Editing the .dds image files

from GalCiv4 Forums

Hello all,

I decided to make the move from Galciv III to IV. I'm currently in the process of making a small mod that would make Venus a colonizable "corrosive world" in the Sol System. I managed to edit the xml files properly, but I noticed that it seems to be quite difficult to edit or even view the .dds files. I wish to replace the clouds on Venus so that we would see its very thick atmosphere.

Are there any modders on this forum that can help me find the appropriate tools to edit the .dds images for this game? The usual pluggins don't seem to work.

galciv iv modding
9,114 views 6 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv4 Forums Top

While there is a .dds plugin for photoshop I cannot reccomend that since Photoshop is an extremelly pricey tool for the average, non professional, not using it for profit, gamer. Unless you can do what you need with the trial version. If that is the case, by all means go for it. PS is an excellent program.

 

There is a version of .dds that works with GIMP, apparently it is included with GIMP latest version. I'm not using GIMP currently, so can't verify for you. But in any case people in the GIMP forums can probably help you with that if needed.

Reply #2 from GalCiv4 Forums Top

Looking around on the internet, it looks like the free Paint.net is able to open and edit .dds file. I just tested it myself with one of the .dds files in the Gfx folder of GC4 and it opened it without any issues.

So it should be very easy to mod by making your own custom .dds file, adding it into your mod Gfx folder and pointing to the name of your .dds image file within your mod.

 

The Political Machine 2024
Reply #3 from GalCiv4 Forums Top

Yeah that's accurate(As I believe I said on Discord at some point, this is my main program for image touch ups these days cause it's very easy on resources. It's also close to PSP 7.0 in functionality and might superseed it within a couple of years. Has active community and its own plugins and brushes filters etc). If you happen to have Paint Shop Pro(ver 7 I think was a giveaway 1-2 decades ago so maybe you do), it obviously can use PS plugins too(at least for those versions, not sure if the newer ones do as well I'll check when I re-install my 2023 version, but I think I remember it still does, sometimes with workarounds).

Usually when it is searched for it provides a similar answer: Paint Shop Pro supports a variety of file formats, but by default, it doesn’t natively open DDS files. However, you can use a plugin to enable DDS support in Paint Shop Pro. Here are a couple of options:

  1. NVIDIA Texture Tools for Adobe Photoshop (DDS Plugin):

    • This plugin was originally designed for Photoshop, but it can also work with Paint Shop Pro.
    • Make sure you have Paint Shop Pro 7 or later.
    • Under File → Preferences → File Locations, select the “plug-in-filters” tab.
    • Set Folder 1 to: C:\Program Files\Jasc Software Inc\Paint Shop Pro 7\Plug-ins.
    • Restart Paint Shop Pro and open a DDS file1.

  2. DDS FileType Plus for Paint.NET:

Remember that GIMP (a free image editing software) natively supports DDS files, so that’s another option if you encounter any issues with the above methods3. Happy modding! 🎨✨

Update: In fact, I checked and you can get past versions of PSP in this page(imo PSP 7.04 which was an anniversary edition might be the best of these. Used to come with Animation Shop which was a basic but usefull tool for simple animating. Btw, there was a patch that improved it to .05 or even 7.08 not sure if this exists any longer. Search for it though.). Paint Shop Pro 4.12 and 7.04 and 8.1 and 9.01 | Windows 11 Forum (elevenforum.com)

Reply #4 from GalCiv4 Forums Top

Usually I use Paint Net or PSP or both. What they can't do(which is not much), only then I load Photoshop. But one can do wonders with stuff if they experiment and invest time. Back when I started I'd work(for Fallout Tactics, Civ3 modding) with PSP 5.02 and Poser 3 free version and it had a learning curve. When we gotten PSP 7 and PS CS2 for free and Blender went free as well, it was like heaven for us(just remembered I also bought Poser 5,7 versions about that time, so the industry gave us something free, I got invested enough to make some purchases). Nowadays there's so many options available if one searches for it(which they often don't bother with btw, I don't know why, I always loved discovering things through datamining).

Reply #5 from GalCiv4 Forums Top

I've only been using Paint.net perso. It's been more then enough for my limited needs throughout the years !

Reply #6 from GalCiv4 Forums Top

I use Paint.NET for .dds images. Well, I use it for just about everything image wise. Here's a link to the software, it should still be free.

https://www.getpaint.net/