creating dxt1 textures

[peterv]

Hello there!
I started modding civ4 and created new buildings. I ran into a problem when i try to generate dxt1 textures. I tried various tools for converting bmps into dxt1 textures, etc, but i would like to create dxt1 files directly because all the converters produce results i don't like. Has anyone an idea how to create dxt1 textures directly? Maybe it is a question of using indexed colors ore something like that?
Cheers Peter

 

[woodelf]

What tools are you using now?

I don't know enough about graphics to know if you can create and manipulate dds files instead of going from bmp ---> dds.

I use GIMP and DXTBmp and find that works.

Welcome to CFC btw.

 

[snipperrabbit!!]

you can use paintdotnet as well : version 3.10 takes .dds in charge directly so you can see results in nifskope instzantaneously .

 

[winddelay]

gimp with the dds plugin can work with dds directly as well, but has a slightly more confusing interface than Paint.Net. Both tools have their merits though. Gimp has a multitude of plugins and user made brushes that can add to the quality of your textures.

 

[woodelf]

Damn, now you need to write me a GIMP tutorial.

 

[peterv]

Hi, thanks for your answers.

I used DXTbmp and the nvidia photoshop plugin to convert the jpg files.

Here is the texture i created as a jpg file (not finished yet):


When saved as a dds file the result looks like this:


OK, there is not much to see, but when you take a close look you will find pixels which changed colors

I think this pixel color changes are a result of the filters used to create the dds files in dxt1 format. I wonder how i can create jpg files which do not change the pixel colors when they are converted into dds file format. I would like to create the smaller mip map levels also as smaller jpg because i don't like the results of the mip map level generation also.

Did you never encountered such a problem?
Cheers Peter

 

[peterv]

Find a way now. Dxt1 format textures in fact do reduce image quality. Color values for 16 pixels are recreated from only two stored color values using some interpolating algorithms. Each 4x4 pixel block in the original image is stored in such a way. (recursivley for each mip map i think).

Cheers Peter