DDS woes

[Tigersong]

I've found that the textures in mods I downloaded (Morrowind) have DDS files for textures rather than NIF. How does one open and edit these files?

[InsanitySorrow]

You'll need a graphics editor like Paint.Net (Free), GIMP (Free) or Photoshop for example and download and install their DDS plugins, Paint.Net supports DDS files without the need for additional plugins.

/index.php?/topic/3041-texturing-class-1/">I have posted links here

[Artisanix]

I've found that the textures in mods I downloaded (Morrowind) have DDS files for textures rather than NIF TGA or BMP. How does one open and edit these files?

[Vince]

You can use a graphic editor as IS suggests or you can download the free program DDS Converter 2. Since you'll need a graphic editor anyway, that's probably the best solution. As IS mentioned, Paint.Net loads and saves .dds files directly. It's also free and rather easy to learn. It's a good way to start with the idea that you may later graduate to a more powerful, and more complex, editor like the GIMP or PhotoShop.

Relative to your initial question, .nif files store meshes (the 3D shapes), while .dds files store textures (the 2D images to be painted onto the 3D shapes).

[Artisanix]

Actually when I think about this some more, the nif file can also store textures ;]

Such solution is present in nif files for Divinity II game... but for Morrowind and Oblivion that's not the case of course ;]

[Vince]

Trollf, do the .nif files for Divinity II actually store the textures or just pointers to them? Also, I understand that the new Dragon Knight's Saga is a significant improvement to Divinity II. Is that so and is it no longer based on the Gamebryo engine (so no more .nif files)? I loved the original Divine Divinity.

[Artisanix]

I think that dds are stored inside of NIF files (it was quite a time I checked this, as NifSkope didn't support D2 files back then) - I extracted all archives from Divinity II and there were no signs of any dds, just NIFs that had bigger file sizes than usually. And there were only NIF files in folders named Textures as well.

>> Also, I understand that the new Dragon Knight's Saga is a significant improvement to Divinity II.

I'm not so sure whether we can use "significant" word in this context ;]

DKS is just the same engine but most of textures have been converted to high res ones. Besides in many places some FX effects were added or changed (like additional particles, lights, re-colours of those, etc. and in previously too empty places (floating islands) some structures have been build like towers, walls, etc.

To make a simple comparison:

Dininity II = Oblivion

DKS = Oblivion + QTP3 + Unofficial patch + some other minor visual improvements + of course add-on like SI ;]

[Tigersong]

Explain all these acronyms you're spouting, please.

[Vince]

DKS is Dragon's Knight Saga, an update/add-on to the Divinity II game.

QTP3 is Quarl's Texture Pack 3, a texture enhancement mod for Oblivion.

SI is Shivering Isles, an add-on for Oblivion.

DDS files and Nif files were mentioned in earlier posts.

[donnato]

Since Morrowind was mentioned, how about .tga files...how are they handled differently from .dds?

[ub3rman123]

I don't recall that .tga files are ever used. Blender exports UVs in the format and I know Valve games use them occasionally, but other than that I haven't seen one.

[InsanitySorrow]

Morrowind uses TGA files for textures , It seems it's more widely supported too and doesn't seem to require any 3rd part plugins for the applications to support them. They're also more limited than DDS files.