DDS Tools Listing

Name	Adobe Photoshop
Version	CS4
Date	October 15, 2008
Type	Graphics Editor
Cost	$650.00
Download	Adobe.com
Description	The essential software for perfecting your images, Adobe Photoshop now offers productivity and workflow enhancements, powerful new editing tools, and breakthrough compositing capabilities.
Advantages	Advanced toolset including: Powerful layer compositing/blending features, Selection masks (+ 'Quick Mask' mode), Customisable brush sets, Automatation for batch image editing, Many filters + support for third-party filters. Native support for many different file formats. 'Save for Web' feature for screencaps. Popular, meaning many tutorials available online.
Disadvantages	Cost Prohibitive for a casual modder. No native support for DDS, Nvidia Plugin is required.

Name	Adobe Photoshop Plug-ins
Version	8.23
Date	Unknown
Type	Plugin
Cost	FREE
Download	NVidia.com
Description	This installer contains two plug-ins and several helpful scripts for Adobe Photoshop: NVIDIA Normal Map Filter NVIDIA DDS PLug-in NVIDIA Mipster Script NVIDIA Cube Map Shuffler
Advantages	Unknown
Disadvantages	Unknown

Name	AMD GPU MeshMapper
Version	1.2
Date	December 18, 2008
Type	Utility
Cost	FREE
Download	AMD TESNexus
Description	GPU MeshMapper generates normal, displacement and ambient occlusion maps for a low-resolution mesh based on the details from a high-resolution mesh.
Advantages	Requires no other tools to generate Normal Maps Realtime display of models and maps which can help point out issues with your low-poly model
Disadvantages	Only useful if you have low-poly and high-poly versions of a mesh.

Name	Corel Paint Shop Pro
Version	X2
Date	Unknown
Type	Graphics Editor
Cost	$70.00 USD
Download	Corel.com
Description	Filled with one-of-a-kind photo tools sure to please even the most discerning photographer, Corel Paint Shop Pro is the ideal choice for people who want extraordinary photos. With a built-in Learning Center to help first time users get started, it's the easiest way to get professional-looking photos - fast!
Advantages	Unknown
Disadvantages	Unknown

Name	CrazyBump
Version	1.1
Date	March 17, 2009
Type	Utility
Cost	$49 USD for Students, $99 USD for Personal, $299 USD for Professional License
Download	CrazyBump.com
Description	A standalone application for creating normal maps from height maps or images, with a surprising amount of options, and a very precise texture baking process
Advantages	Crazy Bump is fantastic for recalculating normal maps. You can dramatically smooth out DXTC compression artifacts and tweak your normal maps with the "Find Low Frequency Image Detail" function. It of course doesn't prevent compression artifacts from being re-introduced later, but at least you can get a clean working copy of an existing normal map to work with if you don't have access to the original uncompressed images. Capable of analyzing an image for 3D shapes based on highlights and shadows in the image and incorporating them into the normal map (effect is only useful in certain cases, can be controlled by a slider) Ability to blend multiple normal maps together properly. Good for merging changes together such as an existing fabric with another using a canvas effect. Capable of also baking specular maps, parallax displacement maps, and can bake out highlights and shadows on diffuse maps.
Disadvantages	Costs money, making it somewhat prohibitive for the casual modder

Name	DDS Converter 2
Version	2.1
Date	March 18, 2005
Type	Standalone Utility
Cost	FREE
Download	FileFront TESNexus Elricm.com
Description	This program converts between common image files and DXT-compressed textures. Since nVidia's tool is used to achieve this goal, this program mostly acts as a front-end to this tool.
Advantages	Independent from Graphics Manipulation tools. Images can be converted in batch mode. (many images at one time) Remembers last directory processed and settings used.
Disadvantages	Has bugs (will go more in detail later) Limited to the version of the NVidia DDS plugin that came with it. It will not work with the current NVidia plugin. Program is no longer under development and the author does not reply to emails.

