New formatting?

[Ashton Lawson]

I've looked at almost all the textures in FSXD.  It seems that every texture apart from one in the effects folder, and oceaheightfield are all a new format.  I looked at them through ImageTool, and it said failed to load, incorrect file format.  DDS you can't load either.

My gc doesn't support DX9, so the water doesn't display correctly, but try putting in some of the FS9 addon water textures and see what it looks like.   Could be cool.

Looks like ACES have created new formatting for the various game resources...

[x_jasper]

Striker

DDS is not a new format, MS used it in their last sim CFS3.

It is a format taylored toward 3D modelling.

You are correct it won't open with ordinary tools.

What you need is a utility called DXTBMP, it is freeware and allows you to open and view a large variety of formats used in the se sims. It also allows editing and saving in formats other than the original. Useful if not vital tool.

Here is the link:

http://www.mnwright.btinternet.co.uk/pr ... dxtbmp.htm

Regards
Jasper

[Katahu]

I agree with Jasper. DDS is nothing new. I think Orbiter also uses that format for its textures.

But the thing that bugs me the most is what is difference between DDS and BMP?

[x_jasper]

Hi Katahu, Striker.

DDS = Direct Draw Surface.

I don't know what the end difference is as far as we are concerned, however unless I am wrong I do believe DDS is one of microsoft's own whereas BMP of course isn't. That might explain why they use it.

Since my last post on this I have found out there is also an Adobe Photoshop plugin which handles DDS, although personally just for everyday use I would recommend Martin Wright's utility (link in previous post)

With Martin's utility it is a simple matter to work on the desired DDS as if it were a BMP, even through any other paint utility and save in virtually any format you desire.

Regards
Jasper

[Ashton Lawson]

So, what.  Does DDS support more channels or something?  e.g. norm, alpha, reflect, bump, etc.

Maybe I can use this tool to edit some of the textures for the cockpits.  With my graphics card, some of the VCs have opaque windsheilds, because of the graphics format.

[x_jasper]

Short answer, yes DDS does a bit more.

Although bitmaps could do as much, I believe the reason for using DDS is partly because it does things more efficiently and with less file size.

I also thought of editing the FSX VC's so I could see out of the windows. However I only had a brief look at the visuals and did not find a method of editing. I assume / hope it could just be a simple matter of transparancy correction ?

I ran out of time because of writing a new config & airfile for the 'FSX' Piper cub.


Jasper