editor.
Disadvantages
- Unknown
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Name: NVidia DDS Utilities
Version: 8.31.0225.1745
Date: ?
Type: Utility
Cost: FREE
Download #1: http://developer.nvidia.com/object/dds_utilities_legacy.html
Description
* nvDXT - convenient command-line access to nvDXTlib functionality and more
* detach - extracts MIP levels from a .DDS file
* stitch - recombines MIP levels into a single .DDS file
* readDXT - reads compressed images and writes .TGA files
* nvDXTlib - library for working with .DDS files
Advantages
- Researching.
Disadvantages
- Researching.
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Name: Paint.NET
Version: 3.08
Date: 6/1/2007
Type: Graphics Editor
Cost: FREE
Download #1: http://www.getpaint.net/
Download #2: http://www.tessource.net/files/file.php?id=11909
Description
Graphics Editor.
Advantages
- Researching.
Disadvantages
- Researching.
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Name: Texture Maker 3
Version: 3
Date: ?
Type: Utility
Cost: $37.99
Download: http://texturemaker.thegamecreators.com/
Description
Generates procedural textures, and extract portions of an existing image to generate from. Texture Maker 3 can also animate the procedurals, and features a particle system for more animated flipbook-styled effects.
Advantages
- Researching.
Disadvantages
- Researching.
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Name: The Compressonator
Version: 1.30
Date: 11/9/2006
Type: Standalone Utility
Cost: FREE
Download #1: http://ati.amd.com/developer/compressonator.html
Download #2: http://www.tessource.net/files/file.php?id=11852
Description
A tool for compressing textures and creating mip-map levels.
Advantages
- Researching.
Disadvantages
- Researching.
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Name: UVMapper
Version: 0.26b
Date: 1/3/2005
Type: Utility
Cost: FREE
Download #1: http://www.uvmapper.com/downloads.html
Description
A stand-alone texture mapping utility for the creation and modification of UV coordinates for n-sided polygonal 3D models.
Advantages
- Researching.
Disadvantages
- Researching.
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Name: xNormal
Version 3.10
Date: ?
Type: Utility
Cost: FREE
Download: http://www.xnormal.net/
Description
For generating normal maps from high-poly meshes. It can also generate other map types, as well as use heightmaps as input.
Advantages
- Researching.
Disadvantages
- Researching.
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Name: Windows Texture Viewer
Version: 0.69b
Date: ?
Type: Utility
Cost: FREE
Download #1: http://developer.nvidia.com/object/windows...ure_viewer.html
Description
WTV was developed by Tomas Blaho for simple DDS viewing, especially for those DDS files with an alpha channel.
Advantages
- Researching.
Disadvantages
- Researching.
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Name: ZBrush
Version: ?
Date: ?
Type: 3D Graphics Utility
Cost: $300
Download: http://www.pixologic.com/zbrush/corefeatures/
Description
ZBrush 3 gives you access to unparalleled power and control previously unknown in digital art creation software. Controls enable sculptors to create with a stylus and a tablet as intuitively as if they were using their hands on a block of clay. ZBrush further extends the creation experience, harnessing technology and providing artists with a multitude of creation-enhancing tools.
Advantages
- Researching.
Disadvantages
- Researching.
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Useful Tutorials and Information about textures, DDS and Compression
Choose the right DXTC compression algorithm by Blade9722
Texture Compression Techniques and Tips by Allen Sherrod
Making Quality Game Textures by Riccard Linde
Tips for Editing Normal Maps by Ben Cloward