DDS creation

2010-07-08T18:57:39Z

Judie08:

This should describe the steps you'll have to follow in order to create DDS files suitable for [http://www.freelancercareers.com/ writing jobs] use in your Dark Mod maps and how to convert from DDS to other image formats using "The Compressonator"

==Converting Image TO DDS==

You'll need [http://72.8.59.188/TheDarkMod/Files/ATI_Compressonator_v1.21.zip ATI's "The Compressonator" application version 1.21.1044] with this exact version - other (newer) versions will not work! Install/unzip it to a folder and create a shortcut if you like.

{{important|headline=Important|text=The normalmap DDS compression section is here for documentation purposes only. '''You don't need to compress the normalmaps for using them in The Dark Mod.''' Only compress the diffusemaps and speculars.}}

=== Compress Diffuse/Specular Maps ===
* Open your source (TGA) file
* Create Mip Maps using the '''Box-Filter''' with the lowest mip map size of '''1x1'''.
[[Image:01_mips.jpg|frameless]]

* Compress the Image using '''DXT1 compression (0/1 bit alpha)''' with a colour weighting of '''red=0.3086, green=0.6094, blue=0.082'''. This applies for images '''without alpha'''. For images with alpha you'll have to choose the DXT3 compression.
[[Image:02_compression.jpg|frameless]]

* Save your DDS to the '''dds/''' tree, e.g. dds/textures/darkmod/stone/blah.dds. You won't need to add the dds/ path prefix to your shader definition, this is automatically added by the game.

=== Compress Normalmaps ===
{{important|headline=Important|text=The normalmap DDS compression section is here for documentation purposes only. You '''don't''' need to compress the normalmaps for using them in The Dark Mod.}}

* Open your source (TGA) file
* Create Mip Maps using the '''Box-Filter''' with the lowest mip map size of '''1x1''' (same as for the diffuse maps).
[[Image:01_normal_mips.jpg|frameless]]
* Compress your normalmap using the '''UberCompressor''' in '''DXT5 RXGB''' format with the colour weighting of '''red=0, green=0.5, blue=0.5''' and '''"adaptive" ticked off'''.
[[Image:02_normal_compression.jpg|frameless]]
* Save your DDS to the '''dds/''' tree, e.g. dds/textures/darkmod/stone/blah_local.dds. You won't need to add the dds/ path prefix to your shader definition, this is automatically added by the game.

=== Batch Processing ===
Choose '''File > Batch Compress''' or hit F4 to open the batch compression dialog. Choose the same compression settings as described above for your diffuse and normal maps. Don't mix diffuse/speculars with normals as they require different compression settings.

[[Image:dds_batch_screenshot.jpg|frameless]]

=== Change the File Extension to lowercase ===
The Compressonator automatically names the file *.DDS, but all files should be lowercase (also the TGAs). Be sure to rename the files to a lowercase .dds extension before uploading them.

Option A: Use Windows Explorer. You need to change your Explorer settings to display the file extension:
# Open up Windows Explorer
# Go '''Tools''' > '''Folder Options'''
# Click the View tab and uncheck '''Hide extensions for known file types'''

Then you can highlight your file and hit F2 (or right-click > Rename) and change the extension to lowercase.

Option B: This can also be done via the command line '''Start''' > '''Run...''' > '''cmd''' (then cd to your textures folder) and rename the files via:
ren *.DDS *.dds

=== Command Line Parameters ===
ATI's compressonator provides some command line parameters to compress the textures:
thecompressonator -convert "normal.tga" "normal.dds" RXGB +red 0.0 +green 0.5 +blue 0.5 -mipmaps
thecompressonator -convert "specular.tga" "specular.dds" DXT1 -mipmaps
thecompressonator -convert "diffuse.tga" "diffuse.dds" DXT1 -mipmaps
thecompressonator -convert "diffuse_with_alpha.tga" "diffuse.dds" DXT3 -mipmaps

==Converting FROM DDS to common image file formats==

This is trivial but slightly confusing on The Compressonator:

* File Menu > Save Original
* At the bottom of the dialog below the file name input select ''save as type''. It may show DDS by default so don't be put off.
* Select file format from BMP, PNG, or TGA (use TGA generally for Dark Mod.)
* Make sure the filename you want is shown in the input box and click ''save''.

[[Category:Tutorial]]
[[Category:Textures]]

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DDS creation