Thanks I'm surprised that this wasn't in Photoshop CC already.
Alternatively, if anyone's unable to get this plugin working, or doesn't own (this version of) Photoshop, GIMP is free and it can oped Photoshop's PSD files too.
[INSTRUCTIONS]:
OPENING: I suggest that when opening the DDS file, you untick "Load mipmaps", as it is easiest to edit the highest resolution texture, and let GIMP create the mipmaps for you later. But you can open them if you want to do that manually (halving the dimensions as you go).
EXPORTING: - Compression: It's best to choose "BC3 / DXT5" compression, to save space but keep things like the alpha channel for "fur" textures and other things. But for high quality things like faces, choose "None" for no compression, and near lossless quality. - Generate Mipmaps?: If you were just editing one Layer, make sure you choose to generate mipmaps. But if you made your own, choose "Use Existing" instead. - Advanced Options: Tick the "Use perceptual error metric" box. I don't know for certain, but I believe it improves the export quality a little.
SAVING: You don't have to, but if you want you can save your work in a lossless format, so you can work on it again. DDS is a lossy format, so each time you re-open a texture, you'll reduce the quality a little (to a point). You can save as a GIMP project file (XCF), or as many other formats, including ones for Photoshop (PSD). Alternatively, you can export the largest layer as a PNG too.
I've been using version 2.8; but since GIMP doesn't get updated that often (as everything works), that version is still available on their site: https://www.gimp.org/
NOTE: I've also added some more information to the first post.
Honestly, I don't get any of those options using GIMP. When I open a .dds file, it just loads automatically with all the mipmaps, without showing the Load DDS window or even given me an option whatsoever. When I'm exporting, there is no option for using my own bitmaps instead, nor is there a "Use perceptual error metric" box on my Advanced Options. Is there a more up-to-date plugin than the old 2009 one available in the old GIMP plugin registry here?
For someone like me, who also gets only BLACK images in Photoshop. Try to download Intel "Texture Works Plugin for Photoshop" instead. It is also free and it worked for me.
For anyone having issues with photoshop crashing when trying to open a dds file: I had to roll back my photoshop to version 22.2 to get them to open - works perfectly fine on there!
This doesn't seem to work in my case. I'm using Photoshop CS6 Extended, and checked the plugins folder to find the "dds.8bi" and "dds64.8bi" files are both present, but the Special Edition textures still just open as black images (LE texture have always worked fine). I really don't like Gimp for a number of reasons, but... I guess this is just another of the thousand reasons I've resisted switching to SE all this time. :(
Edit: On the subject of Gimp, I get this when I try to open a dds: "Unsupported DXGI format (98)"
Spared you more trouble than you know... the DL from the Nvidia page has been replaced with some new one and it shits the bed loading .dds files... you can output in .DDS, but no longer imports properly (CTDs photoshop.) I made this mistake, made an account and downloaded their "new and improved" texture tools.
Nothing works for me. I have the Photoshop CC v20.0.5 on Windows 10 Family. Tried the 64 and 32 bits version. Photoshop keeps telling me that the file is incorrect type. Just formated and wanted to continu my skyrim MOD but without this, I'm at a lost :(
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Alternatively, if anyone's unable to get this plugin working, or doesn't own (this version of) Photoshop,
GIMP is free and it can oped Photoshop's PSD files too.
[INSTRUCTIONS]:
OPENING:
I suggest that when opening the DDS file, you untick "Load mipmaps", as it is easiest to edit the highest resolution texture, and let GIMP create the mipmaps for you later. But you can open them if you want to do that manually (halving the dimensions as you go).
EXPORTING:
- Compression: It's best to choose "BC3 / DXT5" compression, to save space but keep things like the alpha channel for "fur" textures and other things. But for high quality things like faces, choose "None" for no compression, and near lossless quality.
- Generate Mipmaps?: If you were just editing one Layer, make sure you choose to generate mipmaps. But if you made your own, choose "Use Existing" instead.
- Advanced Options: Tick the "Use perceptual error metric" box. I don't know for certain, but I believe it improves the export quality a little.
SAVING:
You don't have to, but if you want you can save your work in a lossless format, so you can work on it again. DDS is a lossy format, so each time you re-open a texture, you'll reduce the quality a little (to a point). You can save as a GIMP project file (XCF), or as many other formats, including ones for Photoshop (PSD). Alternatively, you can export the largest layer as a PNG too.
I hope I helped any texture creators out there
I've been using version 2.8; but since GIMP doesn't get updated that often (as everything works),
that version is still available on their site: https://www.gimp.org/
NOTE: I've also added some more information to the first post.
http://registry.gimp.org/node/70
Edit: Found it the proper plugin, ignore this.
Thanks a lot
Edit: On the subject of Gimp, I get this when I try to open a dds: "Unsupported DXGI format (98)"
Thank god this upload exists.
Nothing works for me. I have the Photoshop CC v20.0.5 on Windows 10 Family.
Tried the 64 and 32 bits version. Photoshop keeps telling me that the file is incorrect type.
Just formated and wanted to continu my skyrim MOD but without this, I'm at a lost :(
Help, thanks.
I followed a 2018 fix post and thank god I can finally see my normal maps!