How to create dds

[silent marshal]

Quick help please!
If I open dds-files with gimp I can't see the picture with full saturation/contrast.
I tried to paste a picture of my own over the default one and saved it as dds but when I take a look at the stations, my changes are not considered.
Then I tried saving the file as a tga (because I read that SH5 doesn't take care of the file extension as long as it is a dds or a tga. If there is no dds, tga fits as well). But the same result - no picture of mine.

How do I have to deal with the poor saturation and the alpha-channel? How can I create proper dds-files? Help wanted!

Thanks for your support, dudes!
And thank you for all the awsome mods which lets me play SH5 again (all night long...).:up:

[Webster]

try Paint.NET

it opens dds files as-is and saves them as-is without needing to convert them at all

gimp is great for a lot of detailed things but once you learn it paint.net is much more user friendly and does the same things you can with gimp but with less BS or plugins needed

[THE_MASK]

Do you have photoshop ?

[Luken]

Actually gimp has a plugin for dds - http://code.google.com/p/gimp-dds/ are you using it?

[silent marshal]

Moin!

- No, I don't have photoshop in use. Gimp is freeware, you know...
- Gimp dds-plugin: yes, it's installed but it doesn't solve the problem at all.

I will try the hint with paint.net - thanks for it!

Back to gimp: is it normal to see just the checkered (kariert) file (alpha-channel) and the picture itself (for example captain&wife) is slightly invisible? I will make a screenshot tonight to show you what I mean. You can hardly see any details and I don't know how to bring the pictures back to full saturation. Very strange.

[Webster]

Actually gimp has a plugin for dds - http://code.google.com/p/gimp-dds/ are you using it?


the thing with gimp is the plugin lets you open and edit dds files but you have to "convert" the files back to dds to save them where paint.net (which is also freeware) can open and save them in original form without the conversion process where sometimes things can look different

[BIGREG]

:salute: Hi

Me personally, I use DXTBmp, for my. DDS that I find quick, simple, effective, convenient and free :D

Possibility for image Alpha:
- save
- import Normal/Alpha
- Direct Export Normal/Alpha (to the editor of your choice)
- Create template, by color
- Miscellaneous edition

Load / Save in mutiple format

Paint Net and gimp for the edition

Link to DXTBmp : http://www.mwgfx.co.uk/index.htm

[silent marshal]

Moin again!

Well, I tried to modify stock-dds with paint and it worked so far. But it is confusing that I can't see the picture as described above. Only when I save the file, I am asked how to save the file (dds as RGB etc.). And by clicking RGB (with some numbers), it works fine and in the preview window I can see the picture as it should be. But it is not convenient.

Tonight I will giv DXTBump a try - thanks for the hint and the link!

[silent marshal]

Moin, moin!

Problem solved! I get what I want if I open the default dds-files with dxtbmp (I can see the pictures at full saturation) then transfer it to gimp, make my changes and save it with the gimp dds-application. Don't know why but with this procedure everything works fine (for my purpose).

Now my officers study some drawings of the u-boat (well, it's not a drawing of the VII one but that doesn't matter for me) instead of the world map to solve any mechanical problems :yeah:.
(wanted to insert a screenshot but don't know how. Have to browse the forum first...)

And with some other changes I feel know a little bit homey and cosy - now it's my boat...

Thanks for your help folks!