[esarai]

Hello.
Being only seven minutes registered at Hard-Light Productions, I probably haven't found all the threads on this, but I was wondering how to make new glowmaps for new ships. What file format are the glow maps, what program must be used, and how do you make .dds files in case you want to mod the already existing models.

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

[Bobboau]

tga jpg and 8 bit pcx are also supported, but dds id by far the preferred format, nvidia has a PS plug in that works pretty good. I'm attaching a command line version with a batch file that should help convert files for you.

for glow and shine maps all you need to do is make a version of the texture and add -glow or -shine to the end of the file name.

[attachment deleted by admin]

[esarai]

What about animated glowmaps? Like the ones on the Sathanas and the new Liliths?

[Topgun]

but dds id by far the preferred format,

if you use dds, please, for the love creation, make mipmaps. they are the only thing that make(s?) dds good.

[Bobboau]

if he uses the batch file I posted he won't have to worry about that, it does everything automatically.

[esarai]

Is there a program which can view the contents of a .dds file, extract and edit them?

[Topgun]

xnview or ifranview for converting, gimp for editing

[--Steve-O--]

or this little gem i found. or maybe somebody told me where to find it, crap i cant remember...anyways

http://eliteforce2.filefront.com/file/DDS_Converter;29412

it does all the DXT formats, and even alpha channels, comes with a preview window (thats my favorite part), and does batch conversions. input formats are kinda limited, mostly to TGA, JPG, BMP and PSD, but from what i gather those are the most common file types used for initial mapping. i havn't really explored it all the way yet, heck i just started converting my first TGA maps to DDS. finally i am moving up in the world! no more PCX... ick, i hated how a good map would turn all grainy and souless after your indexed and saved it as pcx.

best of all, ITS FREE!


wait a tick, you all can get you Irfanview to open DDS files? my starts whining and moaning about not being able to find format.dll or something or other.

[Bobboau]

you can get a plugin for PSP/PS and my batch file+nvidia app I posted can do all that too, I have a version specifically tuned for effs also (it'll actually spit out the eff file as well).