10 replies to this topic

[Echo]

Yo,

 

just recently I got back into modding and now I feel like tackling an issue I've had to deal with for quite some time. I noticed that all (EA, other mods') 64x64 textures have a 6KB file size and all 256x256 textures have a 86KB file size. However, if I export a 256x256 image in gimp in .dds format the file size is bigger than if I export it in .tga format, usually 257KB. I've tried all compression settings and formats, but none of these results in a 86KB filesize. I managed to reduce the file size of a 256x256 image to 33KB, but nothing worked to have it equal 86KB. I would go with 33KB but seeing that everyone goes with 86KB filesize, it's weird that I am not able to export an image with 86KB filesize - and there is likely a quality loss if I go with the 33KB file size, I guess.

 

Anyone here who's using Gimp 2 and is able to export .dds properly (as in "proper" filesize)? I'd be thankful for help.

 

-Echo

Edited by Echo, 03 November 2015 - 05:06 AM.

[Pasidon]

If you have the most recent version of GIMP, uninstall it and find a copy of GIMP 2.  The latest versions of GIMP are way too muddied in poorly designed tool modifiers, unnecessary options (some in which that don't work) and strange formatting issues.  At least, that's how the version was last that that I tried.  GIMP 2 can work with.dds  just fine, last I checked.

[Echo]

Oops sorry, I actually meant GIMP 2. And yes, it works with .dds but the image size is just incredibly big whenever I export as .dds.

 

Edited title.

Edited by Echo, 03 November 2015 - 06:18 AM.

[ThrandyBanned]

I am just confused why do you care about size of the .dds file?
Just download Photoshop from p-bay.I believe it will have smaller size.

[ICT]

There are different compressions/formats of DDS available, namely

• DXT1
• DXT2
• DXT3
• DXT4
• DXT5

https://code.google.com/p/gimp-dds/allows different settings, I guess you have to either read the DDS header of EA files (https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb943991.aspx ) and find out the settings or try different export settings of the DDS plugin until you have found the settings used.

[ICT]

Actually I've just done that for you, you should use DXT3.

[Echo]

Ok thank you

 

I've tried all of them before and hardly noticed a difference in quality. I only have

 

BC1 / DXT1

BC2 / DXT3

BC3 / DXT5

 

anyway, no DXT2 or DXT4. Exporting with BC2 / DXT3 settings makes the file have a filesize of 65KB. That is quite small and good, but I'm still wondering why every single mods' (TEA, Vapula, Elvenstar, TDH, SaF, BFME+...) and EA's dds files are all 86 KB big and I simply cannot export a file with that file size. Admittedly, BFME+ has some images with 65KB filesize, but they don't have an alpha channel.

 

Obviously it's not tragic, but am I really the only person using GIMP2 here?

 

I am just confused why do you care about size of the .dds file?
Just download Photoshop from p-bay.I believe it will have smaller size.

 

I'm not a bad boy. I've just gotten somewhat used to GIMP2 and I don't have any real issue with it either. I'm just curious why everyone seems to be exporting .dds at exactly 86KB and I'm not able to do that.

 

And image size is quite a factor, I think I could reduce the size of my mod by a good amount if I can properly convert to .dds.

 

 

Edit: So apparently if I export images with BC2 / DXT3 settings and mipmaps the filesize is 86KB. And according to wikipedia, mipmaps are often used and mnake sense in computer games so I just believe that this is the right setting.

Edited by Echo, 03 November 2015 - 03:04 PM.

[ICT]

Good.

[Echo]

Apparently the resizing reduced the size of my mod by about 80MB, so I guess it was worth it

 

Thanks again Master ICT.

[ICT]

I'm looking forward to the next beta.

[Mathijs]

I am just confused why do you care about size of the .dds file?
Just download Photoshop from p-bay.I believe it will have smaller size.

Read the rules.