Name	DDS Thumbnail Viewer
Version	Unknown
Date	Unknown
Type	Windows Shell Utility
Cost	FREE
Download	NVidia.com
Description	Allows you to view .dds files in Thumbnail view in the Windows Explorer.
Advantages	Allows for easy quick viewing of a DDS file's contents
Disadvantages	Image can be glitchy looking, alpha maps often exacerbate the problem

Name	DDS Plugin for Paint.NET
Version	1.10
Date	April 14, 2007
Type	Plugin
Cost	FREE
Download	dmashton.co.uk TESNexus
Description	Plugin for Paint.net that allows it to load and save DXT1, DXT3, DXT5 and a bunch of non-compressed texture formats.
Advantages	Unknown
Disadvantages	Currently outdated now that Paint.NET includes native DDS file support.

Name	DXTBmp
Version	4.00.79
Date	May 21, 2004
Type	Standalone Utility
Cost	FREE
Download	btinternet.co.uk
Description	16/24/32 bit and DXT Extended Bitmap Manipulation.
Advantages	Unknown
Disadvantages	Unknown

Name	Filter Forge
Version	Unknown
Date	Unknown
Type	Photoshop Plugin
Cost	30-day trial / $299 Full Version
Download	FilterForge.com
Description	Filter Forge creates high-quality procedural textures from a given set of instructions with 3d application in mind. It can also generate different effect maps to go along with a texture.
Advantages	Quick and easy generation of many texture types, from organic to technical, as well as seamless generation. Access to Large user library for preset textures.
Disadvantages	Unknown

Name	Genetica
Version	3.0
Date	Unknown (Before March 20, 2009)
Type	Graphics Editor
Cost	$400.00
Download	Spiralgraphics.biz
Description	Genetica is Spiral Graphics' latest seamless texture editor.
Advantages	Unknown
Disadvantages	Unknown

Name	GIMP
Version	2.6.6
Date	March 17, 2009
Type	Graphics Editor
Cost	FREE (Open Source)
Download	GIMP.org TESNexus.com
Description	GIMP is the GNU Image Manipulation Program. It is a freely distributed piece of software for such tasks as photo retouching, image composition and image authoring. It works on many operating systems, in many languages.
Advantages	Unknown
Disadvantages	Unknown

Name	GIMPShop
Version	2.2.8
Date	Unknown
Type	Graphics Editor
Cost	FREE
Download	GIMPShop.com TESNexus
Description	GIMPshop is a modification of the free/open source GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP), intended to replicate the feel of Adobe Photoshop. Its primary purpose is to make users of Photoshop feel comfortable using GIMP.
Advantages	Interface helps those used to Photoshop transition into GIMP for all the features it has.
Disadvantages	Unknown

Name	GIMP DDS Plugin
Version	2.0.7
Date	December 12, 2008
Type	GIMP Plugin
Cost	FREE
Download	dyndns.org code.google.com TESNexus
Description	A plugin for GIMP that allows you to load and save images in DirectDraw Surface (DDS) format.
Advantages	Unknown
Disadvantages	Unknown

Name	GIMP Normal Map Plugin
Version	1.2.2
Date	December 12, 2008
Type	GIMP Plugin
Cost	FREE
Download	dyndns.org code.google.com TESNexus
Description	This is a plugin for GIMP version 2.0 and above. It allows you to convert images into RGB normal maps for use in per-pixel lighting applications. The goal is to completely clone NVIDIA's photoshop plugin, with a few new useful features.
Advantages	Unknown
Disadvantages	Unknown

Name	IrfanView
Version	4.23
Date	December 29, 2008
Type	Utility
Cost	FREE
Download	IrfanView
Description	A small, speedy and powerful image viewer. Capable of reading a large amount of image formats, it also has a plugin for reading .dds images.
Advantages	Fast and easy access to texture libraries for quick previewing, IrvanView also has thumbnail and slideshow modes. It can also perform a number of alterations to an image, and can load certain photoshop filters.
Disadvantages	Users not wishing to use this as their default image viewer may need to alter their file extensions again if they incorrectly set them when installing IrfanView.

