How to edit DDS file?

[GimpForMe]

With the instructions found here, I am able to open DDS files (BC7 texture files from game Skyrim SE) and export them. But I haven't found out how to edit them the way I would like to.

The goal for the linked texture file (https://we.tl/t-xuztkOnwWM) is to make the dirt less visible/less pronounced/less dark. But I haven't found out what exactly to edit on the alpha and/or RGB channels.

Maybe anyone can help?

[rich2005]

I did check that out in a Win10 / Gimp 2.10.38 VM - very slow to export

I think all you need to do is reduce the layer opacity. The plugin sends a temp png to texconvert.exe which then renders the dds.

   

[GimpForMe]

(11-06-2024, 12:55 PM)rich2005 Wrote: I did check that out in a Win10 / Gimp 2.10.38 VM - very slow to export

I think all you need to do is reduce the layer opacity. The plugin sends a temp png to texconvert.exe which then renders the dds.

Thank you for your reply. Much appreciated!

Somehow I seem to run into a file save issue:
- I open said dds file.
- I change the opacity.
- I export the file as DDS file. It seems to create this temporary png file and some command line stuff is running and a new DDS file is created.
- The file looks brighter in Gimp according to the reduced opacity setting.
- But then Gimp asks me to save the changed file. If I cancel and close the program, the opacity changes are not saved.
-> But I already exported the file. I cannot not save it becaues it won't allow me to save in a suitable DDS format.

How can I solve that?

[rich2005]

(11-07-2024, 09:19 AM)GimpForMe Wrote: Thank you for your reply. Much appreciated!

Somehow I seem to run into a file save issue:
- I open said dds file.
- I change the opacity.
- I export the file as DDS file. It seems to create this temporary png file and some command line stuff is running and a new DDS file is created.
- The file looks brighter in Gimp according to the reduced opacity setting.
- But then Gimp asks me to save the changed file. If I cancel and close the program, the opacity changes are not saved.
-> But I already exported the file. I cannot not save it becaues it won't allow me to save in a suitable DDS format.

How can I solve that?  

I do not think you can.  That Gimp plugin file-dds-texconv.py supersedes the built in gimp dds file load / export plugin and you get that terminal with the texconv.exe command line.

If reducing the layer transparency does not work then you could try the curves tool or lock the alpha channel and fill with a lighter grey colour (I used red just as an example).

   

Gimp 2.10 does not support that BC6 compression so you can not use a regular Gimp. That texconv.exe certainly does something, trying to open an edited file without the plugin gives this error, Unsupported DXGI format (98)

...and that is me out of ideas.

[GimpForMe]

(11-07-2024, 01:50 PM)rich2005 Wrote:

(11-07-2024, 09:19 AM)GimpForMe Wrote: Thank you for your reply. Much appreciated!

Somehow I seem to run into a file save issue:
- I open said dds file.
- I change the opacity.
- I export the file as DDS file. It seems to create this temporary png file and some command line stuff is running and a new DDS file is created.
- The file looks brighter in Gimp according to the reduced opacity setting.
- But then Gimp asks me to save the changed file. If I cancel and close the program, the opacity changes are not saved.
-> But I already exported the file. I cannot not save it becaues it won't allow me to save in a suitable DDS format.

How can I solve that?  

I do not think you can.  That Gimp plugin file-dds-texconv.py supersedes the built in gimp dds file load / export plugin and you get that terminal with the texconv.exe command line.

If reducing the layer transparency does not work then you could try the curves tool or lock the alpha channel and fill with a lighter grey colour (I used red just as an example).



Gimp 2.10 does not support that BC6 compression so you can not use a regular Gimp. That texconv.exe certainly does something, trying to open an edited file without the plugin gives this error, Unsupported DXGI format (98)

...and that is me out of ideas.

Thank you for the suggestions. I will have a try.