Problems with png to dds conversions

kevinarbogast · Post by **kevinarbogast** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 1:56 pm

I am trying a new thing here, as before I mostly didn't care all that much to do it. I am trying to modify my mainmenu.map pictures for a few modded maps I have.

I have extracted the .dds files for an ordinary map and find that the size is 224 X 207 pixels. Now, when I take an ordinary .png file I have and open it in Photoshop CS3 with the plugin that is required, and go to save it as a .dds file, I'm told that the height and width must be in multiples of 4 and powers of 2 (which is oddly specific). That would mean that they would have to be 256 X 256 or something of that sort.

Now, if I change the size to a 256 X 256 pixel image, I have no problem saving the file as a .dds; however, I do have problems Importing it as the new picture for the map. Instead of showing the picture, it just shows some garbled up mess.

My thoughts were that the picture has to be a 224 X 207 pixel size image, seeing as how all of the other maps are.

I've tried extracting one of the .dds files from an original map itself, then I loaded it into photoshop as-was and tried re-saving it as a .dds with a different name, and it again told me that it had to be in multiples of 4 and powers of 2. Now, obviously it doesn't have to be, because it's not!

So, my question I pose to the modding community today is; how do I convert a .png picture file (that is already a 224 X 207 pixel image) in a .dds file so that I can import it as the new picture for a map?

I mean, there has to be a way, and I've tried over 5 different ".dds converter" softwares. I've also spent over 5 hours in Photoshop trying to do this.

If anybody has an answer, please let me know ASAP! Thank You!

(Instant Messaging would be ideal for this!)

FullMetalParka · Post by **FullMetalParka** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 3:12 pm

Open up the PNG in photoshop, and use Save as to save it as a DDS.

kevinarbogast · Post by **kevinarbogast** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 3:14 pm

Yeah, tried that. I have to save it as a DXT 3 and once again, it needs to be 224 X 207 and it won't let me save it with those dimensions.

FullMetalParka · Post by **FullMetalParka** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 3:29 pm

Which texture is it?

kevinarbogast · Post by **kevinarbogast** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 3:40 pm

I'm....not....sure. How do I check?

FullMetalParka · Post by **FullMetalParka** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 3:46 pm

What is this texture for, then?

EDIT: I may have found your problem. You need to make sure that you are saving in 8:8:8:8 ARGB (32 bit) and you have to make sure that "No MIP Maps" is selected. You can change all this when you Save the DDS.

kevinarbogast · Post by **kevinarbogast** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 9:04 pm

OMG, wow! I didn't expect it to be as simple as that

Yeah, saving it as 8:8:8:8 ARGB worked perfectly!

Thanks a bunch dude!

EDIT: Now I just have the problem that transparent gradients cannot be saved into that format that I know; and yeah, this too must be possible as the bottom-right corner of every map is transparent. Any help?