Name	Keep Details
Version	1.1
Date	June 28, 2007
Type	Profile Settings
Cost	FREE
Download	TESNexus
Description	This pack is a series of four profile settings for nVidia's .DDS import/export utility for photoshop. They make attempts to keep mipmaps for .dds compressed images sharper, and maintain more detail.
Advantages	Unknown
Disadvantages	Unknown

Name	MapZone Editor
Version	2.6
Date	January 15, 2008
Type	Texture Creator
Cost	FREE
Download	MapZoneEditor.com
Description	MaPZone is simply the most advanced texturing tool ever. MaPZone is only intended to be used for producing high quality textures, and this is what it does best. Based on a unique and patented technology called the FX Maps, MaPZone is the only procedural tool giving you that much control over your creation.
Advantages	Incredible control over procedural effects enable photo-realistic quality given sufficient understanding of the program.
Disadvantages	Steep learning curve. MaPZone is not a paint program, so it can't be used to perform many common tasks like photo touch-ups, painting portraits, etc. It is designed to create material surfaces like stone, wood, metal, brick, etc.

Name	Mudbox
Version	2009
Date	August 6, 2008
Type	3D / Graphics Editor
Cost	$745.00 USD
Download	Mudbox3D.com
Description	Mudbox is the first advanced, high resolution brush-based 3D sculpting software that is built from the ground up to address the needs of the professional digital sculptor. Use 3D Layers to sculpt nondestructively, store different detail passes, explore different design directions, build libraries of facial morph targets, collaborate with other artists, and do much more. Use Mudbox's "Tangent Space" mirroring to mirror your brush strokes on asymmetrical and posed models. Add detail where you need it, when you need it, with Local Subdivision. Extract displacement and normal maps between arbitrary meshes -- use meshes with different topologies, UVs, vertex IDs! Output high quality 8, 16, and 32 bit maps. Save production time and work more efficiently with Mudbox's organized user interface and 'get it done' focus.
Advantages	Unknown
Disadvantages	Unknown

Name	NifSkope
Version	2.0 Dev 7
Date	December 18th 2017
Type	Utility
Cost	FREE
Download	GitHub.com
Description	A graphical program that allows you to open NIF files, view their contents, edit them, and write them back out again. You can use it to quickly make changes to specific properties of a NIF file such as changing the texture, adding translucency, and more. A 3D view of the contents of the NIF file allows you to preview your changes instantly. You can even create texture templates, and import & export OBJ files.
Advantages	An essential tool when working with Oblivion models and textures. Useful for viewing textures on the models and view refreshes automatically when DDS file is updated. Can create texture templates based on the model's UVMap. Useful for editing texture paths on the models. Now has a built-in UVMap editor.

Name	NVidia DDS Utilities
Version	8.31.1127.1645
Date	December 4, 2007
Type	Utility
Cost	FREE
Download	nexusmods.com
Description	nvDXT - convenient command-line access to nvDXTlib functionality and more detach - extracts MIP levels from a .DDS file stitch - recombines MIP levels into a single .DDS file readDXT - reads compressed images and writes .TGA files nvDXTlib - library for working with .DDS files
Advantages	Fully Supports Morrowind, Oblivion, Fallout 3/NV
Disadvantages	Partial Skyrim '2011' support Incompatible with Skyrim Special Edition Incompatible with Fallout 4 No NVIDIA Support or Download Support as of 2024

Name	NVidia Melody
Version	1.2.0630.1500
Date	June 30, 2005
Type	Utility
Cost	FREE
Download	NVidia.com TESNexus
Description	NVIDIA Melody creates high quality normal maps that make a low-poly model look like a high-poly model. Simply load your low-poly working model, then load your high-poly reference model, click the "Generate Normal Map" button and watch Melody go to town. The normal map generator can also create texture coordinates from your high-poly reference model using a projection technique.
Advantages	Create quality Normal Maps for low-poly models by using high-poly models.
Disadvantages	Crashes frequently. Old software which does not seem to be updated any longer.

Name	Paint.NET
Version	3.36
Date	August 26, 2008
Type	Graphics Editor
Cost	FREE
Download	GetPaint.net TESNexus
Description	Paint.NET is free image and photo editing software for computers that run Windows. It features an intuitive and innovative user interface with support for layers, unlimited undo, special effects, and a wide variety of useful and powerful tools. An active and growing online community provides friendly help, tutorials, and plugins.
Advantages	Direct support to open and save DDS files. Easy to use.
Disadvantages	Unknown

Name	ShaderMap CL
Version	1.2.2
Date	December 4th, 2008
Type	Utility
Cost	FREE
Download	Rendering Systems Inc.
Description	ShaderMap CL is a FREE command line tool that automates conversions using batch scripts. Process and reprocess large sets of assets. ShaderMap CL is a fully functional version of ShaderMap. It is free for non-commercial use. Download ShaderMap CL today and see how easy it is to create quality rendering maps.
Advantages	Unknown
Disadvantages	Command-line interface less friendly than a GUI.

Name	Texture Maker 3
Version	3.01
Date	May 19, 2006
Type	Utility
Cost	$37.99 USD
Download	TheGameCreators.com
Description	Generates procedural textures, and extract portions of an existing image to generate from. Texture Maker 3 can also animate the procedurals, and features a particle system for more animated flipbook-styled effects.
Advantages	Unknown
Disadvantages	Unknown

Name	The Compressonator
Version	1.50
Date	December 18, 2008
Type	Standalone Utility
Cost	FREE
Download	AMD.com TESNexus
Description	A tool for compressing textures and creating mip-map levels.
Advantages	Unknown
Disadvantages	Unknown

Name	UVMapper
Version	0.26b
Date	January 3, 2005
Type	Utility
Cost	FREE
Download	UVMapper.com
Description	A stand-alone texture mapping utility for the creation and modification of UV coordinates for n-sided polygonal 3D models.
Advantages	Unknown
Disadvantages	Unknown

Name	Windows Texture Viewer
Version	0.86b
Date	July 10, 2008
Type	Utility
Cost	FREE
Download	NVidia.com
Description	WTV was developed by Tomas Blaho for simple DDS viewing, especially for those DDS files with an alpha channel.
Advantages	Unknown
Disadvantages	Unknown

Name	xNormal
Version	3.16.7
Date	March 17, 2009
Type	Utility
Cost	FREE
Download	XNormal.net
Description	For generating normal maps from high-poly meshes. It can also generate other map types, as well as use heightmaps as input.
Advantages	Unknown
Disadvantages	Unknown

Name	XnView
Version	1.96
Date	February 24, 2009
Type	DDS Viewer
Cost	FREE
Download	Homepage
Description	XnView is an efficient multimedia viewer, browser and converter.
Advantages	Can quickly view an entire folder of DDS files at once.
Disadvantages	Shows only the highest mipmap view.

Name	ZBrush
Version	3.1
Date	Unknown
Type	3D Graphics Utility
Cost	$300.00 USD
Download	Pixologic.com
Description	ZBrush 3 gives you access to unparalleled power and control previously unknown in digital art creation software. Controls enable sculptors to create with a stylus and a tablet as intuitively as if they were using their hands on a block of clay. ZBrush further extends the creation experience, harnessing technology and providing artists with a multitude of creation-enhancing tools.
Advantages	Unknown
Disadvantages	Unknown

Name	Material Map Generator
Version	1.3
Date	November 11, 2020
Type	3D Graphics Utility
Cost	FREE
Download	GitHub.com
Description	Easily create AI generated Normal maps, Displacement maps, and Roughness maps.
Disadvantages	Decompress your DDS and convert to PNG before you can generate maps.
Advantages	Generates based on Neural Networks 'AI' Generates Displacement and Roughness maps within seconds.

Name	Batch Encoder
Version	5.1
Date	September 22, 2020
Type	Audio Utility
Cost	FREE
Download	GitHub.com
Description	BatchEncoder is an audio files conversion software.
Advantages	Converts any amount of .MP3 or .WAV files into Oblivion compatible voice files.

See Also

• Choose the right DXTC compression algorithm
• Texture Compression Techniques and Tips by Allen Sherrod
• Making Quality Game Textures by Riccard Linde
• Tips for Editing Normal Maps by Ben Cloward