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FPSC Classic Product Chat / How do I make a .dds file?

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Hulkman508
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Posted: 17th Jul 2011 04:11
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I was just wondering about how to make a .dds file, or to turn something into a .dds file. I came across it ingame where I was trying to make a picture a .dds file so it could appear on the screen, however I couldn't make a .dds file.

I'm sure theres an easy (or relatively easy) way to do it.

"Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but some abuse the privilege. "
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Desecrated Studios
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Posted: 17th Jul 2011 04:17
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Alright here it is:

1. You can use photoshop if you have it, majority of the time it doesn't work for me when im working with transparent textures/etc. But maybe that is because i have the settings messed up for that.

2. You can use Paint.NET which is a lot easier than using photoshop as it is already set up to save and open .dds files. Photoshop you have to download this like add on or something to get it to read .dds files.

That all that i know/use, Photoshop however can make .tga files which FPSC usually converts to .dds when the program is run. I could be wrong about that but i think that it's right...

I hope this helps!
Link to Paint.NET: http://www.paint.net/

-Josh
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System Specs: AMD Phenom x3 2.2GHz, 4GB DDR2 RAM, 1TB HD, HD Radeon 5770 1GB, 22in Acer Monitor
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Hulkman508
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Posted: 17th Jul 2011 09:24
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Thanks, I'll try it out.

"Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but some abuse the privilege. "
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Desecrated Studios
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Posted: 17th Jul 2011 09:54
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Sure no problem, if you need anymore help just ask!

-Josh
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System Specs: AMD Phenom x3 2.2GHz, 4GB DDR2 RAM, 1TB HD, HD Radeon 5770 1GB, 22in Acer Monitor
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2Beastmode4u
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Posted: 17th Jul 2011 16:57 Edited at: 17th Jul 2011 16:57
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WAIT!

DO NOT use Paint.net when Gimp is in this world. Gimp is the free Photoshop and make Paint.net look like ms paint.

You can get Gimp from here.


Cheers.

God help me, Please.

Come on down to my site at Unleashed FPSCreators
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SikaSina Games
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Posted: 17th Jul 2011 17:23
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I can't stand GIMP, slow loading, freezing, incorrect results, meh. Paint.NET I use all the time, unless I need bump maps or make music artwork when I usually use GIMP. PDN is for the people who don't really understand the big bits of art whereas GIMP is for those who don't want to fork out £500 odd yet want to gain experience using a professional art package.

They're both the same in my opinion, only GIMP has some more stuff for those who can't be asked to try it for themselves. Either way, it's the person's choice whether to try from the tough scale first or the simple scale .

They both export .DDS and .TGA so there's no main up there. Just be warned that GIMP is resource hungry and that it gets very wordy in most places so I suggest you have an art background to understand everything .

-SSG

Sorry all for my furious departure a while ago (well, almost 8 months xD) after deep thought I have decided to return.

I apologise to those I offended.
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Desecrated Studios
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Posted: 17th Jul 2011 21:18
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I agree, but i would say that Paint.NET is a good start because i think this is his first time like working with .dds files (correct me if im wrong). When i didn't know anything about .dds files i forget who gave me the link to Paint.NET but it was awesome! I could open .dds files and save them WITH working transparency (for some reason my Photoshop is stupid...)

I would say start with Paint.NET and then move up. I have not used GIMP but i feel like it will be harder to use than Paint.NET. Also, does anyone know if there is a magnetic lasso tool in Paint.NET kind of like the Photoshop one? Thanks!

-Josh
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SikaSina Games
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Posted: 17th Jul 2011 22:17
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Paint.NET is the easiest way, and is good for mid-professional art (although if you know the program well you can practically make something of Photoshop standards).

And I've never used PS apart from in school, and I absolutely loathe it tbh :/.

Quote: "does anyone know if there is a magnetic lasso tool in Paint.NET kind of like the Photoshop one?"


Dunno what you mean, but there is the standard lasso selection tool

-SSG

Sorry all for my furious departure a while ago (well, almost 8 months xD) after deep thought I have decided to return.

I apologise to those I offended.
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Desecrated Studios
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Posted: 17th Jul 2011 22:21
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It a photoshop thing, sorry. What it does is it senses where the edges are on the image. Or it finds the greatest color difference and makes the line there. It's hard to describe, it's in photoshop but it would be useful if it was in Paint.NET.

And i doubt he is trying to make a .dds for art purposes, more just for FPSC stuff. And photoshop really isn't that great, i mean you can do a lot with it but it's not worth the damn $500. My mom got it so she let me use it

-Josh
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rolfy
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Posted: 17th Jul 2011 22:46 Edited at: 17th Jul 2011 22:48
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Photoshop is industry atandard for a reason and all the extras you get in other image editors like Gimp are direct copycats of it, Adobe put all the money,work and research into what users required from image manipulation packages so they are entitled to charge what they like for it in my opinion.

If your not getting what you want from it regarding transparency then you are not using it correctly and shouldn't be putting it down like you are, PS is well worth the money for professional users, if your a casual user then you are in fact wasting your cash on it, in the same way that using 3dsMax to only make models (thinking that expensive means better shinier models) its not intended for that purpose alone.

You can buy the best paint but it takes an artist to use it.

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Desecrated Studios
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Posted: 17th Jul 2011 23:01
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I never was trying to say it was bad, i love Photoshop! i use it all the time! Just the transparency thing is my fault and i have almost figured it out. And i agree, that since they did all of the hard work that they should be able to charge what they want. But i still think 500 is a little steep maybe like 350? I don't know, it's their choice..

-Josh
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rolfy
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Posted: 17th Jul 2011 23:19
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Quote: "for some reason my Photoshop is stupid..."

Quote: "And photoshop really isn't that great, i mean you can do a lot with it but it's not worth the damn $500"

You dont sound too pleased with it, I was trained to use PS and I can assure you there is a lot more to it than a casual user would ever discover, same with Max.
TBH I have no idea where your coming up with a price for something like this I wont go into the amount of folks who have worked on this software or the costs and time involved.

If your having problems with it why dont you ask your mum how to do it?
I highly doubt she paid $500 for a program ahe couldn't use so she must know her way around it.

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Desecrated Studios
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Posted: 17th Jul 2011 23:35
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That true, well like i said i have almost solved the transparency problem on my own. And i may seem not too pleased with it, but it's the same for every program right? There is always something you don't like about the program. Like there are somethings i don't like about Paint.NET and there are things i don't like about Photoshop.

In the end, im not trying to complain really about the programs. I like them, but i find some are easier to use/more useful than others. And my mom is not the best at Photoshop. I think im becoming better at it then she is XD

-Josh
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Hulkman508
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Posted: 18th Jul 2011 02:42 Edited at: 18th Jul 2011 02:44
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Yeah I'm gonna go for paint. I'm not an artist nor do I really know much about all this. I've only just joined fpsc really, and this is honestly the first time I've ever come across a .dds file. Anyways paint.net sounds fine to me

Quote: "Either way, it's the person's choice whether to try from the tough scale first or the simple scale"


Simple scale for me

"Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but some abuse the privilege. "
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velez42
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Posted: 26th Sep 2011 05:03
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This is all great and I definitely have used these programs to view and edit the images in dds files. However, I am trying to add a button (which consists of an active hyperlink)on my main menu page where if clicked it takes you to a the webpage of my choice. Now is there a way to change, say the "exit game", dds file through these programs to do this? Or is there another way to do this? Any help is appreciated
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Le Shorte
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Posted: 26th Sep 2011 06:03 Edited at: 26th Sep 2011 06:03
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I've never had the pleasure of trying Photoshop (though probably will soon enough).
But one thing I can tell you is that I prefer Paint.net over GIMP. I like the interface a lot more. Simple as that. That said, I use GIMP for normal maps all the time, and PDN for everything else. Both are great programs.

Cheesehead for life.
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spudnick
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Posted: 28th Sep 2011 02:05 Edited at: 28th Sep 2011 02:08
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I use gimp to make good bump maps and normals

but then i use paint.net for making and editing huds, as the transparacy options are quicker and easier that gimps
and so i have the best of eaze of both.

i also have PS ,but can i use it, can i heck! they tend to use all silly meanings to do things that confuses the hell out of me,

Ia'm not a davinci, and as mentioend before, PS is for the serious artist that needs all the effect tht PS has to offer in and from their plugins extra.

And so when one need more than what Gimp or Paint.Net can offer then Spend £ $ on Ps, and then Go on a course to understand and use it properly.

and thats my way on all types of software, start out cheap, learn the basics to see if i can get to grips on what i can do, and then get more advanced and get more advanced software, either free or purchase, as a tradesman can only do a proper job with the right tools.

I'am not GOD but i can make you see again by taking my fingers out of your eyes and i can make you walk again by taking your beer away, but if you take my beer you will not walk again